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Whether they stand stoic as a memorial, or lend a touch of European flair to our Mediterranean climate, fountains characterize much of the streetscapes and parkland of Los Angeles.

After all, were practically always dreaming of water here.

And even if youre a little more inland than youd like to be, you can enjoy the spouts and water shows in Echo Park Lake and MacArthur Park Lake, at the San Pedro Waterfront, and even The Grove and The Americana at Brand.

For some, fountains are beacons; for others, a meeting place where they can come together and pass some time.

We dont always know the stories behind them or whats literally buried beneath them.

Here are eight of the best watery wonders in the L.A. region, where you can stop and feel the mist on your face, take in some artand pay tribute to those who have come and gone before us.

Cascades Park, 1930 | Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library

Just six miles as the crow flies from Downtown L.A., Midwick View Estates was the brainchild of Peter N. Snyder, who meant for the Spanish-style development to be another affluent, whites-only enclave like Bel Air or Beverly Hills only, east of L.A., in the City of Monterey Park (incorporated 1916). Construction began in 1928,but in the advent of the 1929 stock market crash and the Depression that followed, it was never completed. The 356-acre development is now marked only by its original sales office (dreamily named El Encanto, which now houses The Greater Chamber of Commerce of Monterey Park) and Cascades Park, a manmade, terraced waterfall at the other end of the grand esplanade of El Portal Place.

Also known as Heritage Falls since 1991, the water feature still bears the coat of arms of the original development. Spanish tiles run along the cascading levels of the waterfall all the way up to a fountain at the top, which bears a statue meant to depict the Greek goddess Athena, a nod to Snyders Greek heritage. The original was stolen decades ago, so the one that stands today is a replica installed by the Monterey Park Historical Society in 2005. You can walk along staircases on either side of the waterfall to get to the top but the entire landscape provides a popular backdrop for photos, both in daylight and at night, with its colored lighting scheme.

Use 700 S. Atlantic Boulevard, 91754 as your destination address and park along De La Fuente Street.

Cascades Park |Sandi Hemmerlein

Cascades Park|Sandi Hemmerlein

Some might say that the series of eight water fountains and the floodlighting that illuminates them is essential for the headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to convey both water and power. And boy, does that 1.2-million-gallon reflecting pool make a statement! And not just because it circulates 20,000 gallons per minute or that it protects the A.C. Martin-designed buildings perimeter with a kind of glassy, lit-up moat (anchored by the large, wing-shaped sculpture "Colpo d'ala" by Arnaldo Pomodoro, a gift from Italy in 1988 in gratitude for the U.S. financing the restoration of Italys WWII-ravaged economy).

The water feature is actually a high-tech solution for the buildings heating and cooling system part of the HVAC system and instead of a boiler. Its the ultimate in making themonumental, International Style John FerraroBuilding known as the General Office Building of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power until 2000 self-contained and self-sufficient. Completed in 1965 and constructed at the same time as The Music Center, the LADWP headquarters became the first high-rise on the top of the newly flattened Bunker Hill.

The John Ferraro Building is open weekdays except Fridays and is closed weekends and major holidays. Enter on foot from Hope Street and take the pedestrian bridge across the water to the plaza. Free public parking spaces provided in Lot 6 during meetings of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, held monthly on the first and third Tuesday.

LADWP Headquarters|Sandi Hemmerlein

LADWP Headquarters|Sandi Hemmerlein

At the corner of Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard in Los Feliz, spitting distance from the Los Angeles River, youll find a shrine to the Father of L.A.s water system, William Mulholland built approximately on the site where Mulholland once lived in a cabin, worked as a water laborer (technically a ditch-tender)and taught himself to be a civil engineer. Designed by Walter S. Claberg, the William Mulholland Memorial Fountain was originally dedicated in 1940, five years after the former water supervisors death, thanks largely to contributions and donations from local schoolchildren. After occasional forced periods of dormancy (either because of oil rationing or droughts), the electrified fountain eventually fell into disrepair but its mechanisms were reconstructed and the fountain was rededicated in 1996. It now lights up gloriously and colorfully at night.

The park that surrounds the fountain, the Los Angeles Aqueduct Centennial Garden, was built by LADWP crews in conjunction with the centennial celebration of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 2013. A walking path recreates the aqueducts 340-mile journey from the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to L.A.s San Fernando Valley, terminating at a replica of The Cascades. The commemorative garden also features a section of the original aqueduct pipe, 10 feet in diameter, water-wise landscapingand a bronze bas-relief portrait of Mulhollandby Grace Banks Eldridge that was added in 1959.

Park across Riverside Drive in one of the lots dedicated to Griffith Park facilities.

William Mulholland Memorial Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

William Mulholland Memorial Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

The L.A. areas first electrified water fountain in fact, the first in the nation to feature underwater lighting is the Electric Fountain in Beverly Hills. After a $1.5-million facelift, it was rededicated in 2016 but it was originally gifted to the city in 1931 by silent-screen star Harold Lloyds mother, Sarah Elizabeth (Fraser) Lloyd. TheWomens Club of Beverly Hills paid for it to be installed on land donated by the Rodeo Land and Water Company. Then known as the Electric Color Fountain, it provided a repeating, rainbow-colored water spectacle whose programmed lighting system dazzled spectators with an eight-minute water show with jets timed to colored lights. A total of 60 different combinations of spray were possible and at the time, the sight was so spectacular that reportedly thousands stopped their cars to ogle it.

