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The construction of the Out Patient Department (OPD) ward at Eria Health Centre IV in Moyo Sub-county, Moyo District, in Uganda has stalled for seven months over lack of funds. Construction commenced in November 2018.

The project that was awarded to Iron Investment and Construction Ltd, a construction firm based in Arua District, was supposed to end in March this year. District officials have revealed that they have so far released US $3.4m out of the US $4m needed for the completion of the project.

Mr Alex Chelimo, the Moyo District chief administrative officer, stated that it is true the work has stalled for over seven months and they have written warning letters to the contractor twice but he did not respond. We may be forced to seek the advice of the Solicitor General, he said.

What is now remaining is grinding the stones, putting bulbs, painting and working on some of the cracks in some of the rooms, he added.

Also Read:Rwanda to upgrade Nyamata hospital in Bugesera

Mr Daniel Buni, the Moyo Sub-county chairperson, advised the district leaders to take serious action against errant contractors. The way some of the contractors are doing their work is sometimes uncalled for and something has to be done so that we have the value for money, Mr Buni said.

Mr Williams Anyama, the Moyo District chairperson, said the contractor has deprived the locals of service delivery. How can government entertain this kind of people? The contractor cannot do this at the expense of ordinary people. We care about the people and the project must be completed, he said.

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Construction of US $4m health centre ward in Uganda stalls - Construction Review

The gateway to Opotiki has been restored to its former glory, with the cleaning and painting of Waioeka Bridge now complete.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is pleased to announce the scaffolding surrounding the iconic 92-year-old bridge has come down, and the refurbishment is finished.

Bay of Plenty Transport Systems Manager, Rob Campbell, says it is fantastic to see the Waioeka Bridge cleaned, painted and looking great in time for summer.

We know that this was a significant and long-awaited project for the community, and we are thrilled to have been able to deliver this for them.

The bridge is looking almost brand new and will make a real difference to Opotikis gateway.

We hope the community and those visiting the area will really enjoy the finished product.

Cleaning, treating and painting the large and challenging structure presented a complicated task for the Transport Agency and its contractors.

A lot of time was spent finding a method that would allow the bridge to be cleaned to a high standard, while ensuring the preservation of the surrounding environment.

Rob says despite these challenges, the project has been a huge success.

Higgins Project Manager Roger Greaves says protecting the waterway beneath the bridge was a top priority.

We made sure there was a thorough environmental management plan in place to ensure no contaminants entered the Waioeka river or the stormwater system which feeds into it.

Rogersays contractors were also able to identify and complete several concrete repairs on both sides of the bridge during the process.

With the cleaning now finished, the Transport Agency is investigating methods to refurbish the historical plaque on the inside of the bridge.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

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Fresh face for gateway to Opotiki - The Bay's News First - SunLive

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is the backbone of infrastructural development, training and equipment procurement in public tertiary institutions. However, JUSTINA ASISHANA reports that contractors failings, poor project implementation and opaqueness of project procedures are undermining the impact of the fund.

IN 2010, the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna had only one capital project construction of Cyber Security Science Department funded by the Federal Ministry of Education. Nine years later, the project has not been completed because of inadequate funding. However, between 2010 and 2018, over 10 projects, embarked upon and funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the university, have been completed.

Juxtaposing these situations, it is not surprising that most tertiary institutions execute projects through TETFund. They have come to rely heavily on this fund for the structural, physical and academic development of their institutions.

The 2011 TETFund Act established the intervention agency, with specific responsibility for managing, disbursing and monitoring the proceeds of the two percent education tax onassessable profits of registered companies. It is for public tertiary institutions.

Section 7(i) to (e) of the TETFund Act 2011 provides, among others, for the provision and maintenance of essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publications, academic staff training and development and any other need, which in the opinion of the Board of Trustees is critical and essential for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in higher educational institutions.

The Director, Central Research Laboratories of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Musa Toyin Yakubu, said: If there was no TETfund, our universities will not survive. In this university, we live and breathe TETfund. Our buildings, most researches and staff development are always done under the auspices of TETfund. I think they should just name all universities, Universities of TETfund.

This observation may not be far-fetched, especially as an investigation conducted on some federal tertiary institutions in the North-Central confirmed that TETFund has been crucial to capital development in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

However, even with the impact TETFund is making, it is not all smooth sailing. On the surface, it seems institutions have done well with the intervention funds. However, some of the funds are not being accessed because of sharp practices by contractors who may be conniving with the departments saddled with the responsibility of assigning projects to contractors.

Investigation showed that most of the funds allocated to universities were not being accessed as allocated yearly, because of the inability of contractors to meet the deadlines given to them. As a result, approved funds are not usually accessed until years later.

How contractors delay work

The contract awarding process involves biddings, and institutions usually give preference to the lowest responsible bid. However,The Nationlearnt that some of the contractors do not provide accurate information about their capabilities.

Such was the case of the contractor who was first awarded the contract for the construction of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology Phase II at FUTMinna.

