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PHILADELPHIA, April 9, 2020 DMi Partners, a Philadelphia-based full-service digital marketing and customer acquisition agency, announced today it has been named agency of record by Avalon Flooring. DMi Partners will execute a strategic campaign for Avalon Flooring that focuses on creative work including new digital and email advertisements for special promotional events and sales.

Avalon Flooring will look to DMi Partners to take responsibility of all creative and development needs. This will range from sale collateral, website updates and enhancements, display and social advertisements, print material and more. The Philadelphia digital marketing agency will also upgrade Avalon Floorings website, both on the front and back end, as well as making an array of improvements within the evolving brand.We were looking for an established, reputable partner with big agency talent and DMi was the perfect match, said Meaghan Karn, Director of Marketing at Avalon Flooring. Having previously worked with agencies in New York, we came to the understanding that talent and experience is enhanced by close collaboration and wanted to find a fit for our needs in the Delaware Valley to continue our trajectory of growth and success.

Founded in 1958 in Avalon, New Jersey, Avalon Flooring has become an industry leader in home wood flooring, area rugs, tiles, and window treatments. Now headquartered out of Cherry Hill, NJ, the 100% employee-owned company has 15 showrooms across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

We are excited to team up with Avalon Flooring and for the opportunity to engage cutting-edge digital marketing execution with such a respected local company, said Patrick McKenna, Partner and CEO at DMi Partners. We work with industry-leading brands who share similar values and have clear, ambitious goals in mind. Were proud Avalon selected us and we are confident that DMi can deliver the outcomes they are looking to achieve.

Avalon Flooring joins a growing list of Philadelphia area clients represented by DMi Partners, including other major regional brands like Mitchell & Ness and Rastellis.

About DMi PartnersDMi Partners is a full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Philadelphia. With 16 years of providing growth solutions for our clients, DMi has excelled in managing cost-effective, high quality digital marketing campaigns. DMi operates as an end-to-end email marketing agency, with a focus on engagement, reporting and analytics for its partners. DMi also provides best in class services as an affiliate management agency to help brands navigate affiliate marketing by providing program consulting, strategy, and execution. DMi has a proven track record of success scaling programs for our advertisers and keeping them one step ahead of their competition. If youre interested in learning more please contact info@dmipartners.com.

About Avalon FlooringAvalon Flooring is a premier flooring and window treatment company that serves both retail and professional building customers in their 15 retail showrooms in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Started in 1958 by John Millar, the brand is now one of the top ten specialty retailers in the U.S. The stores offer a large selection of options including carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, bathroom vanities, natural stone, custom window treatments and area rugs. Customers also receive design and estimate services as well as installation options. Find more information at http://www.avalonflooring.com.

Media ContactMatthew Brannonmbrannon@broadpathpr.com215-495-7070

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DMi Partners Selected by Avalon Flooring as New Agency of Record - Multichannel Merchant

Between 1979 and 1981, at least 30 children and young people were murdered in a series of crimes that terrorized Atlanta. But these killings of black children, who often came from low-income families, never lodged themselves in the American psyche the way that near-contemporaneous murders by the likes of Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez did. Now, as HBO airs the documentary series Atlantas Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, the city is re-examining evidence in the case, and creating a permanent memorial to its children.

No one has ever been charged with the murders of the children, who were mostly black boys between the ages of 7 and 17. They included Curtis Walker, a 13-year-old who disappeared after heading to a local grocery store in hopes of earning money by helping the elderly carry their bags. The next time his mother, Catherine Leach, saw her son, his body was being pulled out of the South River on a televised news broadcast. Another victim, 10-year-old Earl Terrell, was kidnapped and later murdered while making his way home from a local swimming pool in the summer of 1980.

Wayne B. Williams, a 23-year-old from a respected middle-class black Atlanta family, was first arrested in 1981. Police officers staking out the James Jackson Parkway Bridge reported hearing a loud splash, and subsequently pulled over Williamss car after it left the bridge. Two days later, the body of 27-year-old Nathaniel Cater was pulled from the water. Investigators connected Williams, a freelance photographer and self-employed talent scout, to nine of the other slayings through fiber and hair evidence that matched a carpet in his home and his familys German Shepherd. But he was only tried for the murders of Cater and another adult victim, 21-year-old Jimmy Ray Payne.

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was nine years old when the murders began, and is a member of a generation of Atlanta children who lived in fear of the snatcher.

You saw it on television, you heard your parents talking about it, you saw their pictures, Bottoms told Esquire.

But questions have lingered despite Williamss conviction. Many, including the family members of some of the victims, believe that Williams is innocent, that he killed only the adults, or that he murdered some, but not all, of the children. The original investigation took place in a city still deeply marred by racism, forcing families to push back against narratives that depicted the victims as street kids. Some believe the killings were the work of the Klan, which counted at least 10,000 members in 1981. When James Baldwin visited the city to report on the murders in 1981, he mocked the idea that Atlanta then represented a progressive New South, writing, Lord. The New South. Do not come down here looking for it. Williams, still serving his two life terms, maintains his innocence, despite being connected to the murder of one child by DNA evidence in 2010.

