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A fast-growing Far North Peoria Catholic church is looking to expand to include, among other things, a new school for elementary and middle school students.

St. Jude Catholic Church could move ahead with the first phase of its expansion project if the City Council approves a zoning request Feb. 28. The city's zoning commission unanimously recommended on Thursday that the council to approve the zoning change to allow the church expansion at 10811 N. Knoxville Ave.

"I think we're excited about the direction the city is giving us," the Rev. Patrick Henehan, pastor at St. Jude, said after the meeting.

During the commission's hearing, church officials questioned why it was necessary for the city to require bike trails and sidewalks along Wilhelm Road and Knoxville Road, when there were no bike trails or sidewalks connecting to the church's grounds. Also, they asked to remove a provision requiring them to get Peoria County approval to make changes along Wilhelm Road.

Commissioners voted not to require the church to meet those requirements during the first phase of its three-phase project. The requirements might be re-visited in future years.

The council has the final decision.

"We'll support them and do what (we) can on the city side," 5th District City Councilman Dan Irving, who represents the area, said.

The first phase includes a $3.6 million expansion of the church's grounds to include a gymnasium, cafeteria, classrooms for elementary and middle school grades, outdoor sports fields, and a parking lot expansion.

Henehan said about $3.5 million has been raised, though he thinks about $4 million might be needed to complete it.

If the council endorses the zoning request, a ground breaking could take place in May or June. The school could be open by the start of the 2013 school year.

According to a video posted in December on the church's website, Henehan said the first phase's aim is to provide gym and social space for the school and parish, additional classrooms and a space for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.

"The new facility will enable use to meet these three goals," Henehan, St. Jude's pastor, said in the video.

The church community has swelled from 550 families in 2007 to 999 families today.

The school also has grown, from 45 students to 110 in pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. Projections are for 126 students next year, with the fifth grade being added.

Henehan said despite the growth, he doesn't anticipate the school becoming "huge" in comparison to other local Catholic schools. The school, once built, will host about 240 students. St. Vincent de Paul, for instance, has a kindergarten to eighth-grade enrollment of 445 students.

"We want to provide people in the area with Catholic education," Henehan said. "I don't see us becoming too big too quickly."

The project's second phase includes a social hall, school library and music rooms, classrooms for preschool and kindergarten, a concession stand/restrooms, and gazebo. It would be built three to five years from now.

A third phase includes either the construction of a new parking lot or two buildings for rectory or convent housing. That portion would be constructed in 10 to 15 years.

John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or jsharp@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSharp99.

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Far North Peoria Catholic church moves ahead with expansion

11-10-2011 20:13 Wash On Wheels, Denver, Colorado Pressure Washing A Three-Story Apartment Building A few weeks ago, we pressure washed the outside and courtyard of The Boulevard, a three-story apartment complex in Downtown Denver. One of the issues with cleaning residential buildings is working around the people who live there. You can't start early in the morning and wake them up. And they like you to be gone before they come home to unwind at the end of the day. So flexible scheduling is critical to keeping everyone happy. You need the extra capacity to schedule a full crew -- or sometimes two or three crews -- to get the work done quickly. The residents don't want to see our trucks there for weeks. And it's important to be aware of the people on the surrounding sidewalks and streets. You can't just spray soap and water everywhere! We used a scissor lift wherever we could but sometimes a ladder was the only way to reach without damaging the trees and shrubs. We also had to make sure the materials we used to remove stains didn't hurt any of the plants, either. There are many important details to watch so the job goes smoothly. Having pressure washed many buildings up to 10 stories tall -- makes it much easier to know what to look for. So if you have a large building you need pressure washed -- and want someone with the experience to deal with all those details -- so you don't have to -- give us a call. Wash On Wheels, 303-937-7181 or email us at info@washonwheels.net

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Pressure Washing A 3-Story Apartment Building.mov - Video

17-12-2011 12:54 Apartments construction work progressing very quickly, Warsaw skyline seen from the windows of these apartments will impress demanding millionaires. Daniel Liebeskind Project.

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The highest apartment building Poland - Video

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Growing universities like Drury and Missouri State Universityare stretching to make sure there’s enough space for students to learn and live.  Now, outside developers are stepping up, moving dirt, and building walls to meet the housing demand.

