Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Buffalo, Minn.

Built in 2019, this three-bedroom, three-bath house has 2,960 square feet and features new construction with two bedrooms on the main level, vaulted ceilings, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, finished walkout basement, porch and deck. Listed by Bruce McAlpin, 612-669-6324, and Bonnie Knutson, 612-219-2373, Edina Realty.

Eden Prairie

Built in 1993, this four-bedroom, three-bath house has 2,912 square feet and features four bedrooms on one level, fireplace, formal dining room, hardwood floors, crown moldings, deck, porch and fenced yard with paver patio, fire pit and gazebo. Listed by Josie Patterson, 952-212-5107, and Brace Helgeson, 612-310-4300, Coldwell Banker Burnet.

Woodbury

Built in 2014, this five-bedroom, four-bath house has 3,719 square feet and features four bedrooms on one level, hardwood floors, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen with center island, glass-paned barn doors, patio, porch and full finished basement. Listed by Karie Curnow, Edina Realty, 612-226-3644.

Note: Listings active as of Dec. 11.

Photos provided by Bruce McAlpin and Bonnie Knutson/Dean Riedel, 360VIP Photography/Karie Curnow

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Home listings: What $465000 buys in the Twin Cities area - Minneapolis Star Tribune

bazaar today and Sunday

WINTERSVILLE Blessed Sacrament Catholic Womens Club will be holding a two-day Christmas country kitchen bazaar at Sargus Hall, located at 852 Main St., Wintersville.

The bazaar is being held from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Most featured items are uniquely homemade, according to a club spokesperson. They include miscellaneous goods and freshly baked cookies, pies, cakes, candy and fudge. Prices of items are from $1 to $5. No vendors are permitted.

Samples of baked goods along with coffee and Italian popcorn will be complimentary.

Christmas concert tonight at

Brooke Hills Free Methodist

WELLSBURG Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church, 1340 Washington Pike, will present a Christmas concert from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today.

There will be snacks, crafts and a live nativity. The church will hold a candlelight service at 6 p.m. Dec. 24.

Cookie sale under way today

at St. Mark Lutheran Church

STEUBENVILLE St. Mark Lutheran Church, located at 133 Lovers Lane, will be having a cookie sale today.

The event will start at 9 a.m., and cookies will be sold for $6 a pound. The sale will benefit Mary of Bethany Ladies Guild.

Richmond UMC to host gazebo

community service Thursday

RICHMOND An outdoor community Christmas candlelight service hosted by the Richmond United Methodist Church will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the gazebo beside the church.

All are welcome to attend the service led by the Rev. Byron Bufkin, the churchs pastor.

The church located at 112 S. Sugar St. also will hold traditional Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Blue Christmas service set

Wednesday at Gathering Place

BURGETTSTOWN Paris Presbyterian Churchs Gathering Place at 127 Steubenville Pike, Burgettstown, will host a Blue Christmas service, a night of worship, bringing the light of Christ into the sadness, sorrow and loss of the season.

It will be held Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Gathering Place Coffee Shop is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. Questions can be directed to Joel Peterson, outreach director, by phone at (724) 729-3450 or by e-mail to outreach@pariseco.net.

Christmas cantata Sunday

at Hopewell United Methodist

RAYLAND The South Bellaire United Methodist Church choir will present its Christmas cantata titled The Christmas Offering at 6 p.m. on Sunday at Hopewell United Methodist Church, located on county Road 16 in Rayland.

There is no admission, and there will be a fellowship time following the concert.

For information, contact Pastor Jim Hoff at (740) 310-6949.

Church taking orders through

Thursday for baklava sale

STEUBENVILLE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 300 S. Fourth St., Steubenville, is having a baklava sale and is taking orders through Thursday by contacting Cindy at the church at (740) 282-9835.

They are $2.50 each. Orders can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Dec. 22. Patrons can enter through the bar door by the alley.

Gospel singer/musician

at Follansbee church Sunday

FOLLANSBEE Gospel singer/musician Brent Kimball will be presenting a Christmas concert at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Follansbee First Church of the Nazarene on Mahan Lane.