It was gathered that the contractor was given the contract on July 7, 2015 same day the construction of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Phase II was given to another contractor. The contracts were supposed to be completed on July 19, 2016.

An investigation byThe Nationrevealed that while the contractor in charge of the School of Agricultural Technology delivered on time, the contractor handling the School of Engineering dilly-dallied until the contract was revoked.

When questioned over the delay in the project, FUT Minna Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdullahi Bala said the contractor diverted the funds to another project. He added that during recession, in early 2016, prices rose and the contractor could not meet up.

He said: The contractor handling the School of Engineering project, instead of putting efforts in making sure that he goes by the terms of the agreement, he mobilised his resources elsewhere to some other projects, so the project in FUT Minna suffered. When the recession came in late 2015 and 2016, the prices doubled, and he came back asking for variations. He told us that he was being affected by the depreciation of the naira.

However, if he had done his work within the specified period, the depreciation of naira would not have affected him. Therefore, a project that would have been completed in 2015, we are still struggling with it, and this is 2019. It is just about now that we had to get another contractor to come in for us to complete it.

In a document obtained by the reporter, the contractor of the contract was stated as Messrs Gridtech Construction. The total sum of the contract is N176,165,959.

A similar issue of incompetence or clear fraud may have been suspected in a contractors handling of the construction and furnishing of a lecture theatre for the Institute of Education Phase II, at the permanent site of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

The contract, awarded to CF Cofel International Ltd Suleja, Niger State, was terminated while it was only 10 per cent complete. The contract sum was N410,877,888 and the contract was awarded in September 2015 and expected to be completed in February 2016.

Documents obtained revealed that N230,091,617 was released. However, the reporter could not get any information on whether this amount was given to the contractor. No member of the university management was willing to cite the reason the contract was terminated. It is also not clear if the contract has been re-awarded to another contractor.

This reporter could not reach the contractor to get his side of the story.

When contractors delay execution of projects, institutions experience delays in accessing TETFund grants.The Nationdiscovered that just as contractors do not provide adequate information about their capacity to do a job, they do not disclose their ability to assess funds to implement the project or provide the necessary equipment.

Therefore, while the monies wait for disbursement, there are delays in the project as most institutions like the FUT Minna and UNILORIN claimed they would not release any fund unless the project followed due process.

FUT Minna VC said: The delay in projects is not because of non-payment because the monies are already there waiting as TETFund releases money to the institution who will in turn release to the contractors according to the work done. So you see, some contractors, they will delay and delay because of inadequate capacity.

TETFund projects (2015-2019)

Between 2015 and 2019, at UNIABUJA, of 11 projects awarded under TETFund, only one, the construction and furnishing of library/resource centre building for the Institute of Education Phase I, at the permanent site, has been completed.

Other projects such as the supply and installation of two generators, construction of power equipment house and entrance gate for the Institute of Education Phase I, construction and furnishing of an administrative building for Phase I and II, construction of entrepreneurship centre some of which were awarded in 2015 are still ongoing and are at different stages (40-80 percent) of completion.

At the FUT Minna, within the period under review, 25 projects were awarded of which 16 have been completed while nine are still at various stages of completion. The FederalUniversity, Lafia, has had 26 projects with 17 completed and at in various stages of completion.

At the Federal University, Lokoja, majority of the 28 projects initiated had been completed when our reporter visited in August.

One of the students said the multipurpose complex was inaugurated earlier in the year while the other projects were being used. Going round the institution, to the block of laboratories and classrooms complex, it was observed that the laboratories were equipped and had some students were carrying out practical sessions.

At the University of Jos (UNIJOS), out of 10 TETFund projects (2015-2018), seven have been completed and handed over to the institution. The projects remaining include the construction of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, and the rehabilitation of the burnt Library all at the Naraguta campus, Jos.

At UNILORIN, none of the building projects under 2013 to 2016 merged TETFund annual interventions have been fully completed.

The construction of the extension of the main library has already been roofed and awaiting finishing touches and fixing of the windows, doors, and others; construction of the administrative block for Environmental Sciences, Department of Quantity Survey, Estate Management, Surveying, and Geo-informatics are still underway.

Workers were seen on site in the proposed departments of Estate Management, Surveying, and Geo-informatics. However, they were jittery upon sighting this reporter and disallowed her from taking pictures. They also refused to answer questions on the project and threatened to beat her up.

Shoddy Work or Poor Maintenance?

In some of the institutions visited, it was discovered that the walls of recently completed projects were already cracking and the paint peeling off while some of the infrastructures, especially the chairs brought with TETFund grants for the lecture rooms had already broken down.

At the Federal University, Lafia, the collapsible chairs in the Department of Computer Sciences, tagged TETFund 2013, had broken down in some of the lecture rooms.

At UNIJOS, some of the projects like the proposed Faculty of Management Sciences, and the proposed centre for film and communication arts, as well as the faculty of engineering, despite having been completed still needed painting or furniture.

