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General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra addresses the gathering Wednesday at an event detailing GMs electric vehicle technologies and upcoming products at the Tech Center campus in Warren.(Photo: Steve Fecht, Steve Fecht for General Motors)

General Motors wants to do better at tellingthestory ofits electric vehicle development.

So GM leaders invited about 150 journalists to an "EV day" Wednesday, showing 10 future EVs in its Design Dome at the Warren Technical Center.

The upcoming GMC Hummer pickup hulked in one corner of the dome and the Cadillac Lyriq, a futuristic SUV, shown across the aisle.

"We want to put everyone in an EV and we have what it takes to do it," GM CEO Mary Barra said.

What it takes is technology that GM said it's inventing to dominate other electric car companies such as Tesla.

For example, GM said it has developed new battery modules, called Ultium, that will reduce the cost to make the batteries and help consumers afford EVs. GMhas devised a flexible global platform, too, that allows it to make a variety ofpowerful EVs to meet all customer needs. They will have bettercharging time and givemore vehicle range than current EVs do.

The goal of all of this is to make sure the EVs are profitable for GM. Barra worked to assureinvestors the strategy will createnew revenue.

General Motors reveals its all-new modular platform and battery system, Ultium, on Wednesday at the Tech Center campus in Warren.(Photo: Steve Fecht, Steve Fecht for Genreal Motors)

"What we have done is build a multi-brand, multi-segment EV strategy with economies of scale that rival our full-size truck business with much less complexity and even more flexibility," said Barra.

GM will offer 20 new EVs for sale by 2023, said GM President Mark Reuss. Those will be available in the United States and China.GM said it targets selling1 million EVs a year between those two markets in five years.

GM will spend $20 billion between now and 2025, about $3 billion a year, onEV development, Barra said.

Here are the upcoming GM EV plans.

During the UAW contract negotiations last fall, union leaders worried that a proliferation of EV development would endanger hourly production jobs because EVs require less manpower to assemble. But Barra said GM's EV strategy will support jobs.

Does technology change and this becomes more efficient to build? Yes. But there are opportunities to grow employment with market share growth, said Barra. We had the Detroit-Hamtramck team in here last week and they couldnt be more excited.

The designs for the 10 EVs GM showed the media all reflect sleek, athletic and futuristic exteriors with technology-laden interiors.

Cadillac's entire lineup could be electric by 2030. To launch that will be the Cadillac Lyriq SUV.

Cadillac's first fully electric car will be sold in the United States and China, but there's no word yet on where GM will build it.(Photo: Cadillac)

The silver concept of theLyriq sat beside the concept of another future Cadillac EV, the Celestiq sedan, a stunning pearl white aerodynamic sedan with a long front hood and a hatchback tail. The car will be built by hand, locally, Reuss said.

"This is a dream car for the company and its customers," said Reuss.

The cars will be the "new face of Cadillac," designers said. The black-crystal grille on the Lyriqflows into the headlamps and surrounds the Cadillac logo in its center. Its roof slants slightly toward the tail with a wide wheelbase giving it an athletic stance. It sits on 23-inch wheels. It has a split-vertical tail line along the rear trunk area that will also be a new signature design for Cadillac.

Inside, the Lyriq has a 34-inch curved LED center display screen to give it an open cockpit atmosphere for both the driver and passenger to interact with it. Gone is a transmission tunnel, providing an area for extra storage space.Mass production of the Lyriq willstart in the second half of 2021.

There was also a Buick EV on display. It is not yet named. It will reflectthe new "more sculpted" face of Buick. It had a wide black grille with slanted headlights positioned above the grille area.

The new GMC Hummer pickup was shown in white. The vehicle is designed to be the future flagship of the GMC brand, GM said. It was a boxy crew cab body with Hummer's signature wide, sporty stance, fat tires, a low-slung roof line and short rear bed. It comes with a removable tarp top.

Next to it wasthe concept for the GMC Hummer SUV with its upright windshield and off-road capability.

"The message here is the reinvention of Cadillac, the reinvention of Chevrolet, the reinvention of Buick ... This is a real transformation of the company," said Reuss. "Now we just have to tell our story. We have to tell our story better than we have been."

GM holds about 3,000 patents related to vehicle electrification, Reuss said. But to capture Wall Street's attention and compete withelectric-carmaker Tesla, Reuss said GM has to tell investors about its advances in chemistry for new batteries and motor configurations thatenable GM to offer a wide variety of vehicles to consumers.

GM's EV strategy will center on a modular propulsion system and a flexible global EV platformpowered by new and proprietary Ultium batteries, he said.

GM engineers invented the Ultium batteries to have 60% more capacity for power than the current batteries used in the Chevrolet Bolt. The are also"large-format, pouch-style cells" that can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside a battery pack, allowing for them to fit into different designs of vehicles and to offer different power.

So, for example, the Hummer electric pickup will use 24 battery modules both stacked and laid side-by-side to give it the 1,000 horsepower it will offer.

