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Sixers prove and gain plenty with additions of JJ Redick, Amir Johnson

Whether the process is over or still ongoing, the Sixers are entering a new chapter in the direction of the team. It is one in whichveteran leadership for the young core is highly revered, so much so that the Sixers are willing to pay up for it.

The Sixers on Saturday agreed to a one-year contract with shooting guard JJ Redick worth $23 million, according to a league source (see story). That's $280,487.81 per regular-season game.

The Sixers also agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with forward Amir Johnson, according to a source (see story).As of Saturday, Johnson will be the second-highest paid player on the Sixers next season behind Redick.

These paychecks, Redick's in particular, are representative of the Sixers'commitment to improving the team now. They aren't building a roster looking to knock off the Cavaliers, but rather one that can take a critical step in the development of the organization. The Sixers need to surround players like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and Dario Saric with veterans to make that happen.

Johnson will be entering his 13th season; Redick his 12th. Both made their NBA debuts in 2006, the same year Fultz turned 8years old.

The two, along with Jerryd Bayless, can instill lessons of professionalism and accountability to achieve lengthy NBA careers. Both Johnson and Redick are seasoned in the playoffs and know how to take care of their bodies. Johnson played 80 games last regular season while Redickmissed only four.

Yes, Redick will add instant offense with his dangerous long-range shot and Johnson will provide versatility in the frontcourt, but the bigger value could be the influence they have on the younger players. Embiid and Simmons already welcomed Redick's addition with approvals on social media (see story).

The short-term commitments to Johnson and Redick keep in line with the Sixers'desire to maintain salary cap flexibility for the future, including free agency and a potential contract extension forEmbiid. If all goes well, the Sixers could revisit their contract situations for the following season and perhaps negotiate for more years at a discount. Or, the players could part ways and find new teams. Either outcome, the Sixers won't have their hands tied contractually when they enter the market in the summer of 2018.

The Sixers have inked two long-term veterans to short-term deals. If the young players soak up everything Johnson and Redick have to offer, just one season could be enough to make a long-lasting impact.

LAS VEGAS -- JJ Redick was one of the most sought-after free agents on the market. Teams were pushing for his veteran leadership and three-point shooting. All the while his decision was quite easy.

Truthfully, for probably the eight weeks between the season and free agency, as we got closer and closer to free agency, I wanted to be in Philadelphia, Redick said at his introductory press conference Saturday after officially signing with the Sixers(see story). That was the place I wanted to be.

Redick agreed to a one-year, $23 million contract with the Sixers on July 1, the first afternoon of free agency. What seemed like it could have been a drawn out period of heavy consideration was shortened to less than 24 hours.

You brought 40 people to the meeting, Redick said, turning to president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo seated next to him. It was just a great experience.

The Sixers were quick to agree to a deal with Redick because he checked off a long list of offseason needs, the first being offense.

What this team needed more than anything was a shooter, Colangelo said. We arguably have the best shooter in the league.

In addition to being instant scoring and reliable three-point threat, the shooting guard is a proven veteran leader who has made the playoffs part of his annual schedule.

"Yeah, I would just say that Josh and Dave and Bryan aren't paying me $23 million to be a leader, Redick said. They're paying me that because I can play and same thing with Amir (Johnson).

Redick viewed the Sixers system and roster as the best fit for him. He said the acquisition of the No. 1 pick to land Markelle Fultz solidified his interest in signing with them. Long before the trade, though, Redick had been enticed by the possibility of playing under Brett Brown.

To be honest, he was probably the biggest factor in this decision, Redick said of Brown. Hes someone that Ive watched and I wanted to play for. Im thrilled to be playing for him next year.

Redicks quick decision to join the Sixers came after years of traveling to the city as a member of the opposing team. A social media post from his past turned out to be telling of his relocation in 2017.

"Somebody on Twitter the other day dug up an old tweet from 2011 when I said that I was roaming the streets of Philadelphia and it was one of my favorite cities and it's a very underrated city," Redick said. "Six years later, I still feel the same way."

LAS VEGAS -- The Sixers are prepared to move forward in summer league if Markelle Fultz cannot play. After all, they arent strangers to injured rookies.

