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A right-wing protester rests his hand on a pistol on October 30, 2020 in Vancouver, Washington.Photo: Nathan Howard (Getty Images)

America is not a civilized country.

While, compared to most countries, we have an abundance of toilets, street lights and wifi hotspots, the so-called United States also boasts more intentional homicides, gun violence and is more politically unstable than most of the developed world (or as one slightly jaundiced geopolitical expert calls them the shithole countries).

The prospect of civil unrest and violence over the 2020 election is real. And, according to the Justice Department, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security Independent studies and state and local law enforcement agencies, the violence is likely to come from far-right extremist groups. Militia groups have said as much. We have already seen it happening.

And then theres history.

White Americans suppressing, terrorizing, threatening and killing non-white people because of their votes is more commonplace in America than free and fair elections (To be fair, Black people are still waiting for the first free and fair American election.) But because our social studies curriculum teaches us about cherry tree-chopping, states rights and other forms of American exceptionalism, we are left with an inability to contextualize this current political climate.

No, my friends, America is not better than this.

Here is an incomplete history of white Americas historical responses to the threat of Black people participating in democracy.

G/O Media may get a commission

October 1, 1742: In a not-so-rare incidence of white-on-white violence, city and county officials in Philadelphia beg residents not to bring weapons to the polls on Election Day. But during a dispute over who will serve as voting inspectors, sailors with clubs and sticks attack the local crowd and Anglican vs. Quaker violence ensues.

No oatmeal was harmed in Philadelphias Bloody Election Riot of 1742.

June 14, 1788: Americas first presidential election almost didnt happen because America almost didnt happen. Concerned that free Black Americans would join the new federal army and instigate a national slave revolt, Virginias powerful elite refuses to ratify James Madisons proposed Constitution unless he addresses their concerns. Madison concedes to the slaveowners demands by amending the Constitution with one sentence that will serve as gasoline for future sparks for centuries to come:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

July 11, 1804: Alexander Hamilton breaks the 1800 Electoral College deadlock, making Thomas Jefferson the third president of the United States and angering first runner-up Aaron Burr in the process. Convinced that Jefferson would drop him from the ticket in 1804, Burr runs for governor of New York instead. When Hamilton campaigns against Burr for the second time, the two decide to take their dispute to the streets. Burr kills Hamilton in the ensuing duel.

Someone should write a movie about this. Or at least a musical.

November 1854-1860: To sway a referendum on whether Kansas would become a free state or a slave state, thousands of pro-slavery Border Ruffians invade the Kansas territory, inciting a series of armed attacks that would last until the Civil War. During the six-year debate over slavery, pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks takes a cane and beats anti-slavery Sen. Charles Sumner to a bloody pulp on the Senate floor.

July 20, 1866: Shortly after they win the right to vote, Black Louisianans attend their states Republican convention. Of course, Black people in New Orleans cant just walk anywhere. They parade to the meeting at the Mechanics Institute with bands, music and dancing. New Orleans white ex-Confederates witness this display of unbridled Black joy and...

You know what? Ill just let historian Rob Chernow describe the New Orleans Massacre as he did in his book, Grant:

The whites stomped, kicked, and clubbed the black marchers mercilessly. Policemen smashed the institutes windows and fired into it indiscriminately until the floor grew slick with blood. They emptied their revolvers on the convention delegates, who desperately sought to escape. Some leaped from windows and were shot dead when they landed. Those lying wounded on the ground were stabbed repeatedly, their skulls bashed in with brickbats. The sadism was so wanton that men who kneeled and prayed for mercy were killed instantly, while dead bodies were stabbed and mutilated.

September 19, 1868: Georgias Black voters elect three Black state senators and 30 state representatives, called the Original 33. White supremacists flock to Georgia, expel the Black elected officials and engaged in a brutal campaign to kill them. During a peaceful protest, whites ambush the Black marchers in Camilla, Ga., and open fire. The incident was so egregious that Georgias admission to the Union was revoked, making Georgia the first and only state to be kicked out of America twice for being too racist.

One-quarter of the Original 33 were killed by racial violence.

September 28, 1868: The White Knights of the Camelia (not related to the previous racists) slaughter at least 200 Black people in St. Landry Parish, La., for trying to join a political party in a neighboring town. The Opelousas Massacre lasted for a month and Klan members traveled from across the country to join in on the nigger hunt.

No one was ever convicted.

December 1870: When Black North Carolinians joined white Republicans to elect William Woods Holden governor in 1870, the Ku Klux Klan raised a militia with the express purpose of overthrowing the Democratically elected governor. The white supremacists arrest Holden, take over the government and install their own governor.