BettmannGetty Images

Last year, Bottoms established the Atlanta Childrens Memorial Taskforce, a committee charged with creating a memorial for the murdered children. Among its members are Curtis Walkers mother and Earl Terrells brother. In January, the mayors office debuted an art exhibition featuring work from local artists in honor of the victims. Portraits of the children painted by artist Dwayne Mitchelle will be exhibited at the Hartsfield-JAckson International Airport this spring.

The feeling of seeing the victims portraits was difficult to put into words, said Bottoms. It humanizes these children. I dont know if theyve ever had the benefit of being brought to life in this way. Its an important experience for all of us, because for so many of these families, they felt as if their children had been forgotten, and it allowed us to see them again.

Bottoms also announced last year that authorities would be retesting evidence connected to the crimes. We know technology has improved and changed in so many ways, she said. We dont know if there will be any additional information or any additional evidence that will lead us in one direction or another.

Paras GriffinGetty Images

Bottoms noted that shed like to manage expectations as to the results of the inquiry, in the event that the renewed investigation doesnt reveal major developments. But having fresh eyes on the evidence may yield new information, through investigative work that can be as simple as comparing evidence sheets with photos of the victims. One evidence sheet was very descriptive, but it didnt mention that the body had a gold chain on it, said Bottoms. Things like that may have been missed 40 plus years ago.

The task force is also still at work on a permanent memorial. The planned monument will include an eternal flame and a still-to-be-determined artwork honoring the victims lives. The memorial will be installed at City Hall, and visible from the mayors office window. It will be this very physical reminder for me, and every mayor who comes in after me, said Bottoms, that our children matter.

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Atlanta's Mayor Re-Examines the Child Murders That Terrorized the City 40 Years Ago - Esquire.com

Their friends will tell you that Paul Price and Fletcher Cowan know how to throw a good party. In summer its not unusual to find at least 100 guests spilling out, brimming margaritas in hand, from the kitchen of their north London home into the garden with its bubbling hot tub. Those previral bashes are, of course, on hold for now. But even without the revellers, heres an interior to lift the spirits. The tutti-frutti carpets, lagoon-blue cocktail bar and walls bustling with modern art add up to a home thats sociable and comfortable.

Price and Cowan are quick to credit the interior designer Peter Mikic with the exuberant effect. They all met, inevitably, at a dinner party. Before founding his business 10 years ago, Mikic used to run a fashion label. Price is the CEO of a luxury fashion brand and Cowan, who presents a fashion show on US channel E!, studied fashion at Central Saint Martins. So the three share a taste for art, colour and unpredictable juxtapositions.

I dont do matchy-matchy, I prefer things to be on the more interesting side, says Mikic, an Australian who has lived in the UK for more than 20 years. Paul and Fletcher have more parties than anyone I know. This house reflects that. Its them down to a T.

In a part of London better known for slender townhouses, the 1870s property is a rarity. Wide and double-fronted, it has a host of unusual features: ornate plasterwork motifs on the walls downstairs and dashing Moorish-style arches upstairs where there are three bedrooms and a walk-in wardrobe.

I was the first person to see it when it went on the market six years ago, says Price, an American with strong opinions on how things should look. I walked in, saw the wonderful, original staircase and made an offer on the spot. It just spoke to me.

Mikics brief was to transform the three-storey interior, which is believed to have operated as a print factory during the Second World War. This may have been when the first two floors were subdivided into a warren of small rooms with disproportionately wide hallways. One of the first things Mikic did was to reorganise the space by opening up the main reception rooms. The idea was to create relaxed and comfortable spaces for entertaining and living, he says. Original details were also restored. Layers of paint were scraped off the staircase to reveal the ebonised handrail, and the parquet floors were sanded back to their golden 19th-century colour.

The house now has distinct zones; the reception rooms are for living and entertaining, the lower ground floor for cooking, eating, and working, says Mikic, who added a gym as well as a library for Cowan in the lower-ground floor.

For this sociable couple, a new dining room was a priority. The kitchen has a convivial island for cooking and chatting: Paul loves to cook and I love to eat: thats us in a nutshell, says Cowan.

To bring light to the lower-ground floor, Mikic also installed floor-to-ceiling metal-framed windows that span the back wall. Before that there was only a small door and two small windows overlooking the garden, says Price. Now you feel a real sense of connection between the outside and inside. By contrast, the upstairs bedrooms, with their layers of muted colours and understated furnishings, were designed as a peaceful retreat.

