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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - After giving Dolce Pan a warning, a Madison County health inspector returned to the bakery on Governors Drive on Tuesday. The eatery was previously written up for improperly handling beef, chicken, and pork. On Tuesday, the inspector found the pork and beef were kept at proper temps and products in the cooler were all dated within seven days.

Samurai's Steakhouse in Athens was inspected on December 6th. The inspector found the Asian restaurant had a dirty soda machine. Samurai's scored an 87.

Chili's Grill and Bar in Florence was inspected on December 3rd. The inspector wrote up the restaurant for not maintaining hot water at 110 degrees and they say the dishwasher wasn't sanitizing at the proper concentration. Chili's scored an 85.

Chicken Salad Chick opened its new restaurant in Florence this week on Cox Creek Parkway.

"Florence has been a long time coming," Chicken Salad Chick marketing manager Megan Worley said. "Our doors have basically been knocked down to bring a Chicken Salad Chick here."

Stacy Brown started the venture in 2008 at her home in Auburn.

"She started selling it door to door. All it was meant to be was a magnet on a car going door to door," Worley said.

They may have a humble beginning, but popular demand is putting it modestly. In the last 11 years, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to over 140 locations in 10 states.

"We specialize in 12 different kinds of chicken salad made fresh every day at every single store," Worley said.

Chicken Salad Chick received a permit to operate from the health department. They haven't yet been given a full inspection score.Worley says next month, Chicken Salad Chick is opening a restaurant in Cullman.

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Dolce Pan cleans up its act, Chilis needs to call a plumber in this weeks Restaurant Ratings - WHNT News 19

This winter is predicted to be the coldest the country has seen in decades, with some forecasters claiming it'll be the worst to hit the UK in 50 years.

The freezing temperatures are likely to have a big impact on one particular generation, with 92 per cent of the 50,000 excess winter deaths last year being among people over the age of 65.

One plumber in Lancashire is embracing the spirit of good will and is trying to do his part to combat this issue.

James Anderson, who lives in Burnley, has launched a winter campaign to provide free plumbing services to pensioners as the country prepares for the cold season.

The 52-year-old, who is a father of five, initially set up Depher after he visited another gentleman's property where another plumber had dismantled his heating system and charged 70 to do it.

Ever since then, he decided he wanted to do something to help these people who may be vulnerable and unable to afford such services. He has now helped over two thousand families.

James told LancsLive: "In 2017, I set upDepher, a community initiative to provide free plumbing to elderly and vulnerable people. We want to raise more funds throughout other parts of the UK over this coming winter. We are going into a very bad winter.

"Last winter over fifty thousand people died because of the cold weather and this year is set to be even harsher. Many elderly people struggle to pay their heating bills, and if their boiler goes, they might not be able to afford to get it fixed, meaning they are left freezing.

"I urge people to donate to our campaign so we can help as many vulnerable people as possible. We would also love to hear from any plumbers up and down the country who would like to join our scheme and volunteer their time. Please do get in touch if you want to get involved.

In September, LancsLive reported how the plumber had been praised for this incredibly kind gesture to a 91-year-old woman who has acute leukaemia by charging her nothing after her boiler broke.

James has also previously raised over 80,000 through crowdfunding and now wants to expand the scheme even wider to help those further afield. The network currently offers the service to people in Lancashire, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Scotland and Depher is keen to recruit more plumbers throughout the UK.

Dephers plumbers give their labour for free and receive 30 through the scheme to cover their expenses. If any additional paid work comes about as a result, two per cent of the fee goes to Depher and is reinvested in the business.

"I get mixed reactions," James added. "Someone thought it as a TV show. We had one woman who said 'I have never had anything for free and I didn't know what to say'. There's a lot of good people out there who need the help but are too scared to ask.

"People can go on the Go Fund Me page and donate for winter, but what I would like to suggest doing is if we could get 30,000 people to all donate 1 a month per month they would not miss that and it would keep us going for ever. Then we can people whenever they need help.

"If people can't donate this is what I'd say to them:

"Please if you can't help, check on your neighbour or friend of family. If they need help tell them to go and give us a ring. We find someone.

"It's about the community."

People who have been helped by James Anderson have written letters of thanks to him and left comments on the Depher Facebook page.

Rochelle Ireland from Falkirk wrote: Hot water and heating werent working, and I was getting nowhere. My husband is disabled and I have a joint condition, as does our son.

"As soon as Depher heard our story, and the problems, they immediately agreed to help, even though we live in Falkirk, Central Scotland. Dread to think how long it would have taken us to get this sorted. Thank you doesnt cover it - you have taken a huge weight off at a very difficult time!

Since news of James generosity broke following a viral tweet, the Depher Facebook page has also been flooded with messages from around the world praising the initiative.

Tony Natola from Illinois wrote: God bless you, your crews and all of your families for being there and helping our elders in need while Winnie Diaz from Denmark described James as a great man with a wonderful heart of gold.

Those interested in donating to the campaign can visit the GoFundMe page here.

Read more here:
Burnley plumber's good deed to help pensioners in need this winter - LancsLive

To those of you who wonder (often using your outdoor voice, by the way) why I write so often about President Trump, let me give you a hint: He recently said Americans have to flush the toilet 10 to 15 times because modern, low-flush toilets dont work. This problem, which exists only inside Trumps tortured noggin, is what keeps the leader of the free world up at night. Toilets. That dont work. Except they do. Really well.

For those of you who missed it, let me explain. Trump went on one of his patented weird out-of-body ramblings the other day in which he said, Were looking very strongly at sinks and showers ... people are flushing toilets 10, 15 times, as opposed to onceyou cant wash your hands so little water comes out ... you have many states where they have so much water, it comes down its called rain.