Fultz suffered a left ankle sprain in the third quarter of Saturdays 95-93 win over the Warriors (see Instant Replay). He stepped on the back of Jabari Browns foot as he attempted to chase down a block and had to be helped off the court by his teammates without putting pressure on his foot.

The Sixers have not announced a long-term plan for Fultz's availability during the remainder of summer league, but it seems unlikely he will be able to play in Sundays back-to-back game against the Spurs.

Seeing Fultz grabbing his ankle on the court was a visual reminder of the long list of injuries endured by Sixers before even playing an NBA game. Even the slightest wince or hobble is jarring for many to see at this point.

Nerlens Noel sat out his rookie season because of an ACL injury. Joel Embiid missed two years because of foot surgeries. Just last October, Ben Simmons was hit by a season-ending Jones fracture in his right foot.

Any sport you play in in a competitive atmosphere and youre athletic and moving around, thats just the challenge, assistant coach Lloyd Pierce said. Its easy to put that on the history of what weve gone through, but no, its just part of the game. Its part of the sport.

Fultz began receiving treatment Saturday night (he was not available to speak to media because of this). Pierce said this will be a lesson for Fultz to learn about taking care of his body to recover from an injury.

The Sixers plan to go with Larry Drew II more often without Fultz and Timothe Luwawu Cabarrot.Luwawu-Cabarrot also left Saturday's game with an upper lip laceration that required stitches. Drew II hit the go-ahead basket in their victory. Aaron Harrison also drew praise from Pierce for scoring 13 points in as many minutes off the bench.

Next guy up, Pierce said. Weve got a lot of bodies and a lot of guys that did not play tonight will get their opportunity at some point during the week.

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Sixers prove and gain plenty with additions of JJ Redick, Amir Johnson - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

MILWAUKEE (WAOW) -

Could the Brewers be "buyers" at the trade deadline? According to MLB.com, that possibility is looking more and more likely.

With the Crew eight games above .500 and holding a 4.5 game lead over the Cubs in the National League Central, Brewers general manager David Stearns is currently "monitoring the market" to make a possible addition to the club's pitching staff, according to national columnist Jon Paul Morosi.

Morosi indicates the Brewers are interested in trading for either Sonny Gray of the Oakland A's or Jose Quintana, a lefty from the Chicago White Sox. Both players are having down years in 2017 after achieving successthrough the early part of the decade.

But why would the Brewers, a team in the midst of one of the biggest rebuilds in baseball, mortgage their future to make a run in 2017? Stearns' experience as an assistant GM in Houston could play a big role.

The Astros' 2015 season is strikingly similar to that of the Brewers in 2017: Going through a rebuilding process, Houston overachieved in 2015 and put itself in position to make a big moveat the trade deadline before striking a deal that Brewers fans should remember well: GM Jeff Luhnow, along with his second-in-command Stearns, sentprospects Domingo Santana, Josh Hader and Brett Phillips to Milwaukee in exchange for Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers.

The Astros wound up making the playoffs as a Wild Card before losing to the eventual champion Royals in the Divisional Round.

Gomez flamed out before eventually being released while Fiers has established himself as a key member of Houston's pitching rotation. Meanwhile, Santana and Hader have panned out to become key players on this year's resurgent Brewers team, and Phillips is considered one of the organization's top prospects.

Despite giving all of that up, the Astros rebuild has worked out wonderfully: they're currently the best team in baseball, nine games better than any other team in the American League and on pace for a franchise-record 109 wins. Their goals have gone from Wild Card to World Series in just two years.

The lesson here is this: Even if a rebuilding team gambles and makes a trade, the rebuild can still continue. Stearns no doubt will keep this experience at the front of his mind as the July trade deadline fast approaches.

The rest is here:
REPORT: Brewers expected to "eye additions" as trade deadline approaches - WAOW

By Joe Skrebels

Anyone who bought Breath of the Wilds Expansion Pass likely did so on the promise of its second, story-focused installment. With several months to go until the Champions Ballad DLC, however, Nintendos offered something of a stop-gap in the form of a grab-bag set of additions to its bucolic masterpiece. It may not be precisely what fans are clamoring for, but that might be its strength, as The Master Trials offers a couple of very pleasant surprises.