“I am pleased to see the private developers stepping forward to and doing what they are doing,” said Earle Doman, MSU’s vice president of student affairs.

MSU is surrounded by several new student housing construction projects.  However, none of them are undertakings of the school itself.  Still, school offficials say the new apartments could help alleviate dorm room shortages on campus.

Right now, at least six student-oriented apartment buildings are under construction in the center part of town.  They include the $4 million Beacon Park and the four-story Bear Village. These places won’t offer dorm life as usual.  Some of the private pads will come loaded with amenities such as furniture, full kitchens, free utilities and internet.

“Education, like many other businesses, is competitive and you have to be there to offer what the students and their parents are looking for,” said Pete Radecki, Drury’s vice president of campus operations.

Drury is helping build University Suites on the east side of its campus.  However, the completed building will be owned by a private developer, and leased back to the school.

“We will manage it, we will maintain it.  From a student point of view it will be the same as any other student housing here on campus,” Radecki said.

Both Drury and MSU acknowledge the projects will help fill a need for those students looking for "higher-end" living options.

“The more we can do to upgrade our neighborhood, our town, have quality housing for our students, that is a win-win for everyone,” said Doman.

All of the developments currently underway are set to open in August 2012, just in time for the fall semester.

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Progress Report: Apartment building boom caters to college students

27-05-2011 13:03 termite Inspection CALL 213-928-7721 Our Termite removal specialists are Insured -- Licensed CALL 213-928-7721 NOW. losangeles-pestcontrol.com Call 213-928-7721 Termite Inspections If you suspect you have termites in your home or business call us immediately. Termites have a unique ability to conceal the damage they're doing for a long time. Many times homeowners ignore the issue because, at first glance, there doesn't appear to be much damage but many times there is already an advanced infestation. With an inspection we can identify if any damage has been done and quickly and completely remove them. Termites cause huge damage to your home, and in most cases termite damage is not covered under your homeowner's insurance policy. Call the professionals for a FREE estimate. We have affordable rates backed by years of extensive experience. Call 213-928-7721 for Your FREE Estimate maps.google.com pest control, rodent, bed bugs, termites, fleas, carpenter ants, termite, how to get rid of ants, termite extermination, how to kill ants, pests, how to kill bed bugs, get rid of ants, getting rid of ants, termite treatment, getting rid of bed bugs, termite inspection, how to get rid of roaches, how to get rid of spiders, garden bugs, how to kill fleas, kill ants, killing ants, how to get rid of carpenter ants, kill bed bugs, carpenter ants extermination, how to get rid of rats, how to get rid of wasps, western exterminator, getting rid of mice, mice infestation, how to get rid of ...

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Termite Inspections hollywood, 213-928-7721, Treatment, sherman oaks, encino, - Video

Even the hardest of household surfaces can be damaged and dirt will build up over time. That's when it's time to call Monterey Bay Refinishing and its subsidiary All American Stone, Tile and Grout Restoration and Maintenance.

"We've always been the go-to people for getting surfaces like bathtubs back to factory specifications," said Cathy McCoy, who along with husband, Ernie, have owned and run Monterey Bay Refinishing for 15 years. Ernie is well-known among local contractors for his ability to fix chips, cracks and other flaws in porcelain, marble, acrylic and more that can happen during construction.

"Rather than replace a new unit that has been damaged, Ernie makes invisible repairs to factory specifications," Cathy said. "He has an artist's eye, and can match color, swirls and everything."
They added All-American's surface cleaning in 2007, and still operate both with Ernie in the field and Cathy in the office.

"As construction slowed, we looked to add services in a related area. After researching the restoration of stone, tile and grout, we agreed that this was the direction we wanted to go," Cathy recalled.

All-American uses high-pressure water heated to 240 degrees and applied with specialized equipment that contains and recovers the water, allowing work on both horizontal and vertical surfaces with minimal mess. By adjusting cleansers and pressure, Ernie can clean tile, brick, travertine, flagstone, concrete and more, both indoors and out.

The new side of the business involves much more than mere power washing. It required learning about the specific characteristics of different surfaces."

"The way that we can use high pressure without damaging the surface is to know just how much pressure to use for each type of surface, and the specialized tools we use in conjunction with our power unit that prevent gouging," she explained. "This type of powerful cleaning is not the only tool we need, however—there is often chemistry involved, as well as a lot of elbow-grease, especially with heavy mineral buildup and staining. We also do honing and polishing of stone."