Apart from a few artworks by friends, such as LA artist Jonas Wood or the photographer Alex Prager, most of the furniture and objects were bought for the house. Parisian flea markets or Alfies antique market in northwest London are their stamping grounds for mid-century design. A mix, not too 1960s or 1970s, but a bit of every era, insists Price.

In the sitting room, the multicoloured sideboard inlaid with Murano glass is a 1980s prototype by Italian fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro. It was the catalyst for the rug as colourful as a pointillist painting which Mikic designed, picking up the icing-sugar colours in the bespoke sofas. The pair of 60s armchairs, with their original fabrics intact, were found online at 1stdibs. The pink walls are one of Mikics custom-made colours: I usually hate pink, too sugary or Barbie, says Price. But this won me over.

From here, you step into the new bar where the aquarium-blue walls are made of polished plaster and the countertop was carved from lava stone.

Nearby, the glossy grand piano is a mechanical one that plays itself. The music is the only issue in our relationship, says Price, Im fond of a show tune, which Fletcher cant stand. But they agree on the classics: Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Queen, Madonna Hey, theres a theme here.

petermikic.com

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When the party starts: a home to lift the spirits - The Guardian

With Easter 2020 happening today, youre probably wondering if your local grocery store is open or closed. While sheltering in place, it can be nice to pick up a few essentials at the local grocery store. Traditionally Winn-Dixie has been open in the past for Easter, but this year it will be closed.

Unlike previous years, Winn-Dixie will not be open for Easter Sunday this year. A banner at the top of Winn-Dixies website reads: Closed on Easter Sunday for a day of rest with family.

This is unusual for Winn-Dixie, since they are normally open on Easter. But considering how busy most grocery stores have been during the coronavirus outbreak, its not surprising that their employees needed a day off.

Heres what Anthony Hucker, President & CEO, said in a letter posted online about the day off.

We are eternally grateful for the dedication and bravery proven by our associates each day, as they strive to keep our shelves stocked and our stores ready to serve you. As a gesture of our gratitude, we have announced that our BI-LO, Fresco y Ms, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores will be closed Easter Sunday, April 12 to provide our dedicated and heroic associates a day to rest with their families. Even with a day of rest planned for our associates, its important for you to know that we continue our efforts to provide you with the safest and cleanest stores in earnest.

Winn-Dixie is doing a lot to respond to the outbreak and keep things safe for employees and customers. The first hour that stores are open, Monday through Friday, will be set aside for seniors and high-risk customers. And pharmacies are also opening at 8 a.m. on weekdays to help.

Floor decals and Plexiglass partitions have been installed at registers, customer service desks, pharmacies, and liquor store counters. Touch-free payment options are available at all stores. Daily temperature checks are being rolled out for all associates and external partners, and in areas where COVID-19 cases are high, the number of shoppers allowed in the stores at one time will be limited.

In addition, associates, first responders, and health care professionals are asked to shop on Mondays and Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. so they can stock up on fresh food and other essentials.

The stores are also hiring an additional 5,000 associates to help meet the increased demand. Associates are allowed to wear face masks and gloves if they desire and they are distributing as much of this protective gear to our stores as we can. Winn-Dixie is also donating $250,000 to Feeding America and extending bonus payments to associates.

Winn-Dixie is also no longer offering refunds, exchanges, self-service food, rain checks, or Bissell Carpet Cleaner rentals in order to help with customer and associate safety.

So although Winn-Dixie isnt open today, the store will reopen tomorrow for all your shopping needs. In the meantime, if youre needing to go somewhere today, plenty of other stores will be open. Walmart, for example, is open today on Easter Sunday.

READ NEXT: Daily COVID-19 Updates

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Is Winn-Dixie Open or Closed on Easter Sunday 2020? - Heavy.com

When the novel coronavirus killed its first U.S. victim in King County,local officials knew thatthespreadingvirusposed unique risksto the more than 11,100 people inthe Seattle areawho do not have homes,and, in many cases,access to basic hygiene services.

To date, shelter outbreaks in cities like San Francisco and Boston outpace whats been seen in the Seattle area. But while thecity and the county have worked to create new resources to protect the regions homeless population, the response still falls short of what experts and homeless service providers say is needed.

City and county efforts have focused on three areas: opening new overnight shelters to decrease crowding in existing shelters, creating isolation, quarantine and recovery units,and installing additional hygiene services for people living outside.

Heresa lookat how Seattleand the surrounding regions efforts to protect homelesspeoplefrom COVID-19 compare to other municipalities,and how far the city and county have come inaccomplishingtheir plans.

Use the bottom right blue arrow to scroll through the graphic.

In a matter of days in March, many of the hygiene services relied on by people surviving outside disappeared.

On March 12, the city of Seattle announced the closure of many public facilities to limit gatherings.Within 24 hours, Seattles homeless population lost 27 public librariesthat have reliable public restrooms.Atthe same time,the city closed sixcommunity centers and pools, which normally offer shower programs.