The Kirk-Holden War will not be the last time white supremacists overthrew a state government.

October 25, 1870: In Eutaw, Ala.s 1868 election, Black citizens overwhelmingly support Republican candidate Ulysses Grant, catapulting him to a 2,000 vote margin in the county. Days before the 1870 midterm election, Klansmen opened fire at a rally of 2,800 Black people, killing many and causing hundreds to stay home on Election Day.

The Republican governor wins the county by 43 votes.

April 13, 1873: Black people in Colfax, La., knew that white racists would kill them to keep them from voting so they literally occupied the courthouse. On Easter Sunday, Knights of the White Camelia, Klansmen and Confederate sympathizers surround the courthouse force the African American occupiers to surrender. Still not satisfied, the white supremacists open fire, burn the victims bodies and throw the corpses in a nearby river.

The bloodiest single instance of racial carnage in the Reconstruction era, the Colfax massacre taught many lessons, writes historian Eric Foner. Including the lengths to which some opponents of Reconstruction would go to regain their accustomed authority.

September 14, 1874: 5,000 or so members of the Crescent City White League, a white supremacist organization in New Orleans, successfully organizes a coup detat of the local government. They installed John McEnery and Dafute Penn as governor and lt. governor, murdering dozens of Black citizens in the process. The Battle of Liberty place was commemorated with a monument that reads:

McEnery and Penn having been elected governor and lieutenant-governor by the white people, were duly installed by this overthrow of carpetbag government, ousting the usurpers, Governor Kellogg (white) and Lieutenant-Governor Antoine (colored). United States troops took over the state government and reinstated the usurpers but the national election of November 1876 recognized white supremacy in the South and gave us our state.

December 7, 1874: Mississippis White League demands the resignation of Peter Crosby, Vicksburg, Miss.s first Black sheriff. When even the governor cant quell the white rioters, Black people stream into Vicksburg to protect the county. Whites travel to Mississippi from nearby states and attack the Black towns defenders. Unable to stop themselves, the whites eventually massacre about 300 Black people in the area.

Compromise of 1877: States rights advocates refuse to count Black votes in the 1876 election while other states simply appoint electors who will go along with the will of the white citizens. To settle the disputed presidential election, 14 white men agree to hand the presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes in exchange for allowing Southern states to do whatever they want to their Black citizens.

Whatever they want becomes known as the Jim Crow era.

February 22, 1898: William McKinley keeps one of his campaign promises after the 1896 election by appointing Black postal workers, including Lake City, S.C.s Frazier B. Baker. Soon after he took his post, a white mob burns Bakers house to the ground. Fraziers wife Lavinia and four of their children escape with gunshot wounds.

Frazier Baker and his infant daughter are burned and shot to death.

November 8, 1898: White men attack Thomas Tolbert as he collects affidavits from disenfranchised Black citizens in Greenwood, S.C., who want to vote. Then they attacked the Black voters. Then they just attacked Black people in general.

No one is ever charged with a crime.

November 10, 1898: Poor white farmers band with African-American residents to form the Fusion Party in majority-Black Wilmington, N.C. After a yearlong political campaign literally called the White Supremacy Campaign, racist Red Shirts lose and the Fusion Party remains in power. Angered by the loss, Congressmen William Kitchin declares: Before we allow the Negroes to control this state as they do now, we will kill enough of them that there will not be enough left to bury them.

Whites form an armed mob and run the Black people out of town, turning Wilmington N.C., into a majority-white city forever.

Kitchin eventually becomes governor.

May 12, 1906: 1,000 citizens of Omaha, Neb., surround the courthouse and demand that two Democratic City Councilmen be seated. The Democratic councilmembers had won fair-and-square...

After they threw out all of the Black votes.

July 1919: To prevent a large population of Black voters from swaying the election, Alabama redraws the city limits of Oxford, Ala., to exclude the Black part of town. Years later, the all-Black town is incorporated as Hobson, Ala., but when Hobson elects Newman Oneal, a Black man, as mayor, Oneal receives an anonymous letter from the white supremacist Black Hand threatening his life. After numerous assaults, Oneal leaves town and spends the rest of his life in exile.

The acting mayor receives the same letter

November 2, 1920: The day after the presidential election, a white mob in Ocoee, Fla., killed a man who they thought was housing Mose Norman, a Black man who had tried to vote. They hung his body from a light post and the police helped the mob kill 50-60 more Black people just to make their point.

Mose Norman and every single Black resident flee the city, transforming Ocoee into an all-white town for the next 50 years.

