Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

BENNINGTON - A retaining wall along the Roaring Branch river was damaged last year during Tropical Storm Irene and must be repaired, according to a town official.

Daniel Monks, the town's development director and zoning administrator, said the "flood wall" near the intersection of County and North Branch streets was compromised by the raging water caused by the storm's heavy rains.

"That flood wall, during the Irene event had two big sink holes," he said.

The power of the river apparently eroded land beneath the wall, causing the sink holes to develop. Town highway crews worked quickly during the storm to fill them to ensure the integrity of the wall. Subsequent inspections by the town's engineer, Roy Schiff, have led town officials to seek a permanent repair to shore up the wall, Monks said.

"He looked at it with some structural engineers from his firm, and without digging huge holes or doing too much exploration, they felt pretty confident that there was some undermining of the structure, just given the way that the sink holes formed. They developed a recommended plan for repair where you would drill holes into the base of the retaining wall and pump concrete into it. Basically, it would fill the void underneath it," Monks said.

The repair project is estimated at about $30,000, according to Monks. It does not need to be completed immediately, though, he said.

"They also said, 'Hey, that's not going to fall over tomorrow. If you have another

The town has been moving forward with planning a repair next spring. In the meantime, they have sought assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which constructed the wall. Monk said the corps is likely to repair and pay for the fix. Engineers with the corps are planning a site visit next week, he said.

"We have written indication that they plan to and hope to," he said. "It may not be the exact thing, but it would be similar (to the town's plan.)" Monks said the town has been informed that a repair project Monk said the corps is likely to repair and pay for the fix. Engineers with the corps are planning a site visit next week, he said.

could be completed before winter. "I do have hope and relative confidence that they're going to perform the repair," he said.

Excerpt from:
Wall damaged by Roaring Branch must be repaired

Greg Hesse sees a connection between his profession building fences and decks and his passion, which is music.

Im a very artsy-fartsy kind of guy, said Hesse, who owns Hesse Fence & Deck and plays guitar in a band called Timbucktoo. A lot of what we do, other fence companies wont try. We kind of dig the improvisation involved.

That could be anything from a double-arched gate with a custom iron insert and gothic hardware for a residential customers backyard to a fence around Kapaun Mount Carmels baseball field that looks completely different on each side.

Over the years weve gotten into more custom design than I thought we would, Hesse said.

Hesse started the company 30 years ago actually, 32 if you count the two years he operated it as Wood Fences Unlimited. He changed the name because he started building decks and because his last name at least in east Wichita, is well known.

Hesses father ran a sporting goods store for years. Watching him, I thought Id do better as entrepreneur than working for somebody else.

Hesse got most of his training in Colorado, building condos in the mountains and then working for an uncles hurricane fence company in Denver.

I learned a lot of carpentry from a lot of skilled carpenters, he said.

He returned home to enter Wichita State University as a 21-year-old freshman, but dropped out when his fence-building business took off. Sales rose every year until 2010, when they dropped dramatically, he said.

Now, theyre climbing again.

Read the original here:
Hesse Fence & Deck owner thrives on creativity

It's finally warm enough to enjoy dinner al fresco! Try any of these tucked-away spots.

The Pink Door This sun-dappled Post Alley patio is at the top of our summer checklist. With colorful floral tablecloths and hanging flowerpots, it's always, always bustling on summer days and warm night, and the view of Elliott Bay is matched only by the good vibes. To eat: antipasti, Bloody Marys and simple pastas made with fresh-from-the-market produce...perfection! >> Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley; 206.443.3241; thepinkdoor.net

Ponti Seafood Grill Situated just above the ship canal and strung with white lights at night, this longtime favorite patio with linen-clothed tables is romantic and secluded. During the day, watch boaters pass by while you catch some rays and nosh on pan-Asian dishesahi tuna poke, five-spice-cured black codjust right for hot weather. >> Queen Anne, 3014 Third Ave. N; 206.284.3000; pontiseafoodgrill.com

Le Grand Bistro Amricain Offering a view well worth paying the 520 tolls for, the two decks of this French bistro are set above Kirkland's Carillon Point, where white yachts bob next to docks on sparkling Lake Washington. At sunset, the Seattle city skyline glimmers. And to boot: the best nioise salad in the city. >> Kirkland, 2220 Carillon Point; 425.828.7778; bistrolegrand.com