Kimball is a 24-year-old singer who has been performing for more than two decades throughout the Ohio Valley. He is a graduate of West Liberty University and is working on his masters in music for vocal performance at Duquesne University. Most recently, he has sung with the internationally known Chuck Wagon Gang.

Evening of Music Sunday

at Finley United Methodist

STEUBENVILLE Finley United Methodist Church, located at 958 Lincoln Ave., Steubenville, will hold its annual Evening of Music on Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m.

The evening will feature several Christmas selections with piano and organ duets. The program will include the Praise In Bronze handbell choir and the vocal cantata choir accompanied by trumpet and trombone.

The church invites everyone to celebrate this Christmas season in song, a spokesperson noted.

Tucker UMC hosting Christmas

concert tonight at 6 p.m.

BURGETTSTOWN Tucker United Methodist Church, located at 641 Steubenville Pike, just across the West Virginia line, will be hosting a Christmas concert with the K Band tonight, beginning at 6 p.m.

Pastor Kenn Jacobs cordially invites the community to join us as we celebrate the season with an evening of fun, music and fellowship, noted Pastor Kenn Jacobs, adding the concert is open to the public.

Come Let Us Adore cantata

Sunday at Colliers UM Church

COLLIERS The Colliers United Methodist Church choir will present its 2019 Christmas cantata, Come Let Us Adore, at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The children and youth will do several songs with the choir. There will be refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus immediately following.

The church is located in at 318 Pennsylvania Ave. (Harmon Creek Road). The church also will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m. with Brett Cain sharing special music during the service.

Covenant Presbyterian Church

to host Messiah performance

STEUBENVILLE The Christmas portion of Handels Messiah will be performed at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1443 Belleview Blvd., at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

This marks the 24th consecutive year the work has been presented at Covenant. The chorus is composed of singers representing various local churches and high schools as well as returning college students. The orchestra includes professional and semi-professional musicians from throughout the Tri-State Area.

The concert is under the direction of George Melhorn, Covenant music director. An offering will be taken.

Combined choirs to present

annual Christmas cantata

WEIRTON The annual Christmas Cantata presented by the combined choirs of the three United Methodist churches in Weirton will be a part of the morning worship Sunday with the combined congregations at First United Methodist Church on West Street. The service begins at 10 a.m.

The cantata Messiah Heavens Glory will be presented under the direction and accompaniment of Tom Dohnal, music director of the Weirton United Methodist Tri-Parish.

In all, about 30 people will be involved with the cantata, including the adult choir and a childrens choir. Paula Haggerty will be the narrator during the cantata, and Taniesha Jones is the assistant director of the childrens choir. The Rev. Carol McKay is pastor.

The cantata songs are: Angels, From The Realms of Glory (Emmanuel); Sing Noel Medley; Messiah with Diane Kopa featured as soloist; Silent Night with the childrens choir; He Shall Reign Forevermore with Corinda Nail featured as soloist; God With Us Medley; What A Beautiful Name; and Joy To The World (Emmanuel).

Choir members are Carolyn Clements, Pat Cotherman, Lois Cox, Ralph Cox, Amy Dalton, Phyllis Doak, Holly Everhart, Marjai Johnson, Diane Kopa, Layla Kovach, Chelsea LaPosta, Kevan LaPosta, Paulette Letwen, Corinda Nail, Kathleen Nail, Jackie Nixon, Deeann Pulliam, Karen Virden, Michele Wallace, Bob Watson, Jane Watson and Teresa Yoder. Childrens choir members are Daniel Alexander, Mariya Burns, Takayla Jones, Terell Jones, Adriana Lamone, Arianna Pulliam, Makaylynn Sponaugle and Micha Sponaugle.

Community tree lighting today

at East Springfield Christ UMC

EAST SPRINGFIELD East Springfield Christ United Methodist Church is hosting a community Christmas tree-lighting that begins at 3 p.m. today. We are asking everyone to bring an outside ornament for the tree, and afterward we will be caroling around the tree and then go in to the fellowship hall for cocoa and cookies, church spokesperson Nikki Tennant noted.