June 21, 1964: Neshoba County law enforcement officers, the Ku Klux Klan, the White Citizens Council and Mississippis State Sovereignty Commission conspire to murder activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner for registering Black Mississippians to vote. Klan organizer Edgar Ray Killen was eventually convicted for the three deaths...

Forty-one years later.

February 18, 1965: Perry County, Ala., officers arrest James Shackdaddy Orange on charges of contributing to the delinquency of minors by organizing them for voter registration drives and having them sing freedom songs. Convinced that he will be lynched, civil rights volunteers march to the jail to visit Orange when the street lights suddenly go dark. As state troopers open fire, 23-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson drapes himself over his mother and grandfather to protect them and is shot and killed by Corporal James Bonard Fowler

Three weeks later, residents plan to march from Selma to Montgomery and confront segregationist governor George Wallace to ask if he ordered the street lights turned out but Alabama state troopers show up again as the marchers cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

The event becomes known as Bloody Sunday.

August 5, 1965: After becoming one of the first Black women to pass Kentuckys bar exam, Alberta Odell Jones begins renting voting machines to teach Black Kentuckians how to vote. Shortly after a newly elected district attorney appoints her Jefferson Countys first female prosecutor, she is beaten to death with a brick and her body is thrown into the Ohio River.

Her murder remains unsolved.

November 10, 1966: Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clarkwho was curiously on the scene for Jimmie Lee Jacksons death (even though it was out of his jurisdiction) and ordered his officers to attack protesters on Bloody Sundayshows up to the polls to intimidate voters at the first election after the passage of the Voting Rights Act. After he loses, Clark manages to get 1,600 votes thrown out due to irregularities.

A court order restores the votes, ousting Clark from law enforcement forever.

1968: After riots erupted in American cities over the death of Martin Luther King Jr., former Vice President Richard Nixon invokes law and order for his 1968 presidential campaign while third-party candidate George Wallace invokes outright racism. Meanwhile, a pandemic some called the Hong Kong flu killed 100,000 Americans. The Democratic convention is marred by violence from the Youth International Party, a counterculture movement that resembles todays antifascist movement in many ways.

August 3, 1980: Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan becomes the first national political candidate to speak at the Neshoba County State Fair. His speech is filled with dog-whistles on states rights, government interference and local sovereignty.

Most political experts believe it was no coincidence that Reagans choice of location is just a stones throw from the Philadelphia, Miss., site where James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner were murdered in cold blood for registering Black Mississippians to vote.

November 1, 1982: The Republican National Committee agrees to stop deploying intimidating poll watchers after the party launched the Ballot Security Task Force in 1981. The Republican Party paid armed, off-duty police law enforcement officers who challenged and questioned voters at the polls and blocked the way of some prospective voters in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

In 2018, the RNC convinced a federal judge to let the consent decree expire, making the 2020 election the first presidential race since 1980 that the GOP will be allowed to again conduct poll security activities.

April 29, 1983: Chicago elects Harold Washington, the citys first Black mayor. Chicagos white residents protest, declaring they want a new mayor. Hate crimes surge in Chicagos whitest neighborhoods and rapidly diversifying Marquette Park becomes a regular site for violent Klan rallies.

November 6, 1990: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) wins a fourth term by defeating Charlottes Black mayor, Harvey Gantt. Two years later, Helms signs a consent decree with the Department of Justice acknowledging that his 1990 campaign sent 125,000 official postcards telling voters that they would be thrown in jail if they voted. 97 percent of the fliers were sent to Black voters. Thomas Farr, the lawyer who spearheaded the racist campaign, would spend decades targeting Black voters with what a federal court called surgical precision.

Donald Trump has unsuccessfully nominated Thomas Farr for a federal judgeship twice.

November 22, 2000: Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) and hundreds of paid Republican operatives attack election officials and law enforcement officers in an effort to delay, obstruct and eventually stop Miami-Dade County, Fla., election officials from counting votes in the 2000 presidential election before a court-imposed deadline.

They were successful.

November 2008-March 2009: After the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, Nevada lawyer Stewart Rhodes forms the Oath Keepers. The paramilitary militia organization encourages members of the military and law enforcement to pledge not to follow certain hypothetical orders from the federal government, including directives to put American citizens in detention camps and disarm citizens. Meanwhile, right-wing extremist Mike Vanderboegh organizes the III Percenters.

When Obama announced his candidacy, there were 50 militia groups in the U.S. By the end of Obamas first year in office, there were 200, reports the ADL.

February 27, 2009: Conservatives and libertarians organize the first of many anti-Obama demonstrations. The movement would eventually become known as the Tea Party and would be marked by spitting, sporadic violence, racial slurs and hanging Obama in effigy.