Thirty feet in diameter and edged with ceramic tile, the fountain is the work of architect Ralph Carlin Flewelling. But at the 3-foot high circular base, a bas-relief designed by (Robert) Merrell Gage shows Californias Mission Period, and the Los Angeles Pobladores who settled here. At one time the president of the California Art Club, Gage was also responsible for sculpting the faade of the Los Angeles Times building in Downtown L.A. He also contributed a six-foot figure of a kneeling member of the Tongva tribe, the original inhabitants of the area who called Beverly Hills the gathering of the waters (translated in Spanish to El Rodeo de las Aguas).

Find it on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards, at the western terminus of Beverly Gardens Park. The park is bookended at the citys eastern gateway by the Doheny Fountain, also circa 1931, designed by the first official resident architect of Beverly Hills, W. Asa Hudson. Park on Walden Drive or any of the residential side streets that intersect with Beverly Gardens Park north of Santa Monica Boulevard. Walk the rest of the way along the path.

Electric Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

Electric Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

Electric Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

Known for his Prometheus sculpture at Rockefeller Center in New York City, Paul Manship contributed the design for the bronze sculpture in a large fountain at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood, The Flight of Europa. It depicts the famous scene in Greek mythology when Zeus transforms into a strapping bull to seduce Europa, a Phoenician maiden (and namesake of Europe). She perhaps unwittingly rides his back as he abducts her to Crete. All the while, Cupid whispers in her ear.

Although the sculpture was reportedly intended for a swimming pool with water symbolizing the Mediterranean it now graces the front entrance of the former Home Savings and Loan, circa 1968, which was built on the site where parts of Hollywood's first full-length motion picture, "The Squaw Man," were filmed in 1913. Formerly known as a Washington Mutual branch and now rebranded Chase Bank, its known for its Millard Sheets-designed mosaic mural of Hollywoods biggest stars in their star-making roles.

Plenty of metered street parking on both Sunset and Vine, or park in the surface lot in the back if youre going to do some banking at Chase. Its also a short walk from the Metro Red Line station at Hollywood / Vine.

The Flight of Europa Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

The Flight of Europa Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

One of the USC campuss staggering 30 fountains count em all! is Youth Triumphant by Bavarian sculptor Frederick William Schweigardt. Topped by a bronze dancing figure, this Neoclassical style is actually a replica of Schweigardts fountain The Four Cornerstones of American Democracy, both featuring four cast concrete figures representing Home, Community, Churchand, of course, School. The original fountain is still in the Hall of Youth in the grand foyer of the former Palace of Education (now the Balboa Park Club building) at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, for which Schweigardt was the official sculptor.Donated in 1935 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carman-Ryles in memory of their son, Edward L. Prentiss, a former USC student who died in 1933, the replica became henceforth known as the Prentiss Memorial Fountain. It was renovated in 1979 and 2002.

Its located at Alumni Park by the front entrance of Doheny Memorial Library a four-story, Italian Romanesque-style landmark that was created in 1930 as a memorial to Edward L. Ned Doheny Jr., a USC trustee and alumnus who was tragically murdered at Greystone Mansion the year prior. Designed by Ralph Adams Cram of the Cram and Ferguson, it became the universitys first freestanding library.

Enter the campus via the private USC McCarthy Way. Parking is available for a fee in a nearby structure by McCarthy Quad.

"Youth Triumphant" Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

"Youth Triumphant" Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

"Youth Triumphant" Fountain|Sandi Hemmerlein

Besides its City Hall, one of the most recognizable icons of Pasadena may be the monumental, electrical power-generating Glenarm Power Plant, located at the northern terminus of the 110 Freeway and the southern end of town. The Municipal Light and Power Department first powered the City of Pasadena on July 4, 1907 and its now known Pasadena Water and Power, a not-for-profit utility thats owned and operated by the City of Pasadena. And although its an actively working power plant thats understandably fenced off and closely guarded, you can stand outside the landmark Glenarm Steam Plant Building by Pasadenas own Bennett & Haskell Architects (also the team behind the citys Civic Auditorium) built in 1928 and 1932 in the Moderne architectural style as an addition to the now-demolished original power plant and admire its adjoining electric fountain.

Together, the Art Deco fountain (circa 1938) and the intact steam turbine building comprise a city-designated historic monument. The fountain is actually an integral part of the plant, having replaced an original cooling tower (circa 1906) that cooled steam turbine #8 and the building itself.The electric fountain, the third and final example of such fountains in the L.A. region, retains its original cast-stone walls, tiled circular basin (featuring images of the Pasadena logo with lightning bolts coming out of it)and translucent glass paneled tower. Its underground mechanical, plumbing, and structural components were replaced in 2012. And its water is still flowing.