- Bell Chapel United Methodist Church, Steubenville: A Christmas Carol Part Two.- Buena Vista United ...

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Community news from around the area | News, Sports, Jobs - The Steubenville Herald-Star

Festivities include:

Carriage Rides, Thurs Sat, 6pm 9pm Enjoy an old-fashioned horse & buggy carriage ride ($5. per person). Loading behind TR Makers Co. by the lighted tunnel on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Christmas March on Main, Fri 7pm Decorate your strollers, bicycles, wagons, and family with battery-operated Christmas lights and join the first annual Christmas March on Main. The procession gathers at the Gazebo on Main at 7pm. Well walk to McElhany where we will be greeted by the TRelfs.

TRelf Scavenger Hunt Pick up your Scavenger Hunt card from the Winter Lights Headquarters located in the former Pace Running store at 108 S Main Street then visit participating shops to find the hidden TRelf. (list of shops to be announced)

Snowball Fights by the Trail Join the fun and dodge left and right as you engage in an all-out snowball fight with these plush, safe snowballs! Located behind the Whistle Stop youll find an area stocked with soft snowballs to throw and enjoy a lively winter game.

Holiday Themed Food Vendors Main Street will play host to vendors selling everything from candy apples to roasted corn and popcorn.

Choir Music in the Gazebo Sing along with church choirs as they perform Christmas carols and hymns each night.

Toy Drive Collection Help us make the holiday spirit bright for local children and their families in need this Christmas by dropping off an unwrapped gift at the Winter Lights Headquarters located in the former Pace Running store at 108 S Main Street.

Christmas Market, Sat 5pm 8pm Theres nothing better than sharing a handmade gift with your loved ones. Artists and crafters will be set up by TR Mercantile stocked with beautiful gifts for everyone on your Christmas list.

Festival Headquarters We will be set up in the former Pace Running store at 108 S Main Street to answer any questions and help you make the season bright!

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Travelers Rest's Winter Lights Festival kicks off Thursday - Travelers Rest Tribune

LOST a fishing trolley-load of booze recently? Then this could belong to you.

Wiltshire Police has issued pictures of a small haul of items they believe to have been stolen from garages this week.

The filched items include a fishing trolley, booze collection, mountain bikes and power tools - seized after officers found two teens next to the suspected stolen goods.

It follows reports of five garages having been broken into around Cranmore Avenue, Park South, on Tuesday.

Police were called at around 3pm on December 10 to reports of youths breaking into the garages.

When officers arrived they found two local boys stood next to a small haul of goods. Two boys, aged 14 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of burglary. They have since been released under investigation.

PC Craig Head said: "We would like the owners of the goods to come forward. They include an amount of alcohol, a fishing trolley, gazebo, a mountain bike and mountain bike frame and a selection of power tools.

"We believe these items may have come from the burgled garages - if one of those was yours please check whether or not you are missing anything and if you are please call us on 101."

Pictures of the suspected stolen items Pictures: WILTSHIRE POLICE

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Appeal for owners of gazebo, trolley and power tools stolen in Swindon - Swindon Advertiser

Long ago, much of Greater Cincinnati was covered in glaciers. When they receded, they left us with soil that is susceptible to landslides. Michael Nyerges, Cincinnati Enquirer

What we reported:In March and April, The Enquirer reported on several homeownersfacing landslides on their private property.

In one case, about 40properties in Bellevue were caught up in a landslide threatening their yards and homes. Those homeowners had secured a federal grant to help fix the problem, but the multi-million-dollar project had stalled for years.

In North Avondale, a different landslide was threatening four houses. The damage was irreversible at one of the homes, which was evacuated, condemned and quickly demolished. The remaining homeowners were scrambling to come up with the $300,000 needed to build a new retaining wall.