Yes, friends, thats the President of the United States on water, rain and how dirty his hands are. But lets not talk about Ukraine right now. Those of us who pay close attention to Trumps tirades are used to his proclamations of something being very strongly looked into and usually we just snicker and move on, but this? This created not a snicker but a full-on face-plant into some pretty decent penne with vodka sauce. Which is to say, do not listen to Trump while eating because its a choking hazard.

I feel that very strongly.

Trump, in remarks to a Small Business Roundtable at the White House last week added this gem regarding showers: You turn the faucet onand you dont get any waterwater comes dripping out, very quietly, dripping out.

Do what?

Sorry. What I meant to say was DO WHAAAAAT?????

Look, I get it. Water pressure is awesome. I stayed at an Air BnB recently where the shower pressure could best be described as old man spitting onto sidewalk every 30 seconds. But generally, this is pretty rare.

What on earth is he trying to flush because please understand: If Trump gets all emo about a bigly problem, its something that personally affects him on the daily. Only things that cause Trump even a hint of personal woe are all that matter to him.

If it causes you pain in your daily life, well, thats not going to make the cut in Trumpland. Say you have your food stamps slashed to the point you have to feed the kids mustard sandwiches for dinner, well, thats a you problem. Which means it doesnt really matter to him. Besides, he needs that money to pay for his dumb wall that doesnt work.

One wag suggested Trump is probably upset at how many flushes it takes to get the entire Constitution down the drain. Indeed.

In light of his weird water theories, how can I NOT write about this president? In the immortal words of that great mafia kingpin, Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Wilmingtons Celia Rivenbark is a NYT-bestselling author and columnist. Visit http://www.celiarivenbark.com.

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CELIA RIVENBARK: Plumbing the depths of why I write so much about Trump - BlueRidgeNow.com

The Association of Contracting Plumbers (ACP) and the UA Plumbers Local 1 (UA Local 1) work hard to ensure a high standard skilled union labor and efficiency to New York City projects. For over 125 years the ACP and Local 1 have been the backbone of New York Citys infrastructure, protecting the health of all New Yorkers by installing and maintaining plumbing systems.

The partnership between ACP and UA Local 1 will offer cost savings to New York Citys booming construction industry, while delivering best-in-class talent to projects and ensuring rigorous standards through their exceptional worker training programs and employee benefits to attract and retain talent.

Contractors employ UA Local 1 on projects throughout the industrial, commercial and residential sectors of the construction industry. There isnt a major project in NYC from lifesaving hospitals to world famous sports entertaining centers in which union Local 1 plumbers and ACP contractors are not involved. From underground installations to fixtures and equipment, the plumbers of UA Local 1 are committed to delivering projects the right way, every time. Members and apprentices are offered continuing educational classes on a regular basis to ensure everyone is up to date on changes, trends and the latest advances in the plumbing profession.

Local 1 Members graduate from the United Association-certified and -accredited Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, a five-year process that requires participants to gain more than 10,000 hours of on-the-job training, as well as 1,070 hours of classroom education from certified instructors. The program produces some of the most talented plumbing apprentices in the industry, offering UA Local 1s clients a workforce with unmatched expertise.

UA Local 1 and ACP work closely together to identify complex and challenging projects to guarantee the plumbing quality of New York Citys most important structures and to ensure that member professionals are always at the forefront of industry best practices and new technologies. This partnership and project strategy helps keep UA Local 1 and ACP competitive, providing confidence to CMs and owners.

The diverse unionized plumbing workforce includes highly trained plumbers and contractors spanning all five boroughs, and they share a common goal of striving to provide unparalleled expertise. By upholding high training standards for all members, unionized contractors and plumbers have led the construction industry and helped ensure the quality of the built environment for the people of New York. The extensive training that members undergo is critical to the health of not only the workers, but to the millions of New York City residents using plumbing delivered by ACP and UA Local 1 every day.

UA Local 1 and ACP also take pride in the benefits offered to employees of the organizations, including full health benefits and 401k plans, combined with livable wages to support their families, and ensure that top talent is cultivated in the union workforce. Offering employees, a clear pathway to the middle class through competitive benefits, UA Local 1 and ACP prioritize the experiences of workers, ensuring they are provided with every necessary tool to foster their mastery of industry standards. With an apprenticeship of nearly 50 percent minorities and women, ACP and UA Local 1 strive to harness the talents of a diverse and expansive group of trainees.

Together, UA Local 1 and ACP provide the most efficient implementation of plumbing and contracting projects for New York Citys developers, with the highest standards of quality and safety to enhance New York Citys market, and the health of residents everywhere.

The rest is here:
ACP & UA Local 1 Unite to Bring Expert Unionized Plumbing Teams to NYC Developers - Commercial Observer

Posted December 13, 2019 05:36:50

Ryan O'Flynn is a man with a pool he isn't allowed to fill with water, because his building surveyor can't sign off on the project.

Mr O'Flynn, a Melbourne plumber, is just one of many people who had construction projects underway when building surveyors ran into insurance problems earlier this year.

Surveyors are having difficulty renewing their professional indemnity insurance because of the building industry's flammable cladding crisis.

In Mr O'Flynn's case, his safety fence needs to be inspected once it is complete, so he can then fill the pool he has built at his home at Ascot Vale, in Melbourne's north-west.

But his surveyor has pulled out of the project.

"We may not be able to swim in summer it is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous," Mr O'Flynn said.