La Rustica A true gem, this humble, lovely Italian spot has a flower-lined patio strewn with ivy and terra cotta pots that will transport you far, far away. You can gaze out for miles over Puget Sound at wooded islands and the snow-capped peaks of the Olympics as you twirl linguine di mare (mixed seafood pasta) onto your fork (all the pastas are tasty here). In authentic Italian fashion, you can taste the love. >> West Seattle, 4100 Beach Drive SW; 206.932.3020; larusticarestaurant.com

Madison Park Conservatory When blue skies and warm evenings stretch out before us, Madison Park always comes to mind. The restaurant has a roomy patio with tree-filtered views of Lake Washington, but the real appeal is the unmatched people watching: beach-going hipsters in flip-flops, locals in their linen suits and everything in between. Don't miss the hamachi crudo with blood oranges and olives, octopus with chiles and preserved lemons (served seasonally). >> Madison Park, 1927 43rd Ave. E; 206.324.9701; madisonparkconservatory.com

Oddfellows Cafe The only view from this secret sliver of open space at the rear of Oddfellows Cafe is of the 1012 other people seated at bistro tablesbecause its literally surrounded by brick walls. But the view is still pretty good, considering, since there's rarely a style slouch in the bunch. To eat: homemade coffee cake early, cured-meat plates and Bibb lettuce salads later, with a chilled bottle of ros, of course. >> Capitol Hill, 1525 10th Ave.; 206.325.0807; oddfellowscafe.com

Read more:
Seattle Magazine: 10 of our favorite hidden restaurant patios

A Langley trio has good reason to hoot and holler after winning the prestigious Calgary Stampede's 2011 team cattle penning competition.

For the second straight year, Taylor Sinclair has played interior decorator for the Fast Times Farm riding arena in Langley.

"Yeah, there'll be two Calgary Stampede (championship) cheques hanging in the arena now - winner last year, winner this year," smiled the young rider on Saturday evening.

During the Stampede's 2011 team cattle penning competition, Taylor teamed up with her mom Cathy Sinclair and her grandfather George De Jonge for an emotional win in the 7 Class.

And on Saturday in the Scotiabank Saddledome, she saddled up with a couple more Lower Mainland penners - Debbie Molnar and Sandy Price, both of Langley - for a thrilling victory in the 10 Class.

The B.C. trio overcame very long odds to enter that winner's circle.

The 10 Class is traditionally the largest division in the competition. And this year, partly owing to the Stampede's 100th birthday and limited-edition, Vic Bennett-handcrafted Centennial Trophy Saddles up for grabs, a mind-blowing 295 teams threw their hats in the ring.

'We didn't think about that stuff. We didn't think about any of it. We had to get a job done," said Price. "We just pen our cows and don't try to go fast; we take what's there and do our best."

The Stampede's team cattle penning competition has drawn a record 764 teams from across the continent for its four divisions, with a total prize purse of $394,610.

The 295 teams in contention to begin the 10 Class competition engaged in two rounds of preliminaries on Wednesday at the Okotoks Agricultural Society in Okotoks, Alta., with 20 teams emerging for Saturday night's third round and final at the Saddledome.

Follow this link:
Penners ride to victory

Thirteen-year-old Calvin is not ready to fly the coop yet, but he's certainly outgrown his childhood bedroom. There's just not enough space for his electric guitar, his racing skis and his homework let alone his clothes.

With three kids and only three bedrooms on the main floor, parents John and Lucinda know it's time for Calvin to go where no one in the family has gone before: the basement.

The lower level of this bungalow had a lot of space, but it was a total disaster. The basement had become the final resting place for discarded toys and old furniture, and even the drop ceiling was tired and falling down literally.

To make this the perfect place for a teenage boy to jam, sleep, hang out and study, we had to clear out the clutter. We ripped down the old drop acoustical-ceiling tiles and installed sound insulation, recessed lighting and a new acoustical-ceiling system that resembles painted wood planks, really brightening Calvin's basement domain.

I wanted this room to have an awesome focal point, something that shouted young, fun and energetic. I found what I was looking for in Jason, a professional graffiti artist who came to the house and did his thing on the wall directly opposite from the doorway. To say that he turned the name "Calvin" into original art is an understatement. Using bright, bold color, Jason delivered just the "wow factor" I had in mind.

When I was planning this project, I knew I had to focus on longevity. In all likelihood, this room will have to suit Calvin from age 13 to 18, and even beyond. I had to make it functional yet fun, and trendy without being outdated by the time he turns 15. So, I kept it fairly simple. We created a spacious desk-and-storage area opposite Calvin's new queen-size bed, which we topped off with a tall color-blocked headboard and bedding that picked up the red, black, gray and white of the graffiti wall.