November 9, 2009: Attorney General Eric Holders Department of Justice voids Shelby County, Ala.s elections after one town gerrymanders away its only majority Black district. In the do-over, the city of Calera re-elects Ernest Montgomery as its only Black city council member, instigating a legal fight that would eventually gut the Voting Rights Act and become known as Shelby v. Holder.

November 22, 2015: Activist Mercutio Southhall Jr. is kicked and punched after yelling Black Lives Matter at a rally for Donald Trump in Birmingham, Ala. The incident would become the template for dozens of violent occurrences at Trump rallies during the 2016 election season.

January 20, 2017: Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States.

November 3, 2020: Militia groups, the Proud Boys, Bill Barr, the Republican Party, the Department of Justice, and America prepares to stand down and stand by.

We ready.

Read the original post:
An Incomplete History of White Election Violence - The Root

By Staff | on October 30, 2020

Many people are starting to work from home these days. It is convenient and most can get more work done in the comfort of their own homes. Think of the commute time you can save. Studies show that up to 30% of the workforce will be working from home, at least part-time, within the next year. Resulting in a spike of home office remodels. When thinking about adding a home office there are a few avenues you can take. Some, already have a room that could be upgraded to suit an office. Others may want to add an additional space to their home to fit their needs. Whatever the case, Ability Remodeling is here to help you create your dream home office space.

Upgrading a room already in your home is the most cost-effective way of adding a home office. This may seem like an easy upgrade. However, there are a few things we believe you should consider when upgrading a spare room to a workspace. You will want this space to be warm and welcoming. A place you enjoy walking into every morning to get your best work done. First off, are there enough windows in the space for natural light? This may seem like a small detail however studies show that natural light can improve work efficiency. Next, are there enough outlets for all your gadgets? Again, if not, some electrical work should be done prior to moving in. The needs for an office are different than a bedroom, making the right adjustments, in the beginning, is key to a successful office space.

Adding an addition to your home is no small project. Yet, this means you can make your new home office exactly what you want. With an addition, you add square footage to your home. In return, this adds value to your house. A home addition is a great solution for a homeowner who is going to be working from home full time and has nowhere to set up shop. Working from the kitchen table is not ideal long term. When adding a home office via an addition you get everything you need. The size of the room, how many windows needed for that natural light, is an attached bathroom something you want? Ability Remodeling specializes in home additions and can create that ideal workspace you need.

Regardless of whether you updated an existing room or had an addition added to your house, the next step is what gets put into this new space. Ability is a Prescott cabinet contractor that offers Wellborn cabinets. Cabinets are not just for the kitchen and bathroom these days, take a look at this clip for office desk ideas. Through Prescott Cabinets, we can create a built-in workspace for you in your home office that fits all your individual needs. With open shelving and countless door styles, we together can design a custom desk that will be beautiful and functional. Making this space a place you want to spend your time.

Whether turning an existing space into an office or looking to add on, Ability Remodeling is here to handle everything from beginning to end. To learn more about Ability Remodeling visit abilityprescott.com/.

Articles in Ideal Living are made possible by Ability Remodeling of Prescott, AZ.

Read the original:
Working From Home is on the rise - Signals AZ

Brandon Davis|Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)

He wouldn't say it officially, but Jay's 108 owner Jay Shin said his burger and sushi restaurant will possibly open this Friday in downtown Kinston.

Shin hopes to open the doors at 4 p.m. for dinner inside the old Boiler Room Oyster Bar, and he has already scheduled someone to perform live music on Friday, October 30, in the alleyway at 108B W. North St.

Rumors about a new restaurant started around May when Boiler Room owner Vivian Howard decided to close the oyster bar. People began hearing this summer that Jay's Restaurant Group would open an eatery in the old alleyway, but questions lingered in regards to the actual opening.

"My name is on the restaurant, so I had to make it right," Shin said. "One of the hardest parts about this construction wasthere was a Boiler Room here. Remodeling a restaurant is always harder."

Shin said Jay's 108 will open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for the first two weeks. He did not specify Sunday's hours, but he said he will provide lunchafter the first two weeks and open on Sundays for brunch.

Tyler Davis from Goldsboro will perform Friday night, according to Shin, and the Jay's 108 owner cannot wait to see his customers.

"I want to thank people for their patience," Shin said. "I try to make it right, so pleaseeat at my restaurant."

