Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

With more winter storms expected across Illinois, local and state authorities are working to clear the roads and respond to traffic accidents.

Heavy snowfall can lead to labor like shoveling on driveways and sidewalks. For roads, local government steps in. The City of Rockford has a fleet of more than 20 trucks for snow and ice removal. Staff are unionized, so they bid on routes. Public Works Director Kyle Saunders explained.

"They get the opportunity to pick which route they like. We have both arterial and residential routes. So they kind of get that opportunity. Its something theyre going to live with all season," he said.

The trucks start by plowing and salting the busiest roads, then move on to more residential roads, sometimes with the help of contractors. Saunders said the citys odd-even parking ordinance helps with this process.

"For instance, if its an odd day, starting at 8 a.m., if we declare that snow emergency, we need cars to be parked on the odd side of the street. That way, it gives us that opportunity to get one clear pass through so our drivers can get in without having to slalom between parked cars."

Trucks also spread salt on the roads to prevent ice. Its made from calcium carbonate but Saunders said its made more effective by mixing in juice from sugar beets.

"Sugar actually lowers the freezing point lower than salt, so its something that that beet juice element certainly helps us coat that rock salt," he said.

If theres leftover salt from a previous year, Rockford will use the excess in this years clearing efforts. But outside of city roads, the responsibility for cleaning up falls on the Illinois Department of Transportation. Engineer of Operations Amy Eller explained.

"We have the interstate system, we have the state highways, like an Illinois route," she said."Some of those do run through various cities, which are what we maintain. Others, we have agreements with some local municipalities to help us with maintenance of those."

IDOT gets weather forecasts from several sources, such as the National Weather Service. Based on current conditions, it then deploys its plows as soon as it can.

"There are certain conditions where we cant do that, but most generally, if we can get out, we will be pre-treating, pre-wetting. We put down a salt brine to keep any precipitation from freezing to the pavement."

On larger roads, the plows often work in groups.

"Youll have one truck out ahead of the next one, but theyre all travelling in tandem to clear all the lanes at the same time," she said.

Though a state agency, IDOT localizes its plans by working through nine distinct districts.

"Even though were responsible for the whole state, we have our units broken down so that its very manageable. They all know their areas very well. Theyve all become very familiar with them," Eller said.

But plowing is only part of the job. The Illinois State Police work with IDOT on a regular basis, starting with social media campaigns regarding safety. Lieutenant Colonel David Byrd is an assistant deputy director. He says one of the most important messages ISP tries to get out is for drivers to take their time.

"Wed rather you guys try to be there early than try to crunch it and get there on time because thats when you might increase your speeds in areas where you probably shouldnt be doing it," he said. "The road surfaces might be icy, slippery, it might be snow covered."

This also includes taking ones time around slow cars and plows.

"Hes probably going slow because of the road conditions. So at that point, we might need to take heed and follow his lead," Byrd said.

When accidents do occur, ISP first responds to those that involve direct injuries. Then, they address those that block lanes.

"We want to prevent that secondary crash, or a third crash," Byrd said. "Thats where you can get a pileup. And believe me, thats the last thing we want, is a pileup on the Interstate."

Fender benders that dont block traffic are the lowest priority, but whatever the accident, Byrd said drivers need to heed Scotts Law which is "...where you slow your speed and move to the left of the unit or the emergency vehicles that are stopped."

Byrd said the number one message during snow and ice: Stay off the roads if possible.

"If we can reduce the number of motorists on the interstate, its going to assist us, going to assist law enforcement in general, do their job on a day with severe weather like we had last year with the polar vortex."

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Sugar Beets Are One Way To Fight Snow And Ice Hazards - WNIJ and WNIU

Pavement parking could be prevented by installing the call devices along kerbs and pedestrian areas according to the inventor of the tool.The catclaw can be positioned on the side of kerbs and will unveil a lethal spike when the device is pushed down with force.

The small dome will only take three minutes to install and requires no power supply or maintenance to run.