Less than a weeklater,thefast food joints, coffee shops and restaurantsthathad restroomshomeless people could sometimes useclosedby state executive order.

Ittookthe city two weeks after closinglibraries,poolsand community centersto add six new hand-washing stations and 14 portable toilets in sixoutdoorlocationsnearexisting homelessencampments, according to the city.

Since the start of the crisis, the city has kept its park restroom facilities open in more than 100 parks,according to city data. Its also opened five communitycenterswith limited,daytimehourstooffershower services.

Butadvocatesand homeless service providers saythe efforts arefar from enough.A local hepatitis Aoutbreakhas been growing over the last several months,andin March King County sawcase numbersthat totaled altogether those of thelast fivemonths of 2019.Nearly halfwere amonghomeless people.

What we are seeing unfold in our city is a truly shocking experience,Seattle/King CountyCoalition on Homelessness executive director Alison Eisinger told the Seattle City Councilthisweek.

Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller told the council that the city had struggled withkeeping the sites clean and preventing hand-sanitizer theft. Each new hygiene site cost $35,000 a month tomaintain, Sixkiller said.

But we are working through it and obviously acknowledge that more work is to be done, Sixkillersaid.

One ofexpertsearliest concerns for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic wasthatcrowded conditions insidecongregateshelters, where sometimes peoplesleepon mats just 6 inches apart, would contribute to the spread of the disease.

Many people in these shelters were already vulnerable.Among homelessKing County residentssurveyed in 2019,more than a quarter said they struggled with a chronic health condition.

The city and countyhavefaceda massive undertakingover the last six weeks:One study by leading homelessness researchersestimated that the city and county would need 9,089 new units to decrease crowding in shelters and bring new people inside.

So far, the county has confirmed 27 positive COVID-19 cases among 12 shelters tested, including two clusters of six and 12 cases respectively. On Friday, San Francisco announced that 70 people, including two staffers, at a shelter had tested positive.

But while the city and county have created hundreds of largerspaces for existing shelter clients to prevent these kinds of outbreaks, they have thus far been unable to open a fraction of the new shelter units experts say are needed to bring new people, who arent already living in shelters, inside.

On March 25, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a press release that the county and city have worked to deploy every measure we can to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness, including expanding shelter capacity to nearly 1,900 spaces.

This is a breakdown ofwhatsome ofthose1,900spacesmean,though it does not include the countys new efforts this week to move 400 people in shelters into hotel units and pay for more. These are how many of the 1,900 spaces were available as of April9:

Source: city of Seattle and King County

*first announced on March 5

Though the city saidearlylastmonth that 95units would becomeavailable to shelteras many as 100new people within two to three weeks,the citynow projects that the units will open in mid- to late April. Five pallets, however, have been added to Chief Seattle Clubs Eagle Village site, according to county Department of Community and Human Services spokesperson Sherry Hamilton.

The citycontendsthat it has created new shelter spaces byadding more services to spaces that already had shelter clients. Setting up expanded spaces and new units while maintaining capacity,mitigatinghealth risks at all of our other shelter locations and adjusting to staffing reductions due to COVID-19 is unprecedented,mayoralspokespersonKamariaHightower saidby email.

Adding the new shelter units is complicated by staffing challengesas well as issues accessing construction and maintenance services during the statewide stayhome order, Hightower added.

For more than a month, we have been asking for additional state and federal resources for mass sheltering, Hightower said. Thecity simply doesnt have the resources to surge to the capacity we need without personnel and supports.

Even shelters where people are sleeping 6 feet apart are still at high risk of outbreaks spreading, according to Dr. Stephen Hwang, a researcher at the University of Toronto who has studied respiratory illnesses and their spread in shelters.

Theres constant mingling, in the bathroom, in the hallways, at meal time, Hwang said. You can make them safer, but you can never make them as safe as we would like them to be.

A better option, according to Hwang, is moving people into individual hotel and motel units.

On April 3, Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would useFEMAfunding tomove thousands of the states homeless population into hotels.

Washington state does not have a similar initiative, though the Department of Commerce announced in March that it would distribute at least $250,000in grant fundingto each county thatwasorganizinga homelessness response, which could include placing people in hotels.King County has applied for FEMA funding to reimburse the costs of hotels, trailers, modular units and more.

King County provided 60 vouchers for vulnerable shelter residents to stay in hotels in late February and early March, and as of this week, started moving400 vulnerable people into hotels. The Downtown Emergency Service Center also began moving 200 people into hotel units this week with county money. While the city of Seattle has used hotel units to house first responders, and council members have discussed the idea, a spokesperson for Durkan told The Seattle Times in early April that theoptionwas cost-prohibitive, among other concerns like the availability of staffing and wraparound services.