Teaser image of the GMC Hummer electric truck coming in 2021.(Photo: GMC)

The Ultium batteries willcost GM less to scale its EV business to its current internal combustion costs because GMcan leverage its existing property, including land, buildings, tools and production equipment to incorporate it.

The batteries will be made at a facility near Lordstown, Ohio, that GM is building and has partnered with LG Chem to operate. GM will break ground on the plant this spring and when done, it'll be about the size of 30 football fields, GM said.

The Ultium energy options range from 50 to 200 kWh, which means a GM EV could achieve a driving range of up to 400 miles or more on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph acceleration as low as 3 seconds, GM said.

"We focused on giving customers more range at lower cost," said Reuss. "It starts with the state of the chemistry."

The motors will be designed in-house and can support front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel and performance all-wheel drive transmissions, GM said. They use higher nickel and lower cobalt properties, which brings down the cost of raw materials to make them.

The new batteries are designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging capability. Most regular homes have level 1 and level 2 outlets. Level 2 is what would power a typical washer and dryer.

Most GM EVs will have 400-volt battery packs and up to 200kW fast-charging capability. GM's truck platform will have 800-volt battery packs and 350 kW fast-charging capability. That means using the public DC fast charging stations, in just10 minutes, a customer can charge these vehiclesenough totravel100 miles, said Rick Spina, GM's vice president of EV commercialization.

The average cost for a customer to charge a future EV at a public DC fast-charger would equate to about $3 a gallon spent now for gasoline, said Alex Keros, lead architect for GM's EV infrastructure. What that means is if a person recharges a car for say 30 minutes while in a grocery store, the cost to do that is under $10 and it would provide 250 miles of range. Whereas in an internal combustion engine car, for about $10 a driver might get three or four gallons of has which would provide 60 to 80 miles if the car gets 20 miles per gallon.

If a customer charges at home that's cheaper than using a public charging station sothe cost is closer to $1 to $2 paid pergallon of gasoline, he said.

Spina said with GM's goal to sell 1 million EVs in North America and China by 2025, it will mean the present number of public charging stations will need to double from the roughly 25,000 level 2 charging spots in the U.S. and Canada and 2,800 DC fast charge locations.

GM is working with companies that provide such charging locations by using OnStar customer data to show, anonymously, customers' general driving and parking trends to determine where charging stations should be added. GM is not paying to install the chargers nor profiting onthe customer cost to use them, Spina said.

"We don't want to be in the charger business;we don't want to own them," said Spina.

GM said the new batteries along with a flexible approach to EV development will drive economies of scale and create new revenue opportunities.

For example, there are presently about 555 internal combustion engines and powertrain combinations in production. The EV architecture will whittle it down to 19, said Reuss. The new EV batteries and other technology will allow GM to offer 235 horsepower to 1,000 horsepower propulsion to various vehicles, he said.

GM has a dedicated high-voltage safety team in place to work on ways to protect the batteries and electrical systems in the event of a crash or flood from shocking or injuring passengers, Reuss said.

GM said its joint venture with LG Chem to build batteries will help GM drive downbattery cell costs below $100/kWh.

This is all good news for Wall Street analysts who viewed GM's "EV Day" to be an important update on GM's strategy.

In an investor note Monday, Credit Suisses Dan Levy said GM has an advantage over its rivals in the electric car arena, still, "The push to an EV world will be tough for all legacy (automakers) including GM," Levy wrote, noting thebattery pack costs must decline by 50% to reach parity with powertrain costs, downsizing engine and transmission plants andbudgets must still be balanced against continued production of internal combustion engines.

GM might roll-out a solid EV strategy, Levy saidbut, "We believe the ultimate proof-point of success in GMs EV strategy is if the volumes materialize and GM is able to challenge Tesla for share in the U.S.EV market, as Tesla has been until now the only game in town in the U.S. EV market.

More: Cadillac has big changes ahead for its lineup and manufacturing

More: Here are GM's plans to make the GMC Hummer pickup a top seller

In March 2019,GM said it willspend $300 million to build a new electric car at itsOrion Assembly Plant north of Detroit. ButGM's Barra declined to release any details about the new EV or timing on the investment. A GM spokesman said the investmentwill unfold over the next two to three years.

Two UAW workers at GM's Orion Assembly plant where GM builds its Bolt EV and the self-driving test cars.(Photo: General Motors)

GM said it plans to add about 400 workers at the Orion factory, which currently builds the electric Chevrolet Bolt, autonomous vehicles for GM's Cruise unit, and the Chevy Sonic compact car.

More: GM plans to make new electric car, spend $300M, hire 400 workers in Lake Orion

Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.

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GM unveils 10 future EVs, new batteries and its plan to beat Tesla - Detroit Free Press

Councils will be encouraged to use modern construction methods such as factory-built modular housing to speed up the delivery of new affordable homes.

The Welsh Governments Housing Minister Julie James made the announcement as she unveiled a 45m investment to boost the growing industry in modern methods of construction (MMC).