Catclaws do not pose a threat to pedestrians as they can only be activated by a certain weight passing over the device.

The ETA said the prototype model will trigger on 200kg and confirmed a cargo bike could, in theory, be heavy enough to expose the blade.

The Environmental Transport Association (ETA)which hasdeveloped the design said the device could have prevented recent terror attacks involving vehicles travelling at high speed.

READ MORE:Is it against the law to park outside someone else's house?

Car-related incidents such as the Westminster Bridge and London Bridge attacks in 2017 may have had a different outcome if something had pierced through the rubber.

Inventor Yannick Read of the ETA claims the device could solve multiple issues surrounding road danger.

He said: Were addressing road danger theres a real problem with drivers parking on the pavement or driving on the pavement because they cant be bothered to wait.

However, the new device is unlikely to ever be made road legal due to the extra risks the tool possesses.

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Many road users may not be aware their tyre has been pierced at all which could lead to blowouts and car crashes on major roads in a safety risk.

Many motorists attacked the device online, branding the tool as a bad idea because tyres were a vital safety component of a vehicle.

Commenting on the group's website, motorist Geofrey Biggins said: If you punctured a tyre and the person was unaware and drove off they could have all sorts of accidents.

What if it just caught the edge of a tyre and partially ripped the sidewall and the person then happily drives onto a motorway and has a blowout and wipes out a bus full of kids.

Another user said the device looked awful and was a hazard for motorists who may need to use the pavements for legitimate reasons.

He said: Plenty of our roads are simply too narrow and too congested for this to be in any way viable.

The ETA says the devices only cost a couple of pounds to produce because it is built from just four readily available components,

The tool got its name from the cats eyes that line major roads across the UK and also compress under the heavyweight of a car.

Pavement parking is only illegal in London where motorists can be hit with 70 fines for causing an obstruction.

Motorists are urged to not block pavements with their vehicle but this is not illegal across the rest of the UK.

However, this could soon change after the Transport Committee revealed plans to introduce a nationwide ban.

The group said pavement parking can have a considerable impact on many people's lives and has put many locals at risk of social isolation.

Inventor Mr Read added: Weve shown the principle works. It wouldnt be appropriate to put them everywhere. Id be interested to hear their objections.

"Its illegal to drive on the pavement, theres no excuse to do it. So if youre not breaking the law your tyres are safe."

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Pavement parking: Deadly road spike tool could give your car a puncture in seconds - Express

Q: Im ready to hire someone for a kitchen remodel, but Im not sure what information I need to share with prospective contractors to hire the right one. Can you help?

A: When looking for the right contractor for your project, there are several topics that will arise during your first conversation, including their availability, how to begin the process and what youre looking for.

One topic that often gets overlooked is the budget dont make this mistake. If you want the right contractor and not just the cheapest youll need to get serious about how much youre willing to spend.

If this is your first time working with a remodeling contractor, feeling hesitant to discuss your budget is understandable. But its the first discussion you should have, and heres why:

Contractors know how much its likely to cost. A good contractor has enough experience to establish a good starting budget. They know how much it generally costs to complete a project based on past remodels, and while each remodel is unique, the contractors experience plus the clients budget will tell them if the project is a good fit for both parties.

Contractors can point you in the right direction. Most contractors specialize in types of remodels based on area, design and budget. A contractor who tells you that your budget is too small may specialize in the higher-end market. If they do, dont be discouraged and continue your search. Its worth your time to talk to them because they may recommend another contractor if you have a workable budget.

Discussing the budget will save you time. Its easy to design your dream kitchen with a contractor without a budget. But an hour-long budget conversation may lead you to conclude that the cost to complete the project is twice what youre willing to spend. You and the contractor can save a lot of time by starting with that conversation.

Its not a negotiation. Clients reluctant to disclose their budget often believe theyre entering a negotiation and dont want to show their cards. However, a good contractor has set costs for labor and overhead. The only thing that comes close to a negotiation is selecting materials to fit the budget.