Tom Gerrein stands in his Bellevue, Kentucky, backyard in February 2019. The yard used to be flat, Gerrein said, until a landslide started creeping closer and closer to his house.(Photo: The Enquirer/Meg Vogel)

Tom Gerrein first noticed the slide in his Bellevue backyard in 2010.He and his wife spent nearly $11,000 out-of-pocket for two studies that helped secure a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, but for years, the project sat idle.

Now, it looks like work will finally start this spring.

Weve had those hopes before, but we do have solid people in charge," Gerrein said. "It looks like if we keep plugging, hopefully we'll be a go."

It is a complicated project, though.

First, it had to be cut in half. There are about 40 homes involved, but this first phase of the project will only address 23.

Phase one will cost roughly $2.3 million, with FEMA picking up 87% of the tab and homeowners responsible for the remaining 13%.

That means each of the 23 homeowners will have to agree to pay nearly $13,000. It's a house-by-house decision, so if one property owner in the middle doesnt want to participate, for example, that could derail the whole project.

Its a good chunk of money, but relative to the value of your house, its well worth it, Gerrein said. Youre only paying 13% of what it costs if you would do it yourself.

The plan is to build two retaining walls now, covering the 23 homes, and to wait on the other two walls until more funding can be secured.

The second phase of the project is estimated to cost roughly $4 million.

Splitting the work wasn't ideal, but theFEMA grant just wasnt big enough to cover everything at once, said Bellevue City Administrator Frank Warnock.

Warnock worries about what might happen in the interim especially if its a particularly wet winter or spring but this was the only way to get going now with the money available, he said.

Its a problem for Northern Kentucky, Warnock said of landslide damage. Its all over Theres not a month that goes by that I dont receive a phone call: My yard has moved.

A buckling garage was the first sign of a landslide in North Avondale. The house in this photo ended up being evacuated, condemned and demolished.(Photo: Phil Didion)

In North Avondale, Richard McKenzie and Timothy Lane feel stuck.

Their neighbor's house was demolished, and the same landslide that wrecked her home is threatening theirs. Still, despite months of fundraising, hunting for grants and petitioning Cincinnati City Council for help, McKenzie and Lane don't have the roughly $330,000 they need to stabilize the hill.

McKenzies driveway has buckled as the landslide moves underneath his property, he said.

And Lanes backyard gets smaller and smaller every day as the hill creeps closer.

I think were a little bit starving for some empathy, McKenzie said. Its easy to say, Oh, gosh, that sucks. Glad were not you, and move on. We just want some empathy. And if that empathy leads to some solutions that dont put us in the poorhouse, thats a good thing.

Landslides are generally not covered by insurance, which means homeowners are on the hook. McKenzie and Lane have asked city council for help, but some council members are worried about setting up a precedent if the city steps in to help one group of homeowners, what about everyone else whose home needs a costly repair?

McKenzie and Lanefeel they've done all they can on their own. And they're worried about what might happen if another winter and spring passwithout a solution.

"It's time for someone else who has the power to do something greater to step in and help us," Lane said. "There's just times when people need help."

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'My yard has moved': Landslides are a big, expensive headache for homeowners. - The Cincinnati Enquirer

West Tisbury voters will be asked next year whether they want to spend a significant sum on the towns local dropoff for garbage and recycling, or close the facility after upgrades are completed at the regional refuse district in Edgartown.

Board of health member Erik Lowe made the suggestion to close the dropoff, telling selectmen at their Wednesday meeting that it needs $110,000 in repairs to a retaining wall and faces other costly work to meet state environmental standards.

Weve invested, as a member of the refuse district, in a facility that can handle, more effectively, the peoples trash, Mr. Lowe told the board. Why keep the local dropoff operating when its just another thing well have to maintain in the future?

Town health agent Omar Johnson added that an injury was reported at the dropoff this summer.

An individual stepped into one of the gaps between the wall and a trash receptacle, Mr. Johnson said.

Selectmen gave tepid responses to Mr. Lowes proposal.

