Home Builder Developer, Interior Renovation and Design

Remodeling or completely renovating a kitchen can be a big task, but it also has the best return on investment of any home improvement.

But these improvements dont come cheap. A 2013 U.S. Census Bureau report noted the cost of an average kitchen remodel was $5,000, with the price tag for complete renovation at $27,353.

Given these costs, remodeling experts say there are ways to save in order to have money to splurge on key items.

Begin with a detailed floor plan, said Ariel Darmoni, managing partner at 123 Remodeling, a general contractor firm which was featured in Houzz and on HGTV.

Its going to be so much more if you dont have a floor plan that works for you because making changes later costs more. You can also save money if you dont have to move plumbing and electric, even if youre taking down walls, he said.

Dont skimp on important life-safety improvements like mold remediation and ventilation, said Beverley Kruskol, owner of M.Y. Pacific Building, a general contractor who has worked with high-end renovations, including for Mario Batalis restaurants in Los Angeles.

Tile, flooring and lighting can be both economical and beautiful, Kruskol said.

Tile is a great place to save money. There are thousands of styles, and theyre so amazing, she said.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles can be used on both floor and in kitchen backsplashes, said Suzanne Falk of Suzanne Falk Interior Design, a ghost designer on HGTVs Kitchen Crashers.

Tile is cheaper than hardwood flooring, and Darmoni prefers tile floors in kitchens because wood floors can be easily damaged by water leaks from dishwashers.

Big-box retailers sell attractive tiles for a fraction of the cost versus whats sold at designer showrooms, Falk said. For people who have their heart set on high-end tile, she recommended highlighting it in a specific area, like in a backsplash around the range, and then framing it with subway tiles, which Falk said are her go-to tiles.

Distinctive, affordable lighting options are available at retail stores versus paying up at a showroom, they said.

Compared to what was available four or five years ago, you can get beautiful lamps at a fraction of the cost, Kruskol said.

Choose a nicer faucet over a sink, Darmoni said, but look at the faucet construction. Better-made faucets have durable metal cartridges inside, which are the valves that turn on the water and mix temperatures.

High-end appliances might be a worthy splurge; however, Kruskol said homeowners should think about how they use them and how long theyll be in the home.

If youre in a condo, I dont think you need to spend the money to get a Wolf range, but it depends on your lifestyle, she said.

Homeowners who arent doing a gut rehab and really are scrimping can get new doors and hardware for their existing cabinets, Kruskol said, which can quickly update the look. Even refinishing existing doors can refresh a tired kitchen.

The two areas worth a splurge are cabinets and countertops, they said. Consider stepping up to semi-custom cabinets from a local cabinet supplier and avoiding the big-box retailer.

Working with a local cabinet supplier to design creative storage can help eliminate a lot of the wasted space in kitchens, Kruskol said. Upgrades like pull-out shelves and Lazy Susans are useful, but Falk warned about getting carried away with other costly upgrades like appliance garages and built-in spice drawers. These can look nice but may not be practical, she added.

Another benefit to using semi-custom cabinets is they can be designed to fit a homes inevitable imperfections in a way prefabricated cabinets cant, said Darmoni and Falk.

All three said consider upgrading to natural stone countertops versus manufactured styles. Not only do they look beautiful, but they will last for years. Granite has always been popular, but high-end materials like quartz and quartzite are becoming affordable.

The one stone they dont recommend for kitchens is marble.

Its porous and stains easily. For instance, if you put a coffee cup on it, it gets a ring that doesnt go away, Kruskol said.

The rest is here:
Where to save, where to splurge in kitchen remodel - Fredericksburg.com

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In addition to nearly a million square feet of office space the city of Menlo Park has authorized Facebook to build, the company has indicated it plans to lease the new eight-story office building under construction by the Bohannon Companies at 100 Independence Drive in eastern Menlo Park.