Many factors go into planning a remodel and its safe to say that a starting budget may change once planning has been finalized, but its good to start with a number. Talking about the budget early will establish trust and clear communication with the contractor that will help you complete your remodel without breaking the bank.

Nathan Coons is owner and operator of Coons Construction LLC, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), and HomeWork is the groups weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question youd like answered by one of MBAKSs more than 2,700 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

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When talking to a remodeling contractor, start with the budget - Seattle Times

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) Better Call Behnken is helping customers get answers after they forked over thousands to Jamestown Kitchens and received nothing in return.

Others say projects were started but never finished and now they cant get answers from the business or owner James Gerard.

On Monday, the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office issued an unusual public request for anyone with information related to Jamestown Kitchens to please contact the Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900.

The sheriffs office release stated that over the past few weeks, the sheriffs office has received several reports from citizens reporting they paid money to the company however, the work was never completed.

One of the customers who turned to Better Call Behnken for help is Gary and Sandra Garcia of Sarasota. They say they paid a $16,960 deposit to have two bathrooms remodeled. They paid in October toward the more than $30,000 job, but work never started.

We dont know whats going to happen with our money, but at this point in time, we just want it stopped, Gary Garcia said. We just want this man stopped so that other people arent hurt by this.

Jamestown Kitchens did not return a call for comment.

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Customers say they paid thousands for remodeling and got nothing - WFLA

LAKE FOREST, California, Jan. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- InMode Ltd. (Nasdaq:INMD) ("InMode"), a leading global provider of innovative medical technologies, introduces Evoke, a breakthrough non-invasive solution for facial remodeling.

Evoke is the first hands-free device for the face and submental area cleared by the FDA. This advanced radiofrequency-based platform addresses patient aesthetic concerns with uniform and controlled heating of the skin and subdermal tissue.

Dr. Michael Kreindel, InMode Chief Technology Officer, and inventor of Evoke commented, "The idea of a facial hands-free treatment has been circulating in the market for about 8 years. I'm proud that InMode, after years of research and development, is the first company to bring this solution to patients worldwide."

"Evoke delivers the ultimate solution in thermal facial procedures. Patients can not only turn back the hands of time but are now also able to achieve long-lasting structural enhancements to their face without excisional surgery. InMode once again has brought to market another aesthetics industry game changer," said Dr. Spero Theodorou, InMode Chief Medical Officer and Plastic Surgeon (bodySCULPT, NY).

About InMode

InMode is a leading global provider of innovative medical technologies. InMode develops, manufactures, and markets devices harnessing novel radiofrequency ("RF") technology. InMode strives to enable new emerging surgical procedures as well as improve existing treatments. InMode has leveraged its medically-accepted minimally-invasive RF technologies to offer a comprehensive line of products across several categories for plastic surgery, gynecology, dermatology, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology.

For more information about InMode and its wide array of medical technologies, visit http://www.inmodemd.com.

Press Contact:Behrman CommunicationsAmanda Reinsteinareinstein@behrmanpr.com

Investor Contact:MS-IR LLCMiri Segal Schariair@inmodemd.comTel: +1-917-607-8654

SOURCE InMode Ltd.

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InMode Launches Evoke, the First and Only Hands-free Facial Remodeling Technology - Yahoo Finance

Residential Remodeling Continues to Trend Upward

Spending on residential remodeling improvements will continue to grow at a gradual pace over the next two years according to experts. At an NAHB Remodelers press conference at the NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas, professional remodelers cited increased consumer confidence and demand as a reason for the uptick in spending.

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Paul Emrath, Ph.D., NAHBs Assistant Vice President for Surveys and Housing Policy Research, predicts that the spending on remodeling owner-occupied, single-family homes will decrease by 0.6% percent in 2020, but increase 1.2% in 2021.

According to Tim Ellis, the 2019 NAHB Remodelers Chair, remodeler certainty remains at a high level because remodeling generated $158 billion in 2019.

