Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

David Rider Urban Affairs Bureau Chief

The City of Toronto has fallen behind other municipalities in banning smoking where people gather outdoors and will consider new options this year, says the chair of Torontos Board of Health.

Councillor John Filion was reacting to a Star story noting that the Lake Simcoe community of Georgina is poised to ban smoking on beaches, in parks and on trails.

The town is among more than 50 Ontario municipalities pushing the indoor-focused 2006 Smoke-Free Ontario law to the outdoors.

Come April, Ottawa will ban smoking at all outdoor restaurant and bar patios, city-owned parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields and fruit and vegetable markets. Hamilton will follow suit in May, with a smoking ban on all city-owned property used for recreational purposes.

Toronto led the charge to ban smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars, and in 2009 expanded the prohibition to within nine metres of city playgrounds, splash pads and wading pools.

I think (expanding the outdoor ban) is certainly something we should seriously consider, Filion said in an interview Thursday.

We were leaders in banning smoking and it seems weve fallen behind a bit, and thats fine, but we need to keep moving in the right direction.

We would need public support and the support of the board of health and city council, but I think theres an appetite for a reasonable extension of the ban.

Filion wouldnt suggest possible places to outlaw smoking, saying he didnt want to prejudge a city staff report with options that he expects to see later this year.

More:
Toronto to look at expanding outdoor smoking ban now aimed at playgrounds

Ever wonder what goes on in restaurant kitchens?

Youd like to think that everyone is washing their hands all day long, the food is being prepared on sterile countertops with a Mary Poppins-type inspector overseeing everything.

In reality, some kitchens hold deep, dark and very dirty secrets.

I once worked in a restaurant where a waiter dropped a basket of rolls on the floor. They slid down several feet to the drain in the middle of the kitchen. What the waiter did next has haunted me to this day. He picked up the rolls, one by one, and put them back in the basket. Despite my objections, he took that bread right out to a table, telling me he didnt want to waste them.

This isn't meant to turn you off from ever going to a restaurant again, and all eateries have to adhere to regular health inspections.

But almost every restaurant worker you'll meet has some stories like this.

I found a chef who was willing to share years of cringe-worthy stories. Rob Burmeister is an executive chef at a New York City restaurant. He also has competed in several food competitions, including the Food Networks Chopped.

Burmeister says in his 25-years on the job he learned everything he knows, watching and working with many chefs all over the country. Some great and some horrible.

Burmeister shared some tales of the dark side of what he says he's witnessed on what goes on in kitchens.

Steak Not Exactly Cooked to Order

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Kitchen Tales From Dark Side

In the mood to give your home a new season update without having to re-mortgage? Sydney's leading interior gurus share their hot tips on how to inject some order and give your abode an overhaul easily and on the cheap.

SIBELLA COURT, Interior Stylist and author http://www.thesocietyinc.com.au

Freshen up:

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A lick of paint on the walls or on a much-loved piece of furniture instantly gives new life. People always see painting as a big job, but an old paint shirt and ten minutes is all you need - washing, sanding and priming is not in my vocab. It's fun searching for the new season colour and, as they say, change is as a good as a holiday.

Out with the old:

If decorating isn't satisfying your desires, restyling your home - or even just a room - might be the dramatic change you need. It's not about renovating the bricks and mortar but changing the furniture arrangement, art placement and colour palette. Let go of the old and don't be restricted by what's 'normal' - think about interesting vistas, create a 3-D space and have a sense of humour.

SHAYNNA BLAZE, Interior designerwww.shaynnablaze.com

Hang those pictures:

Creating a gallery wall is the perfect way to add interest and have everything in one place but it's easy to make it look cluttered. Choose a theme of some description to ensure it looks stylish and keeps the focus on the pictures. Going for frames in the same colour but choosing different shapes gives uniformity - or if you prefer a mixture of different shades and finishes go for frames that are all the same shape.

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Home makeovers on the cheap

St. Lazare Mayor Pierre Kary and MNA Lucie Charlebois show their Stallion jerseys after announcing plans for new field.

St. Lazare will be rolling out a green carpet for its soccer and football players next year.

The town announced Thursday that, thanks to a Quebec government subsidy covering half of the estimated $1. 7-million cost, a synthetic sports field will be installed in Westwood Park, just behind the Westwood Junior High School.

This will extend the sport season and allow youngsters to enjoy their sports on a safer playing surface, Mayor Pierre Kary said, adding that the synthetic field will be installed in time for the 2013 playing season.

A couple of young football players, members of the St. Lazare Stallions, who were present for the announcement, said they were looking forward to playing on artificial turf.

I like the feel of a natural field but it gets so muddy so often that we cant play, said Kevin Turcsik, 12.

His friend, 13-year-old Emile Guilbeault, agreed. This will extend our playing season, he said.

Indeed, Soulanges MNA Lucie Charlebois said that synthetic turf will allow for an early April-to-first-snow season.

And an end to the mud, she said, noting that the synthetic turf will be used by more than 2,200 kids who play in the football league or in the recently renamed St. Lazare/Hudson Soccer Club.

Lucie Tremblay, president of the St. Lazare/Hudson Soccer Club, welcomed the prospect of a synthetic field.

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West Island: St. Lazare to get new synthetic sports field

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's factory output slowed more than expected in the first two months of 2012 to grow just 11.4 percent from a year ago as cooling demand at home and abroad dragged production growth to its weakest in over 2-1/2 years.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast industrial production growth of 12.3 percent in January and February.

Growth in fixed asset investment, which accounted for 54 percent of China's 2011 gross domestic product, slowed to 21.5 percent in the first two months , from 23.8 percent in December.