Over the last month, thecounty hasopenedthree quarantine and isolation facilities for people who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive, or believe they have been exposed:amotelin Kent,a modular site inNorth Seattle and a hotel in Issaquah. In addition,Harborview MedicalCenter isoperatingan isolation and quarantine site at HarborviewHall.

Out of these four locations, 150 rooms were available to accept peopleas ofFriday.

The county said it is working to remove carpet at the hotels tomeet sanitation standardsbeforeanadditional51rooms canbe opened.A modular site in White Center that could house 31 people is still in progress.

Scott Greenstone contributed reporting to this story.

Read more here:
Here's what the Seattle area has and hasn't done to protect its homeless population from coronavirus - Seattle Times

SPRING FORECAST: Increasing sun and warmth, no matter whats happening in the news. And we also forecast that you'll be spending alotof time at home this season. That means now more than ever you want your home to be good-looking, inviting and safe.

Spring home improvement is always a spirit lifter. And since coronavirus-related social distancing and shelter in place began,Lowes has seen an increase in sales of home project supplies. But keep a few tips in mind if youre considering do-it-yourself right now:

- Just say "no" to overly challenging DIY, especially involving electricity,plumbing, yourroof or power tools. You do NOT want to land in a hospital emergency room at the moment. Theyre hotbeds of infection, and brave medical personnel are already stretched way beyond their limits.- Think twice about large scale projects that require pulling a permit and passing inspection. Local building authorities are working at less than full capacity and likely will be for a while.- If you hire a contractor, try to focus on projects outside your main living area: lawn and garden, outdoor A/C unit, garage and basement. (When you do need to bring a service pro into your home - say your air conditioner goes kablooey - follow social distancing precautions.)

That being said, lets look at seven home improvement projects, both DIY and pro, that will refresh your spirit this spring.

Renew art on front door, mantel and wallsRemove whatever currently adorns your mantel and front door (evergreen branches, pinecones, burlap, anything dark or heavy). Then refresh your space with bright, airy decor. The local dollar store isnt a resource for craft materials this year, so shop your closet or junk drawer for silk flowers, bits of ribbon and so on (or your garden, if youre lucky enough to have blooms by now).

For wall art, the sky (or should we say, "the ceiling")s the limit. Engage kids by collecting a collage of family photos. Encourage older offspring to embellish images with digital special effects and their younger siblings to cut pix (printed on inexpensive printer paper) into fun shapes. Then show off the results in a floor-to-ceiling display.

Kid friendly:Can be adapted for any age.

PaintNow the weathers warmer, get that long-delayed house painting done. A relatively fast and easy project is painting your entry door. If youre more ambitious (and have someone to keep the children busy elsewhere while you work), redo the living room or a bedroom or two in an adventurous shade like rich gold or deep aqua.

Social distancing friendly:Hire a painter to update your homes exterior.

Build a paver patioWhether or not its still necessary to shelter in place come summer, a new patio is something the whole family will enjoy under any circumstances. And unlike a deck, a patio does not usually require pulling a permit because its built less than 30 inches above grade. A patio constructed of concrete pavers wont need a pourpermiteither.

Social distancing friendly: Find a landscaper to build your paver patio.

Create an interactive gardenEven when youre limiting your human visitors because of social distancing, you can still welcome butterflies to yourgarden. Choose flower species these winged creatures love, such as the aptly named butterfly bush, from an online plant supplier. Depending on how far springs come along where you live, this may be either a planting project or a planning project for now.

Kid friendly: Good for about age 7 and up.Refresh your drivewayHave your driveway repaved or resealed for a harder-wearing and/or better-looking surface. Options range from concrete resurfacing for problems such as driveway spalling, all the way to elegantdecorativetechniques like stamped concrete.

Social distancing friendly:Look for a concrete pro with expertise in these specialized techniques. NOTE: To repave the part of your driveway on the municipal right-of-way, you may need apermit.

Upgrade your garage doorsWhen you have an attached garage out front, your garage doors are super visible, so its important to keep them looking their best. If your garage doors just need a slight touch of refreshment, you can apply some stain or add faux windows.

Social distancing friendly:For garage doors seriously past their prime (20 years old or more),hire a professionalto replace them, for safety as well as aesthetic reasons.

Spring clean upSpring cleaning does great things for your spirit once its finished, rather than while its a work in progress ... but since youre stuck at home anyway, why not go for it? Just take it easy on thedeclutteringthis year, because selling or donating castoffs is not much of an option at the moment. Focus on the area of your choice - yard, gutters, indoors are all good.

Kid friendly:With some smooth talking, you may be able to convince younger kids thatcleaningis fun. Once they get taller and/or smarter than you, all bets are off. However, they may be so bored by now that they'll actually be willing to help.

Laura Firszt writes fornetworx.com.