Although there is steady consumer demand in all areas of the country, the biggest challenge continues to be the cost of, and lack of, skilled labor to meet the interest.

Paul Emrath, Ph.D.

Remodelers quote a few reasons for the slow growth in remodeling spending.

Were not only seeing more requests for proposals because the housing stock is limited, but also a higher request for aging-in-place work because boomers want to stay in their homes longer. Because people are choosing to stay in their homes, the demand and backlog for remodeling remains high.

Nick Scheel, CGR, remodeler from Spokane Valley, WA

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However, experts claim that the growth were seeing in the remodeling market could rise more quickly except for the lack of skilled labor in the field.

Although the economy shows signs of slowing down ever so slightly, the risk of recession is low, and according to experts, remodeling should keep pace with inflation into 2021.

In or corner of the world (central Florida), new construction and existing home sales remain hot. New developments focusing on houses priced in the $200,000 to $250,000 range move quickly. On the real estate market for existing homes, anything in good shape under $200,000 usually doesnt last more than a week and often no more than a few days.

Younger homebuyers are simply being priced out of this sector of the market, leaving them few options that are genuinely affordable. Remodeling a fixer-upper is a good possibility. The trick is knowing what your total budget is, finding a home that has real potential, and knowing what kind of work the home needs. For more patient homebuyers, it can be a way to get into a neighborhood you really want to live in or getting the kind of square footage and/or layout youd like.

Either way you look at it, professional contractors in our area have no trouble finding work whether its on the new construction or remodeling side. Like Dr. Emrath said, finding skilled labor is the number one factor keeping builders and remodelers from being able to take on more work.

Would you rather remodel or move? Check out this article and let us know in the comments what you think!

Renovate or Move Whats the Best Option?

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NAHB Prediction: Slow Growth in Remodeling Through 2021 | PTR - Pro Tool Reviews

The Beverly Center, a 900,000-square-foot mall in Los Angeles, California, has recently installed two large-scale art installations within the iconic street-facing escalators along Beverly Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. They are the latest work of Pae White, a local artist who grew up near the Beverly Center, and were organized by independent curator Jenelle Porter. In my opinion, said Porter, [White] is the only artist who could make such incredibly beautiful and keenly intelligent works for Beverly Center; artworks that will contribute to the already rich cultural landscape of this city.

The installation facing Beverly Boulevard,Day for Night for Day,is a light sculpture comprised of over 900 uniquely-shaped pieces of hand-shaped neon. Each element within the five-story piece is color-keyed to a perceptual temperature (warmth) in the daylight spectrum, resulting in a constellation of vibrant hues akin to the many characters of the Los Angeles sunset. The artist referred to the piece as both a kind of magic carpet and an immersive Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) lamp visitors interact with prior to and following their shopping experience. The title of the installation is a nod to the citys movie history, particularly the cinematic technique of simulating nighttime during the day.

The La Cienega-facing installation, Moonsets for a Sunrise,is made up of a mostly dark-hued palette to represent nighttime and the four types of moonsthe harvest moon, strawberry moon, blue moon, and snow moon. Made up of 73,635 pieces of tile glazed in over 100 colors, White ensured that no color combination module repeats anywhere within the entire expanse. The many shades on display exemplify the myriad hues of moonlight, allowing for differing interpretations of the piece from up-close as well as from passersby on the street.

White was inspired to create the two site-specific pieces after observing the unique qualities of the glass-enclosed escalators and the constant movement they provide between the parking lots and the main interior spaces. In their simultaneous explorations of the phenomenological effects of light, said White, both art installations generate different experiences during the day and the night. The neon of Day for Night for Day offers one kind of experience during daylight hours and another kind at night when its illumination is most prominent. The same applies to Moonsets for a Sunrise, though conversely: the moonlight colors are most glorious in the morning sun.