To help keep the surface clean once it has been restored, they can apply a sealer.
And All-American stays current with advances in cleanser and sealing offerings.

"Ernie is always testing new products as they become available, to see which ones provide the best repellency and cleaning, and have low v.o.c.'s (volatile organic compounds)," Cathy said.

Applying the Golden Rule
to Business and Life
When Ernie visits a potential customer to inspect and bid on a job, he looks for the best long-term solution and protection for the investment a homeowner has made. And if he thinks the surface should be replaced, he'll say so even it means he loses a cleaning job.

"Our clients are our neighbors. It's a big responsibility when someone invites you into their home. We're going to see them on the street next week or at church," said Cathy.

That approach has paid off in strong referrals, and they get most of their business by word of mouth, she said.

Understanding the importance of community support and awareness got them involved in Think Local First. Ernie has been a member of the Lion's Club since 1985, and currently serves with the Santa Cruz Host chapter, along with Michael Olson, a Think Local First Board member. He invited the McCoys to that non-profit. The idea of supporting other local business owners matched their long-time practice of referring work and buying products locally.

"We went to a meeting and said, that's it, we're in," Cathy recalled.

The McCoys "do unto others" approach extends beyond their business. A tradition of going to Mexico's Baja peninsula each year after Christmas to build modest homes and distribute shoes and food grew into the non-profit Club Dust. Last year it involved about 200 people, with Ernie serving as chef for the several days of work. Locally, the McCoys regularly volunteer for the Elm Street Mission.

And the Lion's Club work took a personal turn with its emphasis on providing glasses and helping the blind. Not only did Cathy know where to turn to get someone she knew glasses, Cathy herself has learned she has a degenerative sight disorder.

"Our business not only allows us to support our family, it supports our long-term goal of caring for our community and caring for the world," she said. "It all comes back to the same golden rule."

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From Repairs to Cleaning, All American Makes Hard Surfaces Like New

Dusan Stojanovic and Monika Scislowska The Associated Press Published Thursday, Feb. 02, 2012 12:34PM EST Last updated Thursday, Feb. 02, 2012 12:52PM EST

At least 11,000 villagers have been trapped by heavy snow and blizzards in Serbia's mountains, authorities said Thursday, as the death toll from Eastern Europe's weeklong deep freeze rose to 122, many of them homeless people.

The harshest winter in decades has seen temperatures in some regions dropping to minus 30 C and below, and has caused power outages, traffic chaos and the widespread closings of schools, nurseries and airports.

More related to this story

The stranded in Serbia are stuck in some 6,500 homes in remote areas that cannot be reached due to icy, snow-clogged roads with banks reaching up to 5 metres. Emergency crews were pressing hard to try to clear the snow to deliver badly needed supplies, and helicopters were dispatched to some particularly remote areas in Serbia and neighbouring Bosnia.

On Bosnia's Mt. Romanija, near Sarajevo, a chopper thumped down in the small hamlet of Ozerkovici, where a single nun lives in a Serb Christian Orthodox monastery surrounded by just a few village residents.

Wrapped tight in a black jacket and a scarf, Sister Justina greeted aid workers at her monastery: “I live alone here,” she said, but noted “God will help me.”

In Serbia, relief efforts are concentrated on evacuating the sick, on food delivery and gasoline distribution.

“We are trying everything to unblock the roads since more snow and blizzards are expected in the coming days,” Serbian emergency police official Predrag Maric told The Associated Press.

He said “the most dramatic” situation is near Serbia's southwestern town of Sijenica, where it has been freezing cold or snowing for 26 days, and diesel fuel supplies used by snowplows are running low.

Most people in the villages will have enough food supplies stored up for the winter, Mr. Maric said, but he warned those who are stranded not to try to go anywhere on their own and to call emergency services if they need help.

Newly reported deaths on Thursday because of the cold included 20 in Ukraine, nine in Poland, eight in Romania, and one more each in Serbia and the Czech Republic. In Western Europe, one person was reported dead in Germany.

Polish government spokeswoman Malgorzata Wozniak said her country's victims were mostly homeless people under the influence of alcohol who had sought shelter in unheated buildings. Officials appealed to the public to quickly help anyone they saw in need and homeless shelters were full.

