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Caltrans officials canceled a second closure of the San Mateo Bridge scheduled for next weekend after deciding Sunday that construction crews could complete all of their repairs by early Monday morning.

The 7-mile-long bridge between Foster City and Hayward, which carries about 92,000 vehicles each weekday, was expected to reopen on schedule at 5 a.m. Monday in time for the morning commute.

"That second weekend work, we were able to complete this weekend," said Traci Ruth, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

So instead of shutting down for a second weekend at 10 p.m. Friday, as it was last weekend, the San Mateo Bridge will remain open.

"There won't be any detours or any closures," Ruth said.

Caltrans officials decided Saturday night to try to complete the work in a single weekend after making more progress more quickly than expected. Workers removed and replaced decks on the part of the span between the elevated segment and the trestles, along with a cracked beam - part of an expansion joint - discovered during a routine inspection in October 2010. Caltrans performed emergency repairs on the bridge then, installing steel plates on both sides of the damaged joint.

Fixing it permanently will cost about $3 million, which will come from toll funds. Completing the work in a single weekend won't increase the cost, Ruth said.

The original plan was to complete repairs to the westbound section of the bridge last weekend and work on the eastbound section next weekend. The contractor replaced the westbound decks sooner than anticipated, so Caltrans engineers looked at the work that needed to be completed, decided it could be completed a little more quickly if done all at once, and figured it could be finished before the 5 a.m. Monday reopening.

Even rain, forecast to start late Sunday night, shouldn't slow construction, but Caltrans has contingency plans if the rains are heavier than anticipated, Ruth said.

The bridge closure failed to snarl Bay Area traffic over the weekend, despite the Big Game in Berkeley and the usual assortment of festivals around the region. Drivers were advised to use the Dumbarton Bridge or the Bay Bridge, which seemed to handle the increased traffic without unusual backups.

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San Mateo Bridge work ahead of schedule

After receiving the latest air quality tests, the Scranton School Board unanimously voted at a special meeting to keep students at William Prescott Elementary School, although it could mean longer days and a shorter school year for students.

The board made the announcement after tests revealed no indication of active mold growth or airborne microbial concerns.

Parents clapped as the board announced students would not be moved to the former Nativity Elementary.

Various tests performed on rooms in the elementary school Oct. 8 indicated safe mold counts, which school board members attribute to the spot remediation and intensive cleaning the rooms had undergone.

"I'm pleased with everything that's been done by maintenance and your staff," Joe Guzek of Guzek Associates said as he addressed board members and parents at a special meeting regarding the mold issue Monday night at the school.

Guzek Associates is the district's environmental engineering firm.

School board President Bob Lesh, along with directors Sean O'Shea, Kathleen McGuigan and Bill Fox were not in attendance.

The board estimates the project to completely remove the mold could take three months and is considering shortening the school year by three months so it can be completed over summer break.

Superintendent Bill King met with parents and administrators last week to discuss a tentative plan for shortening the school year to May 17 and adding approximately 45 minutes to each school day starting Nov. 5 to meet state and federal education hour requirements, he said.

The extended summer vacation would allow Guzek Associates to property repair the moldy areas of the building completely so the 2013-2014 school year wouldn't be interrupted. School is currently slated to end June 10, according to the school district's website.

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No active mold reported, students to stay at Prescott Elementary

MOUNT HOLLY The last five years have not been good at the municipal building on Washington Street.

The first floor experienced major flooding in 2007 and last August during Tropical Storm Irene. Irene's damages have cost the township about $600,000.

Now, mold has been discovered in ductwork on the second and third floors.

The Township Council on Monday declared a special emergency so the building can remain open as remediation is done. Budget money will need to be transferred to cover the costs.

About $16,000 has been paid since the mold was discovered Oct. 6, interim Township Manager Denise Rose said. That cost will increase because only the third floor has been remediated so far, Township Clerk Kathy Hoffman said. Work on the second floor is under way and is expected to take a few weeks to complete, she said.

The first floor will be inspected to make sure no mold is present, Hoffman said. Repairs to the first floor were completed in May.

Services in the building were moved around to minimize any future flood damage. The municipal court, previously on the second floor, is now on the ground floor. The first floor also has a lobby, restrooms, two holding cells, conference room, kitchenette and community room.

The Police Department, formerly at ground level, experienced significant damage in 2007 and last year. It's now on thesecond floor.

The mold was discovered during duct cleaning. Two local companies have been hired to do the remediation and replace ductwork, Hoffman said. Areas are being quarantined as the work is being done.

