Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

REBECCA DUCKER/ MORNING NEWS Nearly 300 people gathered on the grounds of the New Ebenizer Baptist Church Monday morning as the 143 year old church held a kick off celebration for their 35,000 square foot community center on July 2, 2012. A vision of Rev. Norman Gamble which began 7 years ago is expected to be completed in about a year and will offer the church and the East Florence community a gathering place featuring class rooms and activity space.

A project seven years in the making is now under way in East Florence as New Ebenezer Baptist Church kicked off construction of a new 35,000 square foot-education and recreation facility.

A group of about 300 gathered Monday morning as the effort behind Vision 2005, the initative began by the Rev. Norman Gamble seven years ago with hopes of creating a facility to help unite the community, started to see the fruits of its labor.

Its an opportunity to increase the horizons of this community, Gamble said. We really want to engage this community.

The building may be new, but the idea of engaging the community is anything but at the church, which is more than 140 years old.

This used to be downtown Florence, church member Arron Davis said. Everything was here.

According to Davis, the church currently houses dozens of different community missions. The new facility will offer the congregation better meeting spaces and facilities to grow those missions even more. There will also be educational programs for youth and seniors, and officials hope to generate a GED partnership with Poynor Adult and Community Education Center.

The process of getting the project off the ground has truly united the congregation, Gamble said.

Having a goal really helps. If you know where you are going, you can get there, he said.

Although the project has taken years to get off the ground, the congregation feels the challenges faced were well worth the effort.

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New Ebenezer church facilities aim to unite East Florence

HALFMOON The Twin Lakes apartment complex has had its share of fires over the last decade, but the Solomon Organization, which owns it, has always been willing to rebuild.

Construction began about two months ago on Lakeview Drive to replace a 12-unit building destroyed by an October fire, according to Sean Depew, Solomon's managing director. He said framing began recently and he expected the roof to be sheeted this past weekend.

According to a Twin Lakes resident, the old burned-out structure was demolished to make room for the new building.

"Our plan was to rebuild the entire time," said Depew.

Fire spread through the 12-unit building at 56-58 Lakeview on the morning of Oct. 29, leaving 12 residents homeless.

A barking dog roused a sleeping tenant who awoke to the smell of smoke around 2 a.m. Everyone safely fled the building, which was declared a complete loss after the roof collapsed.

At the time, Steffen Buck, Halfmoon code enforcement director and a volunteer fire chief, told the Times Union a wood-burning fireplace sparked the blaze.

Solomon is replacing all 12 units, with six one-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments. Renting for the new units is under way, but occupancy won't begin until mid- to late October, Depew said.

Twin Lakes, which was built in the 1970s and currently has 693 units, has had three other fires in the last 10 years in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

The 2006 blaze destroyed a 16-unit building, and was caused by a mouse chewing on a wire, said Ron Simoncini, Solomon Organization spokesman. Solomon rebuilt the building with 20 units. The 2008 fire was small grease fire within a unit causing minor damage.

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Apartment owners rebuilding

When the economy began turning sour, Kevin Tuohey, owner of Roslindales Maggie Maes pub, thought he would turn the bar into a nine-unit apartment building.

Tuohey, a bartender of 28 years and landlord of properties in Mission Hill, is in the process of making that vision a reality. But before construction can begin, Tuohey must correct zoning violations in the original plans.

The plans are cited for multiple violations including excessive floor area ratio, insufficient side yard, insufficient rear yard and insufficient parking, according to the Mayors Office of Neighborhood Services.

To remedy the situation Tuohey said he plans to extend the building out 5 feet and appeal to allow parking on the street.

Plans for the proposed three-story structure, located at 635 Hyde Park Ave., will appear before the citys Zoning Board of Appeals at City Hall for approval to begin construction on Tuesday, July 10.

About 10 concerned community members gathered in the parking lot behind the Sacred Heart Elementary School Monday night to discuss the construction plans with Tuohey and Neighborhood Coordinator David McNulty.

The proposed plans for the three-story apartment building, located in a neighborhood shopping district, include building a wood structure using the faade of the bar, Tuohey said at the meeting.

Im not reinventing the wheel here, he said.

The nine-unit apartment building will have hardwood floors, granite kitchen countertops, two bedrooms and one and a half baths, according to the floor plans. The building also includes 16 parking spots and a place behind it for trash.

Were not putting up a shack, Tuohey said. Were building a luxury apartment building for business professionals.

