Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Get ready to dive even deeper into the world of Below Deck Mediterranean. The Wellington crew is taking you inside all the yachting drama in the upcoming Below Deck Med Season 5 After Show.

Yes, the Below Deck Med After Show returns to these shores on Monday, August 17. And trust us when we say that the Below Deck Med After Show is exactly the kind of thing that would be at the top of every fan's preference sheet. The Wellington yachties will not only be breaking down everything we saw in the latest episode of the show, but they will also be spilling behind-the-scenes secrets you won't want to miss.

It's all there in the After Show, premiering with new installments on BravoTV.com and YouTube following the latest episode of Below Deck Med.

Want more Below Deck Med? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on the entire series through the Bravo app.

To tide you over until the premiere of the Below Deck Med Season 5 After Show, relive all the awesomeness of the Below Deck Med Season 4 After Show, below.

The Daily Dish is your source for all things Bravo, from behind-the-scenes scoop to breaking news, exclusive interviews, photos, original videos, and, oh, so much more. Subscribe to The Daily Dish podcast, join our Facebook group, and follow us on Instagramfor the latest news hot off the presses. Sign up to become a Bravo Insider and be the first to get exclusive extras.

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Below Deck Med Season 5 Is About to Get Even More Jaw-Dropping with the Return of the After Show - Bravo

Alex Radcliffe left quite the impression on Andy Cohen during his appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen: @ Home on July 6.

After Alex revealed that he was wearing a shirt featuring Andy and his own face Photoshopped onto the body of the WWHL host's real BFF John Mayer that had "best friends" written across it, Andy admitted that he was "getting a little crush" on the Below Deck Mediterranean deckhand during that episode's After Show (clip above).

Of course, Alex took that as the utmost compliment when The Daily Dish caught up with him over the phone on July 15. "I wasnt surprised after the shirt I had on and us kind of bantering back and forth," Alex said abouthearing Andy was "getting a little crush" on him. "I was flattered."

Alex said his WWHL: @ Home debut with fellowBelow Deck Medcrew member Hindrigo "Kiko" Lorrancouldn't have gone any better. "I had a blast. I had a good time," he recalled. "I think we just joked around the whole time. It was fun, though."

Alex said that he was glad to see his T-shirt was such a hit with Andy. "I was trying to tell Andy, me and him are like gonna be best friends, so might as well make a shirt," Alex explained. "So, I think were working towards that right now, definitely after that episode."

"I think were on the verge of being best friends," Alex added.

Want moreBelow Deck Med? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on the entire series through theBravo app.

The Daily Dish is your source for all things Bravo, from behind-the-scenes scoop to breaking news, exclusive interviews, photos, original videos, and, oh, so much more. Subscribe to The Daily Dish podcast, join our Facebook group, and follow us on Instagramfor the latest news hot off the presses. Sign up to become a Bravo Insider and be the first to get exclusive extras.

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Below Deck Med's Alex Radcliffe Reacts to Andy Cohen's "Little Crush" on Him - Bravo

RISING SUN - There is this episode of The Simpsons that spoofs The Shining. And in it, they tackle the famous all-work-and-no-play bit.

However, instead of being a dull boy, Homer Simpson recites All work and no play makes Homer go something, something.

His wife Marge answers Go crazy?

To which her husband replies DONT MIND IF I DO!

I had kind of been feeling stuck in that mindset. I had far exceeded being simply a dull girl and had inched my way into perhaps something we could call, Corona Crazy. Symptoms include restlessness, crabbiness, general feelings of malaise and temporary amnesia that this weird thing called carefree fun used to exist.

Well, it wasnt just the pandemic weighing down my sense of fun like a heavy, wet blanket. It was all the other obligations that stack up. We managed to wrap a few of those major things up and I came up for air; realizing it was August and we had not done hardly anything relaxing and definitely not anything recreational.

So Saturday, we managed to get out of the quarantine rut and we got out of the house and went on an adventure.