He said he was told by his surveyor that they had to change insurance policies during his pool build.

"Their excuse was that their insurance premiums have gone up so much that they had to make cuts on what [inspections] they could actually insure," he said

Philip Watt has a building surveying business in nearby Essendon and has been in the industry for 40 years.

Earlier this year he had to shut down his work for three weeks because he couldn't get professional indemnity insurance without any exemptions something insurers have become reluctant to offer surveyors.

For Mr Watt's clients, it caused all sorts of delays building their homes.

"They couldn't go past a mandatory inspection stage, so once they got to the end of the frame they couldn't go any further," he said.

In August a ministerial order was issued in Victoria, allowing surveyors to work with insurance even if it contained exclusions for non-compliant materials.

Similar moves were made in other states.

While that allowed surveyors like Mr Watt to return to work, it did not solve all of the profession's problems.

Mr Watt's insurance jumped by 800 per cent in a single year when he did find a new policy.

He said it had been usual for surveyors with small businesses to pay about $10,000 a year for professional indemnity insurance, but many are now paying close to $100,000.

Mr Watt's new insurance also comes with extra risks. His excess has jumped from $10,000 to $100,000.

"I don't think many businesses would sustain one or two claims of that amount it would certainly knock you around," he said.

The higher excess, and the associated risk, are affecting the kinds of projects his business will take on.

"There have been some projects we have not quoted, others we have been selective about how we have approached the project, because some projects are more risky than others," he said.

Mr Watt is now receiving calls from clients of a nearby surveyor who has been forced to close.

He said many surveyors were unwilling to take on projects that had already started, because they were worried they could become liable for the previous surveyor's work.

The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) surveyed 400 building surveyors across the country about the effects of changes to professional indemnity insurance on their businesses.

The AIBS said 11 per cent of building surveyors said they were no longer doing surveying work because of insurance issues.

A further 9 per cent of surveyors reported they had reduced the scope of work they would provide.

AIBS national president Troy Olds said the survey results revealed the scale of the industry's problems.

"It says we are in a crisis, and if 11 per cent of building surveyors are no longer able to work, we are starting to see the building industry no longer able to find professionals," he said.

The AIBS survey also found nearly 60 per cent of building surveyors had increased their fees to cope with rising insurance costs.

One surveyor wrote that he would be increasing his fees by 300 per cent next year to cover the additional insurance costs.

Mr Olds said he was aware of two firms that had taken on insurance premiums that they couldn't afford, just to stay in business.

He believes that trend will continue.

"It will get to the point where unrealistic insurance policies just won't be able to be taken and people will have to make the final decision to close their offices," he said.

Geelong builder Mark Little said it was becoming harder to find building surveyors.

"I am constantly getting calls from builders saying, 'Who did you use as a building surveyor?'" he said.

"It can create delays because of the volume of work getting pushed through to such small percentage of surveyors."

Federal Minister for Industry Karen Andrews will meet with her state counterparts on today to discuss surveyor insurance.

"Queensland and New South Wales have been leading work on possible solutions and this will be considered as a priority at Friday's Building Ministers Forum," Ms Andrews said.

"Insurers also need to step up and meet their existing obligations and lift their exclusions on professional indemnity insurance to ensure certifiers who are doing the right thing can continue to operate."

Both the insurers and the Victorian Government are calling for a national approach to resolving the insurance crisis.

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the "only way to get real change is to deal with it a national level".

Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said there was still a crisis of confidence in the building and construction sector.

"It would be irresponsible and impractical for insurers to reassess their risk appetites and their products, including cladding-related exclusions on professional indemnity cover, based on promises and not nationally consistent action," he said.

Topics:insurance,building-and-construction,fires,melbourne-3000,moonee-ponds-3039,essendon-3040,geelong-3220

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Building projects halted as surveyors face rocketing insurance costs due to cladding crisis - ABC News

Want to get a jump-start on upcoming deals? Meet the major Houston players at one of our upcoming events!

If you ask the most powerful women in commercial real estate if they ever imagined they would work in such an industry,most say not in their wildest dreams. We know, we asked. Honorees at Bisnows Inaugural Houston Power Women event may not have planned to end up working in real estate, butthey have helped evolve an old school industry into one that is attracting new talent from every walk of life.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Transwestern Executive Managing Director Jan Sparks, JLL Senior Managing Director Susan Hill, city of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson, The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson, Veritex Bank Senior Vice President Rhonda Sands, Laughlin Consulting Group CEO Elke Laughlin

It boils down to building a team of individuals that are culturally different in race, gender and age, JLL Senior Managing Director Susan Hill said. Real estate is no longer owned by a high net worth private family. Commercial real estate looks different; your team needs to look different.

That diversity can lead to business success. Commercial Real Estate Womens recent white paper backs up what women in Houston are seeing locally. Companies in the top 25% for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have returns above industry median,according to CREW. Women now occupy 43% of commercial real estate positions industry-wide.

Diversity is more than race or gender, its ideas, its background. You need a team with different ideas and different ways of communicating to make sure youre getting the best from everybody, Veritex BankSenior Vice President Rhonda Sands said.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Bisnow Houston Power Women: The Richland Cos.' Edna Meyer-Nelson and JLL's Susan Hill surrounded by the Richland Cos. team Nancy Baugher, Jody Merritt, Clay Steadman, Josephine Duncan, Angie Steadman, Jennifer Theriot and Raven Burleson

In design, financing, investment, construction, management and research, women are making progress as firms continue to diversify, but with that progress comes a new set of challenges.

