Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

MANCHESTER — Golden-honey light once again shined down upon a
sparkling Crowell Chapel in Manchester over a weekend filled
with ceremony and music.

The weekend events spotlighted the small Gothic structure's own
history, with a rededication of the chapel nearly 108 years
after it first opened its doors, and five years after the
launch of an estimated $220,000 restoration effort.

The chapel — constructed from Rockport gray granite — was built
in memory of Benjamin Franklin Crowell, a native son, who left
Cape Ann in 1859 as a young man to seek his fortune out west in
Colorado.

He was among those who became rich but, only after many
endeavors from panning for gold without much success, and then
sheep ranching, publishing and banking before he struck gold in
a way that would pay off.

In Sally Gibson's history, she noted that, after the Civil War,
the Crowell family members in Manchester fell on hard times,
and Benjamin's two sisters, Susan and Emily, began to take in
summer boarders. But soon after, their brother found gold and
he shared his wealth with his sisters.

"Almost every year, Benjamin came home to Manchester to visit.
In 1897, he died out west and was brought home for the last
time — the Crowell family plot is not far from the chapel,"
Gibson's history relates.

Gibson wrote that, when Susan, the last of the family, was in
her 70s, she dreamed of a building "of Gothic design similar to
the church architecture of Old England" to be constructed as a
memorial to her brother.

The Feb. 6, 1904 issue of the Manchester Cricket tells of the
new chapel: "The tower at the entrance is 60 feet high, with
heavily buttressed sides and castellated top. The nave is solid
oak, finished to the rafters, with a Gothic-arched roof
supported by massive oak trusses."

The stained glass, made by Horace Phipps of Boston, was
designed according to his sister's wishes who wanted two panels
to show an oak tree on either side, standing for the two sides
of her family, the Crowells and the Allens, according to
Gibson. "The spreading branches as they extend upward join
above, and intertwine with grapevines and fruit to fill the
upper portion of the windows."

The chapel again sprung to life over the weekend with two
events — one on Saturday to honor the 30 crafts people involved
in the restoration followed by a sold-out concert on Sunday,
both timed for 3 p.m. to coincide with the optimum sunlight to
showcase the stained glass, said Christopher "Woody" Kelly,
chairman of the Manchester Community Preservation Committee.

"The chapel has what we call high quality English arts and
crafts stained glass windows of total beauty," he said.

The Benjamin Franklin Crowell Memorial Chapel (May 28,
1904-Jan. 29, 2012), located in Rosedale Cemetery on Rosedale
Avenue, can hold up to 150 people.

Kelly noted that there will be an open house in the spring so
there will be other opportunities to see inside.

Most all of the craftsmen involved in the restoration are from
the greater Cape Ann and North Shore area.

"They are the most beautiful tapestry of people," said Kelly.

He also praised Judith Selwyn, of Preservation Technology
Associates, Inc., a nationally-known expert who has overseen
the restoration of historic masonry for structures at Harvard,
Yale, Wellesley College, Smith College, the U.S. Naval Academy
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

She has been a major consultant on this job for more than six
years, said Kelly.

Overall, the project required years of planning and raising
money and about five years of work, with the estimated cost of
around $220,000.

Kelly noted that 109 years later, a major change is in store.
In addition to the chapel being used for its intended mortuary
and memorial services, there will be a move to make it
accessible for cultural and performing arts events.

"We are now endeavoring to make a concert series and hold other
cultural events, such as lectures, poetry readings and weddings
to make it alive and to help save it because we figured the
more it's used, the more it will be appreciated and there can
be money raised to protect it," he said.

The building was almost torn down in 1970s. The chapel, like so
many historic buildings in many towns, had fallen into
significant disrepair, with leaks, falling plaster and was
dirty.

In 1981, the town allowed for it to be used for a broader range
of purposes. But it still lingered in disrepair until this
latest effort.

The adoption of the Community Preservation Act by Manchester in
2005 was the first step, and when enough money was raised, the
actual restoration work began in 2007.

Gail McCarthy can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3445, or at
gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.

