Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Forty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, efforts to control pollution are shifting to a broad range of sources agricultural, storm sewer and other runoffs.

There are still some needs out there, said municipal wastewater manager Wendy Turri of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, referring to concerns about pollution from single sources. For instance, new research shows evidence of harm from hormone levels and traces of prescription drugs in rivers that werent able to be scrubbed by wastewater treatment facilities.

But today, experts argue, the bigger threat is nutrient runoff from fields, feedlots and storm sewers.

In 1987, amendments to the Clean Water Act added whats known as nonpoint sources of pollution, or pollution that comes from a variety of places. The amendments established a comprehensive program for controlling pollutants and stormwater runoff, directed states to create voluntary programs to manage pollutants not discharged from a single point, and encouraged states to pursue groundwater protection.

The challenge is that the regulations arent as strict as those for pollution from a single location and its much harder to identify or control many different pollution sources, said Winona County water planner Natalie Siderius.

In the cities and towns around Winona County, Siderius said, there are runoff standards and best-management practices for farmers. Feedlots are regulated, as are septic systems.

But for the most part, Siderius said, managing pollution from a variety of places relies on the cooperation of individual landowners.

Its a tough nut to crack, Siderius said. You have to work with people to implement as many best practices as you can on their lands.

There are two farmer-led councils in Winona County in the Whitewater and Rush Pine watersheds tackling agricultural pollution on their own, Siderius said.

Farmers realize unless they take care of things themselves, there may be additional regulations, she said.

Excerpt from:

Next challenge for clean water: controlling pollution from runoff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -

Jefferson County has not had a sewer rate increase in years. But now that the county is in bankruptcy court in part due to the sewer debt, the county has to come up with more cash to pay that debt.

Jefferson County commissioners have hired a consulting team to gather information about running a sewer system and complying with the clean water act.

Commissioners want to see that report first, but in the past commissioners admitted some sort of increase will be warranted. The commissioners hoped to keep that increase around or below five percent.

There has also been discussion of implementing a non-user fee on households that have septic tanks to share in some of burden of paying off the sewer debt and providing clean water in county.

"I haven't see the recommendations yet, but Judge Bennett was clear that the commission was to consider a revenue increase," commissioner David Carrington said.

The public will be able to give their opinion on any possible recommendation at a November 6 public hearing. The commission could possibly vote on the recommendation after that meeting.

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.

View post:

Jefferson County sewer rate increases possible

Previous Next Microsoft Updates Xbox To Cement Hold On Living Room

Microsofts new Smartglass technology, due Friday, combined with a new update to the Xbox, puts the company clearly in the drivers seat to control the evolution of the living room.

Microsoft said Tuesday that its Smartglass technology, which makes tablets and phones a second screen to complement the Xbox game console, will be available on Friday, the same day the company plans to release Windows 8. At the same time, a scheduled Xbox update adds Windows Explorer to the TV screen - along with a key addition: recommended content.

We are bringing the Web to the TV like never before with Internet Explorer, launching a brand new music service, and making it even easier to find the entertainment you love using Kinect and Bing voice search, said Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing officer for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Division, in a blog post. This release is the next step in our journey to transform Xbox 360 from a games console to an all-in-one entertainment system.

According to Nielsens first-quarter Cross-Platform Report, (PDF), Americans spend 1 hour 38

minutes per week on gaming devices. But consoles with the power to stream video (now, virtually all of them), the average time spent is 2 hours and 48 minutes a week. The conclusion? Game consoles arent just a console, theyre a set-top box, a front-end gateway to entertainment content that the traditional cable or satellite box just doesnt provide.

The same report also notes that DVR viewing continues to increase. With the exception of live sports, viewers are caring less about watching live TV as it happens, instead time-shifting it to when its most convenient. That, in turn, blurs the line between the recorded shows available on Netflix, Hulu and other sources of content and the linear streams of content presented on network and cable TV that we can dip into with our DVRs.

One of the most important additions to the Xbox update, then, is the release of recommendations. Recommendations will allow you to discover new movies, TV shows and games, generated based on a number of variables including the content you previously viewed, what your friends are consuming and what is most relevant and popular with our Xbox community, said Larry Hyrb, Microsofts Xbox community spokesman, in a related blog post. You can now rate content yourself and also see Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

According to ABI Research, the number of videos and TV shows available to watch numbers somewhere north of 100,000, although the total varies widely according to how theyre defined. (Amazon and Google, for example, are suspected to equate a single episode of a TV show as equivalent to a movie, putting South Park on the scale of Captain America.) However you count, though, theres an overwhelming amount of content out there, and recommendations help narrow it down based on your preferences and what your friends like.