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Spring refresh: Home improvement that will refresh your spirit - Columbia Daily Herald

Therma-Tru has been named the "Brand Used Most" in the entry doors category, marking more than 20 consecutive years receiving this distinction. In the 2020 Builder Brand Use Study conducted by Hanley Wood, Therma-Tru ranked first in "Brand Used Most" and "Brand Used Most in the Past Two Years," and also ranked first for "Highest Quality."

"Were proud to have earned and kept builders trust for more than two decades," said Fenton Challgren, president of Therma-Tru Corp. "Knowing they choose Therma-Tru twice as often as any other entry door brand shows our commitment to our builder partners."

To show its continued support for builders, the company offers a model home and design center program. Builders can enhance their design centers and model home elevations with stylish and durable entry door options at a discount. The doors are designed to complement a wide variety of home architectural trends.

"Having high-quality products that meet the styles homeowners are drawn to is key," said Mark Ayers, senior vice president of marketing and product development at Therma-Tru Corp. "We make it a priority to offer those looks along with sales tools and marketing support to help our builder partners succeed."

The 2020 Builder Brand Use Study, presented by Builder magazine, was conducted online by The Farnsworth Group and included Hanley Wood subscribers classified as "Builders, Builders-Developers or General Contractors." The data was collected from more than 1,000 qualified responses. The study originated in 1998 and includes a nationwide survey of builders on their preferences related to a wide variety of products and brands. Full results of the survey appear at BuilderOnline.com.

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About Therma-Tru

Therma-Tru is the leading entry door brand most preferred by building professionals. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door system components. The company is headquartered in Maumee, Ohio and also offers low-maintenance Fypon polyurethane and PVC products. For more information and product warranty details, visit http://www.thermatru.com, http://www.fypon.com or call 800-537-8827.

Therma-Tru is part of the Doors & Security division of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), which creates products and services that fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. FBHS's operating divisions are Plumbing, Cabinets and Doors & Security. Its trusted brands include Moen, Perrin & Rowe, Riobel, Rohl, Shaws and Victoria + Albert under the Global Plumbing Group (GPG); more than a dozen core brands under MasterBrand Cabinets; Therma-Tru entry door systems; Fiberon composite decking and railing products; and Master Lock and SentrySafe security products under The Master Lock Company. Fortune Brands holds market leadership positions in all of its divisions. Fortune Brands is part of the S&P 500 Index. For more information, please visit http://www.fbhs.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200409005509/en/

Contacts

Kevin Metz312.507.9690kevinmetz@upshotmail.com

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Therma-Tru Named #1 Brand Used Most and #1 in Quality for 2020 - Yahoo Finance

If you have been looking for the best in every way - quality, value, features, the whole package...here it is! There's a beautiful addition consisting of a vaulted family room, office and versatile "away" room - use it for crafts, study, peace and quiet. There are reclaimed and white pine hardwood floors, T stair has antique treads and risers and wrought iron railings. Kitchen is fabulous, custom everything, upscale appliances, a wonderful space whether you cook up a storm or boil water! Master bath totally redone -you can watch TV in the mirror from the air jetted tub, hall bath also renovated. Everywhere you turn, from light fixtures to cabinet hardware to doorknobs, this is home is exquisite. Screened porch and patio overlook a beautiful private yard. Doors, windows, roof, soffit/fascia. fence, zoned HVAC, roof, garage door, landscaping. Everything is not just updated, it's upscaled! Walkable Wildwood with access to miles of trails, top rated Lafayette HS. Do not miss this one!

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15 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the Park Hills Area - Daily Journal Online

Single-family housing starts exemplify the construction economys COVID-19 heartbreak in the first quarter of 2020.

Total 2019 residential starts were 1.4 million units, just 0.3% above 2018, with single-family starts down 1,000 and multifamily up 1%.

We expected 2020 single-family starts to decline mildly again, Richard Branch, chief economist with Dodge Data & Analytics told webinar attendees on April 9. But Q1 was the best quarter since 2007 940,000 units (seasonally adjusted annualized rate).

Then March became a tale of two months; Dodge expects Q2 single-family home sales could fall by 50%, to Great Recession depths, but begin to recover quickly in 2021.housing starts growing early as the construction season unfolded, in line with March of 2019. And then the virus hit. Construction moratoria and stay-at-home orders in the last week doused so much work.

Q2 home sales probably could fall by 50% compared to Q1, bringing us back to the levels we last saw during the Great Recession in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Branch says. And that could be optimistic, depending on how long the stay-at-home and physical-distancing requirements stay in place.

Details of Branchs 2020 GDP forecast post-COVID-19

The spring and probably the summer selling seasons are gone, and this weakness might continue into Q3.

Dodge forecasts single-family starts to be down 10% in 2020, but begin to recover quickly with 5% growth in 2021.