We have agreed to terms to a building lease at Menlo Gateway in Menlo Park, CA from Bohannon Development Company and are in the process of finalizing details, said John Tenanes, Facebook VP, Global Facilities and Real Estate, in a written statement. "Facebook will continue to invest in Menlo Park demonstrating our commitment to the area as an active and responsible community member.

According to news first published by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, Facebook has submitted an application to the city of Menlo Park to complete tenant improvements on an eight-story, 206,869-square-foot office building under construction at the Independence Drive site.

The office is part of the Menlo Gateway development project of Bohannon Companies; the project includes the 11-story luxury hotel called Hotel Nia, a parking garage and a 40,000-square-foot fitness center. These structures which constitute the first phase of the development are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The second phase of the project will include two other eight-story office buildings totaling 500,000 square feet, at 101 and 155 Constitution Drive, and two more parking garages.

The Silicon Valley Business Journal also cited a source close to the deal saying Facebook is expected to be the tenant at two other eight-story office buildings scheduled for construction in the development's second phase.

David Bohannon II, CEO of the David D. Bohannon Organization, declined to comment.

See more here:
Facebook expected to lease eight-story Menlo Gateway office building - The Almanac Online

Photo: Leslie Plaza Johnson, Freelancer

Construction workers inspect safety equipment after having seen a demonstration on safety management at the MD Anderson construction site in League City.

Robert Cross, director of training at the Plumbers Local Union 68 in Houston, shows the textbooks for the union's five-year training curriculum.

Rosa Anguiano cuts copper pipe during class at the Plumbers Local Union 68.

Training coordinator Othon Guillen talks to a class of 1st year students at the Plumbers Local Union 68 Saturday April 22,2017.(Dave Rossman Photo)

Carlos Rodrigues of JBS Plumbing cuts a piece of copper pipe during class at the Plumbers Local Union 68 Saturday April 22,2017.(Dave Rossman Photo)

Student Carlos Rodriguez of JBS Plumbing brazes a copper pipe during class at the Plumbers Local Union 68 Saturday April 22,2017.(Dave Rossman Photo)

May 9, 2017: Construction worker tests out a dust management tool during a demonstration held at the MD Anderson construction site in League City, Texas. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Freelance)

May 9, 2017: Construction workers inspect safety equipment after having seen a demonstration on safety management at the MD Anderson construction site in League City, Texas. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Freelance)

Program building up construction workers' skills

Jaime Ramos worked picking ornamental ferns in Florida until he got ready to start a family. He took a higher-paying construction job, but then found himself frustrated by a transient labor force that learns as it goes.

"There are people who've been doing this for years and sometimes they don't know they're doing something the wrong way," he said recently. "Just nobody ever taught them."

Workers came and went. No one got benefits. There was barely opportunity for advancement. Ramos knew it was no place to build a future.

Then he got a call from a brother-in-law in Houston, who told him about one contractor, Marek Bros., that offered a training program and a real career path. So Ramos moved here and took advantage of Marek's classes. Six years later, he's a company foreman with a promising future in management.

Without training from Marek, Ramos said, "I'd be job-hopping like the other friends I have."

Jaime Ramos, a 30-year-old construction foreman, chose to come work at Marek Bros. because the company offered training in skills that have helped him advance.

Jaime Ramos, a 30-year-old construction foreman, chose to come work...

Ramos is both an exception in the modern construction industry and exactly the kind of worker that local employers are struggling to cultivate amid a generations-long downturn in the skill and availability of construction labor.

"I've yet to run across anybody who doesn't agree that the industry has a workforce problem," said Chuck Gremillion, executive director of the Houston-based Construction Career Collaborative, or C3, which since 2009 has worked with contractors and project owners to improve their employment standards.

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

While local community colleges Houston, San Jacinto and Lone Star help prepare students entering the trades, C3 tries to rally contractors to work with the existing labor pool and make the industry more attractive.

That's a tall task. C3 faces a complicated problem at the intersection of low wages, dangerous work, poor benefits, the scaling back of vocational courses in public schools and loss of craft training programs once offered by labor unions. Quickly fading are the days of career painters, bricklayers and drywall hangers.