At the Federal University, Lokoja, a visitor is greeted with rows of blocks of classrooms and laboratories that already have their paints peeling and walls cracking. Although the new structures constructed from 2018 are still standing, other structures with inscriptions of 2011-2013 already show signs of wear and tear.

At UNILORIN, it was also observed that TETfund projects, which are not up to 10 years, had cracks appearing on most of the buildings. Part of the block in the Faculty of Life Sciences showed serious signs of decay while the Center for Laboratory Research had cracks and peelings.

However, this reporter was unable to ascertain if the decay was a result of poor maintenance or shoddy work by the contractors.

Some of the workers said that not all the projects were given to experts. One, who preferred not to be named, said increased supervision of project implementation was necessary.

One question the school needs to ask itself is if these buildings constructed stand the test of time and do the contractors do what they are meant to do?

On my part, I think they need more supervision both from TETFund and the institution. If this is done, I am sure the contractors would do the right thing and not cut corners unnecessarily.

Pointing to one of the TETFund buildings already peeling, he said, Look at that building, the plaster is already peeling off. This project was done under 2009 intervention which means the project was completed sometime in 2010 or 2011. The right contractors should be given the job, those who know the job, give it to someone who knows his onions and they will do the job better.

If you go round the university, you will see buildings with cracks all over, these are buildings that are not more than 10 years. I built my own house earlier than that and there havent been any cracks.

A CAC search revealed that some of the contracts were not given to experts. An example is Elnita Nigeria Limited whose objectives, according to a CAC search, include to carry on the business of hotel, restaurant, tavern, beerhouse, and lodging, housekeepers, licensed wine, beer, and spirit merchant and to run amusement and gambling, casino and to do all things incidental thereof and holiday camps and to organise, promote and carry on all amusement businesses.

However, Elnita Nigeria Limited won the contract for the electrical installation of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Phase 2 at the FUT Minna. Though the project has been completed and students are using the facilities, time will tell if the work will stand the test of time.

Help in time of need

In October 2016, the three-storey building housing the UNIJOS Library, the faculty of social sciences and management sciences was gutted by fire.

In a bid to provide relief to the institution, TETFund intervened and the award for the rehabilitation of the central library was given to Amber Blaze Limited in March 2018. The library building at the time when the reporter visited the institution in July was about 85 percent complete.

While the previous library complex housed some faculties, the new library complex is being entirely used for library activities.

A source told this reporter that in addition, some equipment was bought for the library but not currently in use.

It is looking nice now. Everything brought in the library is brand new. There are also ICT machines in here and servers. We were told that this whole building will be used for the library now. We do not know what will be put downstairs but upstairs, which is currently locked, have all the furniture and other infrastructures, a student told the reporter.

The rehabilitation of the burnt library is to gulp the sum of N701,203,727 but, according to one of the Staff, only N485,011,887 has been received while the balance is being awaited to complete the rehabilitation.

Secrecy over disclosure of process

The procurement process for the TETFund projects are usually handled by the Department of Physical Planning or the TETfund Desk officers in the institutions, however, the officials in charge of these departments do not easily give information about projects.

At the Federal University Lokoja in Kogi State as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Angela Freeman Miri was not around and did not respond to calls and messages to her phone. The meeting with the Registrar, Mr. Usman Suleman Obansa did not yield any result as he said, it is only the VC that can give you such information or give theTETfund desk officer the go-ahead to give you information. You know it is the office of the Vice-Chancellor that handles the TETfund issue.

When approached, the TETFund Desk Office said he could not share information without the VCs permission.

Officers at the Federal University, Lafia diplomatically avoided setting up a meeting despite assurances following the submission of an FOI request.

The Vice-Chancellor was said to have traveled on an impromptu trip. All promises that all information will be mailed to this reporter were not fulfilled.

At UNILORIN, efforts to get information on the procedural process in the award of the projects led nowhere as the office of the Vice-Chancellor, when contacted, directed the Reporter to two Professors, Adeola Abdullah Adedeji of the Department of Civil Engineer and the representative of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in the institutions TETFund Committee and Musa Toyin Yakubu, the Director of the Central Research Laboratories.

However, the two Professors could not provide the details and directed the Reporter to the Department of Physical Planning. There, the Director of Physical Planning, Dr. Adams Bashir Olajide said he would not attend to the Reporter unless with express permission from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem. All efforts to get the Vice-Chancellor to speak on the projects proved abortive as his Secretary said he was out of the office.

It was the same scenario at UNIJOS. The institutions Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Abdullahi who readily gave out information about TETFund projects, could however not give details of how the projects were awarded. This Reporter could not meet with the VC, Prof. Seddi Sabastian Maimako because he was out of town when the Reporter visited.

However, at FUTMinna, the VC, Prof. Bala explained that the award of contracts must follow due process, especially as VCs are the ones to answer queries regarding the projects.

I have told the Department of Physical Planning and Bursary to keep me informed of everything that has to do with TETfund. There is nothing unusual there. I am in charge of the institution and should know what is happening to our projects.

However, many workers were of the opinion that the procurement process was skewed in favor of those who are known by the Departments of Physical planning in the institutions.

