Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The greatest global pandemic in over 100 years has created chaos, threatened lives and livelihoods and brought much of industry and commerce to a standstill.

While the pandemic has created uncertainty, it has also created new markets and opportunities for the post-Covid-19 era.

After all, this crisis has shown us how we can change the way we work and play.

Businesses that were previously in the peripheries could grow. Perhaps no more so than those occupying the digital space.

Around 80 per cent of the white-collar workforce are deployed under the work-from-home regime, creating a cottage industry in everything from e-meetings and e-seminars to e-sales and e-marketing.

Online teleconferencing, chats and discussions and digital marketing have all sped up the journey towards a digital economy.

With Web conferencing exploding, companies offering support services for webinars will do very well in the new normal. New opportunities have also emerged for telcos, Internet service providers and vendors of computer accessories.

The advent of 5G will accelerate these trends and opportunities.

There are even opportunities for furnishing and home renovation companies and interior decorators who can create functional and comfortable home offices.

But remote working arrangements and telecommuting will also raise challenges in online security, stability and bandwidth capability.

Companies that can provide data storage, technology support, secure platforms, cyber security and even backup facilities will see demand for their services grow rapidly.

The same goes for those in the education space. The closure of schools has forced the entire education system to embrace e-learning.

An entire new pedagogy will have to be devised.

Singapore has been a leading player in many fields, ranging from medicine and digital technology and banking to supply chain management and education. This crisis provides it with an opportunity to solidify its leadership position in all these segments.

Besides schools, this will also open opportunities for providers of online tuition, both in software and curriculum development.

Beyond learning, this crisis has also catalysed the growth of home entertainment, video streaming and e-sports. For example, the Singapore Esports Association based here has been busy putting together a community e-gaming programme and has been engaging with businesses and entrepreneurs.

The market for e-sports and entertainment will continue to grow.

Online retail, which was already gaining traction with the millennial generation before the pandemic, will also accelerate in the post-Covid-19 economy.

Companies and individuals whose businesses support this new e-commerce reality, spanning the entire belt from logistics to last-mile delivery, stand to benefit.

The acceptance of e-commerce is also likely to spread beyond traditional goods and services like consumables, groceries and food.

Some real estate players have started venturing onto online platforms to market new projects. For example, property portal ShowSuite has started helping developers market properties online, including fulfilling the protocols for all paperwork seamlessly on its platform.

Could we see more developers turning to online sales, instead of paying property agencies hefty commissions to sell their new projects?

Opportunities abound to capitalise on this digitalisation trend, not just in real estate, but in other business segments as well.

In a similar vein, this crisis has taught many of us that aspects of physical banking may be more a luxury than a need.

Banks will have to rethink their branch network strategies. Besides rolling out more online services, they could consider alternative cash payment systems, such as counters at 24-hour convenience stores, to supplement the teller network.

Paperless billing could also increase, while cashless payment systems will gain more traction.

After all, reducing the handling of physical paper or bank notes can also reduce the likelihood of viral transmission.

The net impact would be a lower cost of doing business and higher efficiency for both banks and businesses.

Could this be just the crisis digital currencies needed?

The pandemic has also forced the wealth and asset management sectors to devise new ways of engaging clients.

The wealth management industry, in particular, has been on the low end of financial technology and works very much in a paper-driven world.

This has kept the cost-to-income ratios high. But this crisis has forced a reckoning, with the industry deploying more technology than it has in the last decade.

The industry should also perhaps look at using more independent asset managers and lowering the emphasis on its product-driven approach.

The regulatory environment may also need a relook.

Singapore has already proven itself to be an important node in the pan-Asian supply chain game but this crisis could strengthen its hand.

The long queues and empty shelves at supermarkets have been seared into the psyche of the average consumer and raised the spectre of supply shortages for everything, from toilet paper to tea.

As a result, supply chain management has evolved from being a nebulous phrase used by industry specialists to becoming part of the vocabulary of the average shopper.

For a small nation such as Singapore, it is a strategic imperative to ensure a steady and reliable supply of goods from a diversified base of suppliers. Businesses that can make this happen will do well.

Singapore must build up its domestic food production capability via biotechnology and specialised farming. There is potential to achieve some level of self-sufficiency via agri-farming ventures such as fish farming, poultry and eggs.

There are also opportunities for companies that can effectively apply advanced technology to farming via hydroponics, aero farming, aquaponics or other forms of food production.

Given that this is a crisis created by a pandemic, the healthcare sector could see a huge transformation during the post-Covid-19 era.

Government spending on healthcare to avert or prepare for future pandemics is likely to increase, in turn creating opportunities for companies in this segment.

The demand for healthcare products and personal protection gear, be it protective garments, masks, gloves or other products, will not disappear any time soon.

This pandemic has also underscored the importance of having a sufficiently large pool of trained healthcare workers.

More training facilities will need to be established even as Singapore imports more healthcare workers, not just to cater for pandemics but also to prepare for an ageing population.

Pharmaceutical and medical tech companies will also be in focus as the search for vaccines, cures and therapeutics becomes critical in the post-Covid-19 era. The future for Singapore's biotech and biomedical sectors remains bright.

Demand for telemedicine could also grow as people avoid going to crowded clinics for minor ailments.

This pandemic has also created greater awareness about the need for insurance that covers comprehensive hospitalisation, critical illness and disability, and life policies.