RELATED:Construction workers dangerously low on benefits

C3 has taken aim at all of these factors, teaching safety protocol, enforcing good employment practices among its accredited contractors and focusing on craft training as part of a long-term solution.

"We've seen this decrease in the availability and the skill level of the workforce over many years," said Katrina Kersch, chief operations officer for the National Center for Construction Education and Research in Washington, D.C. "The lack of training is why we believe we're in a workforce shortage."

The problem is most acute in quickly growing regions with high labor demand, like Texas. Large segments of the construction workforce operate as independent subcontractors drifting from sector to sector without the benefits of full employment, usually learning the craft with no formal training.

Lack of training also harms the bottom line. Research from 2014 from the Construction Industry Institute at the University of Texas found that if 1 percent of project costs were invested in workforce training, productivity rises 11 percent, injuries fall by 26 percent and the amount of work that must be redone falls by 23 percent.

"If there's a limiting factor in Houston growing, it would be a skilled workforce," said Jim Stevenson, Houston division president for McCarthy Building Cos., a contractor accredited by C3.

C3, which hired its first three paid staffers in 2014, now is working to bring on a "craft training champion" by month's end to encourage and foster in-house training programs at contractors across the city. As Gremillion tells it, the training problem began with the decline in union membership beginning in the 1980s. The unions, he said, traditionally offered craft training.

Nelson Lichtenstein, director of the Center for the Study of Work, Labor and Democracy at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said major employers' long-standing focus on lowering wages also contributed to the current situation.

RELATED:Texas builders fear fallout of immigration crackdown on workforce

C3 shares office space with the local branch of the Associated General Contractors of America, which Lichtenstein said generations ago encouraged the use of non-union labor. The industry, he said, is "complaining about something they helped create."

But unions aren't totally dead. Particularly for trades like electricians, HVAC techs or plumbers that require state licenses, union training programs remain robust.

At the Plumbers Local Union 68 in north central Houston, director of training Robert Cross spreads about three dozen textbooks across a conference room table - the material for the five-year program to become a certified journeyman plumber. Books range from basic safety to math to "Drawing Interpretation and Plan Reading."

Robert Cross, director of training at the Plumbers Local Union 68 in Houston, shows the textbooks for the union's five-year training curriculum.

Robert Cross, director of training at the Plumbers Local Union 68...

The union has 35 part-time instructors, 16 classrooms and computer labs with projector screens, and six shop areas stocked with pipe cutting and welding stations or mock-ups of hospital gas systems, refrigeration coils, an office tower mechanical closet and a bathroom plumbing system.

Local 68 has roughly 1,900 members, plus about 600 students who spend 246 classroom hours and 600 hours apprenticing for certified plumbers each year for five years. The program is funded through deductions from members' wages, which are $44.34 per hour under union negotiation.

"These programs take a lot of energy, a lot of effort," Cross said. "This is the type of school that C3 would like to see their contractors bring back for all their crafts."

Training coordinator Othon Guillen shows student Carlos Rodriguez how to braze copper pipe during class at the Plumbers Local Union 68 Saturday April 22,2017.(Dave Rossman Photo)

Training coordinator Othon Guillen shows student Carlos Rodriguez...

C3 has about 230 accredited contractors in Houston.

The companies have agreed to hire workers as hourly employees, not subcontractors; to pay overtime and offer compensation insurance; to provide federal safety certification; and to express an intention of building an in-house craft training program.

After hiring a training manager, C3 will assess each company's progress in developing their own programs.

Some have already launched. Ramos, for example, started at Marek as a helper hanging drywall, while also taking courses on materials and processes, codes and regulations, reading blueprints and the economics of budgeting. He eventually earned a certification to coach other students.

Marek started the training program about 10 years ago.

"The industry wasn't doing as well attracting people because they didn't see paths for growth," said Sabra Phillips, Marek's director of talent development. "We felt like we needed to do our part to contribute to solving this."

McCarthy is also opening a new office building east of Houston with a dedicated craft training facility for employees.