The fountain is located at the southeast corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and E. Glenarm Street at the west elevation of the power plant site. To get a closer look on foot, park on Fair Oaks north of State Street or on South Raymond Street north of Glenarm.

Electric Fountain, Glenarm Power Plant|Sandi Hemmerlein

Electric Fountain, Glenarm Power Plant|Sandi Hemmerlein

Electric Fountain, Glenarm Power Plant|Sandi Hemmerlein

A. M. Parsons, founder of the Naples Co., was to Long Beachs Naples Island in 1903 what Abbott Kinney was to Venice in 1905. At the center of the island, Parsons designed a circular park, surrounded by the Rivo Alto Canal, before any roads reached it. Its ornate lampposts had to be carried in by barge. Decades after Parsons sold his Naples development, the Belmont Shore Development Company donated Circle Park to the City of Long Beach in 1933. The following year, Long Beachs Park Commission renamed it Bella Flora Park.

In 1971, a three-tiered circular fountain was added to the park, which was rechristened La Bella Fontana di Napoli (The Beautiful Fountain of Naples), part of The Colonnade park. This Neapolitan-type fountain, which was brought in from the East Coast, has now become synonymous with the charmingbeachside enclave and is tended to by the non-profit Naples Islands Garden Club, which has focused on maintenance and beautification of the fountain and park for much of its history, with as many as eight official cleanups a year.

Access the park and fountain by crossing over the Rivo Alto Canal via East The Toledo or Ravenna Drive. Limited parking is available on surrounding streets.

La Bella Fontana di Napoli|Sandi Hemmerlein

La Bella Fontana di Napoli|Sandi Hemmerlein

Bonus: "Topographic Map of Water Sources in County of Los Angeles," Hall of Records, Downtown L.A.

One of the civic artworks contributed by mosaicist Joseph L. Young just two blocks from his Triforium sculpture is a 1962 bas-relief mural and fountain made of Italian glass mosaic tile, polished and rough granite, and copper tubing known as "Topographic Map of Water Sources in County of Los Angeles." At 20 feet high by 80 feet wide, it provides a large-scale, abstract geologic view of Los Angeles County and its water resources.

Water hasnt always flowed through the mural it ran dry for 20 years until a 2007-8 refurbishment, just after Youngs death. And although the streams arent running down across the black mountains, brown valleys, and green and blue ocean as long as conservation efforts are underway, the large reflecting pool at the walls base is still filled.

Find it in Downtown L.A.s Civic Center, located on the northern face of the Richard Neutra-designed Los Angeles County Hall of Records, integrated into the exterior wall of the auditorium, along Temple Street between N. Hill Street and North Broadway.

Continued here:
Where to Find LA's Most Fascinating Fountains - KCET

Greater Manchester is a great place.

But sometimes, a trip to a beautifully quaint village, well away from the stresses of city life, is just what the doctor ordered.

And you don't need to go far to encounter the quiet life.

On the very outskirts of Greater Manchester are some unbelievably stunning villages.

These little gems, nestled in the sprawling green valleys and hillsides, are a short commute from the city, but a world apart from the urban bustle.

With gorgeous homes and an abundance of community spirit, it's hard not to be tempted to escape to one of these beautiful villages.

45 minutes from Manchester

Nestled in the scenic Hope Valley, the tiny village of Edale is the start - and end - of the UK's first and most famous long distance walking path - the Pennine Way.

As a gateway to the stunning Peak District, its surrounded by some of the best walking country in the UK, which includes a series of striking hills contoured by the waters of the River Noe.

The village itself is overlooked by the imposing peak of Kinder Scout and is comprised of picturesque stone houses and buildings, with two pubs, a caf, a local shop and two camp sites - all of which make up a truly beautiful place.

It's also easily accessible by train, with a frequent service in and out of the local station, which takes in some of the phenomenal views seen along the Sheffield line.

A little piece of paradise.

25 minutes from Manchester

Situated in the heart of a conservation area in a small valley, the village of Padfield is surrounded by greenbelt countryside.

Perched on the edge of the Peak District National Park, it's been designated for its special architectural and historical interest.

As well as a rich and diverse landscape and a wealth of local wildlife to discover, the village lies close to the stunning Longendale Trail and Valley.

The long-distance walking trail follows the former Woodhead Railway Line which once connected Manchester and Sheffield, which has since been reclaimed by nature.

Set against the backdrop of the green fells of the valley and a chain of six reservoirs, it's a beautiful spot to get back to nature.

The village itself is a close-knit community with streets lined with rows of quaint stone houses and leafy green spaces, with a pub, a chapel, an art gallery and a primary school.

You wouldn't believe it was so close to a major city.

40 minutes from Manchester

The small hamlet of Pott Shrigley is located in a beautiful corner of Cheshire, and a gorgeous example of modern rural life in the UK.

The buildings that make up the village are huddled together under the shadow of the traditional church spire, close to two stunning valleys and overlooked by woodland on the high ground.

A visit in spring will boast a wonderful display of bluebells along the road up to the Victorian manor house Shrigley Hall, but whatever the time of year there will be phenomenal views in all directions of the surrounding hillside.