The Welsh Government wants councils to build far more homes at scale and at pace; however, they face the well-documented capacity constraints faced by traditional house builders.

To deliver more homes quickly, councils will be encouraged to use MMC, which will help them build better quality homes faster than traditional methods allow, in order to meet the growing need for affordable housing across the country.

MMC includes various construction methods from new materials and technologies to off-site manufacturing, which either replace or complement traditional methods of construction.

MMC opportunities will also bring significant new benefits to the Welsh economy.To back Welsh business, ministers plan to help this next generation of homes to be built utilising national assets such as Welsh steel and Welsh timber.

There will also be a focus on using the emerging MMC industry in Wales to pursue Welsh social and ethical ambitions, including developing skills and market-leading technical expertise in communities hardest hit by the decline of traditional industries. Investment will also help firms invest in locally sourced labour.

Other benefits include:

As part of the Welsh Governments new MMC strategy Reimagining social house building in Wales, ministers are making a major 45m investment in the modular housing industry in Wales, to ensure it can deliver the next generation of social housing that people need.

Of this, 20m is being made available for MMC businesses, who in partnership with Welsh social landlords want to build the next generation of social housing. This investment is designed to help and encourage the market, especially SMEs, to develop off-site manufacture (OSM) solutions such as supply chains, factories, and skills development centres, that meet the needs of the next generation of social housing in Wales.

A further 25m is being made available for round 4 of the Welsh Governments Innovative Housing Programme, which will focus on innovative housing delivered through MMC.

The strategy supports the Welsh Governments ambitions to reduce carbon emissions from the housing sector. It also supports a move to a circular economy, as building with MMC could reduce construction waste by as much as 90%.

The Housing Minister witnessed MMC in action on a visit to SO Modular in Neath, who already supply the social housing market in Wales.

Housing Minister Julie James said:

Building more social and affordable homes is a key priority for the Welsh Government. Over the last 4 years, this Welsh Government has invested 2 billion in new housing across Wales, as part of our ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2021.

But we want to build more. And we want to build better. The significant investment were making in the modular housing industry will enable us to do that.

Gone are the days of MMCs association with poor quality, temporary, pre-fabricated housing; MMC now produces high quality, desirable and energy efficient affordable homes that tenants can be proud of. We have certainly moved from Pre-Fab to Ab-Fab!

Developing the MMC industry in Wales presents us with a great opportunity to not only build beautiful new social housing, but also kick-start a new industry that will become increasingly important for our economy.

The publication of the strategy is in response to a recommendation made by the Welsh Governments Affordable Housing Supply Review, which identified Modern Methods of Construction as a way of more quickly increasing housing supply.

Community Housing Cymru, which represents housing associations in Wales, said it was pleased to see the strategy focus on sustaining the foundational economy in Wales by creating local jobs and using local materials.

Bethan Proctor, Policy and External Affairs Manager at Community Housing Cymru, said:

Modern methods of construction (MMC) promote the building of good quality, low carbon, affordable housing at pace and scale, and with housing associations committed to building 75,000 new homes by 2036, this announcement will help make this a reality.

There is already an appetite in the social sector to use MMC, and the Welsh Governments strategy and investment will open the doors for many more to develop off-site manufacture approaches, helping to build healthier, decarbonised homes, tackling the housing and climate crisis.

Joanna Davoile, Director of Development at Wales & West Housing, said:

WWH is really pleased to see the 45m additional funding for MMC, and particularly that 20m of that is ear-marked to support delivery of social housing.

The Welsh Government has set ambitious agendas to increase delivery of affordable housing and mitigate the impact of climate change. They are demonstrating their commitment to those agendas by offering funding and support for MMC.

MMC could help to improve quality in construction and the energy efficiency of new buildings, reducing costs to residents and the carbon footprint. As part of our strategy to build 2,500 more new social homes for Wales in the next five years, WWH is already taking opportunities to work with MMC. We are using off-site manufacturing and panelised systems on several of our new development sites and we are keen to do more.

The funding announced will help the construction industry in Wales stay at the forefront of innovations in MMC by supporting the development of the skills, supply chains, factories and products that will move MMC towards becoming a practical and affordable mainstream option.

See more here:
45m to Boost Modular Housing in Wales - Business News Wales

New housing proposals have been put forward for a "poisoned" former landfill site in Holmfirth.

Planning chiefs hope to use non-traditional techniques to build 64 modular homes at New Mill Road, with ready-made units manufactured off site and craned onto foundations to speed up the building process.

Concerns have previously been expressed about creating a housing estate on the derelict land, which is said to be contaminated by asbestos, mercury, arsenic and other toxins.

The latest scheme for 64 homes - to be called Holme Chase - would see three-bed semi-detached homes across the 5.5-acre site, which was formerly occupied by the Midlothian Garage.

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A report to the council's Strategic Planning Committee said: "The site is allocated for housing in the Kirklees Local Plan, and planning permission has previously been granted for housing.

"Whilst this permission has been granted, the development has not come forward, and as such the site is classified as a stalled site. In order to meet the councils housing delivery targets challenging sites such as this will need to be brought forward."