We didnt go too far though, just up to Sidie Hollow Lake in Viroqua. We wanted to take the canoe out at least once this year and this seemed like a pretty easy option. We thought that if it all went horribly wrong and the kids hated it, well at least we could bail out quickly.

Surprisingly though, they loved it. Especially Wayls. We often joke that Thatcher is just a mini version of me and Bop is a tiny Chascaboth in looks and personality. That really shined through as we got in the green Coleman canoe and Thatcher immediately began being a Nervous Nellie.

I dont know about this dad, its a might bit TIPPY! He uttered, his voice heavy with regret and reluctance.

Waylon on the other hand plopped into the boat like a turtle sliding off a log. With a thud and a wiggle he positioned himself between his dads knees and proceeded to relax with his breadstick from Kwik Trip and juice box in hand.

We paddled around a bit in the shade and watched people jump off the rope swing and turtles slide into the water. We found a rickety dock to paddle up to and decided to do a little fishing.

Did you see that big thumper fish? It fumped itself right into the water, Thatcher squealed with delight.

Even more delightful was the steady stream of people walking on the nearby path. Thatcher, you see, is a people person. He takes after both his grandpa Mark and Papa Tom with his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone he can.

A gaggle of teenagers on their way to swim were caught in his web of conversation for quite some time. He told them about the fish he caught, that his name started with a T and that it was a mighty fine day out today especially for him and his fwend bowwwwder (Boulder is his favorite action figure.) As they attempted to get away, he told them to have a great day! Wear your mask and eat your food so you can get BIG MUSCLES!

Always the sweet and silent type, Waylon just waved and smiled.

We casted our poles, well I should say Thatchers poles for he is the only one in our house with nice fishing poles anymore. And managed to catch a few tiny bass. Everyone was able to inspect and pet them before releasing them gently back into the weedy depths.

When we decided to set sail once more as Thatcher called it, we paddled slowly to watch the schools of bluegill, perch, and even the biggest bass any of us had seen in a long time swim by.

If that wasnt enough, we even got home and prepped 10 gallons of cucumbers for pickle mania and a whole lot of lawn mowing. Evening out our fun and kinda lazy afternoon with the chores that always need to be done.

We set out on Sunday with a long to do list that got turned into pickle making and naps. While Chasca ran to grab a few groceries with Bop, Thatcher stayed back for a little time with his Sweetheart mama. He diligently filled my jars with the bread-and-butter pickle brine I cooked up and helped make 10 pints of the slices before deciding that simply drinking the leftover brine with a spoon was a much better job.

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Enjoying the important things together - Swnews4u

Sarah Colburn, Special to the Times Published 10:15 a.m. CT Aug. 20, 2020

Katie Ballantine and her dog, Shire.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

COLLEGVILLE TOWNSHIP Interior designer and artist Katie Ballantine has spent decades helping people make things beautiful through balancing art, space and natural light.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many families to work and learn from home, Ballantine is seeing more people seek beauty through balance in their homes.

Specializing in both residential and commercial interior design, Ballantine likes to bring in nature and work with artists to put the finishing touches on the spaces she creates. As a local artist herself, who works in clay and paint, she connects all her worlds.

The common denominator for me is conceptualizing space and describing space, said Ballantine, who operated The Ballantine Company Store until about 2006.

As parents across Central Minnesota begin to think about back-to-school Ballantine is seeing more calls from people wanting to balance their work, home and school spaces.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

School is coming and people are realizing this isnt going away, she said.

Though she said its a relatively new phenomenon, that balance is created using some of the same steps to good design that she always focused on in her business.

Her store carried essential oils, natural cleaning products, work from local artists and it encompassed a plant nursery.Ballantine has continued many of those same veins as she stepped away from the storefront and continued her company.

Home is a sanctuary in ways its never been before, she said. There are so many people working from home, creating home offices, they need to re-think how they use their space and how to get privacy. They need more sanctuary from their space than theyve ever had before.

Ballantine works with clients in a number of ways from color consultations to one- or two-hour consultations about a space that needs a new look, to landscape design and consulting on full-house builds. Some of her clients meet with her to conceptualize a space and then do the legwork themselves to save on cost.