With around 300 residents, the village is home to a small school, a church, a pub and a cricket ground and a babbling stream runs through the centre of this idyllic slice of country living.

A beautiful place, whatever the weather.

45 minutes from Manchester

You'll find Marsden in the picturesque Colne Valley on the doorstep of a National Trust estate and a landscape steeped in history.

Surrounded on three sides by moorland, the brooding landscape is a contrast to the idyllic image of the village.

With peaks, canals, valleys and reservoirs there's a whole host of outdoor delights to see - and it's also home to the highest and deepest tunnel in Britain.

And, for real ale fans, Marsden is a haven for craft beer with the Riverhead Brewery Tap, The Sair Inn, Golcar Lily or Rose and Crown to name a few.

It's also a popular spot for TV and film - many will recognise the village from ITV''s Where the Heart Is, Jericho, BBC's Last of the Summer Wine and the blockbuster A Monster Calls.

A thriving village that embraces its industrial heritage while retaining its rural charm.

40 minutes from Manchester

Just a few miles out of Chorley you'll find the rural village of Rivington, nestled in miles of farmland, moors and several hill summits.

Dubbed 'The Little Lake District', the village attracted large numbers of visitors in the Victorian times - from the working class escaping the gloomy mills, to middle classes arriving on the newly build railway.

Its spectacular landscape has been the muse for many an artist, and its rolling hillside and gorgeous peaks play host to the Rivington Pike Fell Race, drawing scores of walkers, hikers and cyclists.

The tiny village has a thriving tourist industry thanks to its picturesque surroundings, sparkling reservoirs, the stunning Lever Park, along with the historic Rivington Pike, that sits atop a hill, and its nearby adventure centre.

Surrounded by gorgeous natural scenery, this sleepy village is perfect for those wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of busy modern life.

35 minutes from Manchester

Perched on the very edge of the Pennines in the ancient royal hunting ground of the Rossendale valley is the small village of Crawshawbooth.

Surrounded by farm land and open green moors, it welcomes scores of walkers who come to visit the picturesque village and its surrounding hillside.

Home to a number of heritage properties, Crawshawbooth is also history-lovers dream.

Guests will find Crawshaw Hall, a Grade II* listed mansion which has since been transformed into a nursing home, and the Quaker Meeting house is the oldest in the world - dating back to 1716.

It also has its own art gallery, the See Gallery, which houses regular exhibitions from both national and international renowned artists.

The town also used to be the home of formerEnglandandManchester UnitedfootballerPhil Neville.

45 minutes from Manchester

The ancient village of Mytholmroyd has existed since the 13th century - and has the remains of human settlement dating back to the prehistoric times.

There's a Bronze Age urnfield on the moor top, complete with cremation urns dating between the 16th and 11th centuries BC - plus evidence of prehistoric farming.

A roman coin hoard has been found to the south of the village.

Today the village sits in a designated conservation area with over 21 listed buildings in the centre alone.

Regular markets and a high street boasting boutique shops and restaurants attract visitors all year round.

This idyllic location is the perfect place for unwinding after a busy day.

30 minutes from Manchester

The scenic Derbyshire village of Tintwistle is lucky enough to share its border with the stunning Peak District National Park and a designated conservation area, encompassing the beautiful countryside along the Longendale valley.

Some of the buildings in the old part of Tintwistle are said to date back as far as the 16th century, including the Bull's Head pub.

The historic Christ Church in the village is grade II listed.

The newer part is made up of buildings from the Victorian era onwards.

Head down in June and experience the annual village well dressing ceremony, a Derbyshire tradition where the local holy well is decorated with hand-crafted decorations.

30 minutes from Manchester

Situated on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal, the township of Lymm dates back as far as medieval times, and is even mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Today, the town is a designated conservation area, owing to its natural features and historical buildings and landmarks.

The Lymm dam is an area of great beauty and serenity, and the surrounding woodlands and meadow offer not only a stunning backdrop, but boast a wealth of nature and wildlife.

The canal is used as a leisure facility, by fishermen, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Narrow boats can be seen sailing idly along the waters.

A dedicated walking route, the Lymm Heritage Trail, is a self-guided route which features the best of the natural heritage of the village and is a great way to explore the sleepy Cheshire town.

30 minutes from Manchester

Surrounded by green-belt land in the Cheshire countryside, Pickmere, near Knutsford, sits on the banks of a mere, which has proven a popular attraction for day trippers over the years.

The lake's crystal clear waters have become a well-known spot for water sports, and around the water there are plenty of nature trails, all with breathtaking views of the lake, the countryside, and the local wildlife.

The village is also home to two Grade II listed buildings - both historic farm houses.

And if you want a breath of fresh air, there are plenty of walking routes to make the most of the great outdoors.

45 minutes from Manchester

An attractive old farming village, Goostrey occupies a particularly beautiful part of south Cheshire, close to the world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory and the iconic Lovell Telescope.

Originally a dispersed farming community, Goostrey is now a mixture of both traditional and newer developments all located in miles of open countryside.