Insurers that can offer innovative coverage for such eventualities will become leaders in their game.

The new normal will create a new economy: Some industries will disappear; others will grow; new ones will emerge.

Businesses that can cater for a faster, cheaper and more convenient future will find new opportunities. Individuals who can think out of the box and devise unconventional solutions to complex issues will find a niche in a new marketplace.

Singapore has been a leading player in many fields, ranging from medicine and digital technology and banking to supply chain management and education.

This crisis provides it with an opportunity to solidify its leadership position in all these segments.

As the old adage goes, every threat creates its own opportunities.

Excerpt from:
New economy will emerge from new normal after pandemic - The Straits Times

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DELIVERY HOLD-UPS WILL DELAY BUILDING WORK ON DOMESTIC EXTENSIONS, PUSHING UP COSTS

What happens when you finally get your dream home project off the ground, only for Covid-19 to shut down the build?

For first-time buyers Thomas McGirr and Fiona Murphy, it means the newlyweds, who are about to have their first child, have had to abandon plans to begin family life in a newly renovated home. The refurbishment of their end-terrace, three-bed property in Irishtown, Dublin 4, which was very close to being completed, is on pause as a result of the restrictions.

But it could be worse, McGirr says. The couple live locally, having moved in with Fionas mother, Mary, a couple of years back, to save for a deposit. McGirr visits the site every day to open windows to help dry out the concrete skimmed floors laid the day Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the lockdown which ensure the home will have luxurious underfloor heating.

His brother Brian McGirr, a plumber, advised on the plumbing and heating decisions. Our builder, Dermot Harper of Harper Homes, kept us right, McGirr says.

When they bought the property in December 2018, the house needed complete renovation, insulation, rewiring and replumbing. As is typical of much of the older housing stock in the area, its only bathroom was situated downstairs.

Some homeowners turn one of the bedrooms upstairs into a washroom. The couple didnt want to make that compromise and so enlisted the services of Joe Fallon Design and Architecture to add the tiny extension to give them the additional space.

He also reconfigured the layout to create a far better sense of flow and to give them a second space to escape to, or to use as a kids playroom.

The site has been closed but a skip left outside the house over the course of the lockdown began to fill with other peoples waste. McGinn had it removed.

He feels theyre one of the lucky ones. Were not in a rush. Were comfortable enough. Were living rent-free and only have the one mortgage to pay.

One south county Dublin resident in Monkstown is mid-conversion of a garage into a home office with a separate entrance, which should have been a timely move.

While only two weeks out from being finished, the structure is just bare block walls for now. It doesnt yet have a roof but has a roof membrane. The architect is in touch and hes being told that works will be allowed on site from Monday May 18th, with social distancing. The downside is that there is no longer a timeline to completion, he says. Meanwhile, hes working at a table that he borrowed from his mother.

Across the city in Inchicore, Dublin 8, a couple is living with a kitchen extension that is not even halfway through, says contractor Kevin Moran of Moran Builders. Its been built and has a roof but thats it. He has done his best and has fixed them up with an oven and a microwave, which is set up in the living room, as well as a temporary sink.

Moran managed to get the roof on before lockdown and has checked in with them since to make sure theyre okay, reasoning that he might be able to consider the works essential.

The windows arent yet in and the back is exposed. The couple say it is cold and very draughty but they are toughing it out. Its not ideal but the weather has been really good, says one half of the pair.

But they have no counter space and the couple say their diet has gone to pot as theyre living mainly off ready meals. Something like this is a first world problem, they say.

The Inchicore couple are not alone. A lot of sites are exposed or open, says architect Denise OConnor of Optimise Design, but she says anyone in that position shouldnt worry. A builder wont have installed anything that can be damaged if the roof isnt yet on. Furnishings generally dont go in until the windows do.

But some people who are mid-project already have concerns and while not clients of Optimise Design, have contacted OConnor for help.

One has a joiner who cant be reached. Others are worried that their tradesperson may go out of business. She says its really important to keep the lines of communication open. Dont rely on third parties, is her advice. Talk directly to your build team to try and find out timelines.

With construction sites due to reopen on May 18th, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has issued a document to all contractors on safety measures to make sites safe. Ahead of this some 60,000 workers have already undergone an induction programme to make sure they understand the new safety measures. Recommendations include the addition of a Covid-19 compliance officer on larger scale developments. On smaller scale residential jobs Shane Dempsey, director of communications at the CIF, sees this role being taken by the main contractor.

The new social distancing measures will see some delays or loss of productivity, he says. Social distancing will mean that less workers can be on site at one time. On residential renovations, this will lead to longer timeframes.

Most builders on residential projects work under contract, says architect Paul Brazil of Brazil & Associates. It [the contract] still stands, he says. Hes reasonably confident that theyre all on board and anxious to get back. But we dont yet know working procedures and how they may affect fixed price contracts if the workload period has to be extended.

While he says there is an underlying belief that subcontractors will happily work for less, he doesnt believe this will be the case and wonders how the work model is going to operate or where costs are going.

What is certain is that social distancing is going to delay the build period, says Lisa OBrien of OBrien Quantity Surveyors.

Contractors may look to issue notice for an extension of time. A four-week timeframe might become eight or 12 weeks. This will increase the cost of some elements of the build, a foreman for example, if youre hiring one, will have to be on site for longer and so will any scaffolding needed.

