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Arrowhead High School(Photo: Bob Dohr / Now News Group)

When voters head to the polls on Nov. 3, in addition to deciding on the next U.S. president, voters in the Arrowhead Union High School District will also have to decidewhether to approve a $1.7 million per year referendum.

Here's what voters should know before going to the polls:

If approved, the referendum would address only the highest prioritized needs of technology, facility and site infrastructure improvements.

What it would do: Specifically, the referendum would replace the oldest, leaking areas of roofing; replaceand repairthe most aging air handling units for heating and air conditioning; updatetechnology infrastructure for safety and up-to-date usage; updateor repairsome building structures; repair or replacesome parking lots/roadways and improvesome stormwater management systems, according to information on the district website.

What it would not do: The district said the referendum wouldnot fix all ongoing infrastructure updates and repairs; would not pay for operating costs, including utilities, supplies, employee compensation, programs or services for students; would not add new structures such as new building/storage additions, new theater, new pool or new athletic facilities and would not provide major classroom or instructional upgrades.

The referendum carries a tax impact of 25 cents per $1,000 of property value,which the district said would maintain the 1999 referendum debt payment amount for another five years.

A homeowner with a $300,000 home would pay $75 per year toward the referendum. That is justpart of the total tax rate for the school district, however.

If the referendum passes,the school district tax rate is expected to be $2.91 per $1,000 of property value for the 2020-21 school year.

If the referendum does not pass, the 2020-21 school year tax rate is expected to be $2.66 per $1,000 of property value.

The 2019-20 tax rate was $2.88 per $1,000; in 2018-19, it was $3.07 per $1,000.

Arrowhead Superintendent Laura Myrah said the district's 2020-21 budget has not been finalized yet because the statehas not yet released final aid amounts to schools. She said the state must do so,by law, by Oct.15.Myrah said the district will then make any adjustments to its budget for the Arrowhead School Board to review and then approve at the end of October.

Since the district's voters lastpassed a referendum in 1999, the school's basic building, site and technology infrastructure has aged and become outdated, according to the district.

In the last 12 years, the district has completed $16.4 million in capital projects from its operating budget, an average of about $1.4 million per year. As district funding from state and federal sources decreases, the district said itcannot continue to pay for the increasing number of necessary infrastructure improvements without directly affecting the budget allocated to instructional programs and services for students.

Arrowhead's 1999 referendum was for 20 years with a $1.7 million repayment expense per year;the last payment on that loan was made in March. If this referendum passes, the district would extend the payments, leaving no long-term debt and no interest payments.

The district also said its costs have been increasing for expenses such as health insurance, transportation/busing, utilities, liability/workers' compensation insurance and textbooks. At the same time, the district said revenue from the statehas been decreasing, based primarily on declining student enrollment.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, school district revenue limits are established based on three factors: enrollment, an inflationary increment and each district's prior year controlled revenue.

The district has taken on numerous strategies in an attempt to balance the budget, including: deferringfacility infrastructure and capital improvement projects; sharing services with other districts, such as health insurance and busing; reducing faculty and support staff and increasingclass sizes; reducing staff benefits; maintainingfewer administrator positions than the regional average; continuingcompetitive bidding for projects over $15,000; implementing energy savings strategies; freezing classroom/department/co-curricular budgets; solicitingdonations; increasing fees for parking and co-curricular participation and enhancing marketing strategies to increase student enrollment.

The most recent referendum question voters decided on was in April 2017. That year, voters turned down a $36.68 million referendum that would have been used for campus maintenance improvements and upgrades in instructional areas.

In November 2016, voters turned down a $64.7 million referendum that would have paid for classroom and instructional renovations, as well as a new swimming pool and expanded auditorium.

ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

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Here's what to know about the proposed $8.5 million Arrowhead Union High School District referendum - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jon Pompia|The Pueblo Chieftain

In November, property owners who reside within the expansive Pueblo County School District 70 will be asked to improve all schools by approving a $75 million bond that would see no new tax increase implemented.

Ballot Measure 4A would raise funds for schools in Pueblo West, the Mesa and the Mountain Region without a tax increase, through the restructuring of bond debt already on the books.

If approved, the bond would provide more than $6 million for infection control and COVID 19-mitigation measures, and security camera system and intercom replacements and upgrades, at all schools.

This series will examine how the bond funds would be spent at each school.

SOUTH MESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (BUILT IN 1959) WOULD RECEIVE $3.9 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS:

UPGRADE ROOF

The existing roof has reached the end of its expected life and would bereplaced with a new, high-quality roof system with a life span of 22 to 30 years. It is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly and would include a redesign to improve drainage.

SECURE ROOF ACCESS

To prevent unauthorized access to the roof, fencing and/or secure ladders would be installed to secure all access points.