It contains 24 listed heritage assets as well as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (a bowl barrow near to Jodrell Bank Farm), and the observatory is one of a very limited number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - listed alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon.

But it's not all rural countryside and heritage - the village was one of the first in the UK to have a social media profile - on Myspace back in 2006.

Read the rest here:
The gorgeous villages on the outskirts of Manchester that will make you yearn for the quiet life - Manchester Evening News

The count as it was underway at Silksworth Sports Complex in Sunderland.

After a terrible election for Labour, seven of the regions former Labour heartland seats fell to the Tories, but looking at the results it could have been much worse for the party if the Brexit vote had been unified under one party.

If the votes for both the Conservatives and the Brexit Party had gone to one party there would have been a different outcome for Sunderland Central, Houghton and Sunderland South and Washington and Sunderland West.

Had those who backed the Brexit Party pledged their support to the Conservatives or vice versa it would have also impacted on Easington and Hartlepools outcomes.

Voters in all five constituencies voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

The Sunderland Central seat was retained by Julie Elliott, who was first elected to the post in 2010, with 18,336 votes pledged to the former GMB regional organiser, a -13.4% share of the vote.

Conservative Tom DSilva lodged 15,372 vote, a 2% gain, and the Brexit Partys Viral Parikh got 5,047 votes to his name, with their combined vote amounting to 20,419.

Bridget Phillipson, the Houghton and Sunderland South MP also first elected in 2010, won 16,210 votes, a -18.7% share of those ballots posted.

In that constituency, Conservative Christopher Howarth polled 13,095 votes, an increase of 3.2%, and Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill gained 6,165 votes an combined total of 19,260 votes.

The electorate in Washington and Sunderland West pledged their support for Sharon Hodgson to return to the role, with 15,941 votes, a -18.2% share.

Valarie Allen, who stood for the Conservative Party, got 12,218 of the vote, a 3.7% increase, while the Brexit Partys Howard Brown was given the backing of 5,429, a combined vote of 17,647.

Ms Phillipson tweeted after the count: It is a privilege to be re-elected to serve my community in Parliament on what looks to be a truly terrible night for Labour.

Devastated by the impact this will have on working people right across our country.

A long and difficult road ahead.

Mrs Hodgson also said Brexit and leader Jeremy Corbyn were among the issues raised as concerns on the doorstep in the lead up to election day.

Sunderland Central Brexit Party candidate, Mr Parikh said the way votes were cast in the city underlines its backing for Brexit, but that it could have been a different outcome had the votes not been split between his group and the Tories.

In 2017, Ms Elliott got 25,056 votes, yesterday that had fallen to 18,336 votes.

The former University of Sunderland student said: In the last election, the Conservatives got 15,000 and they still got that this time, so there has been a change at all in the vote, and Labour were 13% down and we gained 12%, so we have taken every Labour vote, he said.

I know people will say we only took 5,000 votes, but if you look at the Tory vote, that would have taken us over, but I know because of the history of Sunderland, some people say they will not vote Conservative.

I think people were absolutely upset at Labour and we can see that in the election result.

I dont think well see another election for five years now, Boris Johnson has got a massive majority now.

Labour's Grahame Morris also kept hold of his seat in Easington, with 15,723 votes, a -18.2% share

His Conservative rival Clare Ambrosino gained 9,142 votes, a 3.7% gain, while Julie Maughan of the Brexit Party got 6,744, which adds up to 15,886, 163 more than Labours total.

Stefan Houghton, Conservative, got 11,869 votes, a -5.3% share, and Richard Tice, chairman of the Brexit Party, got 10,603 votes, a combined total of 22,472.

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Labour hold onto North East seats in Parliament - but combined Conservative and Brexit Party vote could have transformed political landscape -...

Tarzana, CA - With unrivalled experience and more recognitions than any other company in their field, Finesse Remodeling prides itself on being the preferred remodeling company in Tarzana, CA and the neighboring areas. This proudly locally owned and operated business has been serving its community since 1989. Now the #1 choice for many homes and business owners in the area, its unparalleled services have always exceeded its clients expectations in terms of quality and availability. Finesse Remodeling is owned and operated by Avi B. Dov, a fully licensed and experienced designer who has dedicated his life to providing award-winning designs for both commercial and residential needs.

Avi Dov and his staff have strived to provide services of the highest quality by working along with their clients to understand their ideas and bring them to reality using high-quality materials, regardless if it is a large or small project. These expert technicians implement a thoroughly organized methodology guaranteeing that every project will be handled based on a meticulous case study which considers their clients' needs and budget.

"Our core values, availability, commitment, and adaptability, are driven by our overarching desire to improve the lives of our clients through expert home improvement. Whether your home is in need of a complete bathroom remodel or a kitchen transformation, we renovate with passion, dedication, and enthusiasm. It is no surprise that Finesse has been a leading choice for Los Angeles home remodels for over 3 decades," the spokesperson for Finesse Remodeling said about the quality of their services.