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Roslindale pub could be replaced with apartment building

The Canadian Press Jul 2, 2012 8:53 PM ET

Smokers in Ottawa will have to think twice before lighting up in parks and on public patios the citys new anti-smoking rules kicked in Monday.

Smoking on city property, parks and beaches and on restaurant and bar patios can now lead to a fine of $305. The changes to the citys smoking bylaw were passed three months ago.

But up until Monday offenders were let off with a warning.

Last week, city council voted to extend the ban to hookah water pipes. The ban is on the grounds that the outdoor smoking is a public nuisance and creates odours.

City clerk and solicitor Rick OConnor told committee members that he believes the prohibition is the first of its kind in the province, and might face legal challenges legal challenges from users of medical marijuana, and based on cultural aspects.

The Canadian Press

Posted in: Canada, News Tags: Ottawa, Rick OConnor

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Smokers in Ottawa face $305 fine for lighting up in parks, patios under bylaw

COLUMBIA - Some restaurants are closing their patios to patrons due to record breaking temperatures in the Mid-Missouri area. Flat Branch Pub and Brewing is among the restaurants that have decided to limit seating to inside. Manager Michael Weston said the decision was made with the safety of servers and customers in mind.

"Really, it's for their own benefit and it's for the benefit of our servers," Weston said. "Last summer we did have a server who suffered from some of the causes of being out in the sun too long, so we try to avoid that."

Despite the decrease in seating, Weston said sales were not that heavily affected by the heat. He equated the time Flat Branch has gone without the patio to the winter months when it's too cold to use the patio anyways.

"People still file in. We're still busy. We just have a full inside," Weston said.

A hostess at Bleu said the Walnut Street restaurant has also closed its patio.

As soon as the heat breaks, Weston said the patios will be open for use again.

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High Heat Closes Some Dining Patios

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health has issued a boil water advisory that is effective until further notice.

"Due to the statewide power outages, any area that had low water pressure, no water service or cloudy water is being placed on a boil water advisory," DHHR Office of Environmental Health Services Director Barbara Taylor said in a news release.

The advisory will remain in effect until the water service issues a notice lifting the advisory.

"Any section of an affected service area will be on a precautionary Boil Water Advisory until the water provider issues a notice that the advisory is lifted," Taylor said in the news release.

While the advisory is in effect, consumers are advised to boil their drinking water to a full rolling boil for at least one minute prior to drinking, using for cooking, or hygienic purposes such as hand washing, bathing or teeth brushing.

More details about water safety is available atwww.wvdhhr.org/oehs.

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Cloudy water statewide should be boiled

Monday, July 2, 2012, by Sarah Firshein Photos by Franois Hallard/WSJ. Magazine

This weekend WSJ. Magazine runs a feature on Michael Smith's modernist new home in Los Angeles, which is situated on a fancypants street across from the former Spelling manor. The interior designer and darling of Architectural Digest, who counts the Obamas' Oval Office, the 2011 Oscars greenroom, and Rupert Murdoch's just-sold Rosehearty Mansion among his credits, calls the "heroic" property "an intellectual and a creative exercise" and filled it not with "Mies coffee tables and B&B Italia sofas" but with antiques, mass-market seating from CB2, a growing collection of artwork and photography, mirrors, and pieces such as "weird '70s" John Dickinson lamps. "I get these crushes on things, on periods," Smith tells WSJ.'s Julia Reed. "You hear people say, 'I wanted to be an actor because you get to put yourself in another person's character.' Well, a house is both a set and a character." Have a look above and head to WSJ. Magazine for the full slideshow.

Going Modern, Staying Grand [WSJ. Magazine] All Michael Smith coverage [Curbed National]

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The Printed Page: Inside the Home of Presidential Decorator Michael Smith

So this is it, Temple. You are now officially in the Big East.

Welcome back!

How does everything look to you from the outside? Shiny and new?

Well, come take a look inside.

They said they wanted a bigger place to stretch their legs -- like 100 yards and not 94 feet. Yes, all that comes with just a teensy bit more money in their pockets. But none of it comes with the rivalries they built and forged in this house. Or with the friends they made. Or with loyalty or camaraderie. Sigh. It is so tempting to say good riddance for the way they turned their backs on family. But all that bravado hides the truth.

Losing them hurts. Badly.

But onward and upward, right? They were old fuddy-duddies, anyway. Out with the old guard, in with the new guard! Change is good! Reinventing yourself is even better! No sense in looking backward. Plus, there would be no room for you in the house if they were still here. And everybody is so thrilled to have you back. You do look so much better than you did eight years ago. Reinvigorated. You have a healthy, winning glow.