The VC of FUT Minna said that some of the officials in charge of this task do not carry out their duties judiciously while he stressed the need for adequate technical evaluation before a project is awarded to a contractor.

There is also, the problem of capacity of the contractors, some of them could not do the kind of work but again, I blame it on the institution because of the procurement law demands that you must do a technical evaluation, in doing the technical evaluation, you pay due diligence to what you are doing, sometimes, you should be able to identify such problems.

Our university sometimes sends our staff to confirm some of the projects claimed to have been done by the contractor; they will need to have the physical evaluation to confirm the claim. These are some of the little things and the problem that comes in to delay the projects but the problem itself is not from TETFund, it has to do with the procurement process, some of the capacity within the university, some of the capacity with respect to the contractors but TETFund has been very supportive in many of these cases. Sometimes, even when the university has not done its bit, TETFund tries to see how they can help in making sure that we make progress on these projects.

Consultancy Services

This Reporters discovered that the Federal University Lokoja awarded huge amounts for consultancy services. In the 2014 normal intervention project, N52 million out of N53 million allocated to Mevic Consultancy limited for consultancy services; while in the 2013 special intervention projects, Mevic consultancy was paid N77.2 million out of N90.8 million allocated for consultancy service. The nature of the consultancy remains opaque like every other procurement process of Nigerian universities.

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Varsities and TETFund contractors in unholy alliance - Internatinal Centre For Investigative Reporting

HOUSTON - November 25, 2019 - ( Newswire.com )

Clean Air Houston Pro stands out as one of the best professional cleaners in the whole of the Houston region, owing to the high-quality services it is known to provide. With a host of offerings at the disposal of the store, the cleaners ensure they are updated about the latest technical know-how to incorporate the same, and stand ahead of the rest of their counterparts. The owners attended a recent press conference to announce that the Houstonair duct cleaning business has gradually moved up the ranks since its humble inception.

With time, the Houston air duct cleaningbusiness expanded and shaped up as one of the major dryer vent cleaning units that looked into residential and commercial requirements. The services dispensed here happen round the clock. Upon seeing the wide-ranging work over the years and increasing number of customers making a beeline for the same, the company hence decided to operate on a 24/7 basis. In addition to the availability factor, we also resort to the latest equipment, so as to clean in the most specialized manner, said Ben Shalom, the executive head of the R&D team at Clean Air Houston Pro.

Considering the requirement of having a clean environment for a sustainable living, the air duct cleaning company ownersfrom Houston TX do everything possible to providesupport to customers around the globe. Just because we provide services everywhere, we do not charge heftily. The rates are affordable and apply as per the type of professional cleaning that is derived from us, assured the executive member.

In a meeting held recently with Ben Shalom, he said, Our motto is to see that the lungs are clean and the AC or HVAC systems customers use are also consuming less energy. The heating and cooling systems frequently accumulate dirt, dust and grime owing to greater usage. Hence, we recommend periodic cleaning.In getting the systems clean, less energy would be taken up and that would eventually lead to cost-effectiveness; something that most customers are unaware of.

About the Company

Clean Air Houston Pro is a leading professional cleaning firm in Houston.

To know more, visit https://cleanairhoustonpro.com

Phone: (832) 368-9937

Full Address: 3306 Inverness Path Lane, Houston, TX 77053

Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: Clean Air Houston Pro Retains Its Position as the Top Professional Cleaners in Houston

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Clean Air Houston Pro Retains Its Position as the Top Professional Cleaners in Houston - Valdosta Daily Times

One day in 1980, as it sat perched atop the bed of a tractor-trailer, the historic Felts Log House made a sluggish but steady trip from Logan County to its new home at Western Kentucky University.

The journey is documented in an archived black-and-white photograph, where the log structure can be seen plodding its way up what is now WKUs Avenue of Champions, flanked by several vehicles.

Since its construction in Logan County in 1810 and for 150 years afterward the Felts Log House was home to the descendants of Archibald Felts, a Revolutionary War veteran and early settler of Kentucky back when it was considered a frontier.

Felts descendants continued living in the house until the 1960s. In 1978, it was donated to WKU, where it was relocated just outside the Kentucky Museum on campus.

Today, the house is in need of restoration, which will be made possible thanks in part to a new $36,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

Its become an icon for WKU, and we want to preserve that, said Brent Bjorkman, director of the Kentucky Museum. We just cant be more grateful.

Standing in the cabin Monday, Bjorkman noted some deterioration, which he expects will be addressed by a restoration project that will begin in the spring.

It does need a lot of help, he said.

Built from poplar, oak and walnut trees, the two-story cabin is divided by a dogtrot, which is a roofed passage similar to a breezeway. On summer days, Bjorkman said, residents could have used it to flow air through the homes rooms. On one side lies a kitchen and dining area, and on the other, what could have been the Felts bedroom. Two childrens rooms are upstairs, past a steep staircase that twists around a corner.

The cabins living quarters are filled with simple wooden furniture and tools meant to mimic the age, including a sugar chest that a 19th century family could have used to keep supplies.