As the experts in remodeling and consulting services, Finesse Remodeling - Kitchens Remodeling offers an extensive variety of services, including kitchen remodeling services, bathroom designs, and construction, additions, exterior/interior paint, hardscape and landscape, patio enclosures and covers, complete home renovation, and more. All their services are performed using the finest material, state-of-the-art equipment and covered with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. In addition, the company also specializes in design consultation services.

Finesse Remodeling prides itself on being a member of many prestigious organizations such as the National Kitchen and Bath Association, and the California Contractors State License Board. Additionally, the company prides itself on being one of the best-rated companies on Google, Yelp, Angie's List and a certified, screened and approved contractor by Houzz, Home Advisor, Service Magic, and Trust Link.

Finesse Remodeling is open to receive its clients from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Visit them at 4600 Arriba Dr., Tarzana, CA, 91356, US. For professional and affordable Kitchens Remodeling, contact them via phone at 818-881-8383 or via email at avi@finesseremodeling.com. To learn more about their services or request a free quote, visit their website.

Media ContactCompany Name: Finesse RemodelingContact Person: AVI BEN DOVEmail: Send EmailPhone: 818-881-8383Address:4600 Arriba Dr City: TarzanaState: CACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://finesseremodeling.com/

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Finesse Remodeling, a Top Kitchens Remodeling in Tarzana Offers Unparalleled Remodeling Services and Consultant in Tarzana and the Neighboring Areas -...

I strongly recommend that you buy a new prehung exterior door unit, which comes complete with a new frame, exterior molding, sill and weatherstripping already installed. If its not practical to replace the entire door and frame, then consider leaving the frame in place and just replacing the door itself. Any door shop can route the hinge locations and drill the knob hole in the new door to match the exact locations of whats on the existing frame, which will make the change-out quick and easy.

Q: I have a concern with my friend, who removed her dryer vent hose to clean it. When she couldn't replace it she placed a sock around the vent opening and secured it with a zip tie. She said her mother did this and it worked just fine. This has me worried that this is a fire hazard. Is this safe?

A: While I applaud your friend for cleaning her dryer, what shes done is definitely NOT safe! All that a sock (or a piece of pantyhose, or whatever) will do is collect some of the lint so it doesnt go flying into the house. It does nothing to stop all that warm moist air from collecting in the house, where it becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew, and eventually causes structural damage. Secondly, and even more important, as it dries all that lint creates an extreme fire danger.

Please tell your friend that she needs to have her dryer correctly vented all the way to the outside of the house! And while shes at it, she needs to take care of her moms dryer, as well.

Have a home repair or remodeling question for Paul? He can be reached by email at improvingyourhome@ykwc.net.

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Paul Bianchina: Best to rectify those missing permits before selling - Oklahoman.com

LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio As Houses go, they aren't the most beautiful on the block. They're boxy, a bit odd looking and small, and strangely...they are made of steel.

Actually it is a "porcelain enameled sheet metal" said Hannah Brevoort a museum interpreter for the Ohio History Center in Columbus.

"That why's it's a metal house and doesn't look rusty after years of use," she said.

And they have been in use a long time ago...about 70 years.

It was in 1948 that Lustron Homes, headed up by Columbus businessman Carl Strandlund birthed the idea to create prefabricated homes out of steel and to build all their component parts in a factory so they could be trucked to a home site and assembled in just a few weeks.

It was a good idea and with prices starting at around $5,000 and ranging to $10,000, the cost was not exorbitant, although a bit more than the average stick-built house at the time.

In two short years Lustron built and assembled about 3,000 homes, mostly in the Midwest. But with production and financing problems, the home of the future, became a home of history. Lustron folded.

The Ohio History Center in Columbus has one of the Lustron homes in its museum which it says it one of its most popular attractions.

"They were very much marketed as the Home of the Future" and in the post war age, it was believed that people would want a new type of home".

The History Center's model was one that came from Arlington, Virginia in 2013 when it was earmarked for demolition by a contractor.

"It was going to be torn down and the board of Arlington County decided to give it to us instead, we had been trying for years to get a real Lustron home because of the local connection."

The model is featured as an example of what the Lustron Home offered to the modern families of the 1950's.

It is set up now as a "living" exhibit and fully interactive with a full array of artifacts and objects from that post-war era. It is exhibited as if the family was still living there and just stepped out for a walk.

The vintage black and white TV set even has Ozzie and Harriet playing in the living room and in the dining room, classic dinnerware is set on retro table of the era.

The metal interior wall bookcase that looks like wood is not. A couple of knocks and on the wall, and the familiar metallic ring of steel answers back.

In the kitchen and utility room, the original Lustron homes came with a host of modern appliances for the day, which included a unique and rare combination dishwasher and clothes washer.

Of the 3,000 homes that Lustron manufactured during its two-year existence, about 2,000 remain standing and in use. Most have withstood the test of time.

About 30 were built in the Toledo area, and about 20 of them remain intact.

They appear to be rust-free, and in good condition for a 70-year-old home.

Most have not needed any remodeling and still have their original steel roofs.