The headline act, without any doubt, comes in the form of the Trial of the Sword. A new challenge mode of sorts, the Trial draws its primary idea from Breath of the Wilds best challenge - Eventide Island.

That tantalising landmass draws most players, siren-like, across the sea to its southeastern shores, before promptly stripping them of all their items, and facing them against a series of challenges, without the opportunity to save. Eventide is magnificent, somehow cramming ideas from survival games and XCOMs Iron Man mode into the games already near-perfect structure. It challenged players to forget about the things theyd earned and engage purely with what theyd learned. Utilising Breath of the Wilds many overlapping systems became the key to surviving (and winning little more than the pleasure of a save point at its final Shrine).

Trial of the Sword is Eventide on a grand scale. Provided youve earned the right to hold the Master Sword, youll have the option of plonking it right back into its pedestal and progressing through a series of 45 one-shot rooms, most of which are specific combat trials. Youll begin with no armour, no weapons and no Divine Beast powers, scavenging what you can along the way. Die before you hit one of three checkpoints and you have to do it all again. Depending on your speed, that can mean anything up to a couple of hours progress can be lost if youre not careful. This is truly something for Breath of the Wilds endgame.

The idea of centering an endgame challenge around combat - one of Breath of the Wilds most simplistic features - might seem antithetical. Thats because combat is only the means of progression - the challenge comes from applying all your knowledge of the wider game. Sets of five stages work around similar themes, asking the player to engage with environmental conditions while killing off all of the stages occupants.

One set takes place entirely in a thunderstorm, meaning youre best off ditching any metal items youre carrying (or even better off using them as lightning traps). Another sees you in a vertical wind tunnel of sorts, with enemies placed across floating platforms and almost all armed with bows and arrows, turning it as much into a test of your skilful paragliding as it is your slow-motion bow work. There are areas where you need to deal with constant cold without the clothing to withstand it, or simply defeat boss enemies with the scant resources you have left after all the preceding stages. Even its quiet interim stages (each one appearing after a mini-boss fight) are trials of a kind - youll need to turn what little food you have into the most effective possible recipes, and forage for as much as you can. Please, learn from my mistakes: lifesaving fairies run away if you sprint desperately up to them.

Hitting each checkpoint in the Trial may offer a permanent 10-point damage buff to your Master Sword but, like Eventide, completing it all really is its own reward. It may not bring the sheer wonder of stumbling across the main games biggest surprises by accident - if youre able to finish this, it will likely be because youve played enough to know how - but it condenses the mechanical joy of Breath of the Wild into a four-hour gauntlet. The upcoming story expansion is rightfully the most exciting post-release addition to the game, but it will genuinely have some trouble beating the pure, adrenal fun of making it through the Trial of the Sword.

That sets an unassailably high bar for the rest of the DLC pack, but much of the rest of the Master Trials additions are certainly welcome, if not hugely significant.

Heros Path, for example, takes the last 200 hours of your time in the game and presents it as a scrawled track drawn across the games map (just press the minus button and hit X to see it). Designed primarily to show you areas youve missed while exploring, its an extremely useful new tool (I almost immediately spotted a whole jutting landmass Id never bothered to travel around), but its just as pleasant when used as a short-form replay of your time in Hyrule.

Theres an argument to be made that - in its capacity as a navigational feature - Heros Path should have been included in the game from the beginning, but the ability to watch it trace its way around the map in fast-forward adds a different dimension. Theres an odd nostalgia invoked as you watch your journey flitting around Hyrule: a shrine detour you remember taking, the first time you retreated from the Hebra mountains to get something warmer to wear, those three to four hundred deaths in the Yiga Clan hideout. That feeling could only really be achieved when used in hindsight. Few are likely to forget their first run around Breath of the Wild, so its nice to have the game itself acknowledge that fact.