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Two five-story installations light up L.A.'s Beverly Center - The Architect's Newspaper

SOUTH BEND An estimated $2 million project to convert the Bendix Theatre into an esports arena is well underway with demolition complete and crews already installing new carpeting in the facility.

Work got underway Jan. 2 and the project is expected to be completed by mid-July, said Jeff Jarnecke, who oversees the Century Center as executive director of the citys venues. After the new carpeting is completed in the next few weeks, workers will then be able to begin installing new oversized theater seats with cup holders.

The front row seats in the arena will include a tablet holder and all of the 600 seats will eventually include a USB or power outlet, said Jarnecke, adding that an engineering firm is visiting the Bendix this week to perform a technical layout the sound system and massive video boards.

Bethel University already has committed to using the new arena as home for the esports team it recently formed. Alec Betz, a graphic designer and Bethel graduate, will serve as coach of the new team.

Bethel will compete in the League of Legends, Overwatch and possibly a third game at both the varsity and club levels with perhaps 30 to 50 students participating at those levels, said Christopher Hess, Bethels associate athletic director.

Bethel will have a dedicated practice facility in the LAN Cafe that will be developed as part of the Bendix project, and Hess thinks the university could have students using the facility even on the intramural level perhaps five days a week.

Esports is a rapidly growing sport with more than 170 colleges and universities with varsity programs and an estimated 433 million fans across the globe. Though Bethel is one of the first universities to field a team in the Crossroads Conference, Hess believes it wont be long before others join in.

Hess said Bethel will only participate in games that arent overly violent or sexual and have a Teen rating.

Were looking at what other Christian universities are doing, he said. Were trying to focus on games that are more strategic.

Universities are embracing esports because of the enormous popularity of the activity, which seems to be especially appealing to students involved in STEM fields, said Hess. It will help us recruit and retain STEM students and improve the overall student experience at Bethel.

Jarnecke said other colleges and universities in the region have also expressed interest in using the esports arena and bids have already been made to host Midwest esports competitions in August and September.

The project is being paid for by collections from the St. Joseph County hotel-motel tax, and the hope is that the arena will serve to attract considerably more visitors to the once underutilized Bendix Theatre, said Jarnecke.

And ultimately, officials hope the arena will generate more hotel stays, said Jarnecke, adding that it will also boost the image of the city as a place thats tech friendly and open to cutting-edge ideas.

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South Bend's Bendix Theatre is being converted to esports arena - South Bend Tribune

Installation designed by Judy Chicago for Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 (Kristen Pelou, all images courtesy of Dior)

The fashion industry has long occupied an odd place when it comes to feminism, offering women a form of liberation through self-expression while simultaneously setting seemingly impossible, often damaging aesthetic standards. In recent years, with conversations around sexism at the forefront of popular discourse, the industry has become more self-reflective. While initiatives to diversify runways and make changes within the often exploitative world of modeling are valuable, many of fashions gestures toward feminist concerns, such as a feminist protest-themed 2014 Chanel show or fashion publications changing from a focus on dieting to wellness, seem well-intentioned on the surface but ultimately hollow. Fashion is a business, after all.

The latest feminist fashion experiment comes courtesy of Christian Dior and artist Judy Chicago. Diors creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, commissioned Chicago to create a set-cum-art installation for the iconic couture houses spring 2020 runway show at the Muse Rodin in Paris. The installation, titled The Female Divine, features a huge inflatable sculpture inspired by a goddess figure, a woven catwalk carpet, and 21 banners embroidered in English and French with questions including What if Women Ruled the World? It all makes for an immersive, aesthetically pleasing experience. The political element, however, feels facile.

Chicago has a certified place in feminist history her 70s installation The Dinner Party made waves for its subversive use of vaginal imagery and its large-scale focus on female achievements, and is on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. The question of whether her involvement with Dior automatically confers some feminist authority upon the 73-year-old fashion house is a thorny one. Chicagos banners, woven by female students at a nonprofit craft school in India, ask, while positing a world ruled by women, Would Buildings Resemble Wombs?; Would God Be Female?; Would There Be Violence?; and so on. While these hypotheticals may be worth considering, a couture show doesnt seem quite the right place to do it. The models on the runway all fit the fashion industrys long-held standards of youthfulness and slenderness, and Diors couture creations are all firmly in the price available upon request category.