From the citys perspective, the definition of diversity has evolved, city of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson said. It used to mean different representations. I think its really important to add inclusion. Everyone needs to feel like they belong. Its one thing to have people who look and sound different, but they have to feel like what they say and do is meaningful.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

City of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson, The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson, Veritex Bank Senior Vice President Rhonda Sands

Inclusion means taking steps beyond merely talking about diversity into using leadership roles to enact change.

Diversity has to be enacted from the top level, so that people know its not just words and a mission statement, Tillotson said. Its important to talk about these things, but its more important to enact them.

One way each honoree is acting onher commitment to diversity and inclusion is byactively promoting mentorship and serving as mentors themselves. None of the panelists expected to end up in commercial real estate, but with the help of a mentor, each has created a space forherself andher firm.

We all love to expound on our knowledge, give us a call! The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson said.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Networking at Bisnow's Inaugural Houston Power Women event

Hill said JLL has a robust mentorship and training program, including leadership councils, womens summits, diversity training and advocacy programs. Tranwestern operates a formal national mentorship program of its own, according to Transwestern Executive Managing Director Jan Sparks. Meyer-Nelson takes a more personal approach, hiring an intern from the University of Houstons Bauer School of Real Estate each year.

The avenues for preparing a commercial real estate career these days are so advanced, Sparks said.

Today, for the most part women are playing on the same field as men in Houstons commercial real estate sector. Many women and some ofBisnow's honorees are outearning their male counterparts.As heavy-hitters and C-suite executives, Houstons power women have not only changed the landscape of one of the most male-dominated industries, they are leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Bisnow's 2019 Houston Power Women

Congratulations to Bisnow's 2019 Houston Power Women:

Lori Alford, Avanti Senior LivingLaurie Baker, Camden Property TrustLaura Bellows, W.S. Bellows ConstructionLori Bryant, CBREStephanie Burritt, GenslerLynn Davis, Fidelis RealtyDiana Davis, Perkins & WillLilly Golden, Evergreen Commercial RealtySusan Hill, JLLLispah Hogan, Newmark Knight FrankKellie Jenks, TRC Capital PartnersEdna Meyer-Nelson, The Richland Cos.Diane Osan, CannonDesignJane Page, Lionstone InvestmentsSusan Pohl, BarvinLisa Pope Westerman, LUCIDSue Rogers, CRESALauren Rottet, Rottet StudioRhonda Sands, Veritex BankConnie Simmons Taylor, Baker BottsJan Sparks, TranswesternGwen Tillotson, city of HoustonPatricia Will, Belmont Village Senior LivingChrissy Wilson, JLLMichelle Wogan, Transwestern

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How Houston's Power Women Use Diversity And Mentorship To Change The Real Estate Landscape - Bisnow

A marker commemorating the historic neighborhood of Navy Hill. Located on the corner of Fourth and Jackson, the marker was erected in 2010. It notes notable residents of Navy Hill and mentions that Navy Hill was destroyed with the construction of Interstate 95 in the 1960s. Photo by Jimmy O'Keefe.

RICHMOND, Va. Before it was the name of a downtown development plan, Navy Hill was the neighborhood Faithe Norrell called home.

I just remember it as a really warm community, where everyone wanted to know your accomplishments, said Norrell, a retired educator who worked with Richmond Public Schools for 28 years. A very nurturing community.

Situated north of Broad Street between Third and 13th streets, Navy Hill got its name after plans were made to erect a memorial in the area for those who fought in the War of 1812, which was primarily a naval war. At first, Navy Hill was largely populated by German immigrants, but by the turn of the 20th century, it was one of Richmonds most prominent black neighborhoods, along with nearby Jackson Ward and Carver.

Norrell remembers Navy Hill as a neighborhood with a strong sense of community and equality. She recalls going for walks every morning with her auntie and stopping by to see friends.

There were professional people living there and people that were housekeepers, like my sisters it was a financially diverse group of people, but everybody was treated equally, Norrell continued. You were as respectful to a custodian as you were to the doctor. You were raised to do that.

Many of those who owned businesses in Jackson Ward would return home to Navy Hill at night. In fact, Navy Hill was significant in that many leaders of Richmonds black community made their homes in the neighborhood.

Maggie Walker, the first black woman to charter a bank in the U.S., lived in Navy Hill before she relocated to Jackson Ward.

In the era of Jim Crow, Walker helped to foster entrepreneurship in Richmonds black community.

Bill Bojangles Robinson, famous for tap dancing alongside Shirley Temple in four 1930s films, had a home in Navy Hill. A Bojangles statue perches at a busy intersection in nearby Jackson Ward where he is credited with putting up the funds to install a stoplight.

Bill Bojangles Robinson, an actor and tap dancer famous for dancing alongside Shirley Temple in the 1930s, called Navy Hill home. Navy Hill was also home to other notable residents, including Maggie Lena Walker, the first black woman to charter a bank and serve as bank president in the United States. Photo by Jimmy OKeefe.

Norrells grandfather, Albert V. Norrell, was a longtime resident of Navy Hill. His Navy Hill home was located at 1015 N. Seventh St., where her aunts also lived.

Originally born enslaved, Albert V. Norrell taught in Richmond for 66 years, including at Navy Hill School, which for many years was the only school in Richmond with black faculty. A school in Richmonds Northside was renamed Albert V. Norrell School.

One of his direct descendants taught in Richmond Public Schools until I retired in 2017, Faithe Norrell said. For 133 years, he had a direct descendant teaching or administrating in Richmond we say it was our family business.

Though Faithe Norrell left Navy Hill in 1951, her connections to the neighborhood were strong throughout the 1950s and 1960s. She would visit with her aunts, who babysat her.