To encourage more such programs, C3 is developing a blueprint for other companies seeking to build such training programs.

Ryan Falterman of MSA, a construction safety training company, rewards a worker during a safety training program held at the MD Anderson construction site in League City.

Ryan Falterman of MSA, a construction safety training company,...

Major projects that have opted to use C3-accredited contractors include an expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston currently underway; a new pediatric tower for Texas Children's Hospital; and expansions for Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center and for an MD Anderson Cancer Center in League City.

Peter Dawson, senior vice president of facility services at Texas Children's and a member of the C3 board, said accreditation like this reduces instances of "substandard construction quality."

"This is of long-term benefit to those who own and operate the facilities," he said.

Read more from the original source:
Program building up construction workers' skills - Houston Chronicle

This weekend, the WNBA returns and the chase of the champion Los Angeles Sparks begins.

It has been an offseason of change, both in terms of personnel and front offices. Players have retired, been traded or simply decided not to play this summer following their overseas campaigns.

Big Loss For Fever

Tamika Catchings, one of the greatest players in WNBA history, has retired, so for the first time since 2002, the Indiana Fever will not have her on the court. Catchings has moved into the club's front office.

That's not the only thing the Fever have lost. Coach Stephanie White left after two seasons to become coach at Vanderbilt. And in her place is Pokey Chapman, who spent the past six seasons coaching the Chicago Sky. Chapman led Chicago to the playoffs in each of her last four seasons.

Missing An Angel

The troubling trend of star players taking time off will impact the Atlanta Dream. Angel McCoughtry, the Olympian who has led the team for the past eight seasons, is taking off the summer to rest. At issue always is that many players go from their WNBA season to playing overseas where the money is much greater, and that eventually takes a toll. McCoughtry has hinted that she might return before the season is over, but that does not help the Dream now.

In her place, Atlanta will place more trust and responsibility in former UConn player Tiffany Hayes. Now entering her sixth season, she was the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 15 points. One aspect of Hayes' game that will have to improve is her three-point shooting. She made only 27 percent in each of the last two years.

Tough Times For Chiney

The Sun took a big hit well before the season began. The team learned over the winter that its best player, Chiney Ogwumike, would miss the season because of an Achilles injury sustained in China. To compensate, coach/GM Curt Miller bolstered the roster in the offseason with trades and free agents.

But without a legitimate star presence, the Sun will need to rely on a group effort spearheaded by their backcourt of Alex Bentley, Jasmine Thomas and Rachel Banham, who is recovering from knee surgery. Up front, look for UConn grad Morgan Tuck, Jonquel Jones and Lynetta Kizer to play big roles.

Stewart Already A Star

In her rookie season out of UConn, Breanna Stewart made a huge impact on the Seattle Storm and the league. She averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 blocks.

Stewart was so good that she finished sixth in MVP voting and was the runner-up for defensive player of the year. But she is not alone on the Storm.

The backcourt will again boast Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, who, like Stewart, garnered all-WNBA honors last season. Bird averaged a league-high 5.8 assists and shot a career-best 44.4 percent on three-pointers. She is on pace to pass Ticha Penicheiro as the league's all-time assists leader.

New Star In D.C.

Perhaps Mike Thibault finally has a team that can contend for the WNBA championship now that he has former MVP Elena Delle Donne on his side. The Mystics acquired her in a trade with the Chicago Sky.

The Mystics also signed Kristi Toliver from Los Angeles. She was a key component of Los Angeles' championship team last season. Toliver is a skilled outside shooter, which will only open more doors for Thibault's offense. Another star in the making is forward Emma Meesseman, who shot almost 45 perent from three last season.

Taurasi: History Awaits

Diana Taurasi can move to the top of two major statistical milestones this season. She is 178 points from passing Tina Thompson (7,488) as the league's all-time leading scorer. And she is six made three-pointers behind Katie Smith (906) for No. 1 all time.

This is a particularly important season for Taurasi to play at her finest because Phoenix will be without Candice Dupree (trade