Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Plans to restore M.F.K. Fishers Glen Ellen residence into a destination honoring her legacy and celebrating her love of food, wine, literature and nature are moving forward with two announced events in coming weeks.

Known as the Last House, the single-story adobe on the grounds of the Bouverie Preserve, designed for the legendary food writer by architect David Pleydell-Bouverie, was her home for the final years of her life.

The palazzino, as she called it, featured two large rooms one of them a kitchen divided by a huge bathroom, with black tile floors throughout and built-in bookcases for over 2,000 books. She lived here most of the time, aside from intermittent trips to Europe, from 1971 until her death in 1992, at the Last House.

As part of the restoration, some of her personal art, books and other possessions have been returned to the house from storage. The Chinese Red wall of art in her bathroom has been recreated, and can now be enjoyed as it was when Mary Frances welcomed visitors to Last House.

Reaching out to family and friends who have lovingly shared items, memories, and stories has been rich, said Kennedy Golden, Fishers daughter and an advisor on the project. Among the donated items, Fishers Coronomatic typewriter sits quietly in one corner, rough draft secured on the platen for curious observers.

A Peek into the Last House will be offered on Saturday, Aug. 26, by Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), which owns and manages the Bouverie property. Attendees will be able to tour the house and grounds from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and refreshments will be served. Tickets are $45, $40 for ACR members, and available until Aug. 19 on Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/y95ez5xs.

With Bold Knife and Fork, a benefit for the Last House, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Generals Daughter in Sonoma. The menu will feature cassoulet, one of Fishers favorite dishes, prepared by the Depot Hotel and Epicurean Connection, as well as other dishes. Tickets are $100 for members, $125 for others, at tinyurl.com/y83yrqug.

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MFK Fisher's 'Last House' in Glen Ellen undergoing restoration - Sonoma Index-Tribune

Denver, CO (PRWEB) August 14, 2017

In 1992, the Texas Association of Builders launched the Star Awards which represented the only statewide tribute to excellence in home building. Since then, the highly-coveted Star Awards have been presented annually to recognize builders, remodelers, architects, designers, sales and marketing professionals, and industry leaders in Texas in more than 100 categories.

This years awards were presented on August 3rd in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show in Dallas, Texas. StrucSure Home Warranty is proud to congratulate the following builder members for their achievements and contributions to the homebuilding industry:

Classic Urban Homes, Dallas, TX Custom Builder - Best Kitchen - $750K - $1M | Custom Builder - Best Master Bathroom - $750K - $1M | Custom Builder - Best New Custom Home - $750K - $1M

Gehan Homes, Addison, TX On-Site Sales Person of the Year - Melodie Monroe

Greymark Construction Company, Houston, TX Remodeler - Best Historic Renovation - Under $500K | Remodeler - Best Historically Sensitive Renovation - $100K - $250K

Keechi Creek Builders, Houston, TX Remodeler - Best Bathroom Renovation - $25K - $50K - Farid Disaster | Remodel Remodeler - Best Specialty Room - Cosco Man Cave

LBJ Construction, Houston, TX Remodeler - Best Addition - $100K - $250K Addition | Remodeler - Best Outdoor Living Space - $100K - $250K - Outdoor Living Space

Mike Hollaway Custom Homes, San Antonio, TX Custom Builder - Best Architectural Design - $2M and Over - Londrie Home | Custom Builder - Best Master Bathroom - $2M and Over - Londrie Master bath

Sitterle Homes, San Antonio, TX Volume Builder - Best Promotional Video | Volume Builder - Best Special Promotion | Sales Manager of the Year - Rodney Jordan

Traditional Classic Homes, LLC, Richardson, TX Remodeler - Best Whole House Renovation - $100K - $250K Kensington

Wright-Built, LLC, Hawkins, TX Best Special Project - Non-Primary Residence - Red Rooster Icehouse

For a complete listing of award recipients, please visit the Texas Association of Builders Web site at http://www.texasbuilders.org/site/publisher/files/Star%20Awards/Star%20Award%202017_%20Winner%20List%208_3_17.pdf. For more information on StrucSure Home Warranty, please visit http://www.strucsure.com.

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About StrucSure Home Warranty

Since 1997, StrucSure Home Warranty has been providing builders, remodelers, and contractors with warranty products that deliver peace of mind. Our warranties protect our clients from expensive claims, liabilities, and legal fees and offer their clients peace of mind through third-party warranty protection that is A-rated with additional reinsurance from Lloyds of London. Just like any risk management product, the hope is that you'll never need it, but when a problem emerges, you're glad you're covered!