REPLACE SELECT EXTERIOR DOORS

The aging exterior wood doors would be replaced with new metal doors to improve function and security.

UPGRADE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The buildings antiquated electrical distribution system would be upgraded to eliminate safety concerns and accommodate an increased demand due to modern teaching tools such as computers and tablets.

NEW HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AND CONTROLS

The existing heating/cooling equipment is outdated and inefficient. Replacing this failing equipment with new high-efficiency systems wouldbring the building up to code, eliminate maintenance issues, and lower energy consumption. New controls for these systems would be integrated into the districts control system to optimize performance and provide a more comfortable environment for building occupants.

NEW KITCHEN HEATING/COOLING

The kitchens heating system would bereplaced with a new, high-efficiency system that adds cooling to provide a more comfortable work environment.

REPLACE CAFETERIA PARKING LOT

The cafeteria staff parking area and sidewalks would berepaved and replaced, and the dumpsters relocated to the north on a separate concrete pad.

REPLACE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

The outdated playground equipment would be removed, and new equipment installed further from the building to help with drainage issues. The new equipment would expand the play area, be ADA compliant, and meet modern equipment safety standards.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND LUNCH AREA

The area north of the cafeteria would be transformed into an outdoor classroom/lunch area with a concrete pad and an open-side pole barn to provide shade and protection from the elements.

South Mesa Elementary is over 60 years old and is in need of attention," said Principal Shad Glenn. "The school was well built but over time, it hasbecome evident that the building is in need of structural repairs and upgrades in order to bring it up to code. It is not only important for the building itself to be updated but it is necessary for the students, staff and community members to feel safe both inside and out.

"There is a big concern that if the updates/upgrades do not happen, then eventually South Mesa will be dealing with larger issues in regard to infrastructure: which in turn directly affects the safety and overall learning environment of our students as well as impacts the community use and availability of the facility.

Chieftain reporter Jon Pompia can be reached by email at jpompia@chieftain.com or at twitter.com/jpompia.

Read more from the original source:
After 61 years, South Mesa Elementary is in need of attention - Pueblo Chieftain

Last spring, as the coronavirus swept New York City, it hit hard at a nine-story seniors-only public housing development on Union Avenue in The Bronx.

In the 10 weeks between March and mid-May, at least 15 of the 232 elders living there became infected with the virus. Six ultimately died of lab-confirmed COVID-19 in the single-building residence known as Union Avenue 163rd Street, city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data shows.

Testing showed an infection rate of 6.4%. Overall, 2.9% of the citys 8.1 million residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemics arrival in March, though estimates of the percentage of New Yorkers infected are much higher.

All told, some 47 NYCHA developments 22 of which are seniors only recorded COVID-positive rates higher than 2.9% from March to mid-May. NYCHA oversees 302 developments across the city.

All but two of the 47 developments including the Union Avenue senior residence rely on old mechanical ventilation systems that NYCHA had promised to fix by last year. And all but two of NYCHAs 41 seniors-only developments use the system.

Across the city, 240 NYCHA developments employ mechanical exhaust roof fans to circulate air out of apartments. The systems, which serve 260,000 residents, are prone to breakdown, and the ducts leading from apartments to the roof often are clogged with decades of dust and debris.

Meanwhile, NYCHA has prioritized a list of buildings including Union Avenue for immediate roof fan replacement. But the plan is now off track and far behind schedule.

Experts say poor indoor airflow due to lousy ventilation systems, along with crowded conditions caused by other NYCHA ills such as broken elevators, contributes to the spread of COVID-19 and amplifies underlying medical conditions such as asthma that make people more vulnerable to the virus.

Its a perfect storm for people to get COVID-19, Dr. Abraar Khan of Harvards School of Public Health, whos working with Massachusetts health officials on the response to COVID-19. Now theyre crowding into the apartments that are not well ventilated, getting into elevators. These are situations with the most contact risk.

On Monday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted an advisory citing new evidence that coronavirus can be spread beyond six feet indoors. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation, the advisory noted.

Khan is particularly worried about how this will play out as the weather cools, flu season arrives and many tenants, especially the elderly and ailing, are stuck indoors.

When youre indoors a lot more as we head into the fall and the winter, were going to need better ventilation, he said. I would not be surprised that this leads to a potential indoor spread.

More than 7,800 NYCHA tenants tested positive for COVID-19 during the initial runup of the virus between March 1 and May 11, according to city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data. During that time, the deaths of 1,241 NYCHA tenants were deemed either lab confirmed or probable COVID-19.

In releasing this data, health officials pointed out that the share of COVID-19 cases among public housing tenants was proportionate to NYCHAs representation in the citys overall population: 4.4%. The agency did not note the 47 developments with disproportionately high rates of infection.