Multifamily construction didnt start the year nearly as strong, with units falling in Q1 16% (-12% compared to Q1 2019). And its recovery prospects are not nearly as encouraging as single-family housing.

This market has a lot more exposure, Branch cautions. Were running 16 to 17 million in unemployment insurance claims. Jobs were down sharply in March. They will be down even more sharply in April. This will certainly lead to a pickup in delinquencies. This will put owners and developers into increasing financial difficulty.

Vacancy rates ended 2019 at 4%; by the time we get to the end of 2020, they will be closer to 6%. In truth they would probably be much higher if it werent for local moratoriums on evictions. But even as the economy starts to recover, assuming that rent is just delayed and not forgiven, it will take time for renters to accumulate that back rent.

Dodge forecasts multifamily starts to plunge 19% in 2020 and fall an additional 2% in 2021. As we get into 2021, the multifamily market will also have to contend with growth on the single-family side, Branch explains.

Given our assumptions of the track of the Warehouse construction starts set a record in 2019, are forecast to be just off that record pace in 2020, and grow 7%, breaking the record again, in 2021.virus and macroeconomic assumptions, by the time we get to Q4 the level of (commercial building) starts activity is (expected to be) starting to return to the normal. With total 2020 commercial starts down 16%. But then forging ahead in 2021.

Dodge forecasts the square footage of parking garage starts this year falling 29%, office starts dropping 13%, retail space down 33% and hotels and motels down 31%. Their biggest commercial building sector warehouses however, is only expected to slip 1%.

Thats particularly impressive when you consider warehouse construction set a Dodge Data record in 2019 with 336 million sq. ft. started.

Branch concedes that the portion of warehousing dealing with global trade will suffer from disrupted trade flow with the rest of the world, pushing up vacancy rates and suppressing starts. But the other big segment of warehousing is dedicate to ecommerce fulfillment, which of course has been flourishing during the coronavirus crisis.

Branch sees current conditions accelerating a more-permanent switch to on-line retailing. Pre-COVID-19, Amazon had telegraphed that it would continue building, but smaller (1 million sq. ft.) fulfillment centers instead of the 2 to 3 million sq. ft. centers of recent years.

If youve tried to buy anything on Amazon in the last two or three weeks, youve noticed that the shipping times have been pushed out. I think theres going to be a big push, particularly for Amazon, to carry larger inventories. I think Amazon will continue to push those 2- to 3-million sq. ft. distribution properties.

Q1 was very strong in warehouse construction. Sharp decline in Q2. But this is a pure V (shaped progression). By Q3 and Q4 were right back up in this 330-million sq. ft. pace. So a record level in 2019, just a little bit off a record level in 2020, and youll notice a 7% increase there, breaking the record again, in 2021.

Total institutional building construction starts The K-12 side of education building may be down a little, but the sector's greatest risk is in college and university improvements, whose financing problems will extend into 2021 and suppress growth even that far out to 3%.were initially forecast to decline 2%, and the pandemic pushed the Dodge Data forecast to -7%.

Education building is one of the largest nonresidential building sectors, running nearly as many square feet of starts as the office sector, and accounting for just under half of the total institutional construction. The COVID-19 effect is expected to cause education building starts to repeat its 2% 2019 decline in 2020. Dodge forecasts a 3% rebound in 2021, though, despite potentially significant financing challenges.

Many states and local areas (governments) will suffer revenue shortfalls not just this fiscal year but next, at the same time the cost of social programs will be increasing, Branch says. So that could undermine the strength were seeing in the K-12 market and suppress construction activity.

I think that going forward, colleges and universities will be placed under additional financial strain for a couple reasons: 1) there have been significant pushes by student bodies who are now at home to have room and board refunded. If that happens, that is money the universities have already committed, whether to overhead or to debt service. 2) Universities rely heavily on the returns from their endowment funds to fund capital improvement programs, and of course the stock market is still much lower than it was in February.

Nonbuilding construction starts present a If you remove electric power and LNG plants from 2019's nonbuilding starts, construction spending in the sector actually fell 7% last year. Power and gas will be down significantly in 2020, but Dodge forecasts highways and bridges to recover by year's end and grow energetically 2021.curious dynamic. The value of starts in the biggest sector highways and bridges was down 7% in 2019. The highway portion was flat and bridge construction was down sharply.

First quarter data was particularly weak, so were starting from a much lower jump-off as we head into the forecast, Branch says. Were expecting Q2 for highways and bridges to be down 12% from what we saw in Q1 not as steep a drop as we saw in the building categories. Again a lot of infrastructure work has remained as an essential category, however we do need to keep in mind that workforce issues may delay some projects over the coming quarters.

We do expect this category to have much more of a V-shaped recovery. Getting back in Q3 to where we were in Q1, and maybe closer to Q4 (2019). But the FAST Act does expire at the end of September, and of course that brings with it challenges as well as opportunities.