The Travel Medallion is another new, utilitarian feature that some will argue should have been in the game from the beginning. On this, Im not as inclined to disagree. After youve found the medallion (following a short quest), it can be dropped anywhere, creating a bespoke fast travel point. Its particularly useful for return trips to areas with materials to grind for, cutting out travel time from Shrines. Nintendo might argue that having it in the game from the beginning would have taken away from Breath of the Wilds philosophy that players should have to interact with the world as much as possible, but adding the equivalent of a single movable Shrine doesnt feel as though it would detract from that idea all too much. Either way, for those still on the hunt for the games rarest materials, this will be a boon.

The weakest addition comes in the form of new clothing items, all of which are direct references to past games: Midnas helmet from Twilight Princess, Phantom Guardian armour from The Phantom Hourglass, Majoras Mask. Most useful of all is the Korok Mask, which shakes when youre near one of the games 900 hidden Koroks. Perhaps better, however, is the Tingle outfit, simply because it causes almost every NPC to recoil in horror when you approach.

Each offers a dose of fan service but, barring the Korok Mask, the effects of each clothing item are familiar enough - attack buffs, higher speed at night, and the ability to avoid being spotted by certain enemies are all abilities present on existing armour. Theyre clearly more suited to new players than those whove already dealt with the worst Hyrule has to offer. Given how much time has passed since release, its unlikely that the first group is larger than the second, making each feel a little underwhelming when you pick them up.

To compound that problem, to avoid simply giving you each item Nintendo includes a set of hints to follow. Those hints, it tells you outwardly, correspond exactly with various areas in the Hyrule Field region. Unfortunately, for anyone whos spent a fair bit of time in the Field, it turns what should be treasure hunting into a dull trudge from obvious point to obvious point, intermittently turning on the Magnesis power to spot a buried chest. These items are teed up as legendary relics of a forgotten past - finding them half-buried in an old barn seems a tad underwhelming. Simply put, its not a great deal of fun to find the items, and theyre not all that useful when you do.

Thankfully, theres a final addition that adds a great deal more for those whove seen most of Breath of the Wild already. Only available from the main menu as a totally fresh start, Master Mode was previously referred to as Hard Mode by Nintendo, but its not difficult to see why it would opt for a more grandiose title upon release. This is a more creative increase in difficulty than most games upper levels.

While allowing players only a single save slot and increasing each enemy types rank by one (red Bokoblins become Blue Bokoblins, for example) arent unfamiliar tactics, it has crueler ideas up its sleeve. Familiar enemy placements are disrupted, with new mobs ready to swarm you in unexpected places - not least with the addition of weird, floating platforms (held aloft, grimly, by still-living Octoroks) hovering above the Hyrule horizon. Plus, those enemies now regenerate health if you stop attacking them, and can spot you from further away.

Nintendos clearly aiming to indulge those looking for a real New Game+ experience. Stronger enemies earlier on means that Link ends up better equipped than he would usually be, even before he leaves the Great Plateau tutorial area. On the other hand, the addition of what used to be the games hardest regular enemy, a Silver Lynel, in the Great Plateau speaks to how much of a challenge the mode will be. That there are entirely new, gold-ranked enemies (including Lynels) is a further promise. It wont be for everyone (I guarantee some will throw in the towel after being killed by the games first enemy after 150 hours of play), but Master Mode is a fantastic way of adding a lot more by changing a little. Thats emblematic of the Master Trials DLC as whole.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- The Master Trials

The Verdict

The Master Trials doesnt make any epochal changes to the established Breath of the Wild formula, but by packing in one of the games best quests, some welcome new features, and a hard mode to be reckoned with, it more than paves the way for the starrier story expansion to come.

Editors' Choice

Read more:
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Master Trials DLC Review - IGN

BoulderBuilding construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Jun. 26, 2017 to Jul. 2, 2017. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2016-04527 4465 Martin Drive; $175,951.07; Sally Anderson and Chad Faubus; Addition of second floor to single-family residence and remodel of existing portions of residence. Resulting home to have 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and upstairs wet bar. New design team and plans, new review required.