How this will be arranged comes down to forward planning, says David Dwyer of Summit Scaffolding. It is an aspect of the building process that he already has to manage. As it is most jobs about 98 per cent run over by six to eight weeks so we already have to be pretty flexible.

The supply chain may also need addressing, OBrien says. What may have been a six-week lead on tiles or sanitaryware to come from Italy may now become 12 weeks.

One solution she suggests is revisiting the spec sheet to try to replace those choices with something more readily available. Another issue is that some materials, such as stoves, kitchens and/or ironmongery, may have been already paid for by the contractor, who may now end up out of pocket, at least for the duration of the delays.

Contractors ability to resource current and future jobs is another big question, she says. Can any foreign workers who went home get back into the country and where will they self-isolate before coming on site?

OBrien doesnt foresee supply shortages. Nor does Moran, at least for those who are already mid-build, but he expresses concern about the availability of plywood and medium-density fibreboard later this year.

OBrien doesnt see building rates going down but raises a bigger question. As long as this situation prevails, she queries what will be deemed essential works by the Government.

Affordable housing schemes will be but will a house extension or refurbishment be considered essential? Tradespeople and contractors working in the residential sector may diversify and become sub-contractors to bigger, affordable housing developments.

And if so, will the residential sector lose the talent working in it and push the costs of renovation even higher and out of the hands of ordinary buyers?

With much of the housing stock in Ireland already in need of upgrading, buyers looking to do small-scale extensions will have to spend far more time crunching the numbers to see if the costs are worth it, especially if property prices soften.

moranbuilders.ie; optimise-design.com;brazilassociates.com; obqs.ie; summitscaffolding.ie

Read more here:
Renovations in lockdown: There is no timeline to completion - The Irish Times

news, local-news, Tighes Hill, Homes of the Hunter, renovation

When Wes O'Donohue and Kamisha Refalo bought their home in Tighes Hill in 2017, it was to be the fifth house they had renovated. The house needed a lot of work, but they were up for the challenge. When they first saw the house, Refalo described it as "unbelievable". "We generally buy houses that aren't very aesthetically pleasing," she says. It was built in the 1920s and one of three miner's cottages on the block. The house was falling apart, but it also had ornate details. They couldn't keep much of it. "There were still cracks in the walls from the earthquake," she says. There were a few fireplaces, but they had been covered up. "We completely stripped it back to the bones because there was no insulation, or heating or cooling," she says. Now that the house is finished, Refalo describes it as modern, industrial, recycled and rustic. Its finishes are textural. Refalo, O'Donohue and their two teenage boys lived next door in a rented house for seven months when they started the renovations. Then they moved in and continued. The renovation took the house from one storey to three storeys. This involved digging, adding levels and taking out walls and redoing them. "I was a bit embarrassed by the house because it's so massive, but I have to remember where we came from with it," Refalo says. "We were in desperate need of space at that time." While they lived there, the upper level was the "adults level" and the kids spent time below. She said that living in the place during the renovations was pretty intense. "It's a good way to live in the space and make decisions and also save money. You can do it a lot slower. Once we moved in, I don't think anything happened very quickly," Refalo says. The house remained a three bedroom, but the pair added more living spaces. They got rid of one of the bedrooms to make a kitchen and they added a study and a room upstairs and downstairs. They levelled the yard to put in a pool. Everything is matte in the renovated house. Deciding on the stairs took a long time. They were built last, so everyone had to use a ladder to get up and down. "Wes looked at that empty void for two years, and I was like 'can you just build the stairs?' and at one stage we had metal guys going to fold steel, but we weren't into it; it was too heavy and too much," she says. "Then we found some recycled timber in a yard and Wes was like 'this is perfect for the stairs!' It's such a big piece in the house, it's so in-your-face. I think for him, being a builder, it was big thing. I just wanted to be able to walk upstairs." The kitchen and the top veranda is their favourite place, with views to Stockton. You can see Throsby Creek and the bridge that crosses it from Tighes Hill to Maryville. "I think the other thing that we really were stumped with was the railing out on the deck. We had chicken wire there for two years. We were just going to put mesh; we were actually going to get stronger wire. Then we went to look at it; it wasn't right. We just ended up using steel rods that we oiled up," she says. All the windows were made in Melbourne and double glazed. The house doesn't have air-conditioning but it has a fire and ceiling fans. They didn't plan to move out until they had finished, and by the time they had completed the renovation they were over it. Refalo still can't get over the crazy amount of work and time they put into it. They'd been living in Tighes Hill for the past 12 years until earlier this year when the family moved to Bungwahl. They kept their newly renovated home and rented it out for short and long-term stays. They're loving their quieter life by the ocean now, but Refalo enjoys looking back at when they lived in Tighes Hill and their crazy project. If you want to see more of the before and after journey of their house in Tighes Hill, visit their Instagram account instagram.com/67elizabethstreet_/

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/SZjBdCvXzdW4Ygt94axh3r/cdb0baf6-bfd2-44c5-ba9c-0eec1e2285b1.jpg/r0_47_4500_2590_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

PHOTOS

May 10 2020 - 6:00AM

+18

When Wes O'Donohue and Kamisha Refalo bought their home in Tighes Hill in 2017, it was to be the fifth house they had renovated.