There is a lot of storage space in this room, with drawers under the bed as well as in the solid-walnut cabinet that we positioned under the room's only window. We kept the music alive, with a guitar-themed bulletin board and a special wall-mounted hook just for his guitar. The old closet doors got a new lease on life when we applied custom-tinted blackboard paint and turned them into Calvin's very own message board.

Tall shelving units on either side of the bed provide tons of space to display all the mementos of Calvin's teenage years. In a nod to his penchant for giant-slalom ski racing, we created a coat rack from a pair of old skis. The hooks make tidying up a little easier, and will hopefully spare the new carpet from becoming a minefield of teen debris.

Design really is about the details, and we put a lot of thought into creating a room that will grow with Calvin. Not only is it his one-of-a-kind retreat, it's also a functional space that makes the most of this bungalow and the square footage it has to offer.

Of course, a bedroom this awesome totally destroys the theory of being sent to your room as a punishment. But not to worry: John and Lucinda cheerfully told Calvin that, in those cases, he is welcome to their room while they retreat to the basement.

Link:
Teen's new bedroom in basement is fun, functional

NEW HAVEN , Conn., July 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Ground was broken on July 6th for the Yale-NUS College campus, designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects in collaboration with Forum Architects of Singapore .

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120712/NE38004 )

Jointly created by Yale University and the National University of Singapore , Yale-NUS College is the first college campus established by Yale outside of New Haven , Conn. The campus opens in 2015 and is designed to achieve the highest rating under the Green Mark, Singapore's benchmark for sustainable design.

Comprised of three residential colleges for 1,000 students, and balancing the traditions of Yale with the cultural and climatic influences of Southeast Asia, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects developed a contemporary architectural language of clear and inviting processional entrances, sun and rain-screened colonnades and roof forms with generous eaves.

"Much like the educational mission of the college, the architecture of Yale-NUS is keenly attuned to its antecedents and committed to the ideas and responsibilities of today," explains Fred Clarke , senior principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. "In this way, it is also a vision for the future."

Set in a lush landscape, the 62,000-square-meter campus is comprised of courtyards punctuated by residential towers and a community of learning and social spaces. At its heart is a campus green flanked by academic and administrative buildings, including the learning commons, auditorium, sports hall, and an open-air, sheltered gathering place -- the Agora.

The residential colleges, each home to 330 students plus faculty, form nested academic communities. Tower floors are grouped into neighborhoods around skygardens. The tower designs and those of the courtyards, dining halls, and common rooms will differ in each residential college.

The new campus design is based on original programming, a master plan and early architectural plans developed by KieranTimberlake and Pfeiffer Partners Architects.

About Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Founded in 1977 and led by Cesar Pelli, Fred Clarke , and Rafael Pelli, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects has designed some of the world's most recognizable buildings, including the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur , the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong and the National Airport in Washington D.C. The firm has also designed buildings and master plans for many distinguished universities.

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Ground broken in Singapore for new Yale-NUS campus by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX--(Marketwire -07/12/12)- In a survey taken among Texan customers who recently either received repairs to their existing roofs or new installations, Holden Roofing scored highly in every recorded category. Holden Roofing is a family owned business with locations throughout the great state of Texas. They have been serving customers around Texas since their inception in 1961, and are well regarded for their stellar customer service, adherence to the needs of their clients and affordable price points.

Holden Roofing abides by the principle that every customer should be treated as if they are their only customer. According to Holden Roofing's President Brett Holden, "Our goal as a company has been 100% customer satisfaction." There is apparently a significant amount of truth behind Holden's statement, as customers rated Holden Roofing superior in the areas of customer service and courtesy.

But the praise for Holden Roofing did not stop there. Customers also cited that Holden Roofing's installation experts were extremely knowledgeable. Shingle manufacturer, Owens Corning, recognized Holden Roofing's commitment to excellence by accepting them into the "Platinum Preferred Contractor Program," a program recognizing less than 2% of the roofing contractors in the United States.

"We are very proud to have been chosen to join the Platinum Preferred Contractor Program with Owens Corning. It has allowed us to provide our customers with a lot of extra peace of mind by being able to offer some incredible extended warranties through one of the most recognizable manufacturers in the industry," said Travis Joyce, General Manager with Holden Roofing. "Our goal of Consistently Exceeding the Expectations of our customers is something we have worked very hard to achieve each day with every install."