I just remembered the joy of being there, Faithe Norrell said. My family actually owned about four houses on that street, so we would just go from house to house.

A walk through Navy Hill today reveals a different neighborhood than the one Norrell remembers. In the remaining part of Navy Hill where homes, churches and an elementary school once stood, Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Medical Center and Reynolds Community College campuses now dominate the landscape.

The Richmond Coliseum which was closed in 2018 and the historic Blues Armory stand unused. 1015 N. Seventh St. has been replaced with a small parking lot.

Now defunct, the Blues Armory once housed the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. With the Navy Hill Development Project, the Blues Armory will house a market and a live music venue. Photo by Jimmy OKeefe.

Individual citizens must be inconvenienced for the good of the community.

Construction of Interstates 64 and 95 destroyed Navy Hill in the 1950s and 1960s. An article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch from Aug. 2, 1955, detailed how the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike now a portion of I-95 would help people outside of Richmond make it into the city faster, and those living in the city would benefit from reduced traffic.

But the story also noted that those living in the path of the road would be displaced.

Unfortunately, the demolition of scores of dwellings and business places will create difficult problems for some of the persons involved, the article read. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, when individual citizens must be inconvenienced for the good of the community.

Another Richmond Times-Dispatch article later that month reported 726 buildings, 526 of which were homes, were to be torn down to make way for the interstate.

An October 29 article noted that about 1,000 families in the Navy Hill area would be displaced by the construction of the interstate.

Navy Hill School was demolished in the 1960s.

Because of gradual disappearance of residences in the section, what with the highway construction, there appears to be no other reason for the erection of another school, an article appearing in the September 14, 1965, edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. The next week, another story noted that Navy Hill School would be demolished to make way for an interchange of Interstate Rt. 64.

In 1966, Norrells family was displaced from Navy Hill.

She said her family was so rooted in the community that many of them died within a year or two after being forced to move to another part of the city.

You cant kill a whole segment of peoples culture, she said. Im sure when youre planning things you can find a different route or a different way to build without having to destroy a neighborhood.

Development on the horizon

In November 2018, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney proposed a $1.5 billion project to redevelop the Navy Hill neighborhood. A new hotel, a GRTC transit center, and a $325 million, 17,500-seat arena to replace the Coliseum are all part of the Navy Hill Development Project.

According to the Navy Hill website, no taxes will be raised to fund the project. Private investors will pay for the development.

The city will borrow money to pay for an arena to replace the Coliseum, and tax increment financing, called a TIF, will be used to pay back the loans. The city has created an 80-block TIF district where incoming tax revenue would be frozen at current levels and any additional tax revenue go toward paying back the arena loan.

Jim Nolan, press secretary to Mayor Stoney, said in a statement to Capital News Service that the Navy Hill Development Project will rejuvenate the downtown neighborhood while also bringing in a projected $1 billion in surplus revenue that will go toward funding schools, housing, and infrastructure.

We believe the project will greatly benefit the city because it will create thousands of jobs, build hundreds of units of affordable housing and a new transit center, include a goal of $300 million in minority business participation, and produce a new publicly-owned arena to replace the 1970s era Richmond Coliseum, once a public asset, now a public liability, Nolan stated.

Plans to redevelop Navy Hill have been controversial.

Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder wrote on Facebook last month: when I now read of the rehabilitation of Navy Hill, I ask how can you rehabilitate that which has been destroyed?

Justin Griffin, an attorney in Richmond with a background in accounting and economics, said he started the website NoColiseum.com to bring attention to problems he saw with the proposed development.

Its pretty obvious from reading these financial projections theyre just absurd and overstated, Griffin said. If we were having an honest conversation, I think we would have a vast majority say, No, you cant afford that right now, we should put our focus and our money into schools and roads and the other city services that need to be caught up on here in Richmond.

At least two members of the Richmond City Council Kim Gray, 2nd District, and Reva Trammell, 8th District have voiced clear opposition to the project. Councilmember Stephanie Lynch, who won a special election in November to replace Parker Agelasto in the 5th District, said previously that she doesnt support the project in its current form.

Griffin said the new arena and the Navy Hill Development Project are technically two separate projects, but are inextricably linked.

They will not consider anything without an arena. Its the arena which taxpayers are going to pay for, that is going to drive people and dollars into the private developments, Griffin said. The people are going to own the thing that is most likely a liability.

Griffin said that projects like this do not typically work, citing the Kansas City Power and Light District in Kansas City, Missouri.

If you actually look into the Power and Light District, it might appear successful, Griffin said, noting that people do visit the district. But from a standpoint that it actually makes a profit for the city and has benefited the people of Kansas City, it has not.

City financial advisors Davenport and Company state that TIFs have been used across Virginia, including for development of Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County and Stone Bridge in Chesterfield County, a new development in the former Cloverleaf Mall. They say the funding approach has been used several thousand times, which underscores the relative success of this structure.

As part of the arrangement with the city, NH District Corp. developers said the project will include 480 affordable housing units, with projected rents ranging from $1,001 for a studio apartment to $1,717 for a two-bedroom apartment in 2023.

Stoney has called the project the largest economic empowerment project in our history.

Meanwhile, Norrell said she would like to see Navy Hill become a neighborhood again. She also said shed like to see any revenue that comes from a redeveloped Navy Hill be earmarked to improve public schools.

So many people are being displaced in Jackson Ward because of gentrification itd be very rewarding for me to be able to see people move back into Navy Hill and make it a community again, because thats what it was a community of friends and neighbors.