There are essentially three methods of rating content:

Go here to read the rest:

Microsoft Updates Xbox To Cement Hold On Living Room

BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwire - Oct 19, 2012) - Sometimes travel isn't about business or vacation, it's about your well-being. With a location near Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront is a top choice for visiting patients and their families who are looking for hotels in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

What sets this Baltimore Inner Harbor hotel apart from others, however, is its private consultation room, available for guests who need "home" visits. The room, equipped with routine medical equipment, allows guests to meet with a local physician or specialist in a natural setting without having to leave the hotel.

The consultation room is just another way this Baltimore convention center hotel makes its guests feel at home. Guestrooms offer luxurious bedding packages, beautiful views of the waterfront and city, high-speed Internet access, coffee/tea service, room service and HDTVs with premium cable channels.

In addition to elegant rooms and suites in Baltimore, MD, this Inner Harbor hotel also offers resort-like amenities such as a fitness center, indoor pool and sauna. Onsite dining includes fresh, seasonal Maryland cuisine at Grille 700; creative martinis, fine wines and light fare at Kozmo's Lounge and snacks, sandwiches and Starbucks coffee at Rigano's Bakery and Deli. There is also more than 80,000 sq. ft. of modern meeting and event space at this conference center hotel, perfect for exhibitions, weddings, social functions and business meetings.

Exploring the best the city has to offer is easy from this waterfront hotel; don't miss the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore Zoo, National Aquarium, Fell's Point, Baltimore Museum of Art, or Oriole Park at Camden Yards. You can also combine dining and entertainment in the Inner Harbor on a Spirit Cruise.

About the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Sitting on the water's edge in the Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront offers spectacular views and access to the city's top shopping, dining and attractions. Just a short drive away from BWI airport, the Amtrak station and the convention center, this Inner Harbor hotel is the ideal destination for meetings and events with more than 80,000 sq. ft. of event space, including the Grand Ballroom with a capacity of 2,800, and easy online group booking with QuickGroup. Guestrooms offer flexible spaces with water and city views, high-speed Internet access, Marriott's signature Revive bedding package and plug-in panels to connect all your devices to the HDTV. The surrounding area is filled with the city's top attractions including the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Baltimore Ravens stadium. You're also just minutes from Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center. On property you can unwind at the fitness center, indoor pool and sauna. Treat yourself to fine dining at Grille 700, featuring a stunning view and fresh, seasonal Maryland cuisine, or spend an evening sipping fine wines, beers and creative martinis at the elegant Kozmo's Lounge. For something quick and easy, grab snacks and Starbucks coffee at Rigano's Bakery and Deli.

Excerpt from:

Hotel in Baltimore Inner Harbor Offers Private Consultation Room for Medical Visitors

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) A jail inmate suspected of drug use was shot and killed Thursday by a Los Angeles County deputy after the man grabbed a gun from another deputy in a hospital emergency room, authorities said.

The 27-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. No one else was hurt.

The man had one wrist handcuffed to a gurney in a private triage room with two deputies when he suddenly grabbed the gun from one officer's belt and "tried to gain possession of it," sheriff's Lt. Holly Francisco said. The other deputy fired the shot that killed the inmate, she said.

The man had been arrested Wednesday for investigation of possessing a controlled substance. While jailed at the South Los Angeles station, the man complained of feeling ill and responding firefighters took him to the hospital.

It was unclear if the man was under the influence at the time of the shooting.

Ken Cobb, who was in a wheelchair, said he heard one of the deputies tell the man he was going take off the handcuff to sign some paperwork.

"It happened so fast it was like a quick flash reaction," Cobb said.

There were roughly 20 hospital employees working at the time of the shooting, but no one was in the area where the shooting occurred, hospital spokesman Steven Brand said.

Centinela Hospital, which had about 60,000 emergency room visits last year, does not have an inmate ward like some other medical facilities but routinely treats suspected criminals who have injuries or illnesses, Brand said.