The house needed a lot of work, but they were up for the challenge.

When they first saw the house, Refalo described it as "unbelievable".

"We generally buy houses that aren't very aesthetically pleasing," she says.

It was built in the 1920s and one of three miner's cottages on the block.

The house was falling apart, but it also had ornate details.

They couldn't keep much of it.

"There were still cracks in the walls from the earthquake," she says.

There were a few fireplaces, but they had been covered up.

"We completely stripped it back to the bones because there was no insulation, or heating or cooling," she says.

Now that the house is finished, Refalo describes it as modern, industrial, recycled and rustic. Its finishes are textural.

Refalo, O'Donohue and their two teenage boys lived next door in a rented house for seven months when they started the renovations.

Then they moved in and continued.

The renovation took the house from one storey to three storeys. This involved digging, adding levels and taking out walls and redoing them.

"I was a bit embarrassed by the house because it's so massive, but I have to remember where we came from with it," Refalo says.

"We were in desperate need of space at that time."

While they lived there, the upper level was the "adults level" and the kids spent time below.

She said that living in the place during the renovations was pretty intense.

"It's a good way to live in the space and make decisions and also save money. You can do it a lot slower. Once we moved in, I don't think anything happened very quickly," Refalo says.

The house remained a three bedroom, but the pair added more living spaces. They got rid of one of the bedrooms to make a kitchen and they added a study and a room upstairs and downstairs.

They levelled the yard to put in a pool.

Everything is matte in the renovated house.

Deciding on the stairs took a long time. They were built last, so everyone had to use a ladder to get up and down.

"Wes looked at that empty void for two years, and I was like 'can you just build the stairs?' and at one stage we had metal guys going to fold steel, but we weren't into it; it was too heavy and too much," she says.

"Then we found some recycled timber in a yard and Wes was like 'this is perfect for the stairs!' It's such a big piece in the house, it's so in-your-face. I think for him, being a builder, it was big thing. I just wanted to be able to walk upstairs."

The kitchen and the top veranda is their favourite place, with views to Stockton. You can see Throsby Creek and the bridge that crosses it from Tighes Hill to Maryville.

"I think the other thing that we really were stumped with was the railing out on the deck. We had chicken wire there for two years. We were just going to put mesh; we were actually going to get stronger wire. Then we went to look at it; it wasn't right. We just ended up using steel rods that we oiled up," she says.

All the windows were made in Melbourne and double glazed. The house doesn't have air-conditioning but it has a fire and ceiling fans.

They didn't plan to move out until they had finished, and by the time they had completed the renovation they were over it. Refalo still can't get over the crazy amount of work and time they put into it.

They'd been living in Tighes Hill for the past 12 years until earlier this year when the family moved to Bungwahl. They kept their newly renovated home and rented it out for short and long-term stays.

They're loving their quieter life by the ocean now, but Refalo enjoys looking back at when they lived in Tighes Hill and their crazy project.

If you want to see more of the before and after journey of their house in Tighes Hill, visit their Instagram account instagram.com/67elizabethstreet_/

Go here to see the original:
Homes of the Hunter | New industrial meets recycled chic in Tighes Hill - Newcastle Herald

Dear Ken: I have a portable evaporative cooler, but it doesnt seem to do a good job in any room. Can you help? Pete

Answer: These small coolers do best when they have access to dry air from outside the room youre trying to cool. Its a little like the high school physics conundrum: What happens to the kitchen if you leave the refrigerator open? Of course, the kitchen gets warmer.

In your example, if you set a portable cooler in a room, it will increase the humidity to a certain level and thats it. So instead, position it on a window sill or at about table-top height in the doorway from a room with windows.

Dear Ken: Weve got an older fiberglass shower base thats worn out, hard to clean and stains easily. Can we paint it? Fran

Answer: Apply some Easy-Off Oven Cleaner (the low-odor type in the blue can). After an hour or so, scrub it off with a stiff brush. Rinse and repeat until its clean.

That might be enough. If not, one of my radio listeners recommends trying these two steps: Apply a couple of layers of KILZ or Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primer; after that cures, coat the base with water-based, SPAR, urethane varnish. He says its lasted for months and is easy to clean.

Dear Ken: Ive got an old tar-and-gravel roof on my adobe-style house that was installed many years ago. Id like to have it looked at to see if its OK. Whom do you recommend? Jack

Answer: Flat (built-up) roofs can be problematic. They break down in harsh sunshine and usually start to leak when relatively young. Youll have to sort through roofing companies online.

Not all residential companies work with flat roofs, so you might end up with a commercial company. Id count on having to get a new roof.

The tar-and-gravel system has been replaced by a membrane-style roof. Its a thick, rubberized coating essentially one piece that lasts a long time and comes with a quality warranty. One type I recommend is called modified bitumen a variation of asphalt roofing but much thicker and tougher.

Dear Ken: Were putting an offer on a house with a plywood floor in the basement. Its in an expansive soil area, so we assume this is the reason for the unusual floor. What are the problems with this system? Brad

Answer: These wood floors suspended over dirt instead of resting on it, like concrete are a good engineering solution to overcome the effects of hot, expansive soil. We find that we can load up the perimeter foundation enough to hold it down, but concrete slabs are pushed around easily by the expansion of clay when it gets wet. Hence the suspended floor system.