Its been such a teaching tool here on campus, Bjorkman said, adding that history and architecture have used it in their studies.

Its also become a point of pride on campus, he said. Its not uncommon for people to approach him and identify themselves as descendants of the Felts family, Bjorkman said.

Theres a lot of pride in that, he said.

WKU said the American Antique Cabin Co. described as one of the top consultants nationwide in antique log restoration developed a restoration plan for the house beginning early next year.

It will be restored using period-appropriate materials. Bjorkman said the project will focus on areas near the homes entryway and doors, along with improvements to its chinking, meaning the material between each log that helps insulate the cabin.

The project will offer opportunities for WKU students to view and engage with historic preservation in action, a university news release said.

The Felts Log House has a lot to offer students and visitors to campus, Bjorkman said.

Everyone is drawn to it in a certain way, he said.

Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.

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Felts Log House at WKU to receive restoration - Bowling Green Daily News

Restoration project is under way at the John Adams birthplace in Quincy.

QUINCY It's set to be a busy off season at the John Adams Birthplace.

The national park has only been closed for a few weeks, but the small historic home on Franklin Street is already shrouded in scaffolding as workers prepare to replace the south and west-facing sides of the house. The siding hasn't been replaced since 1984, facilities manager Kevin Kelly said, and the restoration work "is greatly needed."

"The exterior has really deteriorated," Kelly said. "But it gets tricky to find the talent and materials necessary to do restoration projects like this There's not a lot we can just pick up at Home Depot."

The John Adams Birthplace is a two-story wooden house at the corner of Franklin Street and Presidents Avenue. It was built in 1722 by Deacon John Adams, father to the second president of the United States. John Adams was born there in 1735.

Pine clapboards make up the current siding of the house, and the wood isn't treated or finished in anyway to preserve the historic feel. Kelly said pine isn't rot resistant at all, so this time around builders are going to replace the current wood with boards of Sitka spruce sourced from Alaska in hopes the similar-looking material will hold up better in winter weather.

Wood was replaced on a non-historic addition to the home two years ago and builders took the opportunity to try out another type of wood - ponderosa pine that had been treated with ammonia and quartz. But Kelly said that type of wood ended up with a greenish tint to it and "wouldn't be appropriate" for the historic parts of the house.

And it's not just sourcing material that makes the project hard. Kelly says the way the boards are laid is very particular and hard-to replicate, making the restoration a time-consuming endeavor.

"Each clapboard laps 2 inches and it's an angled, tapered cut that we've tried many times to do with modern machinery," Kelly said. "But it always proves faster and more efficient by hand."

Kelly said the south-facing side the front of the house is expected to be completed by mid-January and the west-facing side by March. If they have extra time before the park reopens in May, they'll start working on the other sides as well.

"We really just thought we were going to replace the bottom 10 boards because those are in the worst shape and have deteriorated the most, but it turns out that we have the talent and it's worthwhile to try to do what we can now," Kelly said.

Last year, the exterior of the Adams Carriage House on Adams Street was replaced.

The birthplace project also includes the replacement of window glass and sashes the part of the window that holds the glass and framework in place.

The restoration is expected to cost $100,000 and will be paid for by visitor fees.

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Two sides of Adams birthplace to be replaced this winter - The Patriot Ledger

Kris Kringle The Musical has announced the full cast for its upstate New York production in Schenectady next month featuring celebrity narrator Eve Plumb. Kris Kringle The Musical is created by Maria Ciampi (original story, book and additional lyrics), Tim Janis (music, lyrics and original orchestrations), Angelo Natalie (music and lyrics), and Frank Galgano and Matt Castle (orchestrations). The Schenectady production is directed by Frank Galgano and choreographed by Jaimie Selke, with Matt Castle serving as music director. Kris Kringle The Musical will be performed December 14-15 at Proctors (432 State Street) in Schenectady, NY; Proctors.org.

In addition to Eve Plumb ("The Brady Bunch") as Aunty Sugarplum, the show will feature a standout cast of Broadway regulars and industry veterans, including Ashley Chiu (Off-Broadway's KPOP) as Garland Pie, Vivienne Cleary (Off Bway's Once Upon a Mattress) as Ms. Horn, Ron DeStefano (Lincoln Center) as Sky Banner, Elizabeth Ward Land (Broadway's Memphis) as Grandma Kringle, Aveena Sawyer (National Tour of Something Rotten!) as Tinselle Splade, Kyle Sherman (Off-Broadway's Ordinary Days) as Kris Kringle, Christopher Shyer (Broadway's Mamma Mia) as Roy G. Reedy, Jason Simon (Lincoln Center's Show Boat) as Santa Claus, Gerianne Prez (Broadway's In Transit) as Evelyn Nol, Nick Varricchino (Atlantis Theatrical's Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Elmer Elf, and Rema Webb (Broadway's The Color Purple, The Lion King) as Mrs. Claus.