See the article here:
Jay's 108 hopes to open Friday for dinner with live music - Kinston Free Press

Not all that long ago, the Yankees had a veritable super-bullpen. Even after the retirement of Mariano Rivera, the team had No Runs DMC, then reacquired David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle, and then got Zack Britton and Adam Ottavino. The team spent big bucks on the bullpen knowing that the starting pitching core wasnt good enough to consistently go deep into games. After the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015 with a similar formula, it seemed like a viable strategy.

However, five years later, the Yankees bullpen isnt super anymore. Aroldis Chapman is still really good, but no longer unhittable. The team has wisely opted into the last two years of Brittons contract, but other than Chad Green (who himself is coming off the worst season of his career but is still mostly reliable), there isnt anyone in the Yankees bullpen that Aaron Boone can trust late in games. With the teams starting pitching still weak, this leaves the Yankees in a precarious pitching position.

The Dodgers and Rays made it to the World Series in part due to their strong pitching, particularly their bullpens. The Rays had the best bullpen in baseball, and while the Dodgers had some notable relief hiccups, they also had a respectable 2.74 bullpen ERA and 3.5 bullpen WAR. Thats a big improvement over the Yankees 4.51 bullpen ERA and 0.7 reliever WAR.

How the Dodgers constructed their bullpen is similar to the Yankees, but the results have been so much better. Each teams closer makes at least $17 million per year, and they each have two expensive setup men (Britton and Ottavino cost the Yankees $22 million a year, while Joe Kelly and Blake Treinen cost the Dodgers $18 million this season). No one else in either bullpen is beyond the arbitration stage. Essentially, these two large-market teams decided that theres enough spending room for one expensive closer and two pricey setup men with the rest of the pen being made up of arbitration-eligible arms.

The difference is, the Dodgers get value out of their cheap, young arms. Victor Gonzalez was dynamic as a rookie, Dylan Floro and Adam Kolarek were effective, and the addition of Brusdar Graterol via trade gave the unit some swagger and serious velocity. Even veteran minimum add Jake McGee led all their relievers with 0.7 WAR in 20 innings thanks to an absurd 41.8 strikeout percentage.

What did the Yankees get out of their bottom tier of the bullpen? Green wasnt himself for parts of the year, Luis Cessa had his best year but is mostly a low-leverage guy, Jonathan Loisiga struggled with command, and no one from veterans Jonathan Holder, Luis Aviln, Tyler Lyons and David Hale or young guns Miguel Yajure, Clarke Schmidt, Brooks Kriske and Nick Nelson could become a reliable option like Green did back in 2017.

Los Angeles bullpen pitches differently than New Yorks. The Yankees biggest problem with their relievers is that they struggle immensely with walks and home runs. They strike out a good share of batters, but not enough to outweigh the free passes and long balls. However, the Dodgers had far better walk and home run rates, while even striking out a slightly higher percentage of batters than the Yankees.

Many of the Dodgers biggest outs from their bullpen this postseason came from inexperienced players on cheap deals. The same can be said for the Rays, who have barely spent a dime on their bullpen. Instead, they thrive on diversity in their pen: their relievers come from several different arm angles and have guys that range from crafty lefties to fireballing over-the-top righties. The Rays bullpen has someone to match up with everyone.

This is important because the Yankees can learn how to revitalize their relievers by looking at two sterling examples of the modern bullpen. They need to walk less batters, and could stand to gain a little diversity in the pen instead of just relying on high-velocity righties with suspect command.

Is Ottavino worth $9 million for the Yankees right now? Probably not. His 12.0 K/9 as a Yankee is great, but his 5.2 BB/9 undoes much of it. Perhaps he could be traded to another reliever-desperate team and the Yankees could spend the $9 million on a guy like Brad Hand instead, who fills the Yankees needs better as a ground-ball-heavy lefty coming off another successful season.

Furthermore, seeing one of the kids step up would go a long way. Yajure flashed potential, and the Yankees are also giving valuable 40-man roster spots to Luis Medina, Luis Gil, Kriske and Nelson. Can any of them become a competent middle reliever? If they cant, these are wasted 40-man roster spots at this point, because that is their immediate path to success with New York.

If the Yankees are to remodel their bullpen, theyll have to focus on development more so than external additions, given the volatility of relievers. Theres room for one more veteran addition, but at this point, the onus is on Matt Blake to develop some of these kids into the next Peter Fairbanks, Ryan Thompson or Victor Gonzalez. Chapman, Britton and Green are still an elite big three for the Yankees, but theyre going to need some help, especially with the teams rotation on shaky ground.

Read more from the original source:
How to fix the Yankees Bullpen - Pinstripe Alley

The kitchen is often a primary focus of many buyers during the home search. According to the National Association of Realtors' 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, a complete kitchen renovation is first on the list of home improvement projects that most appeal to homebuyers. In second place is a kitchen upgrade, which likely reflects projects like stainless steel appliances and new stone countertops.