The major pitfall remains water. Pay scrupulous attention to downspouts and drainage around the foundation.

The floor likely was built with some combination of treated lumber and steel. Even so, dampness under it must be kept to a minimum. Check to see if the builders installed plastic sheeting over the dirt underneath and some sort of mechanical ventilator to keep fresh air moving into the space under that floor system.

Dear Ken: Can I paint my steel siding? Its faded and dirty. Paul

Answer: Try power washing it. Your neighborhood rental center can loan you the unit and some detergent, which will dissolve the airborne dust, pollution and oxidation.

That might brighten it up enough that you wont need to paint. If not, youll have to apply a specialized metal primer before painting.

After that, regular exterior acrylic latex will be a fine topcoat.

Dear readers: There are two often-neglected areas of home maintenance that need attention periodically.

One is in the breaker box. Breakers do wear out. This week, I ran across a bad main breaker in a relatively new home it wouldnt reset from off to on without a lot of effort. Most breaker boxes have a 100 or 200 amp main breaker switch that controls all electricity entering the panel and the house. Once a year, it needs to be cycled, along with all the others in the box, to make sure theyre not sticky or weak from overheating.

The same is true for the pressure relief valve on the top of a water heater. When its needed, its got to be clean and free of rust and other crud that accumulate under it. Give it a gentle lift and hold it until the water escaping from it runs clear. Then let it snap back into position to restore its seal.

If it begins to leak afterward, its probably time to replace it.

Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 4 p.m. Saturdays on KRDO, FM 105.5 and AM 1240. Visit aroundthehouse.com.

See the article here:
Around the house: No need to get heated over cooler that won't cool - Colorado Springs Gazette

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Many of the hundreds of COVID-19 patients that Registered Nurse Sarah Sullivan has cared for in New York have died in the emergency room where shes working.

As a nurse, Ive lost patients before, but loss on such a grand scale and when theyre so young , she said before taking a breath and looking down.

I dont think any of us came out here thinking we were going to be superheroes and save the world, she continued. It is a very, very helpless feeling when you have no beds and theres nothing you can do even through all of your best efforts. Thats incredibly challenging for me, she paused again.

I never wanted to be a hospice nurse for that very reason, she continued. Thats been my role lately, just holding peoples hands. Theyre alone. They dont have visitors. And they know theyre dying.

Sarah Sullivan, RN. All photos provided by APSU

The nurses here were drowning

Sullivan has worked 12- to 14-hour shifts every day except one since she arrived April 8 in New York City to help with the coronavirus pandemic.

I have a skill, and it was needed, said Sullivan, an Austin Peay State University student who will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in July. I went into nursing to help people, and there were a lot of people here who needed help. Not just the patients but other health care workers. The nurses here were drowning.

Sullivan is working in a Level 1 Trauma emergency room at a hospital now, but shes also helped at field hospitals in the city.

Most of what were seeing right now are patients with COVID complications, she said. At first, there were about 300 patients (citywide) a day being ventilated. Now, were down to dozens a day.

Sullivan is caring for people with acute respiratory distress who need intubation before going to the intensive care unit (ICU).

A lot of our patients actually are in the 25-to-40-year range, she said. Theyre having a lot of heart attacks and strokes (because of clotting). So, its mostly trying to stabilize those and get them to the ICUs.

Reversal of roles

Sullivan ended up in New York City after a company she had done contract work for contacted her on April 6 about helping in New York.

Shes a nurse at El Paso (Texas) Behavioral Health, and shes completing Austin Peays BSN work online.

The El Paso hospitals medical director told Sullivan that I needed to follow my heart and my skill set and go where the need was greatest. He allowed me to take a leave of absence.

Her husband, Sgt. First Class William Sullivan, and she also needed to decide if she should go.

He served at Fort Campbell for seven years before being reassigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

It was kind of a role reversal for my husband and me because hes usually the one leaving to go help people, Sullivan said.

The company contacted Sullivan on April 6. She was on a plane to New York on April 8. Her husband, an Army career counselor at Fort Bliss, is home with their five kids.

Returning home

The hospitals are not quite as busy, and part of that is because a lot of nurses answered the call for help, Sullivan said. Another part of it is stay at home worked.

Sullivans contract ends May 25, but she doesnt know if shell return home then.

The city is starting to open things back up now, so were probably going to see another surge right about the time my contract is up, she said.

Sullivan also has to consider classwork. Once she graduates in July, shell start in Austin Peays family nurse practitioner program.

As hard as its been trying to keep up with homework for the BSN program, I dont know that I want to be here for the masters program, she said.

Her Austin Peay professors, however, know where Sullivan is and what shes doing. Theyve worked with her on extended deadlines.

Im immensely grateful to all the faculty in the nursing department, every single one of them, and to the faculty in my core classes, she said. They have been phenomenal.

Sullivan works nights and sleeps during the day. Her shift is 7 p.m.-7 a.m., but she works longer if she has a critical patient.

She usually does her homework for a couple of hours when she gets back to the hotel room where shes living. She usually sleeps from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

In an email to APSU School of Nursings Dr. Debra Wilson, Sullivan said the schools public and community health lessons helped prepare her for her service in New York.