Sean Fallon of civil engineers Fallon Construction said the site was "appealing" and said his company wanted to create a "wow factor" with homes geared towards first-time buyers.

He said the steel-frame homes, which are insulated with rockwool, are "a third less to run per year" than standard houses - or 1 a day.

He added: "We believe this is the way to tackle housing demand; brownfield sites. A lot of other developers cannot look at brownfield sites because of the cost but that's all we've ever dealt with.

"We don't build on greenfield sites whatsoever."

He called the proposed development "a great opportunity to embrace change" and said the site was "a guinea pig" for further projects.

Several schemes have been previously put forward for the site, which has been allocated for housing in Kirklees Council's Local Plan.

A Tesco store was refused in 2011. Four years later plans were submitted for 56 homes with six being affordable. That plan eventually stalled despite approval by planners. It followed warnings of "huge problems" attached to building on the extinct tip.

In 2018 former Conservative councillor Ken Sims said overlaying the tip with a metre of topsoil was "absolutely crazy" and that the waste should be removed prior to the commencement of building.

He warned that Kirklees Council would bear the responsibility if children in the future suffered catastrophic health defects.

"I can tell you, because I'm old enough to know, what went down that tip. Asbestos, mercury, arsenic. Coal tar from the coking plant lower down and all the toxic chemicals that go with that.

"I don't want children in the future to be born with deformities, brain tumours and cancers that have been outcoming when some of these sites have been used."

Clr Sims was backed by his ward colleague Clr Nigel Patrick who objected to development of the site "in the strongest possible terms".

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Clr Patrick remains of the opinion that homes should not be built on the site.

Planning officers have acknowledged that measures were needed to "decontaminate and remediate" the site and that "no dwellings can be occupied until the agreed remediation for the whole site has been agreed, implemented and validated."

Planning officer Bill Topping said the council expected a planning application very soon, which his department would be supporting.

Link:
Plans for 1-a-day homes on land 'poisoned with asbestos, mercury and arsenic' - ExaminerLive

TROY Troy Post Office Postmaster Nathan Walker is working toward additional ways to keep postal carriers safe.

Were finding creative ways to reduce dog bites and slips, trips, and falls, Walker said.

One strategy the post office has incorporated is the placement of a dog sticker on mailboxes where there is a known dog in the immediate area. The paw sticker would be placed on the outside of a mailbox. When the carrier approaches the area, the sticker would act as a reminder to proceed with caution.

This is especially important if the carrier leaves the vehicle to deliver a package to the door, Walker said.

Beginning the week of March 7, the Troy Post Office will be placing the paw stickers on mailboxes where appropriate. If any customer objects to having a paw sticker placed on their mailbox, he or she need only call the post office at (937) 339-2697 and postal workers will remove it immediately, Walker said.

It is our expectation that the strategy will reduce the incidents of dog bites and attacks, keeping our employees safe and local dog owners appreciative, he said.

Walker said they will also be asking residents to repair porches, rails and steps if they are unsafe. He said they may even suggest customers move their mailbox to ground level so carriers can avoid hazard areas.

Of course, when it snows, please make sure walkways, steps, and porches are clear, Walker said. We want every delivery to be a safe one. We are grateful for our communitys support and cooperation in this initiative. Thank you for your help with this very important issue.

Paw stickers to be added to mailboxes with dogs in homes

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Troy Post Office to begin safety program - Troy Daily News

The coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has now crossed borders with cases confirmed in several regions outside of mainland China, including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. In Singapore alone, there are over 90 cases according to South China Morning Post.

Airports such as Singapores Changi Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, have begun to take precautionary steps to curb the spread of the virus. From carrying out more temperature screenings, to switching out regular cleaning solutions for disinfectants, the airport said it has stepped up measures to safeguard and protect workers, passengers and visitors travelling through the major transportation hub against the coronavirus (Covid-19).

More hand sanitisers at terminals

The airport said the number of hand sanitisers in the terminals and Jewel, a mixed-use complex that opened in April last year, has increased from about 160 to more than 1,200. It added that a few hundred of these sanitisers operate using a motion sensor, reducing the need for users to touch them.

These hand sanitisers can be found at check-in rows, departure and arrival immigration areas, staff entrances, retail and dining outlets, gate hold rooms and many other high-traffic locations.

At Jewel, they are available at the concierge counters and at the entrances and exits of all the Canopy Park attractions.

Frequent cleaning of high contact areas

Changi Airport said it has at least doubled the frequency of all its cleaning efforts in the four terminals and at Jewel. It is now using disinfectants, a chemical liquid that destroys bacteria, instead of general purpose cleaning solutions.

Frequently used areas such as door knobs and handles, touch-screens, handrails (e.g. on moving walkways and escalators), counter tops, railings at taxi and bus queues, lift buttons, water coolers and play areas. These areas, the airport said, are cleaned and disinfected more frequently, up to four times a day. Tables at food and beverage outlets are cleaned and disinfected each time they are cleared.