Continued here:
The light of restoration

27-01-2012 14:27 The most complete coverage of The Witcher 2 gameplay for PC, PS3, and XBOX 360. The second instalment in the RPG saga about the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, features a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline defining new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to an epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action. A new, modern game engine, responsible both for beautiful visuals and sophisticated game mechanics puts players in the most lively and believable world ever created in an RPG game. A captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, and everything else that made the original Witcher such a great game are now executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way. Look for our complete The Witcher 2 guide and review. Hope you enjoy. Please rate and subscribe. Developer: CD Projekt RED Publisher: Atari

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Witcher 2 - Console Reveal Trailer - Video

22-12-2011 14:10 yellow.co.nz Auckland Glass Ltd located in Auckland is an excellent choice if you are looking for "window repair" or "window replacement". To learn more call 0800 804 804, visit us at 4 Southdown La, Auckland 1061, or click on the above link.

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Window Repair Auckland Glass Ltd - Video

28-01-2012 20:00 Integrity Auto Glass 816-674-4744 Windshield Replacement | Auto Glass Repair | Kansas City | 816-674-4744 Broken windshield or car window? We come to you! Trust Kansas City's experts with your auto glass repair and replacement needs. We come to you! For an auto glass quote or to schedule service, Call 816-647-4744 ASAP - We Have You Shielded! Integrity Auto Glass makes it easy for your personal or business needs. We take pride in giving the best custoemr service possible and the best deal on windshield replacement or windshield repair for your automobile, car or truck. Whether your personal vehicle is in need of auto glass repair or replacement, or if it is a business vehicle, we offer the best deals in Kansas City to remedy your auto glass chip, crack, or full replacement. Call today to find out more information about: Choosing an Auto Glass Professional Windshield

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Windshield Installation | 816-674-4744 | Kansas City | Broken Windsheilds Replaced | Best Prices - Video

29-01-2012 13:06 Window World of the Ozarks is a proud sponsor of the Window World Weather Kid on KNWA. Is your child a Weather Enthusiast? If so, sign him or her up to be a Window World Weather Kid. Twice a month, a child between the ages of 6 and 14 will be chosen as the Window World Weather Kid and will give the forecast with Chief Meteorologist, Dan Skoff during the 5:00 and 6:00 pm news on KNWA. We're ready to meet many of your home remodeling needs; Call us today to schedule a free in-home estimate, 866-225-6760; Fort Smith, Springdale, AR. http://www.windowworldozarks.com

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Window World Weather Kids on KNWA - Video

29-01-2012 15:23 Integrity Auto Glass 816-674-4744 Windshield Replacement | Auto Glass Repair | Kansas City | 816-674-4744 Broken windshield or car window? We come to you! Trust Kansas City's experts with your auto glass repair and replacement needs. We come to you! For an auto glass quote or to schedule service, Call 816-647-4744 ASAP - We Have You Shielded! Integrity Auto Glass makes it easy for your personal or business needs. We take pride in giving the best custoemr service possible and the best deal on windshield replacement or windshield repair for your automobile, car or truck. Whether your personal vehicle is in need of auto glass repair or replacement, or if it is a business vehicle, we offer the best deals in Kansas City to remedy your auto glass chip, crack, or full replacement. Call today to find out more information about: Choosing an Auto Glass Professional Windshield

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816-674-4744 | Emergency Windshield Replacement | Kansas City | MO | KS | Kansas | Fast - Video

29-01-2012 15:32 Integrity Auto Glass 816-674-4744 Windshield Replacement | Auto Glass Repair | Kansas City | 816-674-4744 Broken windshield or car window? We come to you! Trust Kansas City's experts with your auto glass repair and replacement needs. We come to you! For an auto glass quote or to schedule service, Call 816-647-4744 ASAP - We Have You Shielded! Integrity Auto Glass makes it easy for your personal or business needs. We take pride in giving the best custoemr service possible and the best deal on windshield replacement or windshield repair for your automobile, car or truck. Whether your personal vehicle is in need of auto glass repair or replacement, or if it is a business vehicle, we offer the best deals in Kansas City to remedy your auto glass chip, crack, or full replacement. Call today to find out more information about: Choosing an Auto Glass Professional Windshield

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816-674-4744 | Emergency Windshield Repair Kansas City | Urgent Windshield Replacement | MO | KS - Video

Perhaps you were motivated by rebates or other federal stimulus
incentives. Or by your budget-busting energy bills.

Whatever the reason, to those who spent a small fortune in
recent years replacing home windows, you have the sympathies of
a couple of Malvern chemical engineers.

Jay Reyher and John Siegel, along with a Wisconsin partner,
Thomas Culp, have put their scientific minds together to create
an alternative to replacement windows that is more
cost-effective yet proven to be as energy efficient as new,
Energy Star units.