Were thinking that the plan that went through the senate public works committee unanimously will go through the house and the full senate and will have presidential approval probably within the next few months, Branch suggests. If that happens, the average level of spending within that replacement program is, on average, $10 billion a year higher than what we saw in the FAST Act. Certainly good news for 2021 in the highway and bridge sector. Potential for stimulus funding would certainly boost prospects into 2021 as well.

Power and gas plant starts grew 124% in 2019 to $54 billion, which was expected to cut deeply into the sector starts in 2020. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved construction of a number of LNG facilities this year.

But given where the global economy is and where natural gas prices are right now, we think that those projects get pushed out to 21, Branch predicts. Which is why you have those numbers in 21 pushed up 49% to $42 billion.

This sector also contains utility grade solar and wind, and as those two sectors come much, much closer to grid parity theyre actually supporting some of the growth here and why were not seeing powerplant construction drop much further than $28 billion this year its kind of a long-term historical normal level for power and gas.

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Dodge Reforecast: COVID-19 Impact on 2020 Construction Starts - ForConstructionPros.com

The 24-story City Tower promised to be Wheeler Development Groups next flagship project, but now COVID-19 and the ensuing shelter-in-place order for the state of Michigan has put the project on ice as the developers examine the next steps.

The city of Grand Rapids earlier this year entered a one-year agreement with Wheeler Development Group to conduct due diligence and negotiate a development agreement for the build site at 22 Ottawa Ave. NW in Grand Rapids, but with COVID-19 putting a stranglehold on contractors and architects, it looks like the process may take longer than expected.

We were finalizing preconstruction, working with architects and engineers, so we can put that project to bid, said WDG VP of Marketing Jason Wheeler. All of our subcontractors are frozen, and we cant just be forking dollars over to an architect until we know when construction is going to come back online.

Planned features and uses for the building include 5,215 square feet of ground-floor retail, five floors of parking with approximately 185 spaces, three floors or approximately 44,000 square feet of office space, 10 stories for about 118 apartments and five floors for about 19 condominiums.

Wheeler said WDG may ask the city for a deferment on the months of progress lost due to Michigans shelter-in-place order, allowing the company essentially to pick up where it left off.

When it first came out the first phase of shelter-in-place we were under the impression that essential services did include home construction, Wheeler said. It later became more defined as any work that presented a safety issue.

The Business Journal previously reported on communications between the Home Builders Association of Michigan and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office. When Whitmer declared industries like housing construction are not essential under her Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order, she offered only the exception of completing construction to eliminate onsite safety hazards.

HBAM called on Whitmer to re-think her assessment and to consult with federal Homeland Security officials.

The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, designated single- and multifamily housing construction as essential infrastructure. The designation serves as a recommendation and not a mandatory action for state governments to comply.

Wheeler Development also had to halt a previously unannounced project with the city of Rockford. The company had planned Hotel Rose, a standalone, four-story hotel building slated to begin in the fall, but the project now is on hold, as well.

Wheeler Development also has three ongoing multifamily projects that are its main priority: Michigan Meadows in Grand Rapids, the Hanover in Caledonia and the Preserve in Spring Lake, all of which are in various stages of completion.

WDG originally had ribbon cuttings scheduled for each townhome community throughout 2020, but the projects can only be shored up for now. Both Hanover and Michigan Meadows have people living on them and require essential construction to prevent safety issues.

We had to enclose the buildings, make sure they were locked and there were no safety hazards, Wheeler said.

Hanover has about 48 completed units, with five occupied and another three scheduled to move in over the next month.

Michigan Meadows, which started earlier, currently has 11 occupants and 13 scheduled move-ins out of the 87 units planned for the site. The site currently has 38 completed units.

The main challenge is discovering what services are deemed critical so we can complete the maximum number of units and then turn them over to PURE for lease, Wheeler said. That will hopefully allow us to keep some stability and presence.

Anne Ficeli, president of PURE Real Estate Management, which manages all WDG-owned properties, said some of the scheduled move-in units are in various stages of completion, and some may not be complete by move-in day if construction remains nonessential.

Some are complete, but not move-in ready, Ficeli added. We dont have certificates of occupancy on all of them.

PURE has remained open as an essential service, although many agents now are working from home. The companys service technicians still are onsite maintaining the properties, but they are not allowed to enter peoples units unless its an emergency, Ficeli said.

I know management is important, because we need to maintain peoples homes, but I dont understand why construction is not essential, Ficeli said. People are still looking for places to live. We have some places to put them, but unless we can get construction online, its going to be difficult.

Ficeli said she has weekly calls with the Property Management Association of West Michigan, and construction is frequently discussed as a necessity. Both PMAWM and HBAM are in on the effort to convince Whitmer to designate construction as an essential service.

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COVID throws a wrench in City Tower - grbj.com