PMT2017-01473 302 Pearl St.; $75,464.96; James Company Enterprises Ltd.; Tenant remodel of a commercial retail building, lower level of 2-story structure, 1,712 square feet. Exterior scope of work to include new accessible ramp on west side of building. Scope includes minor MEP.**Change of Scope, remove proposed ADA ramp on west side of building, no exterior work in scope.**

PMT2017-01605 2330 Panorama Ave.; $750,000.00; Craig and Huong Christensen; Fuentes Design; New Construction of a single-family residence to include two stories over crawl space with an attached 2-car garage. the residence includes 2,989 square feet of conditioned square feet on two levels, attached garage is 486 square feet with a 179 square foot unconditioned loft for storage. Scope includes associated MEP (heat pump and mini-split systems), 3.5 baths, 3 bedrooms (1 on main level, 2 upstairs), and two exterior decks over main level coverage. See HIS2016-00245 and PMT2017-00362 for historic review and demolition.

PMT2017-01724 1327 Sixth St.; $389,566.00; Kelley and Cameron Boyd; Addition of 1,412 square feet and 139 remodel of square feet to existing single-family dwelling. To include new covered patio and second story deck in the rear yard. Dwelling unit in rear yard studio removed through PMT2017-00692.

PMT2017-01924 2560 55th St.; $110,000.00; P7 Upi; Sand Construction LLC; Permit to add a new exterior patio area on existing second floor roof level, east elevation of Building C. Includes new paver tile system and new access door/glazing at third floor entrance to new patio. Reference PMT2017-00032 and Minor Modification ADR2017-00099.

PMT2017-02172 4801 Riverbend Road; $27,028,000.00; Community Hospital; Wyatt Construction Co., Inc.; NEW - Boulder Community Health Medical Pavilion. Project includes a new, 3-story, 55 foot tall, approximately 70,434 square feet medical pavilion and associated site development. First floor to be finished under separate permit. Reference LUR2016-00038, LUR2016-00039, LUR2016-00040, LUR2017-00002, PMT2016-04422, PMT2017-01140, PMT2017-02173, TEC2017-00001, TEC2017-00003.

PMT2017-02173 4865 Riverbend Road; $16,174,351.29; Community Hospital; Wyatt Construction Co., Inc.; New Boulder Community Health Parking garage. Project includes a new, single story, parking garage with 409 spaces and a 4,829 square foot retail wrap. Generator and fuel storage located within parking structure; Will serve 4801 Riverband. Reference LUR2016-00038, LUR2017-00002, PMT2016-04422, PMT2016-05272, PMT2017-01143, PMT2017-02172, TEC2017-00001, TEC2017-00003.

PMT2017-02301 350 Ponca Place; $15,990.00; Frasier Meadows; Frasier Meadows Manor; UNIT 164-Modify existing Type B dwelling unit as shown. Scope to include kitchen remodel and provide new 100 amp service panel.

PMT2017-02390 2245 Grape Ave.; $87,000.00; Paul and Janette Bradley; Construction of new patio slab and replacing existing patio cover with new, larger cover. Scope to also include interior remodeling of the dining room, kitchen and remodeling (2) bathrooms, one on the main level and one in the basement. Dining room to be expanded and one bedroom removed. Associated MEP's covered within the scope of this permit.

PMT2017-02457 1901 63rd St.; $195,694.00; Boulder County; Fischer Construction Inc.; Permit for the replacement of the material sorting machinery at the Material Recovery Facility for the Boulder County Recycling Center. Scope of submittal includes new superstructure inside the building to support the new sorting equipment. Electrical and mechanical work to be submitted under separate permit.

PMT2017-02516 1730 38th St.; $35,948.85; Bobcat Properties; Elton R Construction, LLC; Tenant remodel of 511 square feet in existing 4,094 square foot tenant space for Scintec Corp. Scope to include creation of an ADA compliant restroom and addition of a conference room. Use to include assembly/packaging of atmospheric wind, temperature and turbulence measuring equipment and associated office space.

PMT2017-02760 4300 Hanover Ave.; $15,469.00; Loraine Burger; Egress, Inc. - Dischner Construction; Installation of three egress windows and two window wells. Width of existing windows to remain unchanged.

PMT2017-02763 1470 Ithaca Drive; $40,200.00; Abby Benson; Velocity Enterprises; Remodel on main level to include reconfiguration of bedrooms, kitchen, relocation of laundry room to basement, relocation of door from garage to kitchen, and replacement of windows on main level. Scope includes associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.