The biggest questions probably going to be, whats going to happen to the Dumptique? asked board chairman Skipper Manter, referring to the popular free shop located at the dropoff and run by volunteers.

I think that the town should move the gate back beyond the Dumptique and give them some kind of lease and let them operate, Mr. Lowe responded.

Selectmen Kent Healy and Cynthia Mitchell, both cool to the idea of shuttering the dropoff, backed Mr. Manters suggestion to let voters choose the future of their local facility.

People have an attachment to it, Mrs. Mitchell said.

Town administrator Jen Rand said she would work with the board of health to craft a warrant item that would present a clear choice to voters by specifying the dollar amount of capital needed to make the local dropoff safe and compliant with environmental rules.

Were either going to invest in this, or were not going to invest in it, but if were keeping it were going to invest in it, Ms. Rand said. Were not going to part-do this fix.

Mr. Lowe agreed. Lets bring it to the town and see what peoples consensus is, he said.

Also Wednesday, selectmen approved a weekly indoor produce market at Howes House in January and February, run by Island Grown Initiative as an extension of its seasonal outdoor mobile market.

A lot of our elder customers have said they would like to be inside, said Olivia Rabbitt of Island Grown.

The senior centers central West Tisbury location, adjacent to the library, makes it a convenient stop for up-Island residents, who also can sign up there for food assistance, Ms. Rabbitt said.

Mr. Manter asked if there would be traffic problems caused by the weekly market. Island Growns Sophie Abrams Mazza said the mobile market, which sells produce and eggs from Island farms at below-retail prices, generally attracts 15 to 26 people an hour.

Well have to monitor it, Mr. Manter said.

The produce market will set up in the Howes House community room Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in January and February.

Ms. Mazza Abrams said the market, which travels around the Island several days a week, will resume in July and run through February, 2021.

As selectmen began their annual budget review process, emergency manager Russ Hartenstine asked for and received permission to increase the budget for his part-time department from $18,207 in fiscal year 2020 to $26,000.

Im doing more than my stipend allots, said Mr. Hartenstine, who gave a series of talks on emergency preparedness earlier this year.

He said he is being asked to join town committees, write grants, start a community emergency training program and train with the police department as an emergency public information officer.

Its basically what the town wants me to do, Mr. Hartenstine said. Id really like to put more time into the job to do what the town needs.

Mr. Johnson added that he needs Mr. Hartenstines assistance as well to make sure the town health department is ready for emergencies.

Selectmen backed the request, which must also pass muster with the towns financial committee.

Emergencies are going to be more ever-present, Mrs. Mitchell said. Public awareness is high at the moment, and I think youd get a lot of support for the increase.

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Voters to Decide Fate of West Tisbury Dump - The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News

When Ken Adcock built his Carolwood Drive home two decades ago, White Oak Creek was a meandering stream, lined with trees and a sloping creek.

Today, because of development upstream, the creeks formerly slow waters have increased such that they are eating away at the shoreline, damaging backyards and flooding homes.

Adcock and neighbors say the problem stems from development upstream.

He particularly blames development in west Ridgeland. All of the properties on the west side of Highland Colony Parkway drain into the creek. Theyve overloaded the creek, he said. There was little or no consideration on what that would do to downstream property owners.

White Oak Creek stretches from Bridgewater Boulevard in Ridgeland to Hanging Moss Creek in Jackson. Along that journey, it cuts through both business and residential areas, including neighborhoods along Briarfield Road, River Thames Road and Carolwood Drive.

Its drainage basin includes the Bridgewater and Dinsmor subdivisions, The Junction shopping center at I-55 North and County Line Road and a developed stretch of property along I-55 North that is home to numerous hotels and car dealerships.

As development has increased upstream, so too has the amount of water flowing downstream. That increased flow has eroded the shoreline and felled numerous trees.

Residents along Carolwood and River Thames have reported the water eroding away portions of their backyards.

To stave off some of the effects of erosion, Adcock built a makeshift retaining wall behind his fence using rebar and Quickrete.

The erosion was causing caves to form underneath my fence. I had to do something, he said.