Air-quality levels did not require employees to be relocated, Rose said. Also, no asbestos remediation is required.

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Mold remediation being done at Mount Holly Municipal Building

The Westport Weston Family Y is moving ahead with preparations to install a septic system for its new complex planned at the Mahackeno Outdoor Center after the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday approved establishment of an emergency reserve fund for the wastewater facility.

The fund will consist of cash and/or cash equivalents totaling about $300,000 -- an amount financed by the Y. That reserve is intended to cover 100 percent of the "anticipated replacement costs" of all the septic facility's equipment and materials, as mandated by a wastewater treatment ordinance passed in 2006 by the Representative Town Meeting.

Y officials will also have to secure the Board of Selectmen's approval to create an operational and maintenance fund for the Mahackeno septic facility. Both of those accounts must be set up before the Y builds the septic system.

"In this case here, you're typically going to have a couple of components that are going to go, get hit by lightning, have an explosion, have motors, have pumps, things like that that would go," said Public Works Director Steve Edwards. "Those are all items that would be easily covered with $300,000."

During his 25 years running the town's wastewater treatment plant, Edwards said he did not recall any "catastrophic event" that had cost $300,000. He also expressed confidence the town could cope with the prospective failure of the Mahackeno septic system.

"This is a recreational facility, and if we have to shut it down, we shut it down," Edwards added. "Worst case scenario: They could truck 30,000 gallons (of wastewater) down to my treatment plant on a daily basis for probably six months for $300,000."

The selectmen's approval of the emergency reserve fund is the latest step in a lengthy approval process for the construction of an on-site wastewater treatment facility to service the Y's planned 54,000-square-foot center at its Mahackeno campus in northwest Westport. That septic apparatus -- also known as a fixed activated sludge treatment system -- has also been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Flood and Erosion Control Board and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Y officials earlier this year submitted an application to the town to connect the Mahackeno campus to Westport's public sewer system. That proposal would have required changes to the municipal sewer network's boundaries and attracted vehement resistance from a number of town residents. The Y subsequently withdrew the application.

Despite the furor provoked by the Y's sewer proposal, Westport Weston Family Y Chief Executive Officer Rob Reeves has not ruled out the possibility of eventually connecting the Mahackeno complex to the town's sewer system.

"We would prefer to be added to the town's sanitary sewer system and would entertain any request from the town to consider that, but are moving forward with our plans for a septic system," he said in an email Thursday.

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Y wins approval for Mahackeno septic reserve fund

A preserved historical gateway building. Brick and clapboard townhouses with porches that greet the neighborhood. A pedestrian mews with urban gardens off Mechanic Street.

Meet One Lawrence Street, the third plan in five years to attempt to bring a mix of residences and business to the vacant Star Supply building, the desolate former industrial site at the northern end of State Street.

Former Yale Law School student and Goatvillean Ben Gross, now a research fellow at the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at NYU, led a team of seven partners called Goatville Development LLC in presenting preliminary plans for the proposed 250-apartment (with 200 parking spots) mixed retail and residential complex. He made his pitch to the East Rock Management Team at the little Hooker School on Canner Street Monday night.

Gross learned about the property during his years as a Yale Law School student, as a Yale fellow at New Haven governments Livable City Initiative, and as a five-year-denizen of the Goatville section of East Rock before he moved to New York City. The plans are so preliminary Gross and fellow partner and project architect Randolph Gerner couldnt even put a dollar figure on the cost.

Gross envisions studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments, with a smattering of three-bedrooms, all to be offered on a rental basis.

Gerner said the apartment footprint would be smaller than standard, with the studios covering 500 square feet and the one-bedrooms running between 625 and 700. He proposed 30,000 square feet of commercial space on the first and second floors, primarily along State Street. The large space would aim to attract a bigger business than the ones currently on that stretch of State, such as a fitness studio or a small bank.

The designers offered a schematic presentation of how the buildings preserve and echo local history, interact with as opposed to turn their back on the neighborhood, build on the success of Upper State Streets commercial corridor, and defend against the looming presence of I-91. The 45 attendees offered high marks for thoughtfulness and wishes for success.

The project will need it. The site is contaminated with petroleum and solvents from its previous industrial history, although Gross said previous developers had gotten a good head start in defining the environmental issues.

Developers have eyed the 3-acre lot to build stores and apartments as far back as 2006. The Christie Wareck Co. drew up detailed plans for stores and 139 apartments, and even got zoning approval, before the plan fell apart due to in-fighting among the developers. Then Fairfield Residential, the largest privately held multi-family developer in the nation, tried to turn Star Supply into luxury housing; that plan fell apart when the economy tanked in 2008.