PMT2017-02771 2905 17th St.; $12,500.00; David Huizinga and Tony Kimbiris; Owner contractor-Scope includes rewire of residence to include installation of new can lights, replacement of plumbing fixtures in (1) basement and (2)upper level bathrooms, and electrical service change.

PMT2017-02776 2040 Pearl St. 4; $22,500.00; Jonathan and Meredith Campbell; Kitchen remodel on main floor; removal/replacement of cabinets, r/r appliances, relocate kitchen sink to new island, add supplemental sink along west wall, remove linen closet, replace two windows in existing openings. No structural changes or modifications proposed or authorized.

PMT2017-02820 2865 Iliff St.; $35,000.00; Stuart and Caroline Broome; Modafferi Construction, Inc.; Construction of a new, 425 square foot, low deck (below 30 inches in height and no hand railing) at the NW corner of the existing single-family home. Construction of a new, 48 square foot, elevated deck, at the NE corner of the existing single-family home. Construction and installation per engineer's specifications. No associated MEP's covered within the scope of this permit.

PMT2017-02825 2507 Broadway 7; $19,450.00; Rhonda Swenson; Leading Edge Construction Inc.; Replacement of beam under existing two family structure in accordance with design approved by Coyle Structural Inspection Engineering, Inc. dated 6/29/17. No exterior modifications have been approved through this permit. Modifications which impact the exterior of the structure will require addition historic review.

Excerpt from:
Boulder Building Permits, July 10, 2017 - Boulder Daily Camera

San Diego, California - People have a lot of things to do in their respective lives. They go to work or manage their business during the day, socialize at night, and try to get some sleep in their free time. Nowadays, a household has both husband and wife working at the same time, and this leaves an untidy home. Hiring a full-time cleaning service in San Diego can be expensive for some, especially for those who are barely scraping by. Moreover, it is hard to find someone who is reliable enough to entrust the home to when the owner is not around. That being said, Maid Just Right offers house cleaning services in San Diego only when a homeowner needs it.

Maid Just Right believes you deserve to spend your free time doing things you like the most. San Diego has other house cleaning service agencies, but we set ourselves apart in the competition. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, so you can feel at ease whenever you leave your house under our care, said Nathan Ripley, the company spokesperson. As soon as customers book them, they can expect a timely and quality San Diego maid service.

The agency conducts a rigorous screening process before it hires cleaning staff. They conduct background investigations, English proficiency assessments, and a series of interviews. Maid Just Right also evaluates their employees based on customer feedback. On the other hand, clients can quickly estimate the cost of their services thanks to its interactive website. The agency believes that clients deserve an upfront and transparent billing. Maid Just Right also provides the cleaning materials for them, and customers do not have to pay until their services are complete.

Former clients are also pleased with Maid Just Rights services. They noted that Maid Just Right's cleaning employees are not only friendly, but also surpass their expectations. Areas not normally cleaned by other San Diego house cleaning service providers are taken care of by their staff. Hence, many of their clients have become long-time partners because of their services. On a side note, Maid Just Right advises that clients should book their services in advance to avoid inconvenience later.

Interested homeowners can contact Maid Just Right by calling them at (619) 940-5495 or by sending emails to info@maidjustright.net. They can also visit their website at https://www.maidjustright.net/ for more information and to get the estimated costs of cleaning. Their office is located in San Diego, California.

Media Contact Company Name: Maid Just Right Contact Person: Nathan Ripley Email: info@maidjustright.net Phone: (619) 940-5495 City: San Diego State: California Country: United States Website: http://www.maidjustright.net/

See the article here:
House Cleaning Done Right with Maid Just Right in San Diego ... - Digital Journal (press release)

Puyallup, WA For 40 years Olympic Landscape and Irrigation has been dedicated to helping its customers transform their yards and gardens into stunningly beautiful outdoor spaces. Founder and owner Neil Hedman states, The success we enjoy is due in large part to our design staff and installers. Our designers are very gifted in blending landscape architecture with the customers desires. Our installers are craftsmen in their trade, bringing the design and material together to produce terrific yards. I am amazed when I go to the sites and see what they have accomplished. Our people truly love what they do.