Farther north, those same waters have caused what appears to be a minor landslide next to an access road behind Select Specialty Hospital. On a recent visit, the area was roped off with yellow caution tape.

During heavy storms, like the one that occurred in late October, the creek overflowed its banks, flooding yards.

Any time you have two days of rain, its like white water rapids, Adcock said. It should be called White Oak River.

Development in the drainage basin has skyrocketed as the population has moved north.

Since 1990, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), has granted 25 construction permits for the White Oak drainage basin.

MDEQ regulates the development of construction in drainage basins through the states stormwater permitting program, according to agency spokesman Robbie Wilbur.

The permitting process is designed to lessen the impact of these developments on receiving waters,he said.

Of those, eight were stormwater runoff permits for the Bridgewater neighborhood. It was not known how developers were to mitigate stormwaters under terms of the permits.

Wilbur said all permits require developers to implement best management practices to minimize off-site impacts to receiving waters.

Construction on Bridgewater began in the 1990s. Today, the subdivision has more than 500 luxury homes, according to previous Sun reports.

White Oak also runs to the west and the south of Dinsmor, a community of 485 homes in 10 subdivisions, according to its website.

Like Bridgewater, construction in that neighborhood also began in the 1990s.

In Jackson, the creek was re-routed in the 1990s to make way for the Junction, a 43-acre shopping center at the corner of I-55 and East County Line.

White Oak ran through what is now the parking lot of the Target department store, Ward One Councilman Ashby Foote said.

All three of the developments were started prior to the passage of stormwater ordinances in Jackson and Ridgeland.

Additional plats have been approved for the Bridgewater neighborhood following the passage of Ridgelands ordinance in 2009. All plats approved since the ordinances passage have been in compliance with it, according to Ridgeland officials.

Jackson passed its stormwater ordinance in 2000.

Development causes stormwater runoff to increase, largely because it means replacing natural surfaces, such as fields, with impervious surfaces, such as parking lots and rooftops.

Normally, much of the stormwater would soak into the ground, reducing the amount that enters creeks, streams and drainage ditches.

However, with fewer natural surfaces, that water enters nearby creeks.

As of 2011, 51.6 percent of the White Oak Drainage basin had been developed, with 14.44 percent of that land having impervious surfaces, according to data from the United States Geological Survey.

That development has meant higher and faster waters downstream, increased erosion and more instances of flooding.

In April and May, the creek rose to nearly 14 feet, about nine feet higher than its normal levels. And in October and November, the creek rose to 10 feet and 12 feet.

Earlier data on creek flow was not available, according to Michael Runner, a supervisory hydrologist with USGS.

Read more:
Overload: Upstream development eroding properties to the south - Northside Sun

Standing on dirt and loose rocks along West Houston Street, Kerry Averyt explained that the San Antonio River Authority has tried to be a good neighbor during construction of San Pedro Creek Culture Park.

Construction of the linear park has required many road closures downtown, impacting area businesses. The river authority keeps an updated webpage of road closures on the San Pedro Creek Culture Park site.

We affect businesses along Houston Street and theres no question, theres some impact there, said Averyt, the river authoritys senior engineer. But we keep working and coordinating with all of our stakeholders up and down the creek to minimize it as much as possible.

Averyt led a tour Thursday of a segment of San Pedro Creek Culture Park stretching from Houston to Nueva streets. Phase 1s second segment is targeted for completion in November 2021. The price tag for Phases 1 and 2 of four planned phases is $260 million, Averyt said.

Historic preservation and respect for archeological exploration have influenced construction in a segment of the project that includes two historical landmarks: the 1949 Alameda Theater and the 18th-century Spanish Governors Palace. Construction has had to adapt to the occasional archeological dig, Project Manager Ryan Silbernagel said; there have been three digs in Calder Alley and one by the Spanish Governors Palace.

But the digs dont delay construction, as archeologists are able to set up alongside construction, Silbernagel said.

There havent been any major significant finds, Silbernagel said. Mostly a lot of pottery shards.