I think everybody gets to have beautiful spaces, Ballantine said.

And thats why she works the way she does, letting the client talk about what they need from her and her services.

When Ballantine enters a clients space, she often focuses on orienting the room to optimize the natural light. She has conversations about how the room is used and sometimes, she said, she just sits in an area and watches how the family lives in a room.

When I leave a space, I want it to look like them, not me, she said.

She listens to people and reads them, understanding their vision for the space or helping them to create one if they feel completely lost.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

I want to surround them in a place thats safe and warm and comfortable and feels like home, she said.

Ballantine has a plant nursery and still grows the orchids shes known for in addition to vegetables and heirloom tomatoes she brings to the Minnesota Street Market in St. Joseph.

That connection with the earth, with growing things, is something she works to incorporate into her room designs between indoors and outdoors.

Sometimes, she said, that grounding connection is made through the use of plants and other times, when shes working on a new build, she envisions where the light would come into the home at different times throughout the day and how that particular space would be used during different times of the day,.

She works with architects as they draw up the space, she is available to assist with concept work and material selection, paint selection, furniture layout and artwork. She has not only been commissioned herself to create artwork for spaces, she makes connections between her clients and local artists when a project deems it a good fit.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

She has working relationships with artists who create in metal, those who build custom furniture and those who can make knobs out of stones, tree roots, wood or clay.

Its completely original, she said. Even if an artist did the same thing for two different houses it would be very different. Artists are innovators by nature so it brings a certain spirit into a space, it becomes a collective of those spirits that have created and collaborated to create this bigger than us thing.

To contact Katie Ballantine at The Ballantine Company, send her an email at ballantineco@gmail.com

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Interior designer brings balance to homes as families spend more time in them - SC Times

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020

If youre stuck at home and looking for something to do, join the thousands of people starting home improvement projects. We get some tips on this trend and find out how to get the best return on your investment when you embark on your own improvement project.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of us spending much more time than normal in our homes. Many are working from home. And all this time in the same place has given us an opportunity to really see where we live.

Evidently, a lot of people dont like what they see because right now there is a wave of folks who have decided they need to spruce things up. Yes, home improvements and renovations are on the uptick.

But how do you renovate safely during a pandemic? If you plan to sell in the future, what colors and textures and trends will help? And which home fix-up projects give you the best return on your investment?

We talk to some pros about that and more.

Guests

Melissa Lee, principal designer, New South Home, an interior design firm in Charlotte

Kim Trouten, real estate agent with Allen Tate SouthPark

Chris Duncan, partner with Four Oaks Builders, a home building and remodeling company in Charlotte

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Charlotte Talks: Home Improvements Projects On The Rise In Quarantine - WFAE

Waltham-based fashion designer extraordinaire David Josef has always incorporated philanthropy into his work, but the COVID-19 pandemic has led him to take that segment of his business to a whole new level through his creation of unique, often sequin-embellished face masks. The Providence native has swapped out wedding dresses and ball gowns for face coverings that he donates to hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders. He also sells masks to customers, who he said cant get enough of his Ruth Bader Ginsberg design, or his seemingly innocent floral pattern that, upon closer inspection, has verbiage warning people (in very direct language) to keep their distance. I remember the day everything came to a halt: March 15. In one day I received 25 texts/e-mails from clients saying their events had been canceled, said Josef, 62. I didnt see things going in this direction, but this is [where we are], and were having a blast making the masks. Lets face it, they are the must-have fashion accessory. Josef creates the masks with his husband, Daniel Forrester (Its a real team effort, he maintained), with whom he lives in Waltham. We caught up with Josef to talk about all things travel.

Favorite vacation destination?

Being a moon child and a big queen, I have different places in the world that I love (depending on my mood). When I need to stop, relax, and rejuvenate, its Nantucket. When its going to be a lovely two-week vacation, my favorite place is Paris. But New York City gives me everything I need. I can hibernate in a hotel room, fabric shop, and see all of my friends and their Broadway shows. New York is simply the greatest city in the world.