About StrucSure Risk Management Group

StrucSure Risk Management Group provides risk management products and services to businesses in various construction-related industries. Our family of companies includes StrucSure Home Warranty, LLC, SHW Insurance Services, Inc., Golden Insurance Company, RRG, and Four Points Re, SPC, Ltd. Together, these companies offer sophisticated financial and risk management services, including warranty programs, competitive insurance programs, insurance backing, and reinsurance and alternative financing vehicles.

Contact Adria Ellerbrock, Vice President of Marketing at (303) 806-8688 or visit http://www.strucsure.com and http://www.s-rmg.com for more information.

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StrucSure Home Warranty Congratulates Recipients of the Texas ... - PR Web (press release)

MCDONALD John R. Zagger, 79, passed away Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital in Warren.

John was born March 9, 1938, in Sharon, Pa., the son of John and Matilda (Gerzetich) Zagger.

Prior to retiring in 2001, John was an electrician for General Motors. He was a member of the Salisbury Sportsman Club and the Slovene National Benefit Society. He enjoyed fishing, cooking, hunting, and a good glass of wine.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Dominga Daisy (Corpuz) Zagger, whom he married June 12, 1986; his children, Michael (Mary) Zagger of Austin, Texas, Mark (Gina) Zagger of Cazenovia, N.Y., and Monette Canon (Kevin Taylor) of Charlotte, N.C.; his sister, Louise Burnett of Cortland; his brother, Glenn Zagger of Cleveland; his grandchildren, Megan (Bill) Mrazek, Emily (Trevor) Murray, and Andrew Canon; and his beloved dogs, Jojo and Zoey.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Webb.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. at the Blackstone Funeral Home in Girard. The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 p.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in the name of John R. Zagger to the Slovene National Benefit Society in support of their cabin renovation project. Please note John R. Zagger with your donation and mail to Slovene National Benefit Society, 247 W. Allegheny Road, Imperial, PA 15126-9774.

Visit http://www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any condolences to the Zagger family.

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JOHN R. ZAGGER - Youngstown Vindicator

CHICAGO The Metra Board of Directors gave a man who began as an electrician for the company and made his way through the ranks a new title Wednesday executive director/CEO.

James M. Derwinski, Metras chief mechanical officer, was selected to lead the commuter rail agency, according to a new release from Metra.

In Jim Derwinski we have an inspirational leader, well known for his effective communications and ability to develop people, thus earning him great respect within Metra, Metra board Chairman Norman Carlson said in a statement. Using his intelligence and skills, Jim has developed processes and procedures that make efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

Derwinski, 49, oversees 650 employees responsible for the repair, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of about 1,200 railcars and locomotives as chief mechanical officer. He also is in charge of in-house railcar and locomotive rehabilitation programs, a contract for locomotive remanufacturing and the installation of Positive Train Control on cab cars and engines.

We interviewed many qualified candidates for this position, but we feel Jim is best qualified to lead Metra, board Vice Chairman Romayne C. Brown, who led the boards search, said in a statement. With our funding challenges, we need someone with his proven energy and resourcefulness to keep us on track as we face some difficult years ahead. Jim is that person. He is an innovator who is willing to try new things that have achieved very effective use of precious capital dollars.

Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno is retiring from the position at the end of 2017.

The board made the selection at this time so that there will be a lengthy transition period, according to the release. Derwinski will be paid a salary of $275,000.

With Jims background, railroad knowledge and collaborative working relationship with BNSF, Union Pacific and the regulatory agencies, I am confident he will hit the ground running when he takes the helm at Metra in 2018, Orseno said in a statement. I will be pleased to leave the agency under Jims leadership.

Derwinski spent six years with the U.S. Navy as an electrician on nuclear submarines before the Chicago and North Western Railway hired him as a locomotive electrician in 1993.

He joined Metra as an electrician in 1997 and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as a foreman, general foreman, shop superintendent, director of systems maintenance, locomotive superintendent, Rock Island division director, Milwaukee division director and then senior director of mechanical operations.

He was named chief mechanical officer in September 2013.

Originally posted here:
Metra Board selects new executive director to lead agency ... - Northwest Herald

Terrance Peder Rasmussen, 1959

Terrance Peder Rasmussen, 1959

In search for clues to slayings, long-dead Richmond-area killer IDd

For years, police in California and New Hampshire knew Robert Bob Evans was a killer, murdering and dismembering his wife in a home outside Richmond decades after presumably killing an unidentified woman and three young children in New Hampshire.