In addition, the hospital provides safety training for its staff and employs security guards who are not armed, he said.

See more here:

Deputy shoots suspect in hospital emergency room

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Grant Street Inn has opened a new 16-room addition. The new building was designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements. The facility will be the fourth LEED-certified building in Bloomington, and the first privately owned LEED-certified building in town. Certification, which is based on energy usage, sustainability and indoor air quality, will be completed upon review of energy and water consumption.

The Grant Street Inns new addition was built to match the 1890s style of the original inn. It is a part of CFCs larger effort toward sustainable living. The addition includes green elements such as energy-saving light fixtures, low-flow showers, solar panel water heaters and a system to capture rainwater and use it to irrigate the lawn and solar panel water heaters.

We are so excited about this addition to the Grant Street Inn, said Jim Murphy, president of CFC Properties. Guests can enjoy the usual comforts of our bed and breakfast as we work to reduce our carbon footprint.

This summer, guests of the inn were given gift cards to the local farmers market and encouraged to bring a plant back to the inn to be planted in the guest garden. The items they brought back were incorporated into the days meals. These efforts, and others designed to get people thinking about things they can do to help the environment, will continue.

About CFC Properties

For more than 35 years, CFC Properties has been a leader in the historic restoration, promotion and revitalization of downtown Bloomington, Indiana. This includes the citys largest bed and breakfast, the Grant Street Inn. CFC also recently expanded to Canton, Illinois, hometown of former president and CEO of Cook Group, Bill Cook. For more information, visit http://www.cfcproperties.com. Follow The Grant Street Inn on Twitter and Facebook.

The rest is here:

Grant Street Inn Goes Green

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Boston Properties, Inc. (BXP), a real estate investment trust, reported results today for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Funds from Operations (FFO) for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 were $176.1 million, or $1.17 per share basic and $1.16 per share diluted. This compares to FFO for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 of $190.3 million, or $1.29 per share basic and $1.28 per share diluted. The results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 compared to 2011 were impacted by $0.03 per share of losses on early extinguishments of debt and additional interest expense of $0.06 per share. The weighted average number of basic and diluted shares outstanding totaled 150,801,425 and 153,309,978, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and 147,006,295 and 149,082,924, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

The Companys reported FFO of $1.16 per share diluted exceeded the guidance previously provided of $1.13-$1.15 per share. The Companys reported FFO included the following items, among others, that were not reflected in the guidance: $0.02 per share of improvements in portfolio operations and $0.01 per share less than expected of general and administrative expenses, offset by($0.01) per share of acquisition-related expenditures.

Net income available to common shareholders was $57.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared to $70.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. Net income available to common shareholders per share (EPS) for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 was $0.38 basic and $0.38 on a diluted basis. This compares to EPS for the third quarter of 2011 of $0.48 basic and $0.48 on a diluted basis.

The reported results are unaudited and there can be no assurance that the results will not vary from the final information for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of these reported results have been made.

As of September 30, 2012, the Companys portfolio consisted of 152 properties, comprised primarily of Class A office space, one hotel, three residential properties and three retail properties, aggregating approximately 43.4 million square feet, including eight properties under construction totaling 2.7 million square feet. In addition, the Company has structured parking for vehicles containing approximately 15.2 million square feet. The overall percentage of leased space for the 141 properties in service (excluding the two in-service residential properties and the hotel) as of September 30, 2012 was 91.6%.

Significant events during the third quarter included:

Transactions completed subsequent to September 30, 2012:

EPS and FFO per Share Guidance:

Originally posted here:

Boston Properties Announces Third Quarter 2012 Results

GRAND BLANC, MI Grand Blanc could become the home of the second Culvers restaurant to open in Genesee County.

But the odd-shaped piece of land where the restaurant will sit needs final approval for a slew of variances before ground is broken on the project this spring.

The proposed development is on a one-acre triangle-shaped piece of land at 12225 S. Saginaw St. that has sat vacant for years, south of Sunset Apartments and across the street from Grand Blanc High School.

"We have tried to accommodate whats good for the city, whats good for the neighbors," said Kevin Johnson with Rhoads & Johnson, a construction company out of Fenton. "There isnt any business that can fit on this little triangle and can meet every ordinance. ... It's a strange piece."