Natural stone countertops are always a welcome sight for homebuyers, whether they're granite, marble, or quartz. A growing trend is textured stone countertops, namely leathered stone. But even if you have room in the budget for your kitchen remodel, you might not want to spend it on this upgrade. Let's take a look at what leathered stone is as well as some of its pros and cons.

When natural stone is used for kitchen countertops, the slab is cut and finished. Usually, the stone is polished, lending it that beautiful, glossy look that so many homebuyers covet.

Not into gloss? You can have the stone honed instead. This process basically sands off most of the shine, leaving a smooth matte finish that many homeowners find very beautiful.

Then there's leathered stone, which has a surface that is textured and pebbly, like leather. This type of finish is achieved by further processing the stone through sanding and buffing, sometimes using brushes and water jets. This finish can be put on darker marbles, quartzes, or granites to bring out a rich texture.

Here are some reasons leathered stone could be a hit for you kitchen remodel:

And here's why you might want to go with glossy or honed finishes after all:

In luxury markets where the expensive details are everything in high-end homes, leathered stone might be a good fit. But most homebuyers are likely to be wooed by glossy and honed stone countertops instead. If you've got money to burn, the better kitchen countertop upgrade might be in the quality of the stone itself rather than the textured finish.

Originally posted here:
Is Leathered Stone a Good Choice for Your Kitchen? - Motley Fool

Homeowners remodel their basements because they want more space for storage or an additional room. According to an article published onforbes, you can include a wine cellar, a bar, or even a game room. Then, basement renovation is a complex project, and therefore, you need the help of a professional to get the job done.

Though basement remodeling will cost you, it has many benefits that are worth the investment. Then, you can shop around, compare prices, and then make an informed decision. Here are the five top rewards of basement remodeling for your home:

Creates buyer interest increasing resale value

When you have a home with a completed basement, your property becomes appealing to prospective buyers as well as real estate agents. Did you know that an extra game room or a bedroom is a huge selling point for your home? That is why many homeowners in the US consider basement renovation one of the best home remodeling options to boost property value.

The value of your property gets the required boost because basement renovation increases the square footage significantly. By adding another room that could be used, you are adding more value to your property for selling it at a better price, if you decide to put your home for sale in the future.

Boosts energy efficiency

Did you know that basement remodeling would make your home more energy efficient? You might be wondering how. Well, the professionals associated withbasement remodeling in Staten Islandwould set up drywall, insulation, as well as other things to ensure the air stays inside your house. Professional insulation would remove drafts and cut back on the amount of hot or cold air moving out from a basement, which is unfurnished.

More convenient options

These days, more homeowners are spending on basement renovation for all the right reasons. There are benefits of adding a comfortable room or more storage space downstairs. Remodeling your basement with an additional bed and bath could let you keep guests frequently. You can also rent out the basement for a regular monthly income.

There are other options too. You can add a quiet study room or an office where you can study or work peacefully. It makes living comfortable with such additional options when you renovate your basement. You can also turn the basement into a games room for your kids. The choices are endless.

A fair return on investment

As you know that basement renovation has some benefits and therefore, it gives a good return on your investment, be it in the form of convenience, comfort, or financially. Homeowners can save on energy bills, earn monthly rent, and enhance property value if they choose to sell it in the days to come. It is true indeed that basement renovation has an upfront cost, but you all your investment will come back to you in a couple of years.

Now that you know about some of the benefits of basement remodeling, what are you waiting for, huh? Make the base use of the unused space to live comfortably.

Read the original:
Top Rewards of Renovating the Basement for Your Home Sweet Home - Times Square Chronicles

Lumber prices have increased due to Covid-19 and have in turn increased the prices of local room additions and remodeling projects

(ProNewsReport Editorial):- Lindenhurst, Oct 30, 2020 (Issuewire.com)GM Renovations announces a recent phenomenon that has the cost of their home construction and remodeling projects rising. The Covid-19 pandemic has sent lumber prices skyrocketing by 160% since April, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The cost increase of a home addition or renovation can reach into the thousands, and for a new build is even steeper.

This phenomenon comes from two factors. First, the lumber industry suffered a huge set back due to Coronavirus, and the price of lumber has increased by 80% in recent months, bringing it to above $600 per thousand board feet. Lumber was already facing high prices before the pandemic due to high tariffs. Second, there has been a surge Americans stuck-at-home wanting to make improvements to their homes and placing more value on the importance of having a nicer home for their family.