Architect Randolph Gerner of GKV Architects, presented the chief features of the latest plan. They include townhouses with porches along Mechanic Street and a pedestrian mews off Mechanic that is a kind of public urban garden on the order of Forest Hills Gardens in Queens, N.Y. Plans call for preserving the two-story brick structure where Lawrence and Mechanic meet. That gateway building would give the name to the project, One Lawrence.

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Goatville Welcomes Latest Star Supply Plan

Photo by Emily Adams Keplinger

This sculpture at the corner of Jefferson and McLean adds artistic flair. It is one of several sculptures by local artists Roy Tamboli and Carol Buchman that can be found throughout the area.

Photo by Emily Adams Keplinger

Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger/The Commercial Appeal The porches on the houses in the Tucker-Jefferson area of Midtown add a distinctive flavor to the neighborhood, as well as encourage neighborly visits.

Photo by Emily Adams Keplinger

Neighbors Bryan and Rachel Baddorf (from left); Brandon and Lily Russell, with their children Clemens, Hazel and Jane; recently enjoyed socializing with Kathy McAllen at her home in the Tucker-Jefferson neighborhood. McAllen's house was the first stop for the group's progressive porch party which ultimately was moved indoors because of rainy weather.

Gathering on front porches is a time-honored tradition, especially in the South. And that tradition lives in the tiny jewel of a neighborhood known as Tucker-Jefferson albeit with a twist neighbors recently gathered for a "Progressive Porch Party." The intent was to draw neighbors outside to visit with one another, which is certainly nothing new to this social group. The newness of the visit came from moving from house to house as the evening and the courses went along.

Kathy McAllen has lived in Tucker-Jefferson for almost 15 years. She said she was drawn to the eclectic feel of the neighborhood, both in terms of the styles of houses and their inhabitants.

"We have single-family homes and retirement homes, renters and owners, businesses and restaurants and more lately, art students," explained McAllen.

With about 600 households, including apartment dwellers, in the area bounded by Cooper on the east, McLean on the west, Poplar on the north and Madison on the south, the area is affectionately known by those who live there as "where The Park (Overton Park) meets The Square (Overton Square)." Sculptures by local artists and residents Roy Tamboli and Carol Buchman can be spotted throughout the neighborhood, adding to the artistic flair.

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Front porches make good neighbors

Its always fun and exciting to celebrate an anniversary, including the 100th anniversary of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church building.

In honor of this occasion, Methodist church members are hosting a celebration event on Sunday, Oct. 28. Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble will be preaching at the worship service at 9:30 a.m., where area churches are invited to celebrate with them and hear Trimble preach. Following the service, pancakes and sausage will be served in Fellowship Hall.

The Methodist Church has a long history in Shenandoah. It was in 1870 when Reverend Samuel Farlow conducted the first Methodist service on Dec. 25 in the CB&Q Railroad Depot.

Because of a growing number of parishioners, Reverend B.F. Chrissman laid the groundwork and headed up the fundraising for the current facility, at the corner of Church Street and West Thomas Avenue. This would be the third, and final structure on this same site for church services.

Construction on the current church began in 1910 and was completed two years later in October 1912. Once completed, the buildings estimated value was $55,000 and the land $10,000.

An article in the Sentinel Post, dated June 28, 1910 discusses how the old church quickly came down while being demolished.

It was a surprise that it could be done so quickly. In four days it was completely demolished and the ground cleared for excavation, the paper read.

Within the 100 years the building has stood, there has been an upgrade or two, including a remodeled sanctuary that began in January 1970.

In 2010, church members and the community celebrated the 100th anniversary of opening the cornerstone. The celebration on Oct. 28 promises to be just as joyous.

Trimble is the resident Bishop Iowa area, The United Methodist Church. He was born and raised in Chicago, and answered the call to the ministry at the age of 16. Trimble then attended Eureka College in Illinois and transferred to Illinois State University where he earned a degree in Sociology. He then earned a Masters in Divinity at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Doctorate on Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.

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Shen UMC to celebrate 100th anniversary of current church

By Adam Pulchinski The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

BROWNSDALE The congregation of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale celebrated the churchs 75th anniversary the same way they have celebrated their fellowship throughout those years: together, as a community.

Gathering Sunday afternoon for a special worship service, followed by coffee and cake, people of the congregation enjoyed each others company and reminisced.

The church is a real community, said member Nancy Holland. Its a real community-type atmosphere, with people helping each other.