Nobody really knows whats going on sometimes, were just taking care of patients, but sometimes you just have to step up and say, OK, were going to break it down this way, Sullivan said. My education at Austin Peay, had I not had those components, the leadership in community and public health, I dont think Id be as successful or as prepared as I am.

For more about Austin Peay State Universitys School of Nursing, go to https://www.apsu.edu/nursing/.

Continue reading here:
APSU nursing student helping in New York: 'Loss on such a grand scale is incredibly challenging for me' - Clarksville Now

While mandated regulations are still requiring nonessential businesses to remain closed to the public, small business owners are getting creative with their newly freed-up schedules. At Steve's Flooring & Design in Morris, owner Steve Meyer is finding ways to keep certain operations functioning, all while completing a large renovation and expansion project in the store.

"We've taken advantage of the shelter-in-place directive by freshening up our showroom and expanding our displays," explained Meyer. "We're still receiving new samples of carpeting and Luxury Vinyl Tile and Planking, so there's a lot to see. We've added a nice color to our walls and installed new carpeting in our offices. Our entire showroom is being upgraded, and will even include a new shower display that highlights the Schluter Shower System, complete with different tile sizes and patterns and available shower doors." The Schluter Shower System is an integrated group of products that form a fully watertight and bonded assembly for tiled showers. It eliminates the risk of water and vapor penetration and overwhelmingly reduces total installation time.

In addition to the renovation, Steve's Flooring is broadening its display of Cambria quartz countertops, which feature new patterns and colors that will give customers more options for their new kitchen and bath designs. "Cambria is our bestselling quartz countertop manufacturer, so we're excited to roll out the new product line," said Meyer. "Cambria countertops are made in Minnesota; we're very proud to offer American-made products to the community."

Although the store is currently closed to the general public, some business transactions can be done by appointment. "Some of our services are still being performed," added Meyer. "We're still able to take measurements and install floor coverings. Customers can call or email us to set up an appointment. We're very flexible with our timing, and we are adhering to social distancing and other safety requirements during this crisis." For more information, please contact:

Steve's Flooring & Design

717 Liberty St.

Morris, IL 60450

Phone: 815-941-4505

Email: stevesflooring@sbcglobal.net

http://www.stevesflooring-design.com

Read the original post:
Steve's Flooring Prepares for Store Reopening with Renovations, Expanded Offerings - Morris Daily Herald

Your home may never be a castle, but it can definitely be a haven your own private refuge (at least after the kids are asleep) from the mayhem outside.

Creating a stress-free and soothing home environment can mean hiring a contractor to install serious soundproofing or a spa-worthy steam shower pricey upgrades that are likely to add property value. But just as often, its about simple things you can do without laying out a cent.

Ready to boost your homes relaxation quotient? Here are some easy ways to do it:

l Clear the decks Clear open surfaces of extraneous stuff, clean out closets and generally straighten up. This kind of orderliness really helps people feel more energetic and cheerful.

l Muffle irritating noises If youre serious about blocking out noise such as traffic you can soundproof walls and ceilings by doubling up on drywall and caulking gaps where sound enters. Carpets, drapes and other soft materials help absorb sound. For walls, a quick, cheap, sound-muffling solution is Homasote, a recycled cardboard material that costs about $25 for a 4-by-8-foot sheet. It doubles as a pinboard, making it especially suited for childrens rooms and home offices and takes paint like a dream.

l Soak out the stress A prefab steam shower can run you $5,000 or more, but there are less pricey ways to take your bathroom in a spa-like direction. If your existing tub isnt deep enough, a 30-inch-deep soaking tub starts at around $500 (plus installation, of course). Dont forget the bath salts.

l Color yourself calm Blue is considered a restful paint color, which is why decorators often choose it for bedrooms. Followers of the Chinese art of feng shui believe pink calms a room, while green because it symbolizes nature is serene and refreshing. As luck would have it, classic blue is the color for 2020.

l Light it right Overhead lighting can be glary and unflattering, whereas light at lower levels creates warmth and intimacy. Balance an overhead fixture with wall sconces and table lamps, and be sure to put that ceiling fixture on a dimmer, especially over a dining table.

l Flickering flames Sitting by a crackling fire has nurtured souls from time immemorial. If youre lucky enough to have a fireplace, use it to create relaxing ambience.

l No fireplace? Make the most of candlelight for a cool spring mood boost. Plain, long-burning candles from the supermarket are so inexpensive ($7 for a box of 72), youll feel free to use them in abundance.

l Flower power Freshly cut flowers provide measurable uplift. Chrysanthemums last the longest; they can go up to three weeks in a vase, with alstroemeria, roses and lilies a close second.

Remember, when its time to sell or buy a new home, contact the Warren Area Board of Realtors. They are the experts and can help you through the real estate process.

Cunningham is the 2020 president of the Warren Area Board of Realtors.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Read the original here:
Give your home some TLC; it will love you back | News, Sports, Jobs - Warren Tribune Chronicle

Subodh Kerkar, like any other ethos aware artist, is in search of answers. Gandhi could be one. Before the pandemic started its rampage, the Goan installation maestro had been exploring the theme, and has spoken on Gandhi at many forums his recent session at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozikode was Mahatma through the Arts.

"Gandhi has helped me understand the situation in the country and cope with it. Ive begun to propagate his ideas which, I believe, have a great role in educating people," says Kerkar. Before COVID-19 put a spanner in his works, he was on the brink of starting a year-long residential programme for students in Goa and mulling a corporate art programme to educate leaders in collecting and collating art.