So, let's begin the tour. Put on this construction hat. Ignore the jackhammering. Watch that "Pardon Our Dust" sign. And the other that says, "Set to be completed: July 2015." Ah, the sights and sounds of expansion.

Good news, as you can see. The framework of the house is still standing. Check that. The framework of the house is BIGGER and still standing. What do they say in Texas, again? Right! Bigger is better. In this case, seven additions are being put into the house. Seven! Really strong ones, too, from places like Boise, Houston, Orlando, Dallas, San Diego and Memphis. Combine that with what is already in place, and you have a house made of championship-grade material.

Seriously!

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Welcome back, Temple!

The following is the May list of building permit recipients, contractors when applicable, property addresses, job descriptions and cost of the planned improvements: McLaughlin, 262 North End Blvd., vinyl siding, $16,000 Pare, 466 North End Blvd., mechanical heating and a/c, $10,950 Godbout, 54 Locust St., windows, $2,600 Twoomey, 53 Dock Lane, renovation, $20,000 Fortin, 75 Main St., sign, $2,400 Moran, 9 Schoolhouse Lane, replace door, $3,000 Ct. Beach Bums, 15 Vermont St., remodel, $8,500 Holmes, 9 Commercial Ave., siding, $1,750 Godfrey, 15 Common. Ave., roof porch, $2,950 Bridges, 65 Folly Mill Road, roof, $4,500 Sullivan, 457 North End Blvd., addition/decks, $240,000 Town of Salisbury, Broadway, pergolas on islands, $10,000 Bonheur, 118 Cable Ave., roof, $6,900 Keiley, 229 North End Blvd., bath remodel, $2,740 Buttaro, 8 Souther Lane, solar, $29,148 Winners Circle, 211 Elm St., commercial sprinkler system, $5,560 Fortin, 131 Rabbit Road, demo, $3,500 Splash, 3 Broadway, sign, $1,200 Smith, 3 Broadway, condo renovation, $35,000 Twomley, 14A Vermont St., 2nd egress, $800 Twomely, 14B Vermont St., 2nd egress, $500 Bistany, 124 Cable Ave., windows/doors/deck rep., $18,000 Blais, 71 Rabbit Road, window replacements, $4,400 Dragon, 22 Forest Road, remodel, $25,000 Coates, 11 Rabbit Road, single family, $55,000 Casey, 100 Cable Ave., roof, $5,200 Sass, 187 Folly Mill Road, deck, $2,700 Langmaid, 7 Short Lane, repairs, $2,000 Gertein, 322 North End Blvd., repairs, $800 Avery, 22 Gerrish Road, garage, $25,000 MacDonald, 194 No. 27N Lafayette Road, deck, $1,950 Marino, 60 Central Ave., roof, $10,375 Painter, 32 Ferry Road, roof, $5,000 Petryk, 1 Wolperts Way, roof, $15,000 Desjardin, 40 Main St., garage existing foundation, $8,000 Medeiros, 17 Rabbit Road, additions, $80,000 Valerio, 15 Main St., handicapped bath, $5,700 English, 131 North End Blvd., roof, $12,000 North End Blvd., 595 North End Blvd., sprinkler, $14,700 Cleary, 8 Vermont St., bath basement, $11,600

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Salisbury building permits

By Jason Garcia and Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel

Universal Orlando this morning will hold a small grand-opening celebration for its newest ride, "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem," in Universal Studios Florida.

It's the last of several new additions Orlando's big theme parks have introduced ahead of the busy summer rush.

SeaWorld Orlando in the spring added "TurtleTrek," and its limited-admission sibling park Discovery Cove on Friday officially opened "Freshwater Oasis." And Walt Disney World has opened "Storybook Circus," part of its broader Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom, which includes an expanded"Dumbo" ride and a new children's water-play area.

There is still another big addition to come later this year: the "Fantasyland Forest" phase of Disney's Fantasyland expansion, which will include a Little Mermaid-themed ride and a Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurant.

Rosen adds free Internet

Rosen Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to drop its daily fee for web access and offer free Internet at its three local convention hotels.

Guest at the Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza will be able to access wireless and hard-wired Internet in guest rooms and public areas starting July 4. The hotel previously charged $9.95 for a 24-hour period of Internet access.

The hotel said it is making the change because travelers today are "even more reliant on their smartphones, iPads, tablets and laptops for work or play." In addition to business travelers who need Internet access to work, people on vacation are using the Internet for last-minute planning and research on attractions, the company said.

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Theme parks open summer attractions