Fresh out of college with a degree in Botany, Hedman started with a dream in 1977 of creating a sustainable landscaping business after working for another landscaping company. From the early days of three guys and a truck with walkie-talkies, Olympic Landscape and Irrigation has grown to 30 employees with sophisticated computer-based design services and state-of-the-art products.

Landing the contract for landscaping at the Tacoma Dome was an early success for the company that has gone on to complete landscaping design projects for hundreds of customers throughout the South Puget Sound.

Through sluggish economies and big changes in technology, Hedman says he has learned a lot about how to run a successful business. Creating a great workplace culture is the best way to ensure longevity, creativity, excitement, and quality. For me, its a lot like being an excellent conductor. You put together a great team who are excellent at their individual instruments, you know the piece you want to be played and have a good idea how to get there. Throw in a little fun and love into the mix, and you are sure to hit a high note, notes Hedman. We are thankful for all of our customers who have become part of our history. They have been a pleasure to work with and we have developed many good friends over the years. Were looking forward to continuing this adventure into the future, states Hedman.

Olympic Landscape and Irrigation Co. has served the Puget Sound area since 1977. Located in Puyallup, Washington, our family-owned company provides customers with landscape design and construction, sprinkler and outdoor lighting service, and backflow assembly testing. Using our 40 years of experience, we provide creative design and craftsman expertise to create beautiful outdoor living spaces for our homeowner customers. These reflect the individual lifestyle and interests of each customer, for both new construction and remodel landscape projects. Our goal is always to provide thoughtful service, innovative design and technical excellence.

See the article here:
Olympic Landscape and Irrigation Hits a High Note - The Suburban Times

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OKLAHOMA CITY-Oklahomans are fighting what you might call a bug battle, or even an all out war. June bugs are showing up in droves.

Reports of swarming June bugs showing up at night anywhere there's a light are popping up all over social media, but they're hard to ignore in real life.

"At nighttime I'll open my window and then they'll just be flying in," said Somara Roseberry, a city resident."They're loud and their feet are super sticky to my skin, and that just freaks me out," she said.

For some people, it's more than just a nuisance.

"We went to Whataburger the other day and there were so many June bugs flying around," said Jacob Mattinson,out with his girlfriend,Stephanie Hunt,"and that's her ultimate fear, June bugs. So of course when she's handing money to the guy, she has to keep the window rolled up as much as possible."

OSU Extension Educator Ray Ridlen said most of the beetles are reaching the end of their two-year life cycle.

"The adults don't have much of an exciting life and so if you have outdoor lighting, they're going to be attracted to the light," Ridlen said.

He said they come out at night to breed before they die.

"That street lamp is like a singles bar for the June bar," he said.

Ridlenwarns that people should start laying down curative grub control mid-August to September.

The females lay their eggs in the lawn, about 50 eggs at a time. Those will then hatch, eat up the lawn, and return topermeate the airin a couple years.

35.467560 -97.516428

See the article here:
June bugs out in swarming numbers, Oklahomans cannot ignore them - kfor.com

Merced Sun-Star

Major Projects Underway Across Merced City School District Merced Sun-Star Meanwhile, Hoover Middle School is receiving new LED outdoor lighting, and all of our campuses now have surveillance cameras as well. The next projects on the horizon include vast improvements to Fremont Elementary and Galen Clark Preschool, along ...

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Major Projects Underway Across Merced City School District - Merced Sun-Star

THE CHALLENGE

Jill and Jeff Martinez recently added a 20-by-10-foot screened porch to their Silver Spring Tudor. They would like a dining area that can seat six (ideally with a wrought-iron table like the one Jill had when she was a child), as well as a place to relax. They need furniture that can stand up to the outdoors and want a traditional look that suits the style of the 84-year-old home. They prefer blues, greens and neutrals and are also looking for a color to repaint the siding.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION

Designer Susan Jamieson uses a blend of materials and finishes to give the porch a vintage look that doesnt seem overly decorated. The result is that pieces seem like they were collected over time. She adds sconces and outdoor lamps to provide light for reading and keeps the ceiling fan to allow for overhead lighting and air circulation on warm days.