Its impossible to know for certain whether inadequate airflow in apartments contributed to higher-than-average infection rates in the 22 NYCHA senior developments.

Some 25 senior developments registered average or below average infection rates, including two that have natural ventilation meaning they rely solely on opening windows for airflow.

But 95% of the 47 NYCHA developments that registered a higher-than-average rate depend on mechanical exhaust ventilation systems to circulate apartment air.

A NYCHA development on East 152nd Street at Courtland Avenue in The Bronx thats mostly seniors logged a 9% infection rate, with 35 of 378 tenants testing positive March and mid-May, data shows. No residents died of COVID-19 during that period.

Six tenants died of lab-confirmed COVID at a seniors-only development in Upper Manhattan known as UPACA Site 5. Some 17 of the buildings 212 elderly tenants contracted the virus an infection rate of 8%.

At the seniors-only Woodson Houses in Brooklyn, tests showed 23 of 452 elders were infected with the virus, for a rate of 5%. Eleven residents of the Brownsville development died of lab-confirmed COVID-19.

Work Behind Schedule

The Metro Industrial Area Foundation, a coalition of housing advocates that sued NYCHA to eradicate mold in the apartments of tenants with asthma and other respiratory ailments, had raised a red-flag about poor ventilation, long before COVID arrived.

The virus, the group has said, makes the need to fix the ventilation even more crucial.

As THE CITY reported in August, the authority originally promised to repair all busted roof fans by May 2019. But NYCHA officials abandoned that plan and, instead, vowed to replace all of the systems roof fans 10,000 across 243 developments.

Now the new plan is off track after questions arose about the safety record and financial history of the contractor NYCHA had hired to do much of the work. That contract is now on hold.

As a result, the first phase of the campaign which was supposed to start in July with 38 developments targeted for fan replacement by June 2021 has yet to begin.

Some 940 tenants in the 38 developments in line for new ventilation systems tested positive for COVID-19 last spring. The virus killed 61 of them between March and mid-May, a review of NYCHA and health records shows.

It should have been fixed a decade ago and it wasnt, Susan Popkin, senior fellow at the non-partisan Urban Institute, said of NYCHAs ventilation woes. They dont have that money now and they didnt have it before the pandemic, so all the problems with NYCHA before that you have documented are playing out now in a way that is creating more risk for the staff and the tenants.

In a response to questions from THE CITY, NYCHA emphasized that it is pressing on with the plan to replace the 10,000 fans as soon as possible.

NYCHAs statement said the authority is currently evaluating bids of several contractors and requesting the Department of Investigation do background checks on each.

Phase I has begun and we are currently completing the necessary engineering work, the statement said. Thus far, 34 developments (130 buildings) have either been assigned engineers to handle roof fan replacement; a contracting company to handle roof fan replacement; or an internal team assembled by NYCHA to handle roof fan replacement.

But because the ventilation systems have yet to be fixed, the poor ventilation creates an environment that can exacerbate asthma.

And many of these developments particularly in The Bronx are located in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma, THE CITYs examination of state data revealed.

Health Department asthma rate records for 2012 through 2014, the latest years available, show that 20 of the 38 developments NYCHA prioritized for immediate roof fan replacement are located in ZIP codes with rates of asthma hospitalizations above the citywide average. Meanwhile, 18 of the 20 also have asthma emergency room visits above the citywide rate.

Take the Mill Brook Houses, a 61-year-old Bronx development that relies on mechanical exhaust ventilation. Mill Brook is located in a Mott Haven ZIP code with the citys highest rates of both asthma hospitalizations and asthma ER visits.

The 10454 ZIP code registered an asthma hospitalization rate of 99 per 10,000 residents, far above the citywide average of 27.9. The rate of asthma ER-related visits there is 482.9 per 10,000 residents, far outpacing the citywide average of 135.

Between March 1 and mid-May, 76 of Mill Brooks 2,772 tenants tested positive for the virus, a 2.7% rate, slightly below the overall city percentage since March. Five Mill Brook tenants deaths were deemed lab-confirmed COVID-19.

Mill Brook became a test case for the effect of poor ventilation on asthma as part of an ongoing court settlement with NYCHA.

Authority management and then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg promised to remedy a chronic mold problem in developments all over the city as part of the deal with Metro IAF. That was in December 2013.

By 2016, Metro IAF was pressing NYCHA to fix broken roof fans to improve airflow in apartments to help staunch mold growth. NYCHA initially agreed to fix every malfunctioning fan by May 2019.

As part of that effort, Microecologies, a consultant hired by NYCHA under the court decree, discovered an alarming situation in one of Mill Brooks buildings: Five of 10 roof fans that were supposed to keep apartments ventilated there didnt function, according to Microecologies report.