By Jimmy OKeefe with Capital News Service

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What happened to Richmonds thriving black community of Navy Hill - WTVR CBS 6 News

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The latest crop of phones like the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, OnePlus 7 Pro or Google Pixel 4 have cameras on board that can snag the sort of beautiful photographs you'd normally expect to see coming from pricey DSLRs. I've already put the iPhone 11 Pro to the test on a road trip around Scotland and was amazed by the results I could get.

In this guide, I'm going to take you through how to take landscape photos with your phone, whether you're heading into the rural countryside or deep into the heart of the mountains. While some of the tips apply to recent handsets with multiple lens options, many are relevant whether your phone is three months or three years old, Apple or Android.

Some shots require some additional hardware; getting a slow shutter shot of a waterfall, for example, required Lee Filters neutral density filters, Moment lenses and a stabilising tripod. You can see the finished picture from the phone a little lower down this article.

While of course you can take great landscape photos with just your phone, there are some extra bits of kit that could help you snag something really special.

Clip-on phone lensesIf your phone doesn't have a built-in wide-angle mode (as you'll find on the iPhone 11 ($699 at Apple) series or Galaxy S10 Plus), you should take a look at Moment's range of clip-on phone lenses, available for all recent iPhones, Galaxy phones, Pixels and OnePlus phones. They're made from high-quality glass, and the wide-angle lens lets you capture an amazing, sweeping vista in a way that's simply not possible with the standard view on your camera.

Filter adapters for your phoneMoment also makes filter adapters for screw-in 62mm filters, such as polarizers, which can help reduce reflections on water or boost the blues in the sky. Filter adapters also let you use professional-quality square Lee Filters, which slide into a holder connected to the adapter via a 62mm adapter ring. They're something I normally use on my Canon 5D Mk4 and can make all the difference in turning an image from a simple snap into a professional-looking work of art. Of particular importance are the graduated neutral density filters, which selectively darken only the top half of the image -- making it perfect for bringing those bright skies under control when you're shooting wide landscapes.

By using a Lee Filters graduated neutral density filter, I was able to darken the sky, emphasising the moody drama of the storm clouds.

Portable phone chargerA portable phone charger is also a great idea if you're going out hiking into the wilderness and plan on shooting all day. I use the Anker PowerCore 20,100, which has enough juice to recharge my phone several times over -- perfect for a weekend in the hills when power points may be scarce.

Outdoor wearFinally, don't underestimate the importance of correct clothing. If you're hiking into the hills for your photographs, sturdy boots are essential to avoid a twisted ankle as you clamber over loose ground. I use the North Face Hedgehog Trek boots (now updated to the Hedgehog FastPack boots), which are sturdy enough to tackle any of the UK's hills and also have the benefit of being waterproof, meaning I don't return home with soaking wet, freezing cold feet. Speaking of which, a good waterproof coat is a must if you want to keep the elements at bay, and a lightweight, packable midlayer -- like the Arc'Teryx Cerium SL down jacket -- is great to keep stuffed in your bag in case the temperature starts to drop.

Your phone is probably capable of taking a cracking landscape photo in its default auto mode, but let's take things a bit further.

If your phone has a "pro" mode that gives you manual control of settings, switch into that. If it doesn't, apps like Moment, Lightroom or MuseCam let you take control of settings like ISO, shutter speed and white balance.

By using the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus's Pro mode, I was able to select a slow shutter speed, blurring the motion of the water as it cascades over the rocks.

Crucially, these apps also let you shoot in raw format. Raw images don't save many of the automatic camera settings that your phone would normally apply to a jpeg image, such as white balance or sharpening. The result is an image that lets you change the white balance, alter colour tones and rescue detail from the highlights and shadows much more easily -- and with less image degradation -- than you can do from a simple JPEG. I'll come back to this more in the editing section below.

In landscapes, altering white balance is often crucial. Being able to tone down some of the highlights from a bright sky or bring up the shadows in the foreground is important, and being able to alter your white balance after you've taken the shot gives you much more flexibility in your editing (particularly those occasions when you want to warm up the tones in a beautiful sunset, for example).

The downside to shooting in raw is that your images will need some work in an editing app like Lightroom or Snapseed before you can share them. Photographing landscapes is often a slower, more methodical process, and spending time in editing is all part of the experience of crafting a beautiful image.

Time of day is everything in landscape photography. By finding my location earlier in the afternoon, I was able to capture this great sunset shot when the time came.

Time of day is everything in landscape photography, because the lighting changes completely as the sun passes overhead. The best time of day for really dramatic light is either at sunrise or at sunset. The sun is low in the sky both times of day, resulting in directional light and long shadows cast over the scene.

Midday is typically the worst time to shoot, as the overhead light doesn't create much in the way of shadow detail, resulting in scenes that can look flat and lifeless.

If you have a particular location in mind, it's worth setting your alarm and getting out early to see what you can capture during the sunrise. If time allows, try and return to shoot the same scene at different times of day to see when it looks best.

Weather plays a huge part in any outdoor photography, but none more so than with landscapes. Different weather conditions will transform your scene, completely altering its mood, lighting and colours. But don't think that bad weather means bad photos.

The rain clouds overhead add a real sense of drama to this scene.

Personally, I love the foreboding, moody atmosphere of a landscape with dark storm clouds billowing above. It's often the light that comes after a storm that can look particularly dramatic. So while the hike to your chosen location might be a miserable slog in pouring rain, keep your spirits up by imagining the beautiful photo you might get at the end.

The worst weather for landscapes is that plain, miserable grey sky where there's no texture to the clouds, no interesting light on the land and no contrast to the scene in front of you.