In the airport terminals and at Jewel, toilets are cleaned and litter bins are emptied out more frequently, said the airport. Disinfectant is used for toilet flush buttons, door knobs, grab bars, toilet paper dispensers and seat sanitiser dispensers.

All cleaning staff are equipped with disposable gloves and masks to carry out cleaning and disinfection works, the airport added.

As an added layer of protection in between cleaning rounds, Changi Airport said it has started to coat frequently-touched surfaces with a protective disinfectant coating known as quaternary ammonium chloride.

This coating is applied to automated check-in kiosks and automated bag-drop machines, GST refund kiosks, immigration counters, lift buttons, escalator handrails, and information counters. The attractions at Jewels Canopy Park, such as the discovery slides, have also been similarly coated.

With a single application sprayed onto surfaces, the compound used reduces the chance of viruses and bacteria staying on them, said the airport.

Temperature screening

Airport staff, passengers and visitors entering the transit areas of the airport need to undergo temperature screening.

Temperature screening is also carried out for guests entering Jewels Canopy Park, Changi Experience Studio, Changi Lounge, Shaw Theatres, and Yotelair Changi Airport.

Cleaning with ozone-infused water

For the first time, ozone-infused water is being used to disinfect toilet floors, toilet bowls and urinals in high-usage toilets, said the airport.

According to Changi, ozone-infused water is a stronger cleaning agent and disinfectant compared to chlorine, a commonly used disinfectant.

Disinfecting floors and cleaning carpets

The airport said automation is used to clean the floors.

A total of 26 automated machines make their rounds scrubbing the hard floors while another two sweep the carpets daily, said the airport.

changiairport.com

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Here's what Changi Airport is doing to protect travellers from the coronavirus - Business Traveller

Hemmed in by the Tasman Sea and the serrated peaks of the Main Divide, there really is no region in New Zealand quite like Westland. Its pitch-perfect for an autumn road-trip. After traversing the Southern Alps, and spilling out in Kumara, my first stop was just south of Greymouth at Shanty Town, a faithfully re-created 1860s gold-mining town, complete with pub and post office. There are lots of interactive experiences to try your hand at, including gold-panning, sawmilling and the far more leisurely pursuit of the miniature train rides.

Highlights include the cluster of 30 gold rush era buildings, painted in the bright colours of boiled sweets. Enjoy a tipple in the evocative Golden Nugget Hotel, learn the art of gold panning and enjoy the short movie in the opulent Victorian-themed theatre, where holographic technology brings to life the extreme stories of hardship and danger characteristic with the gold boom. But the prize draw are the steam train rides following an original bush tram-line through native rainforest, replete with vestiges of the goldmining era.

Heading further south on SH6, I went as far as Ross, a cute-as-a-button settlement, with a storied past in gold-mining. The historic village of glories lost sports a cluster of colonial buildings, including the old Ross jail and miners cottages. The 150-year old Empire Hotel (the current building dates from 1908) is one of the most treasured on the Coast, bursting with history, personality and great pub cuisine. Whitebait, anyone?

From Ross, I ventured back up SH6, to take in a recent addition to Westlands stable of top-billing attractions. Turning off the highway on to the Woodstock-Rimu Rd, the $7 million Treetops walk is a series of elevated steel walkways allowing you to traverse the canopy of the podocarp forest by Lake Mahinapua. 25 metres above the forest floor, the mesh-steel gantry leads you through a dense vista of native forest, with giant specimens of rimu, kamahi and matai, interspersed with tree ferns, orchids, liverworts and fellow forest floor residents.

Lush and intimate, the highpoint is the 47metre high spiral staircase leading you up to lofty views of the forest, Lake Mahinapua and the mountains of Westland. The lovely Treetops staff, who will equip you with a brolly if its wet, advised me their most frequently asked question is how to get to Hokitika Gorge from here. And if you have the time, Treetops is the perfect starting point for a grand circuit of the Hokitika Valley, lacing a slew of striking spectacles into one great hinterland drive.

From Treetops, head to Rimu and Woodstock, two pint-sized vestiges of the goldmining legacy, with a spectacular lookout over the Hokitika River and panels illustrating one of the Coasts last great gold rushes. Follow the signposts to Kokatahi and Kowhitirangi. The West Coasts multitude of vivid greens comes into sharp focus as you wend your way through the fertile farmland. From here, a short gravel road leads you to one of my favourite New Zealand settings, the ravishing granite ravine of Hokitika Gorge.

Sometimes youll see a photo of brochure perfection of a scenic spot and you think, yeah right, I better it doesnt look that good in the flesh. But Hokitika Gorge is one of the rare exceptions where the setting is as dreamy as reality gets, deep in the Whitcombe Valley. Right by the Alpine Fault, surrounded by dense native bush, thronging with native birds, the turquoise water is so absurdly vivid and otherworldly, it looks photo-shopped. (Its due to the glacial flour seeping into the water.)