A full-time artist for the past 30 years since he abandoned a career in medicine at Calangute Hospital to become a water colourist, Kerkar has founded art galleries, exhibited in India and overseas and spoken at prestigious venues such as Amsterdams Van Gogh Museum.

His first art lessons were from his father, whose palette he used to clean. By the time he was 10, he could weild a mean watercolour brush. He says, As an 18-year-old, I had many ambitionsamong them were to be a priest, soldier, mafia don and shopkeeper. Now, he calls himself an ocean artist, because the sea, beside which he was born, lives, sleeps and creates is my master and my muse.

Ever since 2004, when a half-kilometre long line of installations along Miramar beach brought him acclaim, the muse has never left him. Mediums challenge and delight him sand, shells, truck tires, coconut shells, boats, bones, palm leaves, laterite stones and of course discarded plastic bottles.

For example, one of his critically acclaimed recent works, the Carpet of Joy used almost 100,000 plastic bottlesthe bane of beaches. I wanted to spread awareness about littering because its an act of violence against Mother Nature and against yourself, he says.

Kerkars work resonates with current concerns. "An artist is like a receptor and transmitter of ideas of an age," he says. His current mission is popularising contemporary art in India through the Museum of Goa (MOG) he started four years ago. "I realised that in this country of 1.3 billion people not more than 100,000 people can connect with contemporary art. Most galleries are in five-star spaces. I want to democratise art," he explains.

He sold houses to get funds to start his first gallery. A doyen of installations, Kerkars works have different meanings at different levelspolitical, social and otherwise. Once while passing by a beef shop he was struck by the translucent quality of bull intestines, which are used to make Goan chorizos. From Gandhi to chorizo, Kerkar continues to wield art as an instrument of conscience.

Read more from the original source:
The Bold Man and the Sea - The New Indian Express

Canadian Georges St-Pierre, who ruled the UFC welterweight division before putting a bow on a glitteringcareer by winning the middleweight title in his final outing, is headed to the UFC Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made Saturday night during UFC 249in Jacksonville, Fla., the UFC's first live show in two months due to the global pandemic.

The mixed martial arts fighter known as GSP was a pay-per-view gold mine for the UFC. And in honouring the 38-year-old from St-Isidore, Que., UFC president Dana White revived the debate of St-Pierre's place in the Canadian sports pantheon.

"Georges St-Pierre is a pioneer of Canadian MMA who helped build the sport globally," White said in a statement. "He is the most famous athlete to ever come out of Canada and one of the greatest martial artists of all-time. We're proud to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2020."

In 2010, White sparked a debate when he said St-Pierre was "a billion times more famous than any other athlete thats ever come out of Canada. Including Wayne Gretzky."

ACanadian Press-Harris Decima survey grading Canadian celebrities in January 2011 disagreed, calling Gretzky No. 1 and GSP seventh. Still the MMA fighter finished ahead of then Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

St-Pierre's success inside the cage, fuelled by hours of meticulous preparation, put MMA on the map in Canada and helped fuel the UFC's worldwide expansion.

St. Pierre (26-2-0) will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year.

"It's a great honour to be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame," St-Pierre said in a statement.

"I want to thank Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Dana White and the entire UFC team, my family, my coaches and teammates, my past collaborators, my opponents and of course, all UFC fans. It's been an amazing journey, without them none of this would have been possible."

He will enter the Hall's "Modern Wing," which honours fighters who made their debut in the era of unified rules, which came into effect at UFC 28 in November 2000, and who are at least 35 or have been retired for one year or more.

He joins Forrest Griffin (2013), B.J. (The Prodigy)Penn (2015), Urijah (The California Kid) Faber (2017), (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey (2018), Michael (The Count) Bisping (2019) and Rashad (Suga) Evans (2019).

St-Pierre beat two of those Hall of Famers (Bisping and Penn).

There are also 15 fighters in the Pioneer Wing, including the likes of Randy (The Natural) Couture, Royce Gracie, Matt Hughes and Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell.

St.-Pierre stepped away from MMA after narrowly defeating Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013. While the win marked his ninth straight title defence, St-Pierre said he needed a break from the stress of the sport.

He went on to fight just once more, winning the middleweight title off Bispingat UFC 217 in November 2017. St-Pierre gave up the 185-pound crown a month later, citing health issues (ulcerative colitis).

He officially retired Feb. 21, 2019.

"There's no tears. I'm very happy to do it," he said of hanging up the gloves."It takes a lot of discipline though to retire on top. It was a long process in my mind but it's time to do it. Only a few people have done it. AndI always said that I want to retire on my own and not be told to retire."

St-Pierre was a class act inside and outside the cage

His preparation for fights was legendary, incorporating everything from gymnastics to power-lifting. Pull-ups with a 75-pound weight chained to his waist were routine.

While other fighters wore sweats and sponsors' T-shirts, St-Pierre taking a page from some champion boxers always wore a suit for his post-fight news conferences.

St-Pierre is one of only seven fighters in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes. His 13 consecutive victories and 13 titlefight winsare tied for second most in UFC history.

His 20 wins are tied for third most in the UFC and he leads all UFC fighters in most strikes landed (2,591),most significant ground strikes (461) andmost takedowns (90).