Favorite food or drink while vacationing?

This is a loaded question. Currently, I am weighing in at an even ton, so eating and drinking is something I thoroughly enjoy anywhere. From the hot dog stand in New York City to the most fabulous five-course meal in Paris . . . Im happy eating and drinking anywhere in the world.

Where would you like to travel to but havent?

I am embarrassed to say that I am full-blooded Italian, but Ive still not yet traveled to Italy. In fact, we were supposed to be in Italy right now, in this moment. But the pandemic rules and, instead, we are home, making and shipping thousands of masks.

One item you cant leave home without?

I cant leave my husband, Danny, home when I travel. Other than that, Im a very, very light packer. No matter where were going, I am a light packer. However, my husband travels like Elizabeth Taylor with steamer trunks if were going to New York City overnight.

Aisle or window?

Always aisle. In the very early days of my career, when I was about 19 years old, I would have to fly to New York City for fabrics, meetings, etc., regarding my designs. That was back in the day of the Delta shuttle. I was a very nervous flyer [and] found that looking out the window was soothing. Now, or shall I say before the pandemic, I would be on planes once a month going here and there and everywhere for my work. Its amazing how our bodies become used to any situation. Now I sleep through every takeoff.

Favorite childhood travel memory?

Its kind of funny how life comes full circle. When I was about 12 years old, before my parents divorced, my mother, father, me, and my two brothers took a trip to New York City. I remember it like it was yesterday. We stayed at the City Square Hotel on Sixth Avenue and a rock n roll band, the Buckinghams, were staying on the same floor as us. I got a taste of what it was like to be famous by watching these guys navigate the endless crowds that were waiting for them on [our floor] and in the lobby of the hotel. It was cool.

Guilty pleasure when traveling?

I am a very strange traveler. I am not [someone who is] gung ho, lets get out of the plane and go shopping or sightseeing. My guilty pleasure when traveling is as follows: Check into the hotel and go to bed! Im a real jerk with hotels, too. I like all the upgrades and the amenities, as anyone would. I like to relax in my hotel for the first day and a half to get my bearings, get my footing, and then I will venture out to sightsee, or do whatever it is that needs to be done.

Best travel tip?

Danny and I have rediscovered Amtrak and train travel. Its truly glorious and incredibly relaxing.

JULIET PENNINGTON

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David Josef was supposed to be in Italy right now, but hes making masks instead - The Boston Globe

Tucked into the foothills outside of Fort Collins, this minimalist mountain home is the ideal base for a screen-free getaway. Photo courtesy of Andrew Michler

A Q&A with the designer of this 1,300-square-foot, certified International Passive House tucked into the mountains outside of Fort Collins. And, yes, you can rent it.

Escaping into the wilderness has long held appeal for Coloradans, but as we face another month of pandemic life, getting away to a place far from others sounds even more attractive.

Enter Off Grid Hideaways. The Switzerland-based startup partners with homeowners around the world to rent out their beautifully designed and remote properties. There are currently 13 homes in Off Grids portfoliobut just one is in the United States, and its right here in the Centennial State.

The Colorado Hideawaynicknamed MARTAK, an acronym of the designers familys surnamesis a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in the mountains of Larimer County, about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. The minimalist and open-concept space incorporates plenty of natural, eco-friendly materials (like Forest Stewardship Councilrated timber and recycled-newsprint insulation) and is the states first certified International Passive House. But dont let that scare you: There is electricity and indoor plumbing (and wifi, too, though you can ask to shut it off for a true digital detox). Its a regular house. You wouldnt even notice it as being anything different at first, says designer Andrew Michler, who lives in his own off-grid abode next door and runs the architecture firm Hyperlocal Workshop. We talked to Michler about MARTAKs aesthetic and what Passive House really means.