Just as new builds are being affected, home additions and home remodeling in Long Island have seen a sharp increase in costs as well, says Gregg Satzinger, owner of Lindenhurst home remodeling company GM Renovations NY. Despite the costs, homeowners are eager to go ahead with their remodels, and are willing to pay more knowing that their families will have a nicer place to live.

It isnt only lumber prices that have driven up the cost of home additions and remodeling projects. Other key elements to projects, such as toilets, tubs and showers, cabinets, windows, roofing, and flooring, have also seen prices go up. The same effect, of short supply and increased demand, is to blame. Lumber mills and the factories for these products were hit especially hard in New York, where they were not deemed essential.

To make matters worse, it is unknown when this phenomenon will see an end. While Satzinger says that these rising material costs are part of the ebbs and flows of construction prices, he also makes a point to remark that this is the biggest price increase in 70 years, and that the uncertainty of the pandemic leaves the price hike indefinite.

Currently, home prices continue to rise well above inflation rates and housing inventory faces a shortage. Even though costs are rising, it is still the ideal time to take on a home renovation, especially an addition, to raise the value of your home even higher.

About GM Renovations NY: GM Renovations NY is a local team of Long Island remodeling contractors based out of Lindenhurst, New York. With nearly two decades of experience in the business, owner Gregg Satzinger and his team are a trusted source for the communitys home remodeling projects of every scale. From a simple shower replacement to a multi-story add-on, GM Renovations offers custom, high quality service and consistently exceeds expectations.https://gmrenovationsny.com/about/

Continue reading here:
GM Renovations NY Says Soaring Lumber Costs Raise The Price Of Home Remodeling Projects On Long Island - Pro News Report

By Angie Talken

atalken@linncountyleader.com

The Brookfield Board of Education met recently to discuss long-range planning, Clarence Cannon Conference Participation Standards and approvedallowing virtual learners to return to the classroom as soon as the start of the second quarter.

Dr. Kyle Collins, Brookfield R-II Superintendent, said in 2017 the then-board approved a long-range plan. At the recent meeting, the board discussed what had been completed and projects going forward. Projects on the long-range plan that have been completed include converting the district to LED lighting district-wide, remodeling of classrooms, a complete remodel and new room for the early childhood center, installation of a security camera system campus-wide and foundation repair. Collins said all of those projects were completed using reserved and local funds.

The largest project is the one we are getting ready to start, which is the construction of the restroom, concession area, completion of lighting on track, construction of baseball/softball field and parking lot improvements, Collins said. Funds front he recently passed Proposition 2 will pay for the new construction and repairs.

The project is currently out for bids. The district will host a pre-bid meeting on Nov. 2 at 5 p.m., at the school district office for contractors interested, bids are due at school on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. Collin said the board hopes to have a contractor selected shortly after.

The long-range plan was developed by a group of school personnel, community and board members.

I always look at it from a five-year standpoint and what needs to be done in that five year period, Collins said. We are always reevaluating that to make sure we are addressing any new issues or concerns.

Collins presented Mary Farrenkopf with a retirement bell and thanked her for her 22 years of service as a paraprofessional in the district.

The board also approved the use of the Clarence Cannon Conference Participation Standards for this winter.

Standards state participants will receive four tickets each for family and friends. There will be no pep band or student sections. Cheerleaders will be allowed to attend away games at the schools discretion.

The intent is to reduce the capacity since we are indoors, Collins said. We know everyone loves to have a crowded packed gym and that environment, but in reality we know we have to make adjustments so kids can play and keep the school open and not have any major outbreaks or contribute the spread of COVID-19.

Collins said that over the course of the school year there have been about 100 students and staff who have been quarantined due to COVID-19. Most of those students have staff have returned, he said.

According to meeting minutes, the board approved allowing students who were doing virtual learning to return to classes for the second quarter.

Dr. Collins and the administrative team asked the board to consider opening up a very short time period, perhaps two days, at the beginning of the second quarter for students who chose virtual learning over learning in person the opportunity to switch to learning in person immediately due to the fact that a large percentage of students attending virtually are currently failing their classes. This is happening in all grades in large percentages, according to meeting minutes. Originally students and parents were informed that whatever type of learning they chose at the beginning of the school year would last a full semester, with no opportunity to switch to the other option until semester 1 was completed. The administrative teams would like to amend this portion of the Return to School Plan in hopes of helping more students to achieve academically. Discussion followed. The board voted unanimously to allow students who are currently enrolled as virtual learners to change to in-person learners for the second quarter, as soon as possible for the next few days, with administrators notifying parents and students immediately.