But after heavy rain, the water turns a soupy grey, so you will be at the mercy of the weather gods. I struck a mix of milky blue and grey. Either way, cross the swing bridge and take in the enchanting bush walks, adjacent to the gorge. After youve had your fill of turquoise glory, complete your valley circuit by following the sign posts around the eastern side of Lake Kaniere, taking in the lusty waterworks of Dorothy Falls. If its been raining heavily, the upside to natures vagaries is that the falls will be gushing like a fire hydrant. Directly adjacent to the road, its the easiest, shortest of walks to waterfall wonder. From there, a plethora of lakeside spots beckoning you to pause, before completing the circuit in Hokitika.

Youd be hard pressed to find any other town or city in New Zealand with more galleries, studios and arty types. Within this creative powerhouse, you could spend all day wandering the wide streets of Hokitika, admiring the studios, talking to the painters, glass blowers, craftspeople and pounamu carvers. Scattered across windswept, wave-lashed Hokitika Beach, the sculptural driftwood art is ever-evolving. Unleash your own creative juices and assemble something, while youre there. If youve ever seen those iconic West Coast stone mats, fashioned as door mats or table mats, Waters Edge headquarters is just out of town, on the Kumara Junction Highway. They make for a trusty, totally usable memento.

I stayed at Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation in Hokitika. With a supreme beachfront location and nestled in a garden landscape, Shining Star boasts homely self-contained beachfront chalets with free WiFi and a private balcony just steps from the ocean and sunsets to die for. Pack your pooch, its dog-friendly too. I booked through Wotif.co.nz who offer travellers access to millions of rooms, hundreds of airlines and thousands of destinations both locally and around the world. You can search, plan and book your next trip in the one place and have access to special package savings when you combine a hotel and flight in the same booking. http://www.wotif.co.nz

Mike Yardley is our Travel Correspondent on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.

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Mike Yardley: Road-tripping Westland this autumn - Newstalk ZB

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Mayor Paul Koomar addressed residents in his 2020 State of the City speech at the Dwyer Senior Center Feb. 26. He introduced his message by citing city visions from the master plan:

Keeping a commitment to space

Continuing dedication to quality parks, recreation and Lake Erie

Diversifying housing options

Establishing a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly community

Creating a more vibrant village center

Maintaining and greening city Infrastructure

Building community

The elements of the vision statement from the master plan are echoed in most aspects by the public hearings currently being held to solicit resident opinions on the overlay zoning effort to establish more businesses and housing options in the city.

The citys annual operating budget, Koomar said, is $33 million for all funds, with a general operating fund of $13.2 million. He noted that the city has secured more than $560,000 in external funding through grants.

Employee numbers total 108 full-time staff, 63 part-time workers and 193 seasonal employees.

Here are reports from various city departments:

Finance Department

The finance department reports excellent financial conditions that include:

Property tax collection up 16 percent due to re-evaluations

Total revenue increase of 10 percent

Expenses increase of 6 percent

Bond rating of Aa1

The Finance Department has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past six years.

Human Resources Department

The human resources department has hired a Building Department inspector and two assistants to the director; a community services manager and over-60 coordinator; a police officer, two dispatchers and two school crossing guards; four new hires for the Service Department, as well as several promotions; a receptionist for the Finance Department; and a registered dietitian to work with the nurse practitioner in the Wellness Incentive Program.

Workers Compensation Department

The department noted that only one day of work was missed in 2019 due to an on-the-job injury.

Community Services Department

A total of 686 individuals participated in various Community Services programs, which is a 27 percent increase. There were 8,836 visits -- a 10 percent increase.

In 2019, 19 tons of produce was distributed to 1,700 people -- a 22 percent increase. About 150 seniors receive fresh monthly produce at no cost.

Meals on Wheels are now supplied through the Meals on Wheels program.

The BV60+ program had the highest number attending events, averaging 25 to 30.

Senior Center

New activities introduced in 2019 at the senior center include Music Box CLE interesting speakers, a progressive dinner at area restaurants, Yappy Hour with dogs, evening cruises and kayaking.

A new initiative -- Aging in Place -- focuses on housing options and services that help senior residents stay in their homes. Committees have been formed on housing, transportation, home repair/handyman services, snow removal/lawn care and senior companions.

Police Department

The Police Department now has 24 officers, four dispatchers, two clerks, one animal control officer, two jailers, one maintenance worker, 221 auxiliary officers and 14 school guards. A full-time School Resource Officer will be financed jointly by the schools and the city.

Officers completed 4,010 hours of combined training in 2019, service calls totaled 14,463 and crisis response and safety training was completed for all employees.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture culled 25 whitetail deer on public property.

Fire Department

The Fire Department has 24 firefighters/paramedics who responded to 1,565 calls -- 21 of them structure fire calls -- representing a 5 percent increase in call volume over the departments 10-year average.

A demo model ladder truck at $200,000 replaced the 1996 model, providing the city with a 30 percent savings.