5280 Home: How would you describe the design of this house?Andrew Michler: Its kind of a Colorado contemporary cabin. It has a lot of inspiration from Japanese architecture in its use of materials and the space-making. People respond to two main things: the materials of the house, which are really quite simplepicket fencing for siding, plywood for the flooring, plywood boxes for furniture and stepsand the shape. Its a big, strong triangular motif inspired by hogback mountains here on the Front Range. Its almost like being inside one of those hills in a way.

Is there a spot in the house that guests gravitatetoward most?The most popular part of the house is the net (pictured above) at the very end of the loft space. Its 10 feet off the ground. [Overlooking] the main living area, it serves a few functions: We needed to make that space feel less cave-like, and it brings daylight in. Acoustically, it connects the two living spaces as well. Its just a lot of fun to do a surprise element in the house.

Tell us about the furnishings.Almost everybody responds to the minimalist aesthetic. People are feeling a little bit cluttered in their lives now that theyre working from home, and that decluttered-ness really speaks to them. The trick was trying to find the balance between creating a space thats completely uncluttered but still has the amenities you need to be comfortable. Its very much about getting people to engage with the space. [For example,] the windows are fairly deep, so [the sills] act as benches.

What does it mean that this house is a certified Passive House?This is the first certified International Passive House in Colorado; thats a very strict and rigorous energy-efficiency standard. The goal is to achieve buildings at any scale that use about 10 percent of the heating and cooling that a typical building would use in that environment. Its a massive leap from what typical buildings do. Its naturally comfortable.

I think its important for us to start focusing on the long-term quality of buildings, which goes beyond what we typically talk about: just the aesthetic component. Passive House has put a tremendous emphasis on the well-being and comfort of people. You cant take photographs of it, but a lot of people express how it feels to them. They feel protected. Its quieter. The temperature range is more stable. From a human point of view, our buildings havent been able to provide quiet spaces, constant fresh air, and really comfortable environments before. Thats something we can emphasize in parallel with the reduction of the carbon footprint of buildings in general.

So, no air-conditioning, then.Because Im off-grid, air-conditioning is not really an option. We use Earth tubesair is pulled through tubes that go through the ground, which helps to temper the air before it comes into the house. But primarily its just night cooling: Open the windows at night and close them during the daytime. In the wintertime, the main heating system is the sun, or passive solar; the secondary heating system is our everyday activities in the house, from cooking to taking showers. A small supplemental heating system makes up for the rest.

Whos making reservations?Lots of families; a lot of design-oriented people; people who are looking for a unique place to spend time for a few days or a week. Especially with COVID-19, everybody feels locked in. Theyre looking for something serene.

The Colorado Hideaway sleeps four and is available to rent for $250 per night; pets are not allowed.

Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.

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This Colorado Getaway Is the State's First Certified "Passive House" - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

Following the popularity of a riverside house that an architect and designer built for themselves in Australia, we've rounded up 10 other original self-designed homes by architects and designersfrom around the world.

Home Farm, UK, by John Pawson

Home Farm is the clutter-free second home of John Pawson, the British designer best known for his minimalist style.

Built within a 17th-century farming complex in the Cotswolds, the dwelling is fitted out with limited furniture and a deliberately simple material palette of pale lime plaster, elm and concrete.

Find out more about Home Farm

House in Samambaia, Brazil, by Rodrigo Simao Arquitetura

A large, sweeping rooftop shelters the stripped-back House in Samambaia that Brazilian architect Rodrigo Simo designed for himself, his wife and children.

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap its exterior and frame its tactile, open-plan interiors, which feature various recycled elements and an exposed structure of white-painted steel pipes, beams and board-marked concrete.

Find out more about House in Samambaia

House in Tokiwa, Japan, by Makoto Suzuki

Makoto Suzuki designed the fragmented House in Tokiwa to facilitate communal living accommodating living spaces for himself, an office for his wife, a remote retreat for his father and a studio for the sculptor Takenobu Igarashi.

It is made up of individual blocks that are interlinked and unified by the same vertical timber cladding, which Suzuki left unpainted to mimic the trunks of the surrounding trees.