Variances needed for the restaurant include one to allow outdoor seating, a decreased setback in the front and the south side and a reduced distance between the McDonalds drive-thru and Culvers - 250 feet is usually required. A special use request will also have to be granted for a drive-thru lane.

The city planning commission gave tentative approval Oct. 16 and a request for final approval is on the Nov. 14 City Council agenda.

The $2 million project is estimated to bring 90 new jobs to the area.

Culver's originated in Wisconsin and now has more than 450 family owned franchises in 19 states. The restaurant chain is known for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard.

Johnson said the location in Grand Blanc was a good spot for the restaurant because it was surrounded by similar businesses. McDonalds is to the south and Qdoba is adjacent is across the street.

With the property being undeveloped, it seems a restaurant would fit well with the logistics of the area, Johnson said.

Go here to read the rest:

Construction on Culver's restaurant in Grand Blanc could begin in the spring

- Smoke Daddy, everyone's favorite Wicker Park BBQ hotspot, is about to get a lot hotter. Over the next three months, the restaurant is going to double in size. Don't worry: they are staying open during construction. But when everything is finished in January, the restaurant will have 120 seats, a huge garage door to open up the front of the restaurant, windows into the smoking room so you can watch the action, and a private party space. Plus, they'll be launching a brunch menu. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

- Stout Barrel House & Galley had a minor fire yesterday. The River North bar and restaurant was closed when an ice machine developed a minor flaming problem - luckily, no one was hurt. There was no major damage to the restaurant. If you have reservations in the next few days, you're probably out of luck, but as soon as everything is cleaned up and inspect, they'll be back open.

- Oh Billy Dec, you're at it again. A few weeks ago, he bought Martini Ranch (some tweets led Grubstreet to speculate that he had bought it accidentally, without telling his partners) and decided to reconcept the 4 a.m. space into something new. He sorta decided to crowdsource the concept. We say sorta because the proposals that Dec put out there included "Dive Bar" and a Mexican riff on his partner's hometown. There was a space for the public to give ideas, but they must have been pretty lame. Why? The new concept will be.... Mexican Dive Bar. The new bar will open around the beginning of 2013.

View original post here:

Restaurant News: Smoke Daddy Expanding, Stout Reopening After Fire

Barth Anderson was among an early wave of new food entrepreneurs in the Seaport District when he opened Barrington Coffee Roasting Company last year, gambling that as the economy slowly improved the nascent neighborhood would eventually turn into a full-blown community with an active social scene.

But even hes surprised at the speed with which the Seaport is filling in. In the next few months, another wave of restaurants and entertainment options is scheduled to open in the Seaport District, seemingly racing the developers who are rushing to fill in the areas empty lots with office buildings and residential towers.

In an otherwise relatively tame world of development, this area feels like its on fire, Anderson said. Its forging ahead against all norms.

The latest influx involves some of the biggest names in Bostons food scene, from celebrity chef Ming Tsai to veteran restaurateurs Seth Greenberg and Tom Kershaw, with options that range from neighborhood tavern, to French bistro, to gourmet grocer.

Im very bullish on the whole area, said Greenberg, the owner of Mistral who plans to open a French eatery in a former textile factory on Melcher Street next spring. It has huge potential for cool restaurants, retail, and loft apartments.

After several fitful starts, building activity in the Seaport District is taking off, with blocks of office towers and hundreds of residential units under construction, or soon to be. Many of the existing eateries in the neighborhood are among the most popular in the city, with Temazcal and the other restaurants at the new Liberty Wharf complex, in particular, regularly jammed.

Next door, Kershaw, owner of Cheers, 75 Chestnut, and the Hampshire House, just opened 75 on Liberty Wharf in a 1,500-square-foot glass kiosk on Boston Harbor, where diners can sip cosmopolitans and feast on pumpkin ravioli as boats bob in the distance.

Far from a business risk, Kershaw said opening the new restaurant seemed like a slam dunk, and I think it probably will be.

Kershaw noted that business at his Beacon Hill and Faneuil Hall restaurants is still very flat, while activity across the Seaport is running counter to the economy.

Developer Young Park envisioned this kind of boom back in 2004, when his company, Berkeley Investments Inc., began buying up buildings in the Fort Point area. Among his first projects was a complex on Congress Street where he developed the FP3 condos.

Go here to read the rest:

Boston Seaport gets another restaurant invasion