Service Department

The Service Department (sewers, streets, parks, city vehicles, plowing, bridges, culverts, parks, cemetery and more) has a staff of 40 full-time, three part-time and five to 12 seasonal employees. The departments annual budget is $8.4 million.

Building Department

The Building Department completed permits, construction and inspections totaling almost $28 million.

Heritage Home and H.E.L.P. Loans were made available for technical assistance for improvements for homeowners totaling over $3 million; more than $696,000 was invested through the program.

Recreation Department

The Recreation Department had six new programs, with registrations of all programs totaling more than 2,000. More than 2,400 pool memberships were sold for the aquatic center, which averaged 800 visits a day.

2020 City initiatives will include:

Cahoon basin trail construction

Master plan for development of the lakefront in Cahoon Park

New library construction

Sunset area improvements -- infrastructure and roads

New accounting software system

Playground equipment in Bradley Road Park -- Phase 2

Note: The yearly information session for residents loans within the Heritage Home and H.E.L.P. Loans will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 6, in city council chambers at City Hall, 350 Dover Center Road. For more information, call 440-871-2200.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.

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Sarah Fay Campbell / The Newnan Times-Herald

Pernell Denson, Aaron Linder and Zachary Langley of M.L. Masonry work on the expansion project at the gazebo at Temple Avenue Park.

The small gazebo at Newnan's Temple Avenue Park, long a site for small weddings, is getting a major change.

Once the work is done, there will be a larger gazebo with a center aisle, and some built-in seating.

The existing base of the gazebo will be used as part of the expanded structure, said Mike Furbush, Newnan landscape architect. The new gazebo will be square and measure approximately 10 by 10 feet.

It will be able to serve as a space for various events and could even serve as an outdoor classroom.

The built-in seating will be wooden benches on concrete bases, with no backs. There will be permanent seating for about 30 to 40 people, Furbush said, and plenty of space to add chairs to expand the seating capacity.

Though the gazebo has been used for weddings over the years, it was never really set up very well for a wedding, Furbush said. Over the years, there were problems with erosion from the walkway that leads to the other section of the park, which caused flooding and mud in the area of the gazebo. There were also planting beds that obstructed entry to some parts of the gazebo.

Updating the area is something that has been discussed for a while. The work wont take long as long as there are enough stretches of dry weather to allow the work to be done.

A crew from M.L. Masonry of Villa Rica was out on the project Friday, with plans to pour concrete Saturday. The company did work on the Veterans plaza at the other end of the park, and the Greenville Street Park, as well as other projects around Newnan, according to Aaron Linder of M.L. Masonry.

Furbush said he expects the work to take six weeks at most. The project will cost less than $50,000, he said.

Once complete, the new pavilion and seating area can be reserved, just as other city pavilions are. There is no fee to use the area, but those reserving it do pay a $50 damage deposit.

Pavilions are reserved through the citys leisure services department. For more information call 770-253-2682, ext. 236 or email kmosley@cityofnewnan.org .

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City reworking Temple Avenue park gazebo - Newnan Times-Herald

As part of International Women's Month, Swindon Theatres will welcome Gazebo Theatre and their brand-new play, Wanted, to Swindon Arts Centre this March.

With a phenomenal all-female creative team exploring five extraordinary (yet sometimes overlooked) women, Wanted promises to share 'herstory' and celebrate diversity by embracing the 'lesser-known' stories of these historical figures.

Gazebo's innovative and unique approach makes Wanted a truly exciting, passionate, emotional and hard hitting play which will leave audiences thinking, debating and talking - as well as bucking the trend in an industry that still, in 2020, is male dominated.

Gazebo Theatre Artistic Director, Pamela Cole-Hudson said, "Gazebo Theatre are proud to have produced and be touring this important work which is educational, entertaining and most importantly thought provoking. Wanted may be by women and about women but we believe we have created a piece of theatre that truly is for everyone."

Writer and Performer, Tonia Daley-Campbell said, "We wanted to tell a story about women who have been 'Wanted', wanted by the police, by authorities and essentially locked up for acting upon what they believe is right. If you're interested in history, if you're interested in storytelling and if you are interested in female history - this is the show for you!"

Writer and Performer, Therese Collins said, "It is a collaboration and culmination of 5 people who all bring very special aspects, energies and life journeys. I would say this play is for anyone who is open minded and excited to learn. Expect an energised, empowering, beautifully written piece of performative drama"

Wanted is written and performed by Tonia Daley-Campbell, Therese Collins and Pamela Cole-Hudson; the trio wowed audiences in The Sistren and now return to the stage accompanied by two new talented performers to again explore how the past and the present collide.

Wanted will be at the Wyvern Theatre on Monday 16 March. Book tickets online at swindontheatres.co.uk

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Celebrate International Women's Day With Gazebo Theatre's WANTED - Broadway World

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| 5 min read | by Lonnie Huhman,lhuhman@thesuntimesnews.com|

For three decades, the Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show has been a great way to kick off the spring, especially for those who are thinking about doing some work at their homes.