Find out more about House in Tokiwa

Ceiba House, Mexico, by Jorge Ramirez

Ceiba House is the 1930s family home of Jorge Ramirez, which he refurbished and extended with a white rooftop yoga studio for himself and his wife.

Located in Aguascalientes, the small home retains as much of its existing detail as possible, including weathered mud-brick walls, crumbling render and a small courtyard with a ceiba tree after which the house is named.

Find out more about Ceiba House

Hytte Ustaoset, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus

Framing the view of the nearby lake was the priority of Jon Danielsen Aarhus when designing his family's remote timber cabin, located on the mountain plateau Hardangervidda in Norway.

The pared-back dwelling is otherwise built to merge with its natural setting, clad entirely in pinewood that will grey over time and mimic the colours of the surrounding trees and rocks.

Find out more about Hytte Ustaoset

Blythe Road, UK, by Alex Michaelis

Alex Michaelis' self-designed sculptural brickwork house in London slots into a long, narrow site that was previously occupied by a disused garage.

Complete with rooftop gardens and a swimming pool, the design is Michaelis' "contemporary take on Corbusien modernism" and intended to offer a "unique and unparalleled experience of city living".

Find out more about Blythe Road

Dodge House, Portugal, by Daniel Zamarbide and Leopold Banchini

Daniel Zamarbide's Lisbon home is fronted by an opaque facade that opens unexpectedly into a bright, full-height living space, overlooked by staggered glass-walled rooms.

Its distinctive stepped section squeezes a kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms into a footprint of less than 40 square metres and is designed to maintain a visual connection throughout the home.

Find out more about Dodge House

House in the City, Japan, by Daisuke Ibano, Ryosuke Fujii and Satoshi Numanoi

A stack of staggered white boxes makes up Daisuke Ibano's House in the City, which he built for his growing family on a compact site hemmed in by other buildings in Tokyo.

This characteristic form reflects its unusual interior layout, where the rooms are arranged as one "helical continuous space" without doors to help maximise light and space.

Find out more about House in the City

Le Pedrera, Uruguay, by Alejandro Sticotti

Le Pedrera is a coastal holiday home that architect Argentinean Alejandro Sticotti designed for his family using textural board-marked concrete and weathered-wood cladding.

The interiors were designed largely by his wife Mercedes, a graphic designer, and have a complementary material palette dominated by tactile wooden flooring, ceilings and furnishings.

Find out more about Le Pedrera

Basic House, Thailand, by Korn Thongtour and Nartrudee Treesaksrisaku

An indoor garage containing a vast collection of cars is the centrepiece of Basic House, the "clean-cut" home of architects Korn Thongtour and Nartrudee Treesaksrisaku in Bangkok.

Developed with their studio, Brownhouses, the dwelling conceals all its storage behind walls to enhance the pared-back aesthetic and retain focus on views of the garage throughout the home.

Find out more about Basic House

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Ten self-designed homes that reflect the unique styles of their owner - Dezeen

Donald Norcross Is The Last Person Who Should Be Throwing Around Words Like Catastrophic And B.S.

Norcross calls Postal Service changes, B.S., but we all know the real B.S. is Norcross policies

COLLINGSWOOD Claire Gustafson, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jerseys First Congressional District, said today that Congressman Donald Norcross is the last person who should be throwing around words like catastrophic and B.S.

At issue is that according to published reports Donald Norcross, at a press conference at the Bellmawr Postal Service processing center, referred to changes made in Postal Service operations by the Post Master General as catastrophic and said, Its B.S.

Its laughable that Congressman Donald Norcross would refer to anything as catastrophic when the real catastrophe in our congressional district was created by him, Claire Gustafson said. In February 2014, when he announced his first run for Congress, Norcrossbraggedthat he led the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law, the very law that led to his family and friends getting $550 Million in tax breaks.

Gustafson continued, Norcross went on to refer to Postal Service changes as B.S. when we all know the real B.S. comes from his mouth every time he mentions being a union electrician when he hasnt set foot on a job site in around 20 years. I interact with union labor more at industry trade shows for my business on job sites more often than he does.