The ensemble features Quentin Avery Brown, Marjorie Failoni (Broadway's Escape to Margaritaville), Melissa Jones (Beauty and the Beast National Tour), and Jose Luaces (Broadway's A Christmas Story).

In addition, Kris Kringle The Musical will boast an all-star creative team, including puppetry by Rick Lyon, who created puppets for the Tony Award winning "Best Musical" Avenue Q; lighting design by Tony Award-winner Jeff Croiter; sound design by Emmy Award-winner Matt Kraus; and projections by Drama Desk nominee John Narun.

Kris Kringle The Musical is a brand-new, wholly original Christmas musical for the whole family that reveals the untold story of Kris Kringle. Discover what happens when an evil toy company CEO crosses paths with a young, jobless toymaker whose family name carries a curse with the power to destroy Christmas. From the top of the world in the North Pole, Kris Kringle teams up with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the beautiful Evelyn Nol, a band of hilarious Apprentices and Elves, and magical Toys to remind us what Christmas is really all about - love, hope, and finding a family in the most unlikely of places.

Kris Kringle The Musical has a magnificent score and memorable songs (including "Unwrap the Christmas Magic," "Beautiful," "My North Star," "Something Wonderful in You" and "Green Suede Shoes"), destined to become holiday classics. In February 2018, a Studio Cast Recording was released, starring Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies) and Nikki Rene Daniels (Porgy and Bess; The Book of Mormon), with Janine La Manna (Seussical), Kim Crosby (Into the Woods) and Mary Stout (Beauty and the Beast).

Kris Kringle The Musical made its New York City debut at The Town Hall in November 2017, and was originally narrated by Tony Award nominee, Cathy Rigby.

Eve Plumb started her acting career at age 6, performing in many commercials en route to epic stardom in the 1970s. She is most known for television roles including recent appearances on Crashing, Blue Bloods, The Path, Grease Live, Army Wives and, of course, as the iconic middle sister, Jan Brady, on The Brady Bunch. Plumb has also had key roles in TV movies such as Dawn: Portrait of A Teenage Runaway and Little Women.

Also an accomplished painter, Plumb's stage credits include off-Broadway appearances in Nora and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, And What I Wore, Unbroken Circle and Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage as well as regional theatre work throughout the United States. Recent film appearances include Blue Ruin (Winner Cannes Directors' Fortnight, Sundance Spotlight Festival, Independent Spirit nominee) and Monsoon. TV audiences saw a new side of Plumb - who studied improv comedy at The Groundlings School in Los Angeles - when she shared her love for home renovation and restoration on A Very Brady Renovation on HGTV.

Keenan-Bolger called Kris Kringle The Musical "[a] holiday musical for a new generation-a gorgeous score paired with a heartwarming tale of family and forgiveness." During the 2019 holiday season at Proctors, Kris Kringle will further attest that it is indeed a holiday treat for a new generation by the use, for the first time, of enchanting projections to heighten the storytelling experience.

Tickets for Kris Kringle The Musical range from $20-$60 for Saturday, December 14 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady; by phone at (518) 346-6204; and online at proctors.org.

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Eve Plumb to Star in KRIS KRINGLE THE MUSICAL at Proctors Theater - Broadway World

It started with a couple of spots on the ceiling.

Just dirt, they thought, dust collecting near a couple of air ducts on the ceiling of the sanctuary.

But it proved more insidious than that: mold, black mold the visible sign of a disease that had invisibly infected the historic Greene Memorial United Methodist Church for years. The 130-year-old Roanoke church was slowly rotting.

By the time all of the problems were identified and solutions planned, the price tag for treatment reached $1.3 million a dangerous amount for a small congregation, but one the church decided was worth it.

The problems are just about all cleared up now. The sanctuary is spot-free and gleaming under new LED lights.

On Sunday, congregants will return to their old wood pews beneath soaring vaulted ceilings for the first time in a year. Services had been held in the church social hall and even in a large lobby in the meantime.

But the cost of saving the church has strained Greene Memorials coffers. Church leaders decided that preserving the historic building was important in itself, but also crucial to maintaining the congregations mission work, much of which focuses on downtown issues and organizations.

I think were on the edge financially, said Debbie Brown, director of programs and outreach ministries for Greene Memorial.

The church dipped into its endowment to pay the growing bill for the repairs. That means its on the brink of being unable to maintain support for all of its mission programs.

We know that in order to do any more repairs, that is definitely going to cut into anything we can do for the community, Brown said.

So theyve launched a Go Fund Me campaign that aims to raise $300,000.

The hope is that the community the church serves will help revive it financially.

It kind of escalated

Once a closer look revealed in October 2018 that the spots on the sanctuary ceiling were mold, the bad news kept coming.

The more they looked, the worse it got, Brown said.

Mold experts found the stuff not just in the sanctuary but all over the building.

Cracking and peeling wallpaper in the sanctuary indicated water was coming in. Water damage was found in the churchs educational wing.

Experts took two passes to identify and remove all the mold, Brown said. Then it was time to address the root causes.