In Warsaw, where the temperature Wednesday night was minus 22 C, the narrow corridors of the Monar homeless shelter were filled with drying washing, and the residents crammed into a small dining room with bowls of soup.

Martyna, pregnant and unemployed, said she was grateful to find a place there after her family rejected her and her partner.

“This is the only safe place for me, where I can live and hide — from this sudden cold, too,” the 22-year-old said. “I have nowhere else to go.” She refused to give her last name, saying she didn't want anyone to know she was staying there.

Brothers Robert, 32, and Wieslaw, 27, arrived last week from Inowroclaw, in central Poland, saying they were promised full-time jobs that never materialized. They would have been left in the cold, but someone told them to go to the centre, which currently houses 278 people.

“We don't have to worry anymore where we will spend the night,” said Wieslaw.

“It is so cold outside that you don't want to leave here,” his brother agreed.

Firefighters in Poland say that eleven people have died since Friday from asphyxiation with carbon monoxide, when they were using charcoal heaters to warm their homes.

In Ukraine, 63 people have died from the cold in the last week. Nearly 950 others were hospitalized with hypothermia and frostbite, and more than 2,000 heated tents have been set up with hot food for the homeless.

About 180 schools were closed in Romania because of the freezing cold. Three ships were blocked on the Danube River — one German, one Dutch and one Romanian — and efforts were made to unblock them from ice.

In Bulgaria, where 16 towns recorded their lowest temperatures since records started 100 years ago, 1,070 schools across the country remained closed Thursday and large sections of the Danube were frozen, hampering navigation. Some villages in Bosnia have had no electricity for days and crews were working around-the-clock trying to fix power lines.

Temperatures in parts of Germany were as low as minus 11 Celsius Thursday afternoon. In the eastern city of Magdeburg, police said a 55-year-old homeless man who apparently had frozen to death was found Thursday morning.

While the weather has yet to cause any significant disruption in the country, ferry services across the mouth of the Elbe river in northern Germany were suspended due to ice on Thursday.

However, the cold wave wasn't causing hardship everywhere.

Dutch authorities banned boats from some of Amsterdam's canals and waterways in the hope the big freeze gripping the city would turn the still water to ice and allow residents to go skating. They also turned off mills and pumps that regulate water levels in the low-lying, flood-prone nation to improve the chances of canals freezing over.

Speed skating is a winter obsession in the Netherlands and hopes are high about the possibility of holding the Elfstedentocht — or “11 Town Tour” — skating race being staged for the first time since 1997.

The 200-kilometre tour route takes skaters over frozen canals and lakes linking 11 towns in the northern Netherlands. The tour, which is also a race for elite skaters, has only been staged 15 times since the first official event in 1909.

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At least 11,000 trapped in Serbia by snow as Europe’s deep freeze continues

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — At least 11,000 villagers have been trapped by heavy snow and blizzards in Serbia's mountains, authorities said Thursday, as the death toll from Eastern Europe's weeklong deep freeze rose to 123, many of them homeless people.

The harshest winter in decades has seen temperatures in some regions dropping to minus 30 C (minus 22 F) and below, and has caused power outages, traffic chaos and the widespread closure of schools, nurseries and airports.

The stranded in Serbia are stuck in some 6,500 homes in remote areas that cannot be reached due to icy, snow-clogged roads with banks reaching up to 5 meters (16 feet). Emergency crews were pressing hard to try to clear the snow to deliver badly needed supplies, and helicopters were dispatched to some particularly remote areas in Serbia and neighboring Bosnia.

On Bosnia's Mt. Romanija, near Sarajevo, a chopper thumped down in the small hamlet of Ozerkovici, where a single nun lives in a Serb Christian Orthodox monastery surrounded by just a few village residents.

Wrapped tight in a black jacket and a scarf, Sister Justina greeted aid workers at her monastery: "I live alone here," she said, but noted "God will help me."

In Serbia, relief efforts are concentrated on evacuating the sick, on food delivery and gasoline distribution.

"We are trying everything to unblock the roads since more snow and blizzards are expected in the coming days," Serbian emergency police official Predrag Maric told The Associated Press.

He said "the most dramatic" situation is near Serbia's southwestern town of Sijenica, where it has been freezing cold or snowing for 26 days, and diesel fuel supplies used by snowplows are running low.