As for the Mill Brook fans that did function, the ventilator ducts leading from apartments to the roof had become clogged with years of dust and junk. In one, Microecologies found airflow blocked by a wayward brick, in another by a football-sized nest of roaches.

The lack of airflow in most of the buildings apartments led to a build-up of moisture in kitchens and bathrooms. That triggered the mold that aggravates asthma.

NYCHA fixed four of the five busted fans, but didnt follow up with the duct cleanup in that building until three months ago. In a report on the Mill Brook inspection filed in the court case, Microecologies made clear the authority needed to upgrade roof fans and clean out all the ducts across the Mill Brook development.

We estimate that exhaust ventilation problems in bathrooms (which directly result in excessive shower vapor condensation) account for (or contribute to) more than 50% of mold problems in NYCHA housing, Microecologies officials wrote in a report filed as part of the court case.

As of last week, Mill Brook was on the list of the first set of developments scheduled to get new fans.

Tenants interviewed recently at Mill Brook told THE CITY that NYCHA had gone years without cleaning the network of ducts throughout the buildings.

They were surprised when NYCHA crews showed up in July to clear out the system. By then, the virus had already peaked in New York City.

Ive never had the vent cleaned since Ive been here, said tenant Jacklyn Corley, 59, who moved into Mill Brook in 1998.

Corley said the vent in her apartment now seems to function, but other tenants said even after a recent cleanup they were still getting no air circulation in their bathrooms.

In some cases, mold proved persistent. One tenant, who did not want to give her name, said, It was working for a minute and then it stopped working again.

Tenant Robert Nevarez, 58, recounted his struggles to get NYCHA to eradicate recurring mold that keeps coming back inside the tiny bathroom of his two-bedroom apartment. Last week, his vent was once again drawing no air out of his bathroom.

He said NYCHA first came to clean up the green-black mold that had begun to accumulate in the corner of his bathroom in 2018. But Nevarez said NYCHA never fixed the underlying problem, which was the leak thats buckling the wall.

On Aug. 7, NYCHA workers returned to the apartment and cleaned out the vent. The form they left behind promising to return read: NYCHA has found mold, water damage, and/or a moisture level indicating excessive moisture or a possible leak. Inspection found mold.

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Originally posted here:
Seniors in NYCHA Buildings with Poor Ventilation Slammed by COVID-19 - THE CITY

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BLOUNTSTOWN Its been two years since Hurricane Michael barreled into the Panhandle. But Molly Glass is still dealing with its wrath.

The storms Category 5 winds had split her house, a double-wide in Blountstown along the Chipola River. It wasnt until January more than a year after the storm that a local charity was finally able to install a new roof on her home.

But months later, one morning in June, Glass heard a sharp crack echo through her home.

She jumped out of bed and ran toward the sound. To her horror, she saw an arch of electrical current shooting out of a power outlet in the bathroom. The room filled with smoke.

As Glass flipped the main breaker, her husband scooped up their 18-month-old grandson and they ran out of the house.

Molly Glass peers down at the ground through a hole in the floor of her bathroom Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. She and her husband Tony made repairs on their home after damage from Hurricane Michael two years ago and moved back in, only to realize it had more serious issues with electrical wires in the walls earlier this year, also caused by the storm and threatening to burn the place down. The two have once again moved out and are working on more repairs.(Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

A fire marshal came out there, Glass said. After taking a look, the woman said, " Yall have been living in a death trap.

Michaels winds had damaged the electrical wiring. The house could have burnt down.

Shes not the only one still wading through damage. As they watched life-threatening Hurricane Delta churn through the Gulf for a landfall in Louisiana Friday morning, many residents throughout the rural Panhandle are still rebuilding after Michaels aftermath amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Jana Whitehead, a disaster case manager at Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, juggles about a dozen cases at a time with survivors in Calhoun and Liberty counties. The nonprofit has assisted about 60 families over the past year, she said.

Theres people that still have leaky roofs. Im one of them actually, said Whitehead, a retired Calhoun County teacher. Those roofs have damage underneath the underlayment of the roofs are now deteriorated so bad that they have to be replaced.

Molly and Tony Glass stand in front of the ripped apart bathroom in their home, which is currently undergoing repairs after major electrical issues were discovered in their walls earlier this year, lingering damage from Hurricane Michael two years ago.(Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Glass husband is a carpenter, and she cleans, paints and installs flooring in student housing apartments in Tallahassee.

While staying at a friends home, Glass and her husband are tearing down the walls to make room for electricians to inspect and repair the electrical damage.

Even before her house almost caught fire, Glass was on edge. She knew that something was wrong with the electricity: Outlets would melt, she said, and wiring turned red but didnt illuminate a light bulb.

"Not only did my business get shut down completely with this coronavirus, Im scared to death I cant sleep at night, afraid our house was going to burn up," Glass said.