It was the lowest since the end of 2002 but still above the 20 percent forecast economists.

Retail sales missed market expectations to grow just 14.7 percent in January and February . Economists had expected growth of 17.5 percent.

******************************************************

KEY POINTS:

- Jan-Feb industrial output up 11.4 pct on year (forecast up 12.3 pct; previous up 12.8 pct)

- Jan-Feb fixed asset investment up 21.5 pct on year (forecast up 20 pct; previous up 23.8 pct)

- Jan-Feb retail sales up 14.7 pct on year (forecast up 17.5 pct; previous up 18.1 pct)

Read more here:
Instant View: China output, investment, retail sales growth slows

Posted: Thursday, March 8, 2012 8:04 pm | Updated: 7:58 pm, Thu Mar 8, 2012.

A new tenant who signed a 15-year lease for a 600,000-square-foot building in Principio Business Park in December is moving ahead with plans to construct an additional 595,000-square-foot building to add on to the existing building.

Restoration Hardware had already received its occupancy permit for 4000 Principio Parkway East when its landlord, Weeks Robinson, requested and was granted a fast-track permit process from Cecil County Commissioners Feb. 21.

The total cost of the project, including interior fit-out, is estimated at $23.7 million and will create 1.2 million square feet of distribution/warehouse space for the luxury home furnishings dealer.

It will be their East Coast distribution center, Roy Clough, deputy director of Cecil County Economic Development, told commissioners during the fast-track request presentation.

They hope to create jobs for about 150 to 165 people, Clough said. And they want to start construction in April and occupy the new building by August 31.

Anticipated hourly wages are $12.

The existing building already occupied by Restoration Hardware was constructed about four years ago, but never leased.

Clough said the county had several prospects for the building, which they commonly referred to as the Trade Center 95, but activity picked up after the building was sold last summer to Atlanta-based Weeks Robinson Properties.

They recently sent us a rendering of the new building which includes an attractive courtyard, Clough said Wednesday as he distributed copies to members of the County Economic Development Commission.

More:
Restoration Hardware moves ahead with expansion

Appointing David Gonski to lead the Future Fund at the expense of Peter Costello would be 'petty politics' - but opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey would still welcome the businessman.

Cabinet is expected to discuss a replacement for Future Fund chair David Murray next week.

Mr Gonski was hired to advise the government on the views of the seven Future Fund guardians, which include Mr Costello, about who the new chair should be.

On Friday, the Australian Financial Review said while Mr Gonski made no recommendation on who should be appointed, he himself has emerged as a leading candidate.

Mr Hockey says he has a great deal of respect for Mr Gonski.

But he will be disappointed if the former coalition treasurer - who helped establish the $73 billion fund - misses out.

'It seems petty politics that Peter Costello would not be appointed,' Mr Hockey told Sky News.

'Even Kevin Rudd was fair dinkum enough to appoint him to the Future Fund board, the Future Fund that he established.'

But he said Mr Gonski had been a terrific servant of the community in many ways, including completing the recently released review of school funding.

'He is a formidable character and quite frankly I'd welcome his appointment (as Future Fund chair) if it's to be the case,' he said.

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Bypassing Costello 'petty' says Hockey

(PRWEB) March 08, 2012

According to the Farmers Almanac, this could be one of the worst storm seasons North Texas has seen in quite some time. It is imperative for home owners to do their homework and research the roofing companies they are considering using. One of the best ways to look at a companys consumer track record is to look them up on the BBB. Look for complaints and how well they were handled.We found Smart Design Roofing through word of mouth advertising, but after hearing such great reviews it was no wonder they had an excellent rating on the BBB. Companies that are not listed on the BBB, generally are not listed for a reason, and companies that have a large amount of complaint history on the BBB should be avoided as well.

In years past, when we have been destroyed by severe hail storms, many of our North Texas Citizens fell prey to out of state roofing companies and scam artist. That is why choosing the correct roofing company to take care of you, your home and your pocket book, is so important.

Continue reading here:
Texas Roofing Companies Are Preparing For an Extreme Storm Season

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Architectural consultants have recommended more than $60 million worth of construction in the coming 10 years to help the Sheriff's Office keep up with population growth and increases in the crime rate but also get out of its existing headquarters into a modern building.

And that's not lost on County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler, a former sheriff who worked in the now-27-year-old building, at 4055 41st St. in Gifford, from 1992 through 2000.

"That's a sick building," Wheeler said Friday. "There's a lot of mold. One time we removed a wall in my office and it was black (inside) with mold two inches thick."

When he left office in 2000, he said, following a defeat by Roy Raymond, he stopped going into the sheriff's building every day and his aching sinuses cleared up.

For current Sheriff Deryl Loar, who took office in 2008, the building is bursting under the strain of 500 employees. And it doesn't even have a fire-sprinkler system.

"There are a lot of things you've got to have (now)," he said Friday.

Vero Beach architect Anthony Donadio and David Crabtree, an associate with Architects Design Group of Winter Park, pitched their latest joint proposal to the commission in a recent meeting.

Crabtree, who couldn't be reached Friday for comment, gave estimates this month that combine to $61.4 million for the work to renovate a 13,000-square-foot warehouse for the new Crime Scene Unit, build a new 91,000-square-foot uniform patrol building and a 94,000-square-foot support-service building.

The county is tackling the first project now, but isn't expected to deal with the largest building until 2022 at the earliest.

"We'll assist you in seeking grants," Crabtree said. "It's not like $28 million (for the second building) is needed tomorrow. We have time to help you plan for that."

Read the rest here:
Indian River County Sheriff's Office takes 10-year look at new construction to update facilities

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Snooki's Pregnant, Engaged to Jionni LaValle