They just never knew his real name.

He was actually Terrance Peder Rasmussen, New Hampshire authorities announced Friday.

Law enforcement officials believe the discovery of Rasmussens identity is a breakthrough in the decades-old murder mystery of the four victims in Allenstown, N.H.

Using DNA with living relatives and comparing fingerprints connected with aliases, police pieced together the identity of the man as well as much of his whereabouts from his birth in 1943 to his death in 2010 in a California prison. But they are hoping that the public release of Rasmussens name will help fill in holes from his timeline, including substantial time spent in the Bay Area in the 1970s, to help identify the nameless woman and children.

Rasmussen used several aliases, in addition to Evans, including Curtis Kimball, Jerry Gorman, Gerald Mockerman, Gordon Jenson and Lawrence William Vanner while living in California during the 1980s. He died in 2010 while serving a life sentence for his wifes murder. He was listed by the California state corrections department as Kimball.

Police believe Rasmussen killed the woman and three girls in New Hampshire, one of whom was his biological daughter, stuffing them in metal drums on a rural property. Police found the first barrel with two victims in 1985 and the second with the other two in 2000. Its unclear when they were killed.

New Hampshire authorities also believe Rasmussen is responsible for the death of another woman, Denise Beaudin, 32, who disappeared after leaving with him for what police believe was a cross-country trip.

Rasmussen was convicted of only one murder, however, that of his wife, Eunsoon Jun. Contra Costa County police in 2002 found her partially dismembered body under a pile of cat litter. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to her murder.

Jun was his second wife. His first wife, along with their children, are alive, police said.

According to the New Hampshire Attorney Generals office, Rasmussen served in the U.S. Navy in California from 1962 to 1967 and lived in Santa Cruz, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties from the early 1970s until his arrest in 2002.

He was employed as an electrician and handyman while in California.

In a timeline provided by the authorities, Rasmussen moved to Redwood City in 1970 and worked as an electrician in Palo Alto.

In 1974, he visited his first wife and children in Arizona, accompanied by an unidentified woman. Investigators are particularly interested in whom he was traveling with at that time.

By 1986, Rasmussen was living in Santa Cruz County, working in a Scotts Valley RV park under the name Gordon Jenson, and after several years of unknown whereabouts, he was again in California, living as Vanner.

Police ask anyone with any information about Rasmussen to contact New Hampshire State Police-Cold Case Unit at (603) 223-3856 or coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker

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In search for clues to slayings, long-dead Richmond-area killer IDd - SFGate

Could someone in Hawaii hold the key to solving the decades old case involving the murder of a woman and three little girls thousands of miles away?

Investigators hope so.

In 1985, the bodies of a woman and and a young girl were found in a barrel in New Hampshire.

Fifteen years later, in 2000, another barrel was found in the same area. This one had the remains of two girls.

Investigators put together composites of the victims, butto this day, theyve never been identified.

DNA shows the woman is related to two of the girls, but the DNA of the third girl shows she was the daughter of a man known as Terrance Terry Peder Rasmussen.

Investigators believe he murdered all four of the victims.

However, he can never be charged with the crime since he died several years ago in prison after being convicted of killing his girlfriend in 2003.

Investigators are hoping that by piecing together Rasmussens past, they can identify the victims found in the barrels.

As we said early on in this case, its in a backwards mode, said Jeff Strelzin, New Hampshire assistant attorney general. Usually we start with a victim and learn the identity of our killer. We have a lot of information about our killer, and we hope that leads us to our victims.

So where does Hawaii fit in in all of this?Authorities say he moved here sometime between 1967 and 1968 to live with his parents.

He got married here in 1968, and may have worked as an electrician before moving to Arizona in 1969.

Were told he went by many other names over the years, so he may have used an alias when he was here.

If you recognize him, or maybe you kept in contact with him over the years, any little bit of information you have may be key for cold case investigators trying to find out the identity of these little girls and the woman who was found with them.