The disaster and its aftermath have taken a toll on her mental health, she added: The ongoing stress of repairs is compounded by the trauma of living through the storm itself.

Now if the wind blows just a little bit, Im under the bed. I will never be OK after that storm, Glass said.

Molly Glass tears up as she holds a framed gift of her son's Ren's handprints and a poem he gave her for Christmas before he died at 9-years-old. Glass was grateful that her keepsakes of her son were not harmed when Hurricane Michael damaged her home two years ago. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

She was alreadystruggling with PTSD before the storm. Several years ago, Glass lost her son Ren. Her little boywas 9 years old when he died. All she has left are keepsakes of him that can't be replaced. Glasswas relieved those weren't burnedin a housefire or destroyed in the storm.

Alternative housing is hard to find in the vast, sparsely populated rural counties, Whitehead said. In many cases, survivors are living in rental properties that landlords cant afford to fix.

We cant help the rental owner because theyre not living in the house its a money maker for them and they did not have insurance on those rental properties, she explained. Its a liability. It has to be by the homeowner thats living in the home. And theres definitely a housing shortage. No place for people to go.

About a quarter of residents in Liberty County and afifth of residents in Calhoun County are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many can't afford to move elsewhere because of work or because they simply cant afford to move.

Craig Fugate, former FEMA administrator and formerdirector of the state's Emergency Management Division, called that difficulty the resiliency divide. He spoke in a Thursday webinar hosted by Rebuild850, where local leaders discussed a need to create morejobs as well as other priorities to help boost the economy ofMichael-afflicted Big Bend counties.

They've endureda double hit from both the storm and the coronavirus, which threatened businesses, including Glass'. Her business closed down for three months as campuses shut down and students moved home.

Molly Glass stands in her home outside of Blountstown which is currently undergoing major repairs for the second time in two years because of damage from Hurricane Michael. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Those who dont have the resources to rebuild or move oftentimes end up in the same situation in future disasters, Fugate said.

Were not out of the woods yet, said state Sen. Bill Montford, who is originally from Blountstown. The whole issue of jobs was a problem even before Michael. We literally have people driving 100 miles ...to Panama City to work Weve got to have private investment.

For now, Glass toils away over the weekends to slowly ensure her house is livable again.

That kind of toll onmental health is among thehealth impacts the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine is studying among storm survivors. The CLEO Institute, aclimate change advocacy and education group, worked withUM to survey Hurricane Michael survivors on health effects post-storm. The groups also surveyed survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Ricoand Hurricane Irma survivors in South Florida.

The groups will release data by the end of this month, saidlead researcher Naresh Kumar. And the first wave of research analysis is slated to be presented atan annual climate and health symposiumnext month.

Damage from Hurricane Michael can be seen on the ceiling of Molly and Tony Glass' home outside of Blountstown Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, two years after the storm. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Kumar, a professor who specializes in environmental health,found that Panhandle residents' hospital visits the year after Michael decreased. He hypothesizes that's because people were insurvival mode.

"One of the things I focus on is the persistence of health effects after these storms," Kumar said. "Generally people think about days or weeks but thats not the case."

One issue, he says, is the onset of certain health conditions, such as a delayed reaction to mold.

Those minor leaks might result in a significant increase in mold," Kumar said. "You may get sensitized. You may begin to develop allergies (to mold) which you were not earlier allergic to.

"The environmental modifications dont reinstate right after the storm. They persist for years," he said.

2019 File Photo: Kaye Elmore and her grandson Camron Elmore, 6, walk through the living room of the home they shared before a tree fell on the roof during Hurricane Michael last year, destroying the home and forcing them to find somewhere else to stay.(Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Pollen count increases as tree and vegetation regrowth happens, Kumar said, aggravating those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions.

Whitehead says as people remain indoors during stay-at-home orders to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus, they're "surrounded by the damage" indoors. COVID-19 has prevented the charity from doing indoor repairs.

"You walk outside and you see the remnants of those trees orthe little Dr. Seuss trees that have been growing two or three puffs with the overhang," she said. "It used to be that you walk outside and see the trees."

Glass reminisces, gazing at old photos of her intact home, a gathering place for the holidays and her adult children's families.

"We had a beautiful life in that bruised and battered home and we will again," she said."Those were the best of times. But there will be more."

For now though, as she rummages through the repair journey, Michael is"the storm that just keeps on giving."

Donate to nonprofits helping those still in need of repairs:

Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @nhassanein_.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat.

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Two years later, the impacts of Hurricane Michael persist in the Florida Panhandle - Tallahassee Democrat

if you thought youd seen the last of radical proposals on how to rebuild the notre dame cathedral, then think again. despite french president emmanuel macron having declared that paris beloved building would be restored to its original state before the fire of april 15th 2019, dutch architecture studio, trsnfrm, has shared their alternative concept for a sculptural glass roof that twists into a spire.