Most people in the villages will have enough food supplies stored up for the winter, Maric said, but he warned those who are stranded not to try to go anywhere on their own and to call emergency services if they need help.

Newly reported deaths on Thursday because of the cold included 20 in Ukraine, nine in Poland, eight in Romania, and one more each in Serbia and the Czech Republic. In Western Europe, one person was reported dead in Germany and one in Italy.

Polish government spokeswoman Malgorzata Wozniak said her country's victims were mostly homeless people under the influence of alcohol who had sought shelter in unheated buildings. Officials appealed to the public to quickly help anyone they saw in need and homeless shelters were full.

In Warsaw, where the temperature Wednesday night was minus 22 C (minus 8 F), the narrow corridors of the Monar homeless shelter were filled with drying washing, and the residents crammed into a small dining room with bowls of soup.

Martyna, pregnant and unemployed, said she was grateful to find a place there after her family rejected her and her partner.

"This is the only safe place for me, where I can live and hide — from this sudden cold, too," the 22-year-old said. "I have nowhere else to go." She refused to give her last name, saying she didn't want anyone to know she was staying there.

Brothers Robert, 32, and Wieslaw, 27, arrived last week from Inowroclaw, in central Poland, saying they were promised full-time jobs that never materialized. They would have been left in the cold, but someone told them to go to the center, which currently houses 278 people.

"We don't have to worry anymore where we will spend the night," said Wieslaw.

"It is so cold outside that you don't want to leave here," his brother agreed.

Firefighters in Poland say that eleven people have died since Friday from asphyxiation with carbon monoxide, when they were using charcoal heaters to warm their homes.

In Ukraine, 63 people have died from the cold in the last week. Nearly 950 others were hospitalized with hypothermia and frostbite, and more than 2,000 heated tents have been set up with hot food for the homeless.

In Italy's financial capital of Milan, officials said a homeless man died from exposure Thursday.

About 180 schools were closed in Romania because of the freezing cold. Three ships were blocked on the Danube River — one German, one Dutch and one Romanian — and efforts were made to unblock them from ice.

In Bulgaria, where 16 towns recorded their lowest temperatures since records started 100 years ago, 1,070 schools across the country remained closed Thursday and large sections of the Danube were frozen, hampering navigation. Some villages in Bosnia have had no electricity for days and crews were working around-the-clock trying to fix power lines.

Temperatures in parts of Germany were as low as minus 11 Celsius (12 Fahrenheit) Thursday afternoon. In the eastern city of Magdeburg, police said a 55-year-old homeless man who apparently had frozen to death was found Thursday morning.

While the weather has yet to cause any significant disruption in the country, ferry services across the mouth of the Elbe river in northern Germany were suspended due to ice on Thursday.

However, the cold wave wasn't causing hardship everywhere.

Dutch authorities banned boats from some of Amsterdam's canals and waterways in the hope the big freeze gripping the city would turn the still water to ice and allow residents to go skating. They also turned off mills and pumps that regulate water levels in the low-lying, flood-prone nation to improve the chances of canals freezing over.

Speed skating is a winter obsession in the Netherlands and hopes are high about the possibility of holding the Elfstedentocht — or "11 Town Tour" — skating race being staged for the first time since 1997.

The 200-kilometer (125-mile) tour route takes skaters over frozen canals and lakes linking 11 towns in the northern Netherlands. The tour, which is also a race for elite skaters, has only been staged 15 times since the first official event in 1909.

___

Monika Scislowska reported from Warsaw. Radul Radovanovic and Aida Cerkez in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alina Wolfe Murray in Bucharest, Romania, Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, Frances D'Emilio in Rome and Mike Corder in the Netherlands contributed to this report.

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Serbia: 11,000 trapped in remote villages by snow

09-10-2011 23:10 http://www.khd.com.sg Ken Home Design is a fun and dynamic Interior Design and Construction company that can't wait to make your project a Success! Visit our website to see out past proud projects and contact our warm customer service team. http://www.khd.com.sg

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Singapore Interior Design and Construction Company - Video

09-02-2011 08:38 Brent Hanauer, Rule4 Project Manager gives us an update of the project. The large garage and laundry room are taking shape with framing, and door installation complete. Now the addition is connected to the existing home you can see how Rule4 ensure that dust, cold air and other discomforts are kept to a minimum.

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