On March 21-22, the event will again offer visitors from AnnArbor, Chelsea,Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester, Milan, Saline, andYpsilanti and beyond a chance to connect with professional expertise as theythink about potential home projects.

Put on by the Builders and Remodelers Association of GreaterAnn Arbor, the event is in its 30th year. Organizers say its become a widelyknown event well attended by homeowners who are serious and ready to begin ahome improvement project.

It draws around 4,000 visitors.

BRAG Ann Arbor spokesman Pete Nowakowski said when it startedway back in 1990, we started this event in order for local building industryprofessionals to have a way to be available to meet people interested inbuilding a home or improving their homes.

Word of mouth has always been the main way many builders get clients, but we thought giving people a neutral place to meet would create opportunities to find folks they can trust to work on their homes, by communicating with them directly to see if they would be a good fit for the job, Nowakowski said.

He said so much goes into the planning, design, and selections for a remodeling job, it can be overwhelming.

We wanted to have many material choices in front of people in one place, he said. We also wanted to give them a variety of services so they could learn about different approaches and make more informed decisions about their improvements.

Another big reason, he said is that they, wanted folks to be able to explore specific interests, discover new technologies and learn about best practices if they do their own improvements.

The Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show has over 120 differentbusinesses exhibiting their products and services, mostly related to homeimprovement, Nowakowski said.

At the show are flooring stores, roofing and windows, lighting, furniture, landscaping and nurseries, the latest technology like appliances and electronics, and so on; to go along with talented local designers and architects that can look over photos visitors may bring in or offer advice on any ideas you have for re-shaping your living space, or building something new.

Nowakowski said the trades and technicians at the show can helpset up appointments or answer questions about plumbing, painting, homemaintenance, organization, etc.

Visitors will also find some vendors selling crafts,displaying bigger things like vehicles, offering financial services, orrepresenting local organizations that have programs to educate homeowners onvarious topics.

The event was first held in the U of M sports coliseum for afew years until moving to the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds because it neededto expand.

Nowakowski said the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds have been flexible to allow people to have the better part of the week to set up more elaborate displays like water features, brick patios with fire pits, gazebos, etc.

There have been some changes over the years.

The Farm Council Grounds has added new technology such asWi-Fi and an overhead sound system throughout the seven buildings.

Now that we are offering hourly live presentations, we are able to have them announced for all the visitors to make their way to the presentation area in Building E, without having to watch the clock too closely, Nowakowski said.

There were some challenges over the years as well, such as the tornado that touched down in Dexter in 2012.

The event used to have an exhibitor that would bring farm animals, but that has since changed.

The event used to also be open on Fridays, but Nowakowski said theyve moved it to Saturday and Sunday only to ease the schedule of the exhibitors, many of whom have to set up and take down multiple shows per year.

This year Nowakowski said they have some new food trucks like Smokehouse 52 and RaysRed Hots, as well as returning favoritesBearClaw Coffee and the Girl Scouts making food in Building A.

One other big change we cant miss to mention is a big reason for the event.

And of course the trends! Nowakowski said. Homes look different now than in 1990. If they dont, then people probably should come to the show to look into making some updates.

This year there are also a few new exhibitors and a couple cool new things will be found in Building F, where they typically have the most elaborate outdoor displays and food trucks.

This year a custom built She-Shed to benefit the ChadTough Foundation will be on display, Nowakowski said.

He said it is sponsored by MANS Lumber & Millwork, and was built with the intention of auctioning it off at the ChadTough Champions Gala in May with proceeds being donated to ChadTough. (www.ChadTough.org)

Another cool thing will be the Ann Arbor Schools Student-Built Doghouse, which will be under construction in Building F. Visitors can meet some of the students who are now enrolled in the Ann Arbor Student Building Industry Program, which Nowakowski said is considered one of the best programs of its kind in the country.

They have built a new home every year for the past 50years, and we are talking about very nice homes, he said. The schools arealways looking for more young people interested in this experience, whichoffers highly-desired skills many employers are looking for, as well as amemorable experience learning from real contractors and excellentcoaches/instructors!

Details can be found atwww.AAStudentBuilding.org.

With all of that and more, Nowakowski said the event is reallya community one with a lot of cool things for different people.

He said youll find a lot of local companies that are world-class at what they do, who contribute back to the community and are investing time exhibiting at the show, so local homeowners have trustworthy professionals for their next project.

Its inspiring to come out to see the creativity of thedisplays, and see you neighbors getting ideas of what to add to their homes,Nowakowski said. We make it a fun event with live presentations, food trucksand concessions by the Girl Scouts, prize drawings, and interactive displays.Youll discover lots of new things and have a head start on many of yourprojects aftercoming to the Home Show.

More information, including an event program categorizingthe vendors and exhibitors, can be found atBRAGHomeShow.com.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday,March 21 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday March 22. Admission is $5, cash onlyand ages 12 and under is free. Enter at building G.

Its located at 5055 Ann Arbor Saline Road in Ann Arbor.

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30 years of the Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show - thesuntimesnews.com