Some of the more interesting cultural artifacts will eventually be displayed as part of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, Averyt said.

Designers and engineers have also maintained many historic elements throughout the project. Averyt pointed to a fire escape on the side of the Alameda Theater that they decided to keep through its renovation.

Originally we wanted to take that fire escape down, but this is a historic building, a historic structure, he said. It was a lot less complicated to leave that in place if we could.

Bonnie Arbittier / Rivard Report

The original fire escape is preserved on the side of the Alameda Theater next to the future entertainment plaza.

The Historic and Design Review Commission approved the final renovation design for the theater in October; work is expected to begin early next year.

About 30 percent of a retaining wall in Calder Alley was salvaged to use in the creek project too, Silbernagel added.

This segment of the linear park will include two permanent art installations. In November, Bexar County commissioners selected Brooklyn artist Adam Franks design for an interactive light installation at a water wall along one of the paseos. A microphone picks up close-range sound, and people can manipulate the light reaction with what kind of noises they make. And further down the creek, the river authority is looking for artists to paint a five-panel mural, public art curator Carrie Brown said.

We are just now starting the selection process but were working closely with Bexar County to frame what the mural content will be, Brown said.

The segment also will have an entertainment plaza by the Alameda Theater that can be utilized in many different ways, Brown said. Designers had considered building an amphitheater, but that would not have been as useful, she added.

When you have an amphitheater, its an amphitheater, and thats how you have to use it, Brown said. Now that we have a plaza, its much more flexible. We didnt want to build something that wouldnt be functional for people who would use it.

Funding sources for Phases 3 and 4 of the San Pedro Creek project are still being identified by the river authority. Those phases are being planned and would extend the linear park to South Alamo Street. Bexar County has paid for the bulk of the project, while the 2017 municipal bond allocated $19.5 million to the linear park. The county also expects to receive some federal dollars from the Mission Reach projects federal reimbursement.

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River Authority Shows Progress on Construction of San Pedro Creek Culture Park - Rivard Report

LAUREL to Councilmember MARK TREYGER for securing $850,000 in city funds to fight gun violence in Brooklyns Coney Island neighborhood. The money, which came from the City Council discretionary budget, as well as a $300,000 grant from the city and $250,000 from the state. The funds are earmarked for expanding the mayors anti-gun violence Crisis Management System throughout Coney Island and funding the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative and other local organizations. The neighborhood has seen an uptick in shootings, making it an outlier in Brooklyn South, where shootings are down 23 percent this year. Coney Island, historically, has been very much an under-resourced community, Treyger told Brooklyn Eagle. Were working to make sure Coney Island is never under-resourced again.

DART to the DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, which, a month after an outcry from homeowners who were hit with violations from the department due to deteriorating retaining walls adjoining their properties, has yet to rescind the notices. The department promised to void the violations, but that still hasnt happened, according to Assemblymember William Colton. A spokesperson for the DOB has said the notices will be rescinded once the New York City Transit Authority confirms they will take responsibility for the retaining walls at each of the properties. In the meantime, homeowners with violations could have trouble selling their properties or obtaining loans through no fault of their own.

DART to the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, which has said it will take two years to implement a plan to address the traffic nightmare unfolding every day outside of the $1.9 billion Essex Crossing development on the Lower East Side. Drivers at Clinton and Grand get backed up for blocks as they wait for pedestrians to cross, creating a cacophony of horns that residents say lasts long into the night. The DOT plans to open a second lane for traffic on Norfolk, and to ban right turns at the busy intersection, but says those changes will take at least two years to implement. The whole thing sucks, resident Leah Strock told Gothamist. I would invite you to come over and sleep at my apartment. The only time its ever quiet is Sunday morning, for about two hours.