Death by a thousand cuts, restoration contractor Colin Waters said. His company, Huntly-based Waters Craftsman, which works almost exclusively on historic churches, was brought in to assess the problems.

They were many, and typical.

Over the sanctuary, for example, a previous contractor had installed new modern guttering over the top of the original built-in gutters. It leaked and destroyed the wood structure beneath.

You get some guys who mean well but a lot of those times those modern techniques dont really mesh with a historic building, Waters said. You need a real craftsman to do that metal work. Otherwise youre just doing more harm than good.

Roof flashing was beyond its useful life all over the slate roof, and over the educational wing, faulty original construction and multiple past repairs allowed water to infiltrate the churchs exterior walls. That meant disassembling the walls to put in a functioning barrier to keep water out in the future. Subcontractor Blue Ridge Restoration of Lexington is handling the roof repairs.

Greene Memorials problems are a familiar story for Waters: Theyre common to historic churches.

Unfortunately, a lot of these churches are up against a pretty steep maintenance curve, he said. Youve got a building thats a real monster to maintain, and if you let it get away from you, you can really lose your butt.

Brown said church leaders were glad to identify the problems.

However, that came with a price tag, she said, and it kind of escalated.

As the list of problems grew, the churchs governing council and building trustees were faced with a decision: Should they spend the money to fix the building, or move?

Brown said church leaders had set a cost they could tolerate for the building repairs. But then the actual costs blew right past that limit by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Church leaders asked themselves what the corner of Second Street and Church Avenue would be like without the church.

No one liked the answers they envisioned. Leaving downtown never got much consideration, Brown said.

The thinking went well beyond the building itself and landed on how strongly the churchs downtown location was connected to its mission.

Greene Memorials outreach programs often focus on issues connected to the citys center, such as homelessness, and it partners with other nonprofits nearby. The church renovated the buildings educational wing about 10 years ago to enhance those partnerships.

Dozens of organizations use the church for meetings, and some city staff who serve the homeless have their offices there.

The citys annual point-in-time count of the homeless population is headquartered at the church.

Theyve kind of been the hub of a lot of the social change and a lot of the dynamics that have taken place in downtown, said Vice Mayor Joe Cobb. Theyre very mission-minded, and to me the mission is not other places its really focused in the heart of downtown.

Greene Memorial was a founding member of Congregations in Action, a group of churches that stepped in to support Highland Park Elementary School when it had no PTA.

The churches provide snacks and meals for students in poverty, hold clothing and school supply drives, and host the schools annual Fun Day, Principal Mark Crummy said.

That relationship happened because the school is so near downtown.

Theyre all great churches, Crummy said of the CIA members, but Greene has really been the touchstone for us.

The church was a charter member of Family Promise of the Greater Roanoke Valley, through which congregations use church facilities to provide housing and meals for homeless families, while the organization helps them find jobs and permanent housing.

Marie Muddiman, executive director of Family Promise, noted that the church also hosts the annual memorial service for the homeless people who died during the year.

And congregants knit hats and scarves that they leave in bags on the fence around the church for those in need.

If youre cold and walking by, theres a hat for you. Thats a small ministry but an important one, Muddiman said.

And then there are the bells that toll the hour, which can be heard across a large swath of downtown.

Who doesnt recognize the chimes? Cobb asked. They may not know where they come from, but they come from Greene Memorial.

The thought of not having Greene Memorial in downtown Roanoke is devastating, said Laura Stockstill, a second-generation member there.

She was married in the church and her three children were baptized there. One son, John, built the platform where musicians set up during services as his Eagle Scout project. She remains friends with people she met in church youth group decades ago.

But the congregation, like many older churches, is shrinking and aging. Its collection plate is not deep.

Members gave generously for the educational wing renovation just a decade ago. Many dont have the wherewithal to give so much again.

The hope is that the larger community will fill the gap.

Its a historical building and it means a lot to not only members of our congregation but so many people in the community, Brown said.

While the fundraising campaign continues, so does the work on the roof. Other jobs, such as repairs to the steeple, will be left undone for the near future.

But at least the congregation will return to its grand sanctuary on Sunday.

Since the mold was discovered, services were held in the basement social hall. A few weeks ago, an exterior drainage problem forced another move into the welcome center a large lobby.

Congregants have tired of the makeshift settings.

Its hard when somebody comes, who is a visitor, Stockstill said. You want to say, this is not what we normally do.

But, she said, holding a single Sunday morning service instead of two and cramming the congregation into smaller spaces has brought members closer.

Still, getting back to their old Sunday morning digs is much anticipated. Last week, musical equipment was moved back in, and hymnals and Bibles were returned to pews.

After the Sunday services, members will decorate for Advent.

Last week, Brown grinned at the thought of members finding their old pews Sunday morning.

I think everybodys going to be blown away when they go in.