Their company, Quanta Technologies Inc., has developed a storm
window made with a low-emissivity (low-e) glaze to control heat
transfer that has impressed the U.S. Department of Energy; the
head of Pennsylvania's energy-conservation program; and the
Mark Group Inc., a fast-growing weatherization contractor in
Philadelphia that is partnering with Quanta on the sale and
installation of its panels.

Equally significant for a start-up, Quanta, founded in April
2009, has secured more than $1.8 million in federal and state
investments to broaden its product line for use in different
climates.

While there are other manufacturers of low-e storm windows,
QuantaPanel's creators say their product's uniqueness, in part,
is the glass-coating technology that maximizes insulating
performance while optimizing passive solar gain, and the
enhanced air-sealing qualities of its frame and sash system.

"These are smart people that are, I think, onto something
special," said E. Craig Heim, executive director of
Pennsylvania's Office of Energy Conservation and
Weatherization.

That is not likely to trigger rejoicing among manufacturers and
retailers of full window units, who are already experiencing
sales drops since the tax credits for new windows expired Dec.
31. Quanta officials say they are not out to make life
miserable for the replacement-window industry, but to serve a
segment of the population that cannot afford new windows - or
does not need them - but could benefit from improved
performance by the windows they have.

"We saw the opportunity to fill this commercialization gap,"
Siegel, Quanta's chief operating officer, said last week, at
the company's factory near Lancaster.

Quanta bought the assets of a Chicago-area window-manufacturing
company that was going out of business, and, in July 2010,
began moving the equipment into 50,000 square feet of what had
been an RCA television-tube factory just outside downtown
Lancaster. Timing could not have been better.

Studies by the federal Energy Department showed enough energy
savings from low-e storm window retrofits to enable them to pay
for themselves within five years. Consequently, Pennsylvania
added them to its Weatherization Assistance Program priority
list - recommended energy-savings actions - in the fall of
2010, about the same time Quanta introduced its first
commercial product.

It was that federally funded weatherization program, which
provides retrofits to low-income homes, that Quanta first set
out to serve. Its QuantaPanel 500 series, a low-e storm window
that attaches to the exterior of existing single-pane or
double-pane clear-glass windows, cost typically less than
one-fifth the installed cost of an Energy Star replacement
window, according to Quanta officials.

In this region, the QuantaPanel is expected to reduce heating
and cooling costs on a single-family residence by 15 percent to
30 percent, which could amount to about one-sixth of a home's
total utility bill, said Reyher, Quanta's chief executive
officer.

Last year, Quanta launched a product line designed for interior
installation, targeted for multifamily buildings, as well as
light commercial and historic properties. All window units are
custom-made.

Quanta's game plan sounded promising from the time Reyher and
Siegel approached the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of
Southeastern Pennsylvania for funding in 2009, officials there
said.

"To find a technology that basically can do what a window
upgrade would do but at a substantially lower cost I found very
intriguing," said Mark deGrandpre, director of investments in
the physical-sciences area. Ben Franklin has issued Quanta two
grants totaling $500,000.

From the U.S. Department of Energy, Quanta received $853,962 in
stimulus funds in June 2010. In essence, Quanta was a dream
come true, suggested P. Marc LaFrance, technology-development
manager.

"We've been trying to get companies interested in developing
and promoting low-e storm windows for a long time," LaFrance
said. "Having a company interested in making this their sole
business model was very interesting to us."

By the time Jeff Bartos joined the England-based Mark Group in
August 2010 as president and chief executive of its U.S.
affiliate, the company was already intrigued by what Quanta was
selling. He was soon sold.

If a homeowner "is already spending resources, time, and
dollars to insulate walls, you should insulate your glass as
well," Bartos said, adding that a typical Mark Group
installation of a Quanta panel costs $225 to $250.

Not that a storm window is the answer for everybody. Quanta's
founders are the first to say that if, for instance, your
window frames are rotting out, buy new ones.

That still leaves plenty of potential for low-e storm windows,
Reyher said. By some estimates, 43 percent of all residential
windows in this country are single-pane glass. Assuming that
Mid-Atlantic winters do not remain balmy and natural gas prices
start inching up, Reyher foresees a potential market for low-e
storm windows of nearly $1 billion, and Quanta sales reaching
$100 million. They currently are under $2 million. Its
workforce of 12 is expected to expand to 60 within a year,
Reyher said.