JAMIESONS SUGGESTIONS

Use a variety ofseating options to maximize space.Brighten the space by painting thesiding a pale neutral, such as Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams. Go lighter for the trim, with Big Chill from Sherwin-Williams.Add color with a bold blue door, such as Turkish Tile from Sherwin-Williams.For a more intimate feeling, use outdoor table lamps instead of overhead lighting.Bring the outdoors into thespace with lotsof plants. Whimsical bee-themed doormats (not shown) are a nod to the owners beehive.

Jamieson, with Bridget Beari Designs (804-321-4747, bridgetbeari designs.com), is based in Richmond.

SPLURGE OR SAVE

SPLURGE: Turquoise scroll patio chairs ($258 each, themine.com), left. SAVE: Del Rey stacking chairs in Dove Gray ($90 each, pier1.com).

SPLURGE: Palmetto all-weather wicker sofa in black with Sunbrella cushion cover in natural ($2,348, potterybarn.com), left. SAVE: Platinum outdoor wicker sofa with drainable cushions in scene ivory ($1,995, wicker paradise.com).

SHOPPING GUIDE

Furniture: Charleston 72-by-42-inch rectangular wrought-iron dining table ($370) and wooden backless garden bench in sky blue ($250), both from hayneedle.com; Park Meadows white stationary wicker lounge chair with midnight cushions ($219), Isabella lattice white metal outdoor bench ($199) and Statesville rectangle steel outdoor coffee table ($99), all from homedepot.com; Grandparents outdoor side table in sage ($190,themine.com); lattice circle large side table ($249, crateandbarrel.com).

Accessories: 16-inch ikat mandala geometric outdoor pillow in navy ($33), geometric wacky stripe 16-inch outdoor pillow in navy ($42) and geometric Lil Diamond Jill 16-inch outdoor pillow in soft green ($32), all from walmart.com; Santorini stripe 8-by-11-foot outdoor area rug in blue ($299) and Clare outdoor lamp in cobalt/white ($249 each), both from frontgate.com; large Roadside wall flower in silver ($40, target.com); potted moss ($13) and London blue hurricanes in small and large ($33-$47 each), all from crateandbarrel.com; Liam Collection one-light bronze outdoor wall sconce with frosted glass ($50, homedepot.com); bee welcome mats ($24 each, cloztohome.com); Mamba resin 18-by-17-inch square planter ($50, lowes.com); Giana indigo decorative bowl ($48, wayfair.com).

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Creating an easy, breezy screened porch with a classic, curated look - Washington Post

By Gabrielle SavoieDomaine

Some myths never die, especially when decorating is concerned. In the world of design, small spaces are a beast all their own and they require their own set of decorating rules. That said, the rules that people think apply to tiny spaces aren't always the right ones. Case in point: White walls don't always make your space look bigger.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, big is not always better," Shannon Vos of Vos Creative tells Inside Out. "And with housing options shrinking by the second, that's a good thing. But this means we need to be clever with our design choices." Ahead, he explains the top three decorating mistakes he always sees in small spaces and how to avoid them:

Dollhouse furniture

"We often make the mistake of creating miniature versions of the bigger rooms we really want," says Vos. Instead of picking mini rugs and sofas, dare to make a few risky statements: Pick an oversize sofa, go for a large bold rug or push your furniture away from the walls. Give your room less but use more impactful pieces.

Poor lighting

"Almost nothing has the power to transform a room like good lighting can," Vos claims. By the same token, bad lighting can quickly ruin a room. The designer recommends using as much natural light as possible and steering clear of downlights. Instead, a good variety of sconces, table, and floor lamps arranged around the room cast a much more flattering glow and contribute to making the space feel more intimate and comfortable.

The white myth

"Sure, painting a room white is safe but it's also boring," says the designer. "While the general rule is that lighter walls and floors give the illusion of more space, our aim is to create depth and to do this we need to layer tones and textures." Instead of painting everything white, he recommends creating subtle tonal disparities with surfaces like whitewashed floors and pale fabrics. As for small rooms that have very little natural light: going dark is the best option.

Original post:
3 small-space mistakes that secretly make interior designers cringe - The Providence Journal