Keep an eye on your favourite weather app and make the decision based on what's predicted. As long as you've packed the right clothing, then you can brave the worst of the weather, and if it gets too bad then navigate Google Maps to the nearest pub to sit it out with a good drink.

If your phone has a wide-angle mode then now's the time to give it a try. And as mentioned before, if you don't have a wide mode on your phone as standard, you can use additional lenses to get the same effect.

I used the Galaxy S10 Plus's super wide angle lens to capture as much of this scene as possible, but I made sure to use this millstone as foreground interest.

Super-wide landscapes can be particularly dramatic, as they capture so much of a scene in a single image. Mountain tops that would otherwise be out of frame are suddenly captured in all their majesty, while beautiful rivers can now been seen in their entirety, snaking their way into a scene.

But once you've had the excitement of seeing the scene in full, try using the telephoto zoom lenses on your phone to focus in on some of the details within it. Look out for interesting rock formations, patterns in the landscapes or unusual shapes in the scene all things that can suddenly stand out when you zoom in and crop out other distracting elements.

It's easy to think that just using as wide an angle as possible is a guarantee of a cool landscape photo, but that's not the case. In fact, to get the best out of your wide shots you need to think about composition even more.

Foreground interestLook for foreground interest in your scenes. Tree stumps, moss-covered rocks, even some pretty wildflowers can all be used to draw the viewer's eye into a scene. When you're at the top of the hill taking your shot, spend a couple of minutes having a look around for something you can place in your shot to help bring the scene together.

The road is an obvious leading line here, drawing your eye into the image.

Leading linesLeading lines are also great elements to look for for a brilliant landscape composition. Keep your eye out for pathways, nice walls or other long elements that wind their way further into the scene -- it's exactly that winding perspective that allows your viewer's eye to follow along that line and into your image.

Straight horizonsIf your phone shows grid lines or a leveling tool on the screen, use that to make sure your horizon line is straight. Then double-check you're not accidentally chopping the top off your subject, be it a mountain, a building or some trees. Remember, you can do a lot to improve a mediocre image with editing, but you can't do anything to rescue bad composition.

Your image isn't finished once you've hit that shutter button; a few tweaks in an editing app is all it can take to transform a simple snap into a beautiful piece of art.

My favorite editing app is Adobe Lightroom Mobile, but I also get great results from Google's Snapseed, which you can get for free on Android and iOS. I tend to start with tweaking the white balance so the colours look accurate -- or to give a warmth boost to a beautiful sunset. It's here that shooting in raw becomes particularly beneficial.

Taken on the Galaxy S10 Plus, this shot of Solomon's Temple in Buxton, England is a fine snap, but it's uninspiring and the rusted drainpipe on the outside of the tower doesn't look good.

But with some work in Lightroom to adjust the colour balance, darken the sky and foreground and remove the drainpipe, the image has a lot more impact.

I'll tweak the exposure levels, particularly the highlights and shadows in order to bring a bright sky a bit more under control or to boost shadows in the foreground. A bit of additional contrast can help add some punch to the scene as well.

My advice is to make a coffee, sit back and play with the sliders in your chosen app to your heart's content. Try out the different filters, experiment with layering different effects on top of each other by saving and re-importing your image. Remember that there's no right or wrong way to edit an image, so enjoy the fun in playing around -- you can always go back to the original image if you don't like what you've come out with.

Hopefully this gives you some good inspiration to get out there and get shooting. If you're looking for more tips on taking great photos with your phone, check out our macro guide, our guide on how to snag great photos of cars with your phone or get inspiration from our supercar tour of Scotland, shot entirely on the iPhone 11 Pro.

Originally published last month.

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7 landscape photo tips if all you have is an iPhone (or Pixel 4, Galaxy S10 Plus...) - CNET

It's an under-acknowledged fact that American democracy borrowed heavily from the Haundenosaunee's system of government, and that while Haundenosaunee women lived as equals with the men, the US didn't adopt that part of it. When American women began organizing to gain equal rights, Haudenosaunee women provided inspiration and guidance. This week International Coalition of Sites of Conscience will present two events that aim to celebrate the impact of Haudenosaunee women in the landscape of Western New York. A free panel discussion on Thursday, December 12, at 7 p.m. will feature four women scholars, artists, and activists who will consider the absence of Haudenosaunee women in memorials and museums. And on Friday, December 13, a workshop on the same theme will be presented by the coalition's program director, Linda Norris, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Norris will discuss how museums, historical societies, and communities can deepen understanding of Haudenosaunee culture through exhibitions, programs, and public spaces.

Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan, 7000 County Road 41 (Boughton Hill Road), Victor. The discussion on Thursday night is free, and tickets to Friday's workshop are $30 and lunch is included. Register at sitesofconscience.org.

Continue reading here:
LECTURE | 'Rethinking the Landscape: Haudenosaunee Women' - Rochester City Newspaper

Each summer, millions of travelers barrel up and down U.S. Highway 101 to marvel at the plunging cliffs that bedeck the Oregon Coast, maxing out the capacity of nearly every campground, motel, and hotel between Brookings and Astoria. Then, as if Labor Day portended some kind of poison fog that might settle across the entire landscape, most of these fair-weather tourists abruptly vanish. The roads clear up, the lodges empty out, and the coast grows blissfully quiet again.