If you have any information about Terrance Peder Rasmussen or the four unidentified murder victims, please contact:

New Hampshire State Police-Cold Case Unit(603) 223-3856coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov

Manchester Police Department(603) 668-8711MPDcoldcase@manchesternh.gov

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)ncmectips@ncmec.org

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North High School, Phoenix, AZ 1959

North High School, Phoenix, AZ 1960

Date unknown (estimated late 1950s-early 1960s)

Rasmussen in Navy, 1964-1965 (Source: Navy MCB 5 Yearbook, Okinawa 1964-1965)

North High School, Phoenix, AZ 1959

North High School, Phoenix, AZ 1960

Date unknown (estimated late 1950s-early 1960s)

Rasmussen in Navy, 1964-1965 (Source: Navy MCB 5 Yearbook, Okinawa 1964-1965)

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Former Hawaii resident tied to brutal murders on the mainland, and investigators need your help - KHON2

Labor unions had to collect a little more than 100,000 signatures from across Missouri by Aug. 28 if they wanted to put a repeal of right-to-work on the 2018 ballot.

On Friday, they turned in more than 310,000 signatures.

Republicans have sought to turn Missouri into a right-to-work state for decades. In February, they got their wish when Gov. Eric Greitens signed legislation allowing employees in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying unions for the cost of being represented.

But now the law is in jeopardy, and a yearlong battle that will likely cost millions of dollars is about to commence.

Weve come together and put in countless hours gathering signatures from voters at festivals, community events, door-to-door canvasses, parades, you name it, said Bobby Dicken, an electrician from Butler County. These folks whove signed the petition want their voices to be heard.

The laws supporters were quick to dismiss the union-led effort.

Union bosses are afraid of giving workers the freedom to decide if a union is right for the worker and are intent on maintaining their power to force workers to unionize in Missouri, said Rep. Holly Rehder, a Sikeston Republican.

The signatures will go out to local county clerks for verification, a process likely to take until November. If its determined that there are enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot next year, voters would be faced with a yes or no question. A no vote would repeal the law.

Citizens may call a referendum on a measure approved by the General Assembly and not vetoed by the governor. Although the referendum petition was regularly used in Missouri during the early 20th century, the last time it was used was 1982.

Of the 26 times a referendum has been placed on the ballot, voters have rejected actions by the General Assembly all but twice.

While unions are bankrolling the anti-right-to-work campaign, its unclear who is paying for the other side.

Donations of hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone to pro-right-to-work political action committees after being routed through nonprofits to hide the original source of the funding. One of the nonprofits to donate was A New Missouri Inc., which was founded by Greitens political team.

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Unions turn in 310000 signatures to repeal Missouri right-to-work law - Kansas City Star

Facing a tighter budget, the Metra board of directors on Wednesday decided to look within the agency for its next CEO, turning to a 20-year veteran who is used to dealing with the costs of repairing and replacing the railroad's aging equipment.

In a unanimous vote during its regular monthly meeting, the board hired James Derwinski, 49, currently Metra's chief mechanical officer, to replace current Executive Director Don Orseno, who is retiring at the end of the year. Orseno also had been a longtime Metra veteran, and the board decided again to go with an internal candidate to lead the commuter rail service after a nationwide search.

A resident of northwest Indiana who commutes via Metra now and again, Derwinski was hired by the transit agency in 1997, working his way through the ranks to management. As chief mechanical officer, he oversees 650 employees responsible for repair, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of nearly 1,200 rail cars and locomotives. His 2016 pay was $171,704, according to Metra.

In the CEO's seat he'll be paid a salary of $275,000 effective Jan. 1, a drop from Orseno's salary of $317,500. The salary is lower because Derwinski has less experience, said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.

Martin Oberman, a former Metra board member and chairman and ex-Chicago alderman, praised the Derwinski pick as a "good choice."

"He keeps the cars and locomotives running on scanty resources and knows how to manage people," Oberman said. "His workforce really looks up to him. He's got a very good personality."

In remarks to the board after the vote, Derwinski said he looked forward to working with Orseno in the coming months. "The direction the organization has gone in is the direction we need to continue to go," he said.

Orseno, a 43-year rail veteran credited by transportation experts with helping to restore stability to the agency after years of turmoil, said he was retiring to spend more time with his family.

The next Metra CEO has to deal with a complex system that runs 750 trains a day while having to share lines with freight trains and Amtrak. The new head also will have to contend with the ongoing budget crisis in Springfield; the agency has gone years without a state capital program to upgrade its aging system. Metra has raised fares three times in the last three years.

The funding problems for Metra are getting worse. Metra Chief Financial Officer Thomas Farmer reported to the board that expected funding amounts from the Regional Transportation Authority the financial and oversight agency for Metra, the CTA and PACE will be lower between this year and 2020.