Chicagos installation is briefly open to the public through January 26, but its undeniable that the world of a Dior couture show remains a privileged one. The questions on Chicagos embroideries posit a feminine utopia a lovely thought, but one that feels a bit too pat given how many women vote against their own interests and how womens rights stand in immediate danger with a Republican majority. As is unfortunately so often the case with politically-minded art, the people who most need to consider the implications of Chicagos questions are the least likely to seek them out. The clothes on the runway, featuring glamorous yet subtle metallic tones and precisely tailored, goddess-like draping, are undeniably beautiful, and its certain that the combination of these designs with Chicagos work makes for a striking tableau. Whether the questions within it will make any difference outside of potentially stirring up conversation in the rarefied fashion world remains to be seen.

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Judy Chicago's Collaboration With Dior Is Beautiful, but Its Feminist Ambitions Are Questionable - Hyperallergic

The new Turftak adhesive range delivers on the proven results we are known for while vastly improving the installation process with environmentally safe, low-waste solutions.

KENNESAW, Ga. (PRWEB) January 24, 2020

Following the successful launch of the new GA3 Adhesive System at Greenbuild 2019, Chemique Adhesives unveils an innovative range of synthetic turf adhesives, called Turftak. These new artificial turf adhesives aim to bring installers into the new decade by increasing efficiencies across the turf install process, reducing wasted adhesive, and doing so in a more environmentally friendly manor.

The newly launched turftak range of adhesives, are solvent-free in nature meaning they produce zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs for short) and are equally safe to use both outdoors, and in more sensitive environments such as indoor arenas.

As a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council, Chemique has provided turf installers with performance-grade adhesives for a number of years. With the new range of Turftak products, we are setting out to enhance and simplify the installation process. The new Turftak adhesive range delivers on the proven results we are known for while vastly improving the installation process with environmentally safe, low-waste solutions, said Mark Waring, Vice President of Chemique Adhesives USA. Across the range you will see benefits like high initial tack, permanently bonds that retain flexibility, incredible shock absorption and fast setting times that work in a variety of environments. The range is perfect for synthetic turf installations from smaller residential, to larger commercial and professional applications.

There are three new products within the adhesive range and a new application unit that increases install efficiency by up to 60 percent. Turftak 1 is an easy to use single-component polyurethane adhesive that requires no mixing, sets fast, and is extremely resistant to moisture and shock. Similarly, a two-component formula, dubbed Turftak2, promotes complete control over the bonding process eliminating pesky environmental factors such as heat and humidity-a common problem in the industry. Rounding out the range is Turftak-SMP, a single-component moisture cure adhesive that is UV-stable, can bond to wet surfaces, and can be used with Chemiques revolutionary new GA3 Applicator to provide an incredibly clean, efficient, low-waste solution to bonding synthetic turf.

About Chemique

Chemique Adhesives, Inc., is a pioneer in the development of solvent-free polyurethane, water- based adhesives and adhesive application equipment. It has fast become the first-choice supplier for a diverse range of industries requiring specialist products.

Working closely with customers and clients, Chemiques experienced chemists and engineers provide new and innovative solutions to their adhesive and adhesive application needs. With a wide array of products Chemique can offer its solutions to a diverse range of industries, including transportation, foam conversion, raised access flooring, architectural panels, portable buildings, furniture and many others.

With operations across North America and Europe, Chemique specializes in the development of custom bonding solutions for customers worldwide.

For more information, visit http://www.chemiqueadhesives.com/us

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Rolling Out the Green Carpet: Chemique Adhesives Unveils New Turftak Range of Synthetic Turf Adhesives for 2020 - PR Web