People who live on the Oregon Coast yearn for summers end, because they know its when the winds die down and the colors change; true coasties look forward to winter, too, because its when magnificent storms hit, and books and fireplaces beckon, respite from a steady drumbeat of rain. The hospitality business has historically seen a steep dropoff in off-season visitors, which is why hoteliers with any real ambition have simply avoided building on the coast altogether; there just isnt enough year-round business to make the industry viable. For year-round travelers, that has meant a dearth of boutique or luxury or even interesting options in places to stay and eat.

Finally, this is all beginning to change.

Nibbling at the edges of the strong brand of Oregons largest cityPortlandtourism operators are beginning to tell the story of the 365-day bounty that lies on Oregons shores: hikes and sportfishing trips; winters tucked into blankets and views of magnificent waves blasting rocky headlands; spring kayaking trips along placid waterways lined with blooming azaleas and rhododendrons. As more and more people hear this story and begin to believe it, hotels and restaurateurs are finding the coast a newly smart place to invest.

STAY

The most interesting developments in the travel business on the Oregon Coast are places to sleep. From north to south, highlights include the Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa, which sits on a century-old wharf that once held up the historic Union Fisherman's Cooperative Packing Co., the Astoria fisherman communitys response to price disputes with big cannery owners. The hotel offers sweeping views of the Astoria-Megler Bridge that flies across the Columbia River, rooms with real fireplaces, and, as a nod to Astorias Finnish heritage, an authentic Finnish sauna in the basement.

In nearby Gearhart is a resort from Oregons legendary McMenamins, a hospitality brand known for clever refurbishments of old buildings into hotels, bars, and restaurants throughout the Pacific Northwest. McMenamins Gearhart Hotels main feature is its adjacency to the 18-hole Gearhart Golf Links, but its subterranean Pot Bunker Bar is a fine place to hide out from a cloudburst with a burger and a pint.

In Cannon Beach, the best option is arguably Hallmark Resort and Spa, situated on the beach right smack next to the iconic Haystack Rock. On the road from Portland to the coast is a worthwhile stop at North Fork 53, a few miles inland and a respite from Pacific gusts. The North Coasts best new offering is arguably Pacific City Headlands, a smartly designed hotel overlooking Cape Kiwanda. For history buffs, its the Inn at Arch Cape, which was converted from the former townships post office into a cozy set of rooms with a cabin-like vibe; or the Heceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, a magical place that is said to sometimes be frequented by a friendly ghost. Between those two is Salishan Resort, a pioneer of luxury accommodations on the Oregon Coast since 1965, with rustic but modern rooms tucked into the woods and just up the hill from a magnificent spa. Coastal hotels are newly worth the trip.

PLAY

Year-round activity has always been the coasts best amenity, be it reading a book by the fireplace or strolling the beach (in a warm jacket, most of the year). For hikers, the epic treks at Saddle Mountain and Neahkahnie Mountain offer strenuous ascents and dramatic ocean views. Other comely spots include the Cape Perpetua National Scenic Area, the highest drivable point on the coast; the Devils Churn, where waves careen off the walls of an ancient cavern and burst into the sky, often drenching visitors whove gotten too close. On windy days, explore the nearest brackish water by kayak, where temperatures are warmer than on the beach and where wildlife from blue herons to bald eagles abounds.

EXPLORE

On a first trip, tourists often gravitate to unspoilt beaches, pristine and accessible thanks to 1950s-era laws that designated the entire coastline as public. When beachwalking gets boring, try hauling in your own catch of the day, either by renting crab traps from a local shop or heading out on a charter fishing boat. For an escape into one of the states best-preserved old growth forests, load a backpacking pack and spend a night or two exploring the Drift Creek Wilderness Area, a peaceful and lightly traveled glen with towering Sitka Spruce around every bend.

These are all fine activities in both winter and spring, though its wise to watch forecasts and dart out during the breaks between torrential downpours. Much of the coast is underlaid with sand, so that water drains quickly and even an hour-long sun break makes trails and beaches traversable again.

For winter-specific fun, the coasts best attribute is those powerful storms, which at multiple capes and coves send surf blasting against ancient volcanic rock and shooting into the sky. Late fall and winter are also excellent charter fishing seasons.

EAT

Thanks to a steady drumbeat of tourist traffic, traps like Mos Seafood and its mediocre clam chowder remain afloat, while independent restaurateurs pray theyll survive long, dark winters. The best ones are having an easier time of it, rightfully so, because they feature creative twists on some of the freshest seafood in the country.

In Astoria, a highlight is the waterfront Bridgewater Bistro, a short walk from the Cannery Pier hotel. Owners Tony and Ann Kischner imagined the place back when it was a neglected boat yard and refurbished it into the now seafood and wine destination eatery. Further south, Cannon Beach Hardware and Public Housefondly known as Screw and Brewis the first hardware store in Oregon (or maybe anywhere?) to serve beer and wine. Plus, its clam chowder is excellent.

In the tiny town of Wheeler is a new restaurant and bar on the banks of Nehalem Bay, the Salmonberry Saloon, where everything from cocktails to entrees are excellent. For breakfast, Fork in Manzanita shouldnt be skipped. On the central coast, the best options are Local Ocean Seafoods in Newport and two grand choices In Yachats: Ona, owned by the proprietors of the Heceta Lighthouse B&B; and the Green Salmon Coffee Company, a coffee shop and bakery just up the road.

DRINK

Screw and Brew in Cannon Beach offers a fine collection of local beers; the Salmonberry Saloon features shockingly refined cocktails and a wraparound porch to enjoy the bay views. McMenamins Gearhart is always a fun place for a drink by the fire.

The author was a guest of Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa and Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa.

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Great Escapes: The Four-Season Appeal of Oregons Breathtaking Coast - Barron's