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After a year of prayers and repairs, downtown Roanoke church returns home - Roanoke Times

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U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, applauded the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which announced Thursday the award of a total of $3,584,865 in grants funded distributed via the GLRI, or Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, on efforts to address issues facing the Great Lakes region, including several focused on Lake Erie specifically.(Photo: Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald)

WASHINGTON - Both state and local officials are lauding the more than $3.3 million in grants recently announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

On Thursday, the EPA announced the award of a total of $3,584,865 in grants distributed via the GLRI, or Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, for efforts to address issues facing the Great Lakes region, including several focused on Lake Erie specifically

According to a news release from Sen. Sherrod Brown, the awards this year include:

$285,000 to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to improve wetland function in a coastal marsh and the Moxley Wetland Area on Lake Eries Sandusky Bay.

$374,865 to Ohio EPA and Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) to stabilize 1,950 feet of streambank on the West Branch of Euclid Creek using native plants and to enhance 10.7 acres of existing forest through invasive species treatment.

$1 million to Ohio EPA and OLEC to reduce approximately 515 to 715 pounds of phosphorus runoff per year and to protect and restore streams and wetlands by working with farmers.

$1.125 million to Ohio EPA to develop and implement lakewide action management plans for Lake Erie and remedial action plans for Lake Erie AOCs.

$800,000 grant to Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization (NEFCO) to remove the canal diversion dam and the resulting impoundment from the Cuyahoga River.

The GLRI received a total of $2.56 billion in fundingfrom its initial year in 2010 to 2017.As of March 2019, that had led to the funding of 4,858 projects throughout the region, including more than 200 projects in Ohio. Most of those projects are related to Lake Erie.

Lake Erie provides drinking water for 11 million people, Brown said. We must do all we can to keep it healthy for them, and for the businesses, families, boaters and anglers that rely on the lake.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative needs to kept operating at full strength.(Photo: Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald)

Brown said that is done by keeping the GLRI operating at full strength.

The GLRI has continued to receive bipartisan support in Congress, despite several budget proposals from President Donald Trump that would have cut its funding significantly.

Historically, the U.S. Congress approved $300 million each fiscal year for the GLRI. Trumps proposals would cut that funding by 90%, reducing it to $30 million, which effectively would gut the program, according to lawmakers.

Both Brown and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, have supported the full funding of the program, as have several members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Great Lakes region, such as U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, and U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green.

The GLRI makes possible key federal investments to improve the health of our beloved Great Lakes, Kaptur said following the latest GLRI bills passage by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in September.

More: Proposed Great Lakes funding cuts called 'cruel' and 'unacceptable'

The version passed by the committee actually proposes increasing the federal funding of the GLRI from $300 million to $475 million annually through 2026.

As a critical economic and environmental resource to our region on which millions of Americans depend for everything from drinking water and recreation to fishing and shipping goods, the Great Lakes need our full attention, Kaptur said.

Citing the various series issues facing Lake Erie, such as harmful algal blooms and invasive species such as Asian carp, Kaptur applauded the bipartisan support the new bill has received.

The recent awards announced Thursday, which include several projects that are close to home, have also received vocal support from state lawmakers.

All of these grants will make such a positive impact not only for Lake Erie itself, but for all of the individuals and communities surrounding it, including Sandusky Bay, said state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, whose district includes Erie and Ottawa counties.

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-680-4897

Twitter: @JonDBN

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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative awards $3.5 million in grants - Port Clinton News Herald

Seedstars has announced Ethiopias Zafree Papers, South Africas GreenFingers Mobile and Ivory Coastss Lono as the finalists of its DOEN Land Restoration Prize.

The Swiss investor and emerging market startup organisation launched the prize in August in co-operation with the DOEN Foundation (Stichting DOEN) to find and award the best innovative solutions in the land restoration and land degradation space.

The two organisations said in a joint statement earlier today that over 220 applications were made for the prize.

The DOEN Land Restoration Prize winner will be awarded a $10 000 grant

Addis Ababa based Zafree Papers manufactures a 100% tree-free unbleached paper pulp and paper products using agro-waste. Every year, the company saves more than half a million trees from being cut as well as 30 000 tons of crop-residue from being set on fire.

Cape Town based GreenFingers Mobile is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology platform that enables organisations working with smallholder farmers to meet the criteria of food corporations and provide a transparent value chain.

In partnership with reforestation projects, the startup enables the tracking and monitoring of the disbursement and planting of trees by small holder farmers to counter the depletion of forests that small scale farming causes.

Abidjan-based Lono improve soil fertility through the development of an affordable, solar-powered composting box for smallholder farmers.

The three startups will be awarded a nine-month access to the Seedstars Investment Readiness Programme.

The hybrid programme challenges traditional acceleration models by allowing entrepreneurs to create their own personalised curriculum with online and on-site sessions, creating a unique mix to improve startups performance and get them ready to secure investment.

The DOEN Land Restoration Prize winner will be announced on 5 December at The Fox Junction during the Seedstars Africa Summit that will be held in Johannesburg between 3 and 5 December where they will take home a $10 000 grant.

Featured image: GreenFingers Mobile CEO Natalie Miller (GreenFingers Mobile via Facebook)

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Seedstars announces finalists of the DOEN Land Restoration Prize - Ventureburn