While the homes are usually about a 1,000 square-feet in size, much smaller than most average size homes today, they still offer a maintenance free lifestyle for those who own and occupy them.

No painting is needed on the exterior and on the interior, the porcelain walls just need to be wiped down from time to time.

Continued here:
Lustron, Homes with a past and a future - WTOL

Question:My landlord told me in a letter that they were planning to remodel my kitchen and bath and that I would have to vacate for two weeks while the work is done.My family cant afford a hotel, and we dont have family in the area that can put us up for two weeks.Can my landlord force us to move out while the remodeling work is done?

Answer: The landlords right to enter once the unit has been turned over to you is very limited, under California Civil Code section 1954.

The landlordcan enter to (1) do repairs that are necessary or requested by you, (2) in emergencies, (3) if they believe thatthe unit is abandoned, (4) to show the property to prospective buyers and (5) with a court order. In every other circumstance, you control access to the unit. It follows that the landlord may not tell you to vacate simply to accommodate his or herremodeling plans.

The landlordcan ask, however, and you may agree if you can negotiateterms and conditions that make the inconvenience worthwhile. At the very least the landlordshould offer to refund the rent for the days you have to vacate the apartment.

If the landlordcannot persuade you to cooperate, the landlordwould have to wait until the end of your tenancy under a lease before doing this work.

But if you are a month-to-month tenant and live in a unit not covered by a rent-control law,the landlordmay simply terminate your tenancy with a 30- or 60-day termination notice to proceed with the work.So if you like the apartmentand want to stay, it is probably in your interest to try to work something out with the landlord.

In Los Angeles, rent-control ordinances apply to most multi-unit living quartersbuilt byOct. 1, 1978, including apartments, condos, residential hotels, mobile homes and lots containing more than one single-family home.

For tenants of those rental units, landlords must pay temporary relocation costs if a major repair or remodel is planned. The tenants must continue paying rent and canbe evicted for refusing to allow access for repairs or improvements.

Under all of these circumstances, the best path forward would be to ask to sit down with the landlord to understand his or herwishes, to discuss the impact on you and your family, and to agree on a plan that honors everyones needs. If the notice you received was in written form, make a written response indicating that the landlords request is problematic for you, but that you are willing to sit down with the landlord and discuss the situation.

If your conversation with your landlord doesnt go well,you may check to see if there are community mediation services in your area and ask for their help with this conversation. Many programs are free or very low cost and provide an excellent alternative to escalating in court.

Current is fair housing director for Project Sentinel, a Bay Area nonprofit. For more information, Project Sentinel at , visit or your attorney or local housing agency.

See the article here:
When the landlord wants to remodel but the tenant doesn't want to leave, who wins? - Spring Hill Insider

(WSIL) -- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois needs your help. The number of foster children in care far outweighs the number of foster families available.

"We have a list of foster homes that we go through calling for placements, and then once we run out of homes on our list, we move to other agencies," explains child welfare specialist Brandi Campbell.

Amanda Isaac is a licensed foster parent with the agency. She says her phone will sometimes ring two to three times a week.

"I am a specialized home, there's not a lot of specialized homes, they're called "spec homes." Itake children that have special needs, and we take care of those needs, whatever those needs look like," says Isaac.

Isaac says that being a foster parent is no easy task, but she does it for the kids.

"Sometimes it is hard to deal with the emotional side of things.It is hard as a foster parent to watch what these kids go through, because a lot of times it's the kids that's hurt, that you see them hurt."

Campbell says a foster parent needs to provide a stable, secure home for the child as well aswork with caseworkers, counselors, or any therapists involved in the case. While the process might seem overwhelming, the agency is ready to walk foster parents through every step.

"Fostering is for some people, and fostering is not for some people.I wouldn't change it for the world," adds Isaac.

If you're interested in learning more about being a foster parent, call Lutheran Social Services at 888-322-5774 or email CCS@LSSI.org to talk to a resource officer. The agency also offers orientation meetings for prospective parents.

To qualify to be a foster parent, Lutheran Social Services says you:

See the rest here:

Foster families needed in southern Illinois - WSIL-TV 3 Southern Illinois - WSIL TV

12 Dec 2019, 16:35

In 2000s Britain, the regeneration projects in the North West were some of the biggest weve attempted, with single-phase masterplanning of former industrial sites being done on an enormous scale; in Salford Quays for example, or the development of the shopping centre, Liverpool One, writes Jon Wright of Purcell.

The North West is powerfully visible as a place where some of these things happened first or are happening better than anywhere else in the country, with a tremendous sense of both a dynamic future and a very dynamic past, both ahead of them and behind them.

The Irwell Riverside project is a series of factory-built houses located in Salford, on the banks of the River Irwell. The buildings are effectively a brand-new concept for mass housing that could continue to be wheeled out. Irwell Riverside was designed by ShedKM for Urban Splash with a starkly modern aesthetic white, black, flashes of primary colour on a riverside cleverly exploiting a modular redesign for repeating townhouses.

Although the buildings were factory made and delivered to site fully-finished, they have a modernity and permanence about them. We probably negatively associate pre-fabrication with the provision of low-cost houses following the war, but its characteristic of good architecture: to challenge conventions and recycle fundamentally good ideas.