Holland, who served on the anniversary committee, has been a member at Our Savior since 1978. She moved to Brownsdale after marrying her husband, Norbert, who was born and raised in the area. Norberts parents joined the church shortly after it was moved from its original location in Hayfield in 1937.

They werent charter members, but they joined shortly after, Holland said. Like her husbands parents, many of the congregation can trace their roots back to the beginning. Some of those current members could catch a glimpse of their ancestors in a DVD that was made from a film chronicling the moving and building of the church.

We were going through all of the old papers and this movie was here, Holland said. Other items the committee found in their preparation included the original constitution of the church, the minutes from their first meeting, and the deed.

Its our history and we want to save it for future generations.

The history of the church itself was commemorated more than any physical building on Sunday. Our Savior has gone through location changes, remodels, and other construction during its 75 years.

We actually have people who say, and say with a smile, I got married in a funeral home, said the Rev. Jeff Sage, Our Saviors pastor. Sage was referring to a previous location of the church that was changed to a mortuary after the church moved to accommodate a larger congregation. Sage emphasized while the buildings may change, there is a lot more to celebrated.

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Brownsdale's Our Savior Church marks 75 years

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church has filed a motion for a new trial in its lengthy legal battle with the city over construction of new place of worship in old Mandeville. The motion stems from a ruling earlier this month by state District Judge William Crain that essentially upheld the Mandeville Zoning Board's denial of the church's request for a permit to build a $13 million sanctuary across Lafitte Street from the existing OLL chapel. It seeks a new trial or reconsideration of Crain's ruling.

In the motion, attorneys for OLL argue that the court's Oct. 10 judgment upholds the zoning board's "quasi-judicial" denial of a permit to build the church on the basis that the project did not meet minimum parking requirements. While it denied the permit, the motion states the Zoning Board "never determined that OLL's application showed insufficient parking...."

Because the board's decision is "quasi-judicial," the court's "review of it is limited to a determination of whether the decision is supported by record evidence. The court went beyond its review authority and "supplied a new reason to deny OLL's permit - one that was not part of the record and therefore not properly before this court."

The motion "respectfully requests that the court grant a new trial, or in the alternative reconsideration of its ruling, because the court's judgment is contrary to the law and not supported by the evidence before it."

Lloyd "Sonnny" Shields, an attorney for the Zoning Board, said he is confident in the board's position.

"It's simple," he said. "The matter was fully, thoroughly and completely examined and explained by the board during three lengthy public hearings."

OLL attorneys referred questions on the motion to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Sarah McDonald, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said the motion filed Monday is a step in the legal process. "The parish (OLL) is continuing to explore the options and this motion is part of that process," she said.

The archdiocese and Archbishop Gregory Aymond support OLL in its efforts to build "a church that can accommodate its parishioners."

The church project has been a lightning rod of controversy in the old Mandeville community. Opponents fear the new, 16,715-square-foot Gothic Revival church would cause drainage, traffic and parking problems in the lakefront community and would not fit in with surrounding buildings. Supporters said the existing 465-seat church is way too small to accommodate crowds that attend popular weekend Masses and for some school functions. For some Masses, OLL is forced to use a multi-purpose building that houses a gymnasium, where those church goers who are able to do so kneel on the basketball court while praying. The proposed new church would have 1,028 seats.

Our Lady of the Lake, located three blocks from Lake Pontchartrain, is the largest Catholic parish in the local archdiocese, with nearly 3,000 registered families in the congregation. The church has been part of the lakefront community for 160 years. An adjoining Catholic School is also part of the Lafitte Street campus.

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Mandeville Catholic church seeks new trial in legal struggle with city

By JOSH AULT 6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - It has been almost two years since a massive fire destroyed a large portion of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville.

Since that time, church members have been working hard rebuild the church.

Construction has begun, and members are excited to see their church come back to life. Workers have already built the large steel frame for the new building.

"It's like every time I drive by here I see something different being put up," said church member Jeffrey Riddle.

After the fire, a building committee was formed to get the project off the ground. A lot of planning went into making this new sanctuary special.

"It's going to be bigger," said church member Lee Jackson. "It will be in a different direction. The old sanctuary was in a north, south direction and this one is now in an east, west direction."

Drawings have been made to show what the new portion of the church will look like. They are hoping to be in the new sanctuary by 2013.

"We are probably about 16th of the way through," said Jackson. "We are not very far down the road. We are hoping to be finished by summer of next year.

"I'm excited," said Riddle. "I hope the whole church congregation is excited. On that day when we are able to break through those doors what a wonderful joy it will be."

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Construction begins on Knoxville church devastated by fire