LAUREL to performance artist DAVID DATUNA, who ate a $120,000 banana duct-taped to a wall at Art Basel in Miami last weekend. The piece drew huge crowds, generated media attention and eventually sold for its ludicrously high asking price. Datuna, who opened a gallery in Long Island City in June, plucked the banana from the wall and took a bite as part of a performance he dubbed Hungry Artist. He later told People magazine, It was delicious. I say, bananas are meant to be eaten, not duct taped to walls and priced at $120,000. Datuna was right to take this absurd exhibition to the pinnacle of absurdity.

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Opinion from the Editors: Thursday, November 12 - Brooklyn Reporter

One of Windsors worst street bottlenecks and longstanding complaints from the cycling community is finally being remedied with construction of a bike-pedestrian tunnel under a CN Rail overpass.

The area is in the heart of the citys major north-south thoroughfare on Dougall Avenue a four-lane artery that feeds traffic from Windsors southern suburbs into Ouellette Avenue and the citys downtown, and vice versa.

While there are paths and sidewalks north and south of the overpass, there are only a couple of dirt goat paths used precariously by cyclists and the occasional pedestrian located immediately beside the busy commuter route.

In fact, the bottleneck has been dubbed the Dougall Death Trap, mainly a cautionary description because no actual cycling or pedestrian deaths have occurred there in recent memory.

However, after years of lobbying by the cycling community and others, city council approved the project and a related one immediately north that will create a signalized intersection at a merging corner that in fact has been the citys top non-signalized intersection for motor vehicle accidents.

The underpass, with local Amico the contractor, comes in at $6.2 million, and the intersection, with nearby LaSalles Sterling Ridge undertaking the work, is $1.3 million. The two sites are located within what city planners officially describe as Windsors Central Box.

But it took many months of negotiations with CN Rail before work could begin. Thats because the roughly 30-metre long tunnel had to be cut at an angle under the busy CN track which sees back and forth shunting to the nearby Van de Water rail yard.

But instead of boring through the embankment engineers on the design-build project thought it more efficient to excavate from the top down to the ground.

To do this they had to temporarily remove over 30 meters of rail track. To impede train movements as little as possible this work had to be done in a marathon 48-hour weekend blitz. This occurred in late November when the rail line was shut down at noon on a Friday and re-opened Sunday night.

Crews used two-352 excavators and, for safety reasons, dug in a trapezoidal fashion from 33 metres wide at the top to a depth of eight metres and six metres wide at base.

Roughly at 12:15 p.m. we started excavating the material and hauling it to our dumping site and that roughly took about 6.5 hours, Amicos project manager Dan Krueger said. Some contaminated soil, expected after decades of railway use, was found and disposed of.

This was followed by the laying of a granular base which took about three hours. Then Amico installed the precast box culvert sections, which took about 20 hours.

The 14 sections 4.1 metres tall and six metres wide (with inside dimensions three metres tall by five metres wide) and manufactured by Anchor Concrete of Kingston, ON. were lifted into place by a 200-tonne crane.

We just rigged it up with some little hooks on the top and just move into place, Krueger said.

The final step was waterproofing with a rubberized membrane along with the installation of protection and drainage boards to prevent water intrusion. The water will drain along the sides to sub drains and then into roadside catch basins on Dougall Ave.

Meanwhile crews had already completed work building the 300-metre retaining wall along the CN embankment, separating the hill from the new multi-use bike and pedestrian trail which will flow from the tunnel.

The trail itself will be 3.5 metres wide bordered from the street by a one-metre wide stamped concrete buffer and separated from the retaining wall by a 0.75-metre concrete buffer. And the retaining wall varies in height between 1.5 metres and 2.5 metres with a 1.2-metre high railing on top.

We will have a one-metre stamped concrete buffer strip so it just provides a little delineation between the edge of the trail and the curb, City of Windsor project manager Paul Mourad said.

Much of the underpass and trail work will be finished this fall with at least a granular trail laid, with final paving work and an official site opening next spring.

And, a project discussed for decades likely will be well received by pedestrians and especially the cycling community. They heavily promote active transportation so theyll be happy when this is done, Mourad said.

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Construction of tunnel to end Windsor's 'Dougall Death Trap' - Daily Commercial News