Gustafson added, The catastrophic B.S. is local media allowing Donald Norcross to back away from his early bragging about the role he played in passing the law that ensured his family and friends got all those tax breaks. It must be nice to be part of the political cartel that rules South Jersey, the media even gave Norcross a free pass whenhe compared Camden City workers to childrenwhile backing up Holtecs owner after he made controversial comments.

Gustafson continued, Many of those tax incentives created by the law Norcross bragged about passing could have been used to help other areas of the district that are hurting. Imagine if businesses were helped move to the area of the Paulsboro Port. We might be bringing in steel from Brazil rather than wasting opportunity on Russian steel and taxpayers might finally be getting a return on their $255 million investment. Instead Donald Norcross worked hard in the state Senate to get tax breaks for his family and friends in Camden. As a member of Congress he seems to forget the district runs south to the Gloucester County Border with Salem County. He represents more than just the political cartel that rules South Jersey.

Its time to put an end to the catastrophic B.S. created by Norcross and the political cartel he happens to be a member of and thats why Im running for Congress, Gustafson said.

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Norcross Is The Last Person Who Should Be Throwing Around Words Like Catastrophic And BS - InsiderNJ

Norwich Viewing municipal utilities as a "gold standard" and hoping they can be used as a "measuring stick" for storm response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, joined state legislators at Norwich Public Utilities on Tuesday to hear about NPU's storm response.

The visit came among ongoing and widespread criticism of Eversource for its response to Tropical Storm Isaias, and a day after Energy and Technology Committee leaders unveiled bipartisan regulatory legislation.

NPU General Manager Chris LaRose and spokesperson Chris Riley hosted Courtney, Energy and Technology Committee Chairman state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex; and state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, for a discussion in NPU's emergency operations center.

According to NPU, 35% of customers lost power due to Isaias, but of those 7,500 customers, 99% had power restored in two days and 100% in three days.

"When the storm came, I don't think anybody honestly predicted the damage that was going to happen," LaRose said, but noted that NPU prepared for a Category 3 hurricane.

In the response, he said the utility's priorities were hospitals, then business centers, then places with the most customers per outage. But he also said NPU doesn't wait until the end to deal with outages that affect only one or two households.

NPU has 146 employees, and all the general managers are unionized. That's about the same number of workers NPU had in 2011, when Connecticut saw massive power outages from both Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm.

LaRose said it takes about 10 years for someone to become a skilled lineman, and the company pre-fills jobs before they're vacant if they know a lineman is approaching retirement age.

He said there's no program in the state technical school system specifically for linemen but NPU looks for people who have a "high school education with a strong intellectual background" and gets some people who come in with an electrician's license.

NPU has 11 linemen responsible for power restoration, and after power was restored for all NPU customers following Isaias, eight worked from the Saturday to the Wednesday after the storm providing mutual aid to Eversource. They helped people in Lyme, Old Lyme, East Lyme and Waterford, for example.

NPU rates are about 24% less than those of Eversource but it varies throughout the year, La Rose said. NPU is holding a public hearing next week on rates and looking to put out a three-year rate schedule.

The paradox is that some want to see legislation enabling municipal utilities like NPU and Groton Utilities to expand their coverage area because of their storm response, but part of the strong storm response comes from having a small territory.

"We do very well in a storm response because we have a small and nimble area," Riley said.

Similarly, in response to a question from Osten about moving into other communities, LaRose later said that "if you get large, you have some of the issues of being as quick and as nimble."

Despite Eversource being much larger, both Courtney and Osten expressed that they thought it was fair to make a comparison with NPU's performance.

"To me, we're talking about the same weather event, we're talking about the same state and in some cases even the same county or region," Courtney said. Comparing Norwich to Sprague, Osten added, "When you go 10 miles down the road and it takes an additional five days to get power back, that doesn't make a whole boatload of sense."

e.moser@theday.com

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What went right with Norwich Public Utilities' response to Isaias? - theday.com