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the history and cultural heritage of the notre dame cathedral serves as the starting point for trnsfrms design. in respect of the buildings 800 year history, the concept is conceived of first and foremost as a place of worship. to replace the destroyed roof and spire, the architects propose a contemporary sculpture made from colored glass. the idea is partly inspired by the new basilica of our lady guadalupe in mexico city by the late architect pedro ramirez vazquez and the galleria vittorio emanuele in milan. here a huge roof structure embraces the people inside.

the sculpture is made out of stained glass, in this case, fixed in a steel frame. as a result, during the day, the stained glass sculpture brings sunlight into the cathedral. at night, the interior lighting of the cathedral creates the opposite effect. the sculpture becomes a glow in the dark point of reference on the parisian skyline.

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a stained glass roof twists into a spire for this alternative vision of notre dame cathedral - Designboom

There seems to be some confusion about whether its too late in the season to plant turfgrass. Fear of freeze damage is the main concern.

Well, if planting sod in the fall were a problem, the golf course superintendents and landscape contractors would be in real trouble since they plant and transplant solid sod year-round, including through the winter as long as the ground isnt frozen.

So yes, planting solid sod can be done any time of the year, but fall is the very best time to plant warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia, as well as cool-season grasses such as rye, fescue and bluegrass. It is too late in the season to plant Bermudagrass seed, and St. Augustine and Zoysia arent planted by seed.

Now that we have that straight, lets talk about how to best do the planting.

Remove existing grasses, weeds, debris and surface rocks. Rocks down in the soil are no problem and actually aid positive drainage. Till to a depth of 1 inch and rake into a smooth grade. Deep rotor-tilling is unnecessary and a waste of money unless the soil is heavily compacted.

Adding a thin layer of compost 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick is OK to do, but its really better to wait and apply the compost and other amendments (lava sand, Azomite and whole ground cornmeal) on top of the sod after planting. The addition of topsoil or sand isnt needed.

Its a little late in October, but ryegrass seed can be planted as a winter over-seeding crop now. But I dont do it; its too much trouble. If you decide to, scalp the turf area and catch the clippings. After spreading the seed at about 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, thoroughly soak the ground, then lightly water the seeded area at least twice a day. Fertilize with organic fertilizer sometime around the first mowing. Continue light watering until the grass has solidly covered.

Spot sodding is not my favorite way to go because it is too slow to establish, but it can be done by planting 4-inch-by-4-inch (or larger) squares countersunk to be flush with the existing grade.

For solid sod or spot sod planting, organic fertilizer should be applied immediately after planting at the rate of 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Solid sod blocks should be laid joint to joint after thoroughly wetting the top and bottom of each sod piece. After planting, the sod should be tamped down by using a roller full of water. This helps smooth out and level the sod. But more important, it removes air pockets that result in yellow spots. Small areas can be tamped by foot.

Mow your new sod whenever it needs it.

Read this article:
You can plant turfgrass in the fall - The Dallas Morning News

Plans to grass over graves at a cemetery in Reading have been paused as some families were not aware of the maintenance works, the council has announced.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) had planned to begin seeding work on the graves in Henley Road Cemetery so that they fit in with the other graves in this part of the cemetery.

Some members of the Muslim community prefer earth graves, where they can plant flowers, but the graves are located in lawned areas.

READ MORE: Development plans at 'stunning' Edwardian house refused for SIXTH time in THREE years

In 2018, the council identified that it was necessary to find an additional area for Muslim burials within the Henley Road Cemetery.

At that time, the only available location was in an area where graves are laid to lawn.

A meeting was held, and this was agreed by the Imam at the time, but when notice was given of the plans to grass over the graves, families informed the council they were unaware this would happen.

A RBC spokesman said: When a burial is being arranged, a burial notice must be completed and within this notice, the grave type is specified.

Unfortunately, as the vast majority of burial notice forms in the Muslim community are completed by either the funeral director or more often by the mosque on behalf of the family, it is possible the families have not explicitly been made aware of the grave type.

Therefore, when the recent signs were displayed on site giving notice of planned seeding work in the area, this was the first time some families have been made aware of the situation.

READ MORE: Half of rough sleepers now in longer-term accommodation - Reading update

Obviously if families have not been informed of this situation prior to the burial, we fully understand why they would be upset on discovering it, particularly where a community has strong beliefs regarding burial sites.

We will be discussing this further with those who have loved ones buried, as well as representatives of the Muslim community. In the meantime, we have paused the planned work for the time being.