Diane Mastrull:

Quanta Technologies Inc. founders Jay Reyher and John Siegel
discuss the QuantaPanel insulating glass system and its
energy-efficiency role at http://www.philly.com/business

Contact staff writer Diane Mastrull at 215-854-2466,
dmastrull@phillynews.com,
or @mastrud on Twitter.

More here:
Diane Mastrull: Malvern engineers marketing high-tech storm windows

Expectations were
high throughout Europe when the January transfer window opened
some four weeks ago, but there has been relatively little
movement in the big leagues up to now.

Nevertheless, clubs
still have two more days in order to strengthen their squad for
the remainder of the 2011-12 campaign, and plenty could happen
in the remaining hours.

Teams will have to
bear in mind, though, that the January window closes at
different times in the various European leagues.

Naturally, clubs
can no longer sign players after their domestic window slams
shut, however, they could still lose players to a league where
the January window is still open.

Serie A giants
Inter, for example, have so far been unsuccessful in adding a
new midfielder to their squad, and have until 19.00 CET on
January 31 to get their man.

However, the
transfer window closes at midnight in France, meaning that they
could still lose Thiago Motta to Paris Saint-Germain between
19.00 and midnight, and will not have the opportunity to sign a
replacement.

To avoid any
confusion, Goal.com lines up the exact times
on Tuesday, January 31 that the transfer window closes in all
the big European leagues:

Here is the original post:
When does the transfer window close in Europe's major leagues? Here are the times

A soft economy prompted some homeowners to take a new look at their
existing footprint. Even as housing-market conditions turn a
little brighter, many homeowners
still opt to stay put and update their current quarters
instead of selling at lower prices.

The numbers prove it. Remodeling industry sentiment, as
tracked by the National Association of Home Builders'
Remodeling Market
Index (RMI), hit a five-year high in the fourth quarter.

[See the
5 Best (and Worst) Home Remodeling Projects.]

In many cases, these decisions are fiscally motivated and
reflective of the times, but the following remodeling trends
may be here to stay:

Suite spot of the market. Builders and
remodelers are finding more demand for in-law apartments
(typically called mother-in-law suites whether mom is the sole
resident or not) as part of new additions or basement
makeovers. The first waves of baby boomers have reached their
golden years and families are
getting creative with longer-term care solutions. For some
families, this is ultimately a lower-cost option than
assisted-living or nursing home care.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 62
percent of builders surveyed were working on a
home modification related to aging in 2010. About 1 in 5
builders added an entry-level bedroom. AARP is working with
builders on a designation for Certified Aging in Place
Specialists, who are trained in designing and modifying
buildings for the elderly. About 3,000 builders, contractors,
remodelers and architects have been certified.

[See
Will This Home Renovation Pay Off?]

There's another shift among the generations in some households.
A soft job market has occasionally landed grown children (and
their families) back at mom and dad's place, too. Lengthy stays
often lead to a call to a contractor. Given demographic trends,
these remodels have resale potential and are no longer seen as
a design burden and deal-breaker for prospective buyers.
Remember to follow municipal building codes.

Backyard haven. Booming economic times led to
luxury outdoor living--pricy natural stone hardscapes, gourmet
grilling kitchens, and major electrical upgrades. The recession
may have dinged this corner of the remodeling industry, but the
concept survives. In fact,
investing in outdoor living spaces (and installing
additional windows and doors for better inside-to-outside flow)
has been a major part of even budget-minded upgrades within
existing home footprints. Consumers may be scaling back their
wish list, but they're not cutting back on outdoor entertaining
and family time. After all, if families are traveling less,
they're playing more at home.

[In Pictures:
The Home of the Future.]

Smarter kitchens. Smarter doesn't mean the
kitchen does the cooking for you, but it can mean you're in and
out of there in less time. The peak of the construction surge
featured token real estate words like "granite," "high-end
appliances," pre-packaged cabinet "suites," and more. It's not
that people now want low-quality kitchens, they're just moving
toward more customization. Some are putting more money in
pantries and utility rooms that keep the "guts" of the
operation undercover. They're giving up dedicated food-prep
square footage in favor of larger eating and family room areas.
They're opting for open shelving and islands that do a lot of
the heavy lifting, with loads of storage. Kitchens are and will
continue to look less like a work area and more like an
extension of the living area.

Twitter:
@USNewsMoney

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3 Recession Home Remodeling Trends Likely to Stick Around