He avenged his only two losses, beating Hughes twice and MattSerra once.

St-Pierre helped make MMA history in Canada, attracting a then-MMA world record crowd of 55,724 to Rogers Centre for UFC 129 in April 2011 when he beat Jake Shields.

The championship belt St-Pierre defended against Penn at UFC 94 remains on display in theCanadian Museum of History.

During his career, St-Pierre survived knee surgeries and other injuries as well as unproven accusations of cheating (steroids, according to Nick Diaz, and greasing up with Vaseline according to Penn). White questioned his mental strength after he lost his first title defence to Serra.

Through it all, St-Pierre kept retooling and winning.

St-Pierre made a career out of taking away his opponent's advantages. It made for methodical, if not always pretty wins. Of his nine welterweight title defences, eight were by decision.

At UFC 87 in August 2008, St-Pierre was successful on seven of nine takedown attempts against Jon Fitch, an accomplished former Purdue wrestler. Afterwards, Fitch looked like he had been in a car crash, blood trickling down his face like tears.

St-Pierre dominated Penn, then the lightweight title-holder, in a champion-versus-champion showdown at UFC 94 in January 2009.

St-Pierre won the 170-pound title at UFC 65 in Sacramento in November 2006, stopping Hughes in the second round. Two years earlier at UFC 50, the Canadian had been submitted by Hughes with one second remaining in the first round.

St-Pierre, whoadmitted later he was in awe fighting his idol the first time they met, joined Carlos Newton as the only Canadian to ever hold a UFC title.

There were bumps along the way. St-Pierre's first reign as champion lasted less than five months as he lost his first title defence, staggered by a Serra blow to the head in a shock upset at UFC 69 in April 2007.

St-Pierre's training for the fight had been disastrous. His father was seriously ill and a cousin was in a coma after a car accident. There were other family issues. Injuries cut into his preparation.

St-Pierre changed managers, training and put his career back on track.

On the advice of sports psychologist Brian Cain, he looked to rid himself of the mental albatross of his title defeat by scrawling Serra's name onto a brick and hurling it into the icy waters off Montreal's South Shore.

He dominated Serra in winning back his title at UFC 83 in Montreal in April 2008. He never lost again.

St-Pierre comes from humble beginnings on the South Shore. His father spent more than 60 hours a week on a floor-recovering business, installing carpet and ceramics. His mother nursed the elderly.

He took up karate as a kid but chose mixed martial arts over hockey because his family couldn't afford both after watching Gracie in the early days of the UFC.

While going to school and training in MMA, he held down three jobs asa bouncer at the Fuzzy Brossard nightclub, working at a floor recovery store and working for the government teaching activities to delinquent kids. To this day, he remains proud that he earned his floor-recovering certificate.

St-Pierre won his first fight as a pro in January 2002, defeating Ivan Menjivar. Four more wins and he was in the UFC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2020.

---

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

Here is the original post:
Canadian MMA star Georges St-Pierre headed to the UFC Hall of Fame - Airdrie Today

(Reuters) - One-way corridors, buffer zones around desks, and clear plastic screens to guard against colleagues coughs and sneezes may become office standards after coronavirus stay-at-home orders are lifted, say occupational experts.

Government-mandated lockdown orders to contain the global pandemic have radically changed how and where people work, with millions switching from office to the dining room and meetings moving to videoconference.

As curbs are eased, offices are being redesigned to minimize transmission risk and prevent a second wave of coronavirus cases, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned could hit the United States hard next winter.

International real estate company Cushman & Wakefield, which has overseen the return of almost a million people to offices in China, has come up with a workplace design concept to help usher in the new iteration of office life.

The concept uses the six feet rule of social distancing to keep areas around desks empty. A prototype in the companys Amsterdam offices shows clients how their spaces can be configured.

It comes down to some basic concepts, things like colored carpet or, in a less sophisticated or expensive application, taping off what six-feet workstations look like, said Bill Knightly, who works on the companys COVID-19 task force.

So its very visual. In some cases, installing Plexiglas or some other form of sneeze or cough guards to give folks additional insurance.

For workers used to the social interactions in modern open-plan offices and hot desks shared by multiple employees, the changes could be hard to adapt to, said organizational psychologist Brad Bell, who has studied the impact of working remotely.

Weve found that the more isolation that employees experience or perceive, that has a negative impact on a number of important outcomes... their satisfaction with their work, said Bell, a professor of Human Resource Studies at Cornell University. I think it can certainly lead to stress. It can undermine wellbeing.

Employers are seeing the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, Bell said, predicting some might move toward that model permanently.

What my conversations with companies are revealing is employees are remaining productive. Theyre getting the work done. And in many ways, you know, its a difficult time for everybody, but are performing much better than many companies thought they would be, he said.

But there could also be greater demand for office space to allow for social distancing, Knightly said.

Do we think everybody who can work from home will continue to work from home? No, not at this stage. Thats not the general consensus, he said.

U.S. deaths from the coronavirus are nearing 70,000, according to a Reuters tally. Stay-at-home measures have battered the U.S. economy and demonstrations to demand an end to the orders have flared across the country.

Reporting by Jane Ross; Editing by Richard Chang and Rosalba O'Brien

See the rest here:
The end of the open plan office? Workspaces get post-pandemic makeovers - Reuters