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Plans to 'grass over' Muslim graves paused as some families 'unaware and upset' - Reading Chronicle

Oct. 6

Education: Parents/guardians of children in Rainbow Schools are invited to take part in a virtual presentation on Life Interrupted: A Pathway Toward Resilience and Growth. Two online sessions will be available on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. Hosted by the Rainbow District School Board Mental Health Team, the presentation will support parents/guardians as their children transition back to school, whether learning in class or online. Parents/guardians can register online at bit.ly/rdsblifeinterrupted.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Film: Splinters, a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 film, will be opening theatrically at select theatres across Canada, including at the Sudbury Indie Cinema downtown on Oct. 2. A full schedule of showtimes will be available at http://www.sudburyindiecinema.com in the coming weeks.

Trivia Night: Nickel City Trivia is hosting The Quarantine Quiz every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Facebook. Go to https://bit.ly/3n3IDy9.

Oct. 7

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Mining: Gordon Stothart, president and chief executive officer of IAMGOLD, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerces next Presidents Series Luncheon at Brystons-on-the-Park in Copper Cliff. Tickets for the in-person luncheon, which starts at noon, are $50 for members and $80 for non-members, while admission to the virtual luncheon, which starts at 1 p.m., is $25 for members and $40 for non-members. With the in-person luncheon, masks are mandatory and space is limited. For tickets or more information, contact the chamber at 705-673-7133, ext. 224.

Oct. 8

Food: St. Marys Ukrainian Catholic Church Thanksgiving luncheon, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is only accepting preorders and there will only be curbside pickup. A meal is $12 and includes three pyrohy, two cabbage rolls, sausage, sauerkraut and borscht soup. Sausage on a bun is $5, sausage on a bun with sauerkraut is $7, a dozen pyrohy is $9, a dozen cabbage rolls is $9, while a jar of borscht is also $9. All preorders must be placed by Oct. 6. To order, call 705-675-8244.

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Virtual Knit Nights: Sweet Yarns, located at 1465 Bancroft Dr., is livestreaming knitting circles on its Facebook page every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join here: https://bit.ly/33lpT5u.

Oct. 9

Haunted Heights Trail: Take a haunted walk through the woods every Friday and Saturday, 8-11 p.m., until Halloween. Social distancing rules in effect. Admission is $7 per person or $5 with a non-perishable food item (human or pet) to be donated to a local food bank and animal shelter. The haunted trail is located at 1764 Kathleen St. in Val Caron. For more, go to https://bit.ly/34f6thQ.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Halloween: The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre, along with Northern Screams, has created a new interactive and immersive Halloween attraction that will be open to the public starting Friday, Oct. 2, until Oct. 31. Inferno 6077: Born Out of Fire, is a fully produced theatrical drive-in style haunt that promises to deliver the same intense scares as the Terror Train 6077, which has been derailed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well as Saturday matinees from 2 to 6 p.m. All events will take place at the museums Heritage Centre, 59 Young St. in Capreol. Tickets are $65 per vehicle ($13 per person based on five seats), plus box office fees, and are available online at normhc.ca or by using the Haunt Pay App. Guests must remain in their vehicles throughout the entirety of the experience. Guests in each vehicle must be from the same social bubble. COVID-19 procedures and protocols will be posted and followed.

Halloween: Halloween at Dynamic Earth, 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 30. For a full list of events and experiences, visit https://www.sciencenorth.ca/halloween.

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

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Things to do in Sudbury, Oct. 6 to Oct. 9 - The Sudbury Star

Breathe easy, Masters zealots.

Last week photos circulated online from Eureka Earth showing most of the Augusta National grounds painted in brown.

Theoretically the images shouldnt have been surprising; the grass at the hallowed property is famously scalped in the summer months. But with this years Masters Tournament moved to November, the photos of a cocoa-colored Amen Corner had fans fearing the worst. (In their defense, its been that type of year.)

However, with the Masters five weeks out, Eureka Earth posted another round of Augusta National aerials Saturday morning, and the burnt sienna surroundings are no more:

That is the byproduct of ryegrass seeding, and you dont have to squint too hard to see the sprinklers hard at work. In short, Augusta National is back to looking like Augusta National.

Now, if those trees can just start turning orange

The 2020 Masters begins Nov. 12. Tiger Woods is the defending champ.

Original post:
You wont believe the transformation Augusta National has made in a week - Golf Digest

-Messenger photo by Kriss NelsonCory Krug, Webster County Fairgrounds president, stands at the new Figure 8 racetrack and pulling track and the grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

There has been a lot of action the past few weeks at the grandstand area of the Webster County Fairgrounds. Its not the typical Figure 8 races or truck pulls, however.

A transformation began just a few weeks ago at the fairgrounds when the Webster County Fair Board broke ground on their new grandstand area.

Cory Krug, Webster County Fair Board president said they have made great progress on the project, but there is still plenty to do.

By moving the grandstands and racetrack further east, closer to U.S. Highway 169, the Webster County Fair Board is anticipating the updates to bring more opportunities, comfort and attention to the grandstand events.

We have been running into problems with parking during the fair especially when our grandstand events come in, we have a carnival that takes up space, said Krug. We had a need to move the track and grandstands for several other reasons. The crowd will no longer have to face the sun and it will get better attention being closer to the highway.

-Messenger photo by Kriss NelsonCory Krug, Webster County Fairgrounds president, and Heather Stewart, Webster County Fair board member, discuss the progress that has been made at the new Figure 8 racetrack and pulling track and the grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Heather Stewart, a Webster County Fair Board member, agrees.

Hopefully people on the highway can see us know that we are here, she said. I think people have forgotten about us. We are hoping we will attract more people. We are set up to do so many great things here. Even if its not a grandstand event, we have a great auditorium, indoor and outdoor arenas too.

After the teardown of the old track area, which including pulling fences, barricades, moving the bleachers and more, dirt work began on not only tearing up the old track, but building a new one.

Krug said the new Figure 8 track is approximately 25-feet wider than the previous track, making it now 500 feet long and 210 feet wide with a 55-foot width around the track.

We did all of that based on the feedback from drivers, he said, adding that by moving the grandstand, they have managed to free up an additional five acres that will be used for parking and more.

-Submitted photoDirt work progresses on the new track and grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Krug said they have also improved their pulling track.

We brought in more clay. Packed it a lot better so that those events can go on seamlessly there wont have to be a lot of prep work like there was before, he said.

They have also moved the pit area down to the end of track.

This will allow better access to our facilities for all of the drivers and the people in the pit, so they dont have to cross the track, said Krug. It will be a lot safer that way.

The added space and new design will also allow for events that arent on the regular schedule to happen without tearing up the regular track areas as they have had to do in the past.

-Submitted photoThis photo shows how the grandstand area and racetrack was laid out prior to it being moved further to the east.

This will allow the grandstand area to be more versatile, said Krug. We also have UTV races, tough truck races and weve been getting some interest to bring back moto-cross races. We now have the space for those types of events to occur so we dont have to tear up our regular tracks like we have had to in the past.

Krug said there is still a lot of work left to be done.

Phase one is nearly complete, but will also include moving all of the electrical components, a new fence and also hopefully new lighting.

Phase two, according to Krug includes new bleachers with a shade roof. The cost for that starts in the $300,000 range, so there is a definite need for fundraising to achieve those plans.

In terms of enhancements, we would like better fencing instead of having to repurpose what we have, that is something we are looking at doing, he said.

Stewart said they are also looking into building a permanent beer garden with restroom facilities as well as a new facility for checking in and checking out on race day.

Fundraising

Krug said they were able to raise the funds to begin the transition with a Grandstand Fundraising Festival last summer, which replaced money that would have been raised during the 2020 Webster County Fair.

Local businesses and supporters came in and helped put on some of the events. Those large crowds that attended, allowed us to get the dirt work done and hopefully everything we need to do from an electrical standpoint, said Krug.

But more donations are needed in order to complete the work.

Both Stewart and Krug emphasized donations dont always have to be in the monetary form.

The seeding has been donated we have about 11 acres that needs seeded to have grass ready to go next year, said Krug. Same with the electrical we are hoping to get assistance with funding or for equipment and the labor. That is how most things happen out here. If the money is not there, then we hopefully get businesses to step up and help us out.

Some items that top their priority list include:

Water/sewer work

Highway barriers

6-by6-foot beams (4 feet to 16 feet)

2-by-10-by-18-foot treated boards

New light poles

LED stadium lights

Electric work

Crows nest build

Flag stand build

Beer garden/bathroom build

A list of needs will be updated on the Webster County Fair Boards website.

Stewart said if anyone or a business is willing to donate money, equipment or labor, they can contact the Webster County Fair Board. They will be a part of the sponsorship list that is listed on the fence that surrounds the grandstand area.

Krug said the Webster County Fairgrounds is a non-profit volunteer run organization.

We are always looking for more volunteers or members that are interested in helping to improve the fairgrounds for our local youth and the benefit of the community, he said.

Having a venue brings people to our area, said Stewart.

Krug said he would like to see the new grandstand area and the Webster County Fairgrounds eventually become a premier venue for Fort Dodge and Webster County.

Our main thing we do here is Figure 8s, but, we are going to expand on that. We are going to have more races next year. We bring in a lot of cars from different counties and places in Iowa. We want to expand that even further. Have more truck pulls to put on and just more stuff for people to get out and do, he said. We would love to have bigger concerts and also use it for venues like that.

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Transformation and opportunity | News, Sports, Jobs - Fort Dodge Messenger