It reminded me of some of the Homes fit for Heroes prefab architecture, and how smart that scheme was, particularly in the North West where terraced housing i.e. workers housing, was a particularly prevalent vernacular. The Irwell Riverside project reimagines this vernacular and aligns three things: factory finishing, high design spec and quality.

The development reflects the North Wests dynamic past and future. The terraced house is a British phenomenon that began with the townhouses of London built after the Great Fire. This typology has been reimagined by ShedKM to include notions of individuality and compositional repetition, linking the North Wests industrial past with evolution towards a new future.

The North West is an interesting lens to look through. British architecture has moved from a fairly paternalistic view of placemaking, to the argument which arose in the 1980s and 90s about the relationship between public and private space within the public realm. Developments previously were either purely commercial or purely residential, as seen in schemes like Canary Wharf in London, and didnt respond to the historic environment. This is not Las Vegas in the 1950s; wherever you build there is a history, a heritage, it doesnt matter if you can see it or not.

The North West defined the yardstick by which large-scale regeneration of former industrial landscapes, fringes and urban environments were redeveloped; where heritage, placemaking, masterplanning and new architecture came together. The Irwell Riverside project is an interesting reflection on the value of terrace housing and how attractive modular repetition can be if you get it right, and is particularly interesting considering 10 years ago the Government was proposing the Pathfinder Scheme, to basically knock it all down.

The value of terrace housing is in its economy and in its importance as a framework for community.

Link:

Best of the North West | Irwell Riverside, Salford - Place North West

I rerun this article most Decembers. The early snow we got two feet at my house means I should run it again!

I have a fairly long driveway next to an open field, and at least once every winter, snow drifts across it to the point where things get dicey without all-wheel drive.

For two decades, I have talked about setting up a snow fence to keep out the drifts, but Ive never gotten around to it. Which, I recently learned, is a good thing, because I would have done it exactly wrong.

One consolation: Many people do it exactly wrong.

I see it a lot. People dont understand how a snow fence works, said Robert Haehnel, a research mechanical engineer at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, an Army Corps of Engineers facility that studies anything that freezes. (Known as CRREL, it gets my vote for Most Interesting Place in N.H. That You Didnt Know About.)

For years, one of my neighbors had . . . that orange snow fence and posts, they put it right next to their driveway, perpendicular to the wind. And every year when the wind started blowing, the entire hillside would be deposited on their driveway, he said. They finally gave up.

So what did they do wrong? At my request, Haehnel walked me through years of research on snow fences, much of it done by a man named Ronald Tabler who wrote the fields bible:Controlling Blowing and Drifting Snow with Snow Fences and Road Design.

The manual is used by most states, including New Hampshire, to guide placement of snow fences. If you want more details you can easily find it online, all 307 pages of it.

So heres the most surprising thing: Snow fences dont stop drifts by blocking the snow thats blowing right along the ground, as I had envisioned. They stop drifts by disrupting the aerodynamics of the wind passing overhead, slowing it down so it can no longer carry all the flakes it had picked up.

What this means is that snow doesnt pile up behind a fence, it drops out of the sky in front of the fence that is, on the downwind side. So if you place the fence next to your driveway, as I planned, youre guiding more snow to fall right down onto the driveway.

Its like a snowdrift multiplier!

Tabler even developed a rule of thumb for placing fences. Take the height of the fence and multiply it by 35, and that is the distance you need between the fence and the thing you want to protect, to ensure all the snow will fall out of the air before the wind gets to the target.

For a standard 4-foot snow fence, that equals a distance of 140 feet away. Holy Toledo thats a long way.

If youve ever seen a snow fence sitting forlornly in the middle of a field, now you know why.

But wait, theres more. Tabler found that snow fences need a certain porosity holes to keep snow from piling up and knocking it over and should have a gap at the bottom equal to 10 percent of the height (about 5 inches for that standard 4-foot fence).

Why the gap? It directs some of the wind under the fence and scours away snow that might build up in front of the fence. This matters because the height of the fence above snow determines how well it disrupts wind passing overhead so if snow builds up in front, your fence becomes effectively shorter and works less well.

Make sure the bottom doesnt get buried over time. If it starts out a 4-foot fence and you get a foot of snow, now its a 3-feet fence. . . . Every time it gets buried, its less effective, Haehnel said.

Some places, notably Japan, build large snow fences with gaps designed to scour snow off roads when there isnt room to place the fences at the right distance. This works well, Haehnel said, but has the side effect of increasing the speed of the wind to the point that it can be dangerous for vehicles.

Snow fences can also be used to collect rather than deflect snow, Haehnel said. An example is setting snow fences upwind of a cattle pond, so you deposit all the snow there. When it melts, youve got a water supply for your cattle.

So there you have it: A boring, overlooked aspect of life in wintertime is actually complicated, counterintuitive and interesting.

Ill take solace in that the next time my car gets stuck in the driveway.

Read the original here:
That snow fence - you probably did it wrong. - Concord Monitor