For 2017, the forecast is down more than $22 million than what was expected, from $428.2 million to $405.6 million, due mostly to lower sales tax collection. So the new CEO will have less money to work with.

Oberman said Derwinski understood how complicated Metra's system is, which is an advantage compared with someone from the outside.

"With our funding challenges, we need someone with his proven energy and resourcefulness to keep us on track as we face some difficult years ahead," said Board Vice Chair Romayne Brown, who led the board's search. "Jim is that person."

Derwinski told reporters afterward that one of his skills is making Metra's case in Springfield as one of the agency's representatives.

"One of the things I'm very good at is telling our side of the story down there about the age of the equipment and our needs," Derwinski said.

Metra's board had considered both internal and external candidates. But the agency's last experience with a CEO from outside Metra had been rocky and expensive. Before Orseno, the Metra executive director was Alex Clifford, who came from the Los Angeles' Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro.

Clifford raised allegations of political interference at Metra, was forced out and got a severance package valued at up to $871,000. Clifford had succeeded Phil Pagano, who killed himself in 2010 by stepping in front of a Metra train after allegations of financial misconduct.

Orseno became Metra's executive director and CEO in January 2014, having served as interim head of the service since August 2013.

Derwinski served for six years in the Navy as an electrician on nuclear submarines, then began his railroad career as a locomotive electrician with the Chicago & North Western railroad in 1993. He took college courses in engineering while working as an electrician but did not earn a degree, Gillis said.

Derwinski joined Metra as an electrician in 1997 and rose through the ranks, serving as a foreman, general foreman, shop superintendent, director of systems maintenance, locomotive superintendent, Rock Island division director, Milwaukee division director and then senior director of mechanical operations, becoming chief mechanical officer in September 2013.

Derwinski lives in Crown Point, Ind., and takes Metra occasionally, Gillis said. He was born in Flagstaff, Ariz., but grew up in the south suburbs of Glenwood and South Holland, where he attended Thornwood High School.

Asked about whether he might consider consulting with Metra after retirement, Orseno said he plans to go to "where it's warm" for the winter. "I don't know what the future will bring," he said.

Through a spokeswoman, RTA head Leanne Redden praised the choice of Derwinski.

"We are pleased that Metra continues to look to its own talent by choosing this seasoned professional to move forward to provide quality public transportation in our region," Redden said.

mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marywizchicago

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Metra taps one its own to be new CEO of transit agency - Chicago Tribune

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Our gazebos (soon to be your gazebo) are a place of sanctuary from which to gaze upon your estate or to create a focal point in your landscape.

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Gazebo Kits, DIY or Installed & Stretched Gazebos

Hampshire Regency Dancers graced Chawton fete

A VIOLENT hail storm did nothing to dampen the spirits at Chawtons annual fete and horticultural show which raised a thundering 3,537.38 for village organisations.

Held on Saturday, August 5, in the grounds of Prowtings, by kind permission of Tom and Jenny Perring the event has been hailed another great day and a great success.

The Chawton Fete Committee thanked the Old Man Friday Gang (and one lady) who set up the gazebos and tent and to the stall holders and volunteers who helped to organise, set up and run the fete and clear up at the end, including Richard Pink and Simon Hadley for the transport, and Simon for supplying the gazebos.

Thanks go also to Fran and Trevor Jones of The Greyfriar for the beer tent, Nick Benham and his team for the barbecue, and to everyone who donated prizes and equipment, needed to make the fete go with a swing.

Also mentioned were Peter Holland for his NG TF classic car, Peter Stevens for his classic Land Rovers, Solent MG owners club, Martin Kitching parking cones and Target Football, Mary Knight for her Safecracker game, and the McKells for the crockery smashing stall.

Sponsors including Redemptorists Publications for printing advertising posters, Jone and Jones landscape gardeners of Four Marks and A&G Engineering, Alton, and the sponsoring of the Hampshire Regency Dancers by Anthony (Jumbo) Fuller.

A quiz at The Greyfriar compiled Richard Duval and the auctioning of a Mick Williams painting, contributed 225 to the fetes coffers.

St Nicholas Church, Chawton Pre-School, Chawton Cricket Club, Chawton WI, Chawton Village Hall, the Mother and Toddler Group, Chawton School Support, and the childrens Christmas party will share the profits of 393.04. Chawton Horticultural Society its shar.

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Hail the fete that went went down a real storm! | News | Alton Herald - Alton Herald