Holden Roofing is a recognized name in the roofing industry. Founded in 1961, Holden touts thousands of satisfied customers and fundraising events (holdenroofingdonates.com/). They possess five locations throughout the state of Texas. Holden's website can be found at http://holdenroofing.com.

Read more:
Holden Roofing Recognized for Top Customer Service in Texas

With an upbeat energy and pseudo-folk style, Jake McKelvie and the Countertops will be at the Coffeelaneds Caf, 50 High St., Clinton, on Thursday, July 12, playing original and covered tracks. Based in Keene, N.H., the Countertops have created a home base among Keene State students. Vocalist and songwriter Jake McKelvie formed this trio with bassist Nick Votruba and Jeffery Hall just a few years ago. Since then, this group has been touring from Boston to Keene and just released their first CD for an audience of hundreds in Gardner. With original tracks and lyrics by Jake McKelvie, this act is original, unique, and sure to impress.

Musical events at the Coffeelands World Gifts Espresso Caf will begin at 7 p.m. Donations and RSVPs are appreciated by optional. To RSVP, email or call Michelle Miller, mmiller@poluscenter.org, 978-733-4277.

The World Gifts Espresso Caf is a project of the Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, whose mission is to create opportunities for persons with disabilities and members of other vulnerable groups to become valued citizens within their communities. In addition to serving Deans Beans organic fair trade specialty coffee, smoothies and a variety of other cold and hot specialty drinks, the Caf is a gift shop that offers unique fair trade products from around the world. For more information on the Coffeelands World Gifts Espresso Caf go to worldgiftscafe.org. For more information on the Polus Center, go to poluscenter.org.

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Jake McKelvie and the Countertops to perform in Clinton, July 12

Chicago, IL July 11, 2012 - Stocks in this week's article include Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ: BECN), Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), InterOil Corp. (NYSE: IOC), Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE: PAA) and SLM Corp. (NASDAQ: SLM). Kevin Matras details a good screen to use before and after a company reports this earnings season.

Screen of the Week written by Kevin Matras of Zacks Investment Research:

With earnings having just begun, this is a good screen to use both before and after a company reports.

This screen focuses on more than just earnings surprises, but instead goes over the importance of both earnings surprises and sales surprises, and why as an investor you should care so much about them.

A surprise is more than just a snapshot of an extra few dollars and cents a company made or lost in that one period. Instead, it's a glimpse into what a company's earnings could be, or should be, in the future.

And when these surprises occur, the market tries to quickly re-price that stock to reflect these changes.

While predicting which companies will surprise or not can be difficult, the benefit of an earnings surprise will typically last for one to three months after a surprise is reported.

So you can get in after a company reports a surprise, or you can try and find companies that are more likely to report a surprise, and get in ahead of time.

The screen I'm running today starts off with:

For the rest of this Screen of the Week article, please visit Zacks.com at: http://www.zacks.com/commentary/22249/

Go here to read the rest:
Zacks.com featured expert Kevin Matras highlights: Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., Titan International, Inc., InterOil ...

BY CHUCK FIELDMAN cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com July 10, 2012 11:52AM

In 1937, Hinsdale Theatre manager George Kruger installed an air-conditioning system. Krugers wife, Olga, stands in front of the the marquee. | Doings file photo

storyidforme: 33346884 tmspicid: 12178550 fileheaderid: 5563283

Updated: July 10, 2012 11:58AM

Many aspects of life have changed over the past 50 years. And while it would be difficult to find many people who arent happy about the advancement of air conditioning, being able to keep cool indoors has had a sociological impact.

The once common picture of people sitting on their front porches in an effort to stay relatively cool on a hot summer day or night has all but vanished in many areas. While its still not uncommon in some areas of Chicago to see many people outside when temperatures get into the 90s and higher, many suburban areas look more like ghosts towns during such conditions.

Its changed so much, said Carolyn Lukes, an 85-year-old Oak Brook resident who grew up in Cicero. It was nice. We talked to our neighbors; people knew their neighbors a lot more back then. Its sad now because in so many cases people really dont know their neighbors at all.

Ron Reiner, 77, of Clarendon Hills, also recalls the days when people spent considerably more time outside, interacting with neighbors.

Neighboring is so much different now, he said. We dont even have porches. I sit outside sometimes in my back yard. Ive seen a few people sit out in front in chairs, but people arent outside like they used to be.

Before air conditioning became commonplace in homes, many headed to movie theaters not only to watch a film, but also to cool off. Theaters were one of the few public places offering the comfort of air conditioning before the cooling units began to appear more regularly in the late 1960s/early 70s.

Read more:
Did cooler air bring less neighborhood interaction?