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Of the many decisions you may make as a long-term homeowner, perhaps one of the most significant is whether to renovate a home once its past its prime or build a new home.

And as with so many other choices there are a host of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.

The first consideration is budget. If finances are a concern, renovating can be the most cost-effective choice. Depending on your personal budget, you can also renovate at your own pace, one room at a time, which can make it a tempting option to the budget-conscious.

There are other major benefits to renovation versus building new. In the first place, you can avoid having to temporarily move or live somewhere else while the renovations are being completed. And, if you have nostalgic and emotional attachment to your home, it allows you to continue to live in the home where you have built your family, memories and legacy.

Plus, with so many historic neighborhoods in the San Antonio area, renovating can be a great option to maintain an external faade that represents the days of yore, while still enjoying the contemporary benefits and more energy-efficient features of an updated interior.

It is, of course, important to find out the background and history of your home to find out if renovating is a viable option for you. For instance, youll need to find out if the home has already been renovated in the past and if so, how many times. And, depending on the age of your home, it may be necessary to look into whether any dangerous or hazardous materials that could be present might be an obstacle to renovation or construction.

Of course, youll also want to talk with an expert builder or renovator about critical questions, such as whether youre able to access the original building plans of your home; whether building codes have changed or evolved significantly since your home was built; and whether it will still be cost-efficient or in your best interests financially to renovate if any mechanical or electrical system must be redone to comply with codes.

You should also ensure that your house is a good candidate for renovating in other ways for instance, it may not be a strong option if the foundation is poor, ceilings are too low, or theres just insufficient room for the type of renovating or remodeling you need done.

In the event that renovation isnt the best option for you, there are also a number of benefits to building a brand-new home.

First, everything can be fresh, contemporary and up-to-the-minute, from cutting-edge technologies to sustainable materials and energy-efficient options. And, unlike an older home, everything will remain under warranty, keeping repairs rare and, when they do occur, budget-friendly.

Building a custom home is also a creative free-for-all in ways renovating isnt, since renovating can be more constricted and constrained. With building, you have an infinite number of options, and arent limited by the existing structure of your home. And you can choose what personally works best for you and your family as far as blueprints and design go.

If choosing to build a new home, youll want to consult a builder, architect and an interior designer, each of whom will bring insight and experience to your plans.

READ ALSO: Go beyond the basic bathroom

They will be best equipped to answer any questions that arise, such as what would be the best site on which to build your home; whether local building codes and neighborhood restrictions will affect your project; what kinds of contract labor youll be able to utilize; and what kinds of temperature, environmental and weather considerations youll have to make.

When building new, its also vital to consider what your lifestyle requires and what things are non-negotiables for you. If children or elderly relatives or family members with disabilities will be living in the home, youll need to take into consideration what features in your new home will best serve them.

And remember to be direct with everyone on your building team, as well as patient with the new construction process. New construction requires permits, approvals and many phases that renovations dont, and generally takes considerably longer. Remain calm and keep your eyes on the goal: your new custom home.

Whether you choose to renovate or build new, make an informed decision thats best for your family and will give you the dream home youve been looking for.

Editor's Note: This content is made possible by a sponsored content contributor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the San Antonio Express-News. Learn more about our advertising products at http://www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.

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You probably already know that, here in Texas, remodeling your master bathroom can improve the value of your home. But if you aren't putting your house on the market just yet, chances are you're more concerned with the upfront costs.

So how much should you have saved to renovate your master bath? It depends on the size and scale of your project. Read on.

How Much Does A Master Bathroom Renovation Cost?

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According to HomeAdvisor, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 and $15,000 for a small bathroom remodel. Of course, that's a pretty wide range, but it truly depends on your project.

Cosmetic upgrades like paint, new plumbing fixtures, and lighting runs from $1,000 to $3,500, while a complete tear-out and replacement will cost anywhere between $5,000 and $150,00.

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Need a contractor to renovate your master bathroom? Find a pro in your area.

For a large master bathroom, you can expect to pay $12,000 or more, depending on how in-depth your project is and the type of materials you choose. Of course, more square footage will be more expensive. Bathroom renovations typically cost around $125 per square foot.

Full Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown

Master Bathroom Planning Tips

Ready to renovate your master bathroom? Be sure to gather your remodeling inspiration from several sources. You'll want to decide on your general stylelike modern, traditional, or transitional. Consider using the same or complementing tile colors in your shower and floor to improve room flow. In general, you'll want to strive for a consistent theme that will bring together your fixture and appliance choices. Finally, consider water- and energy-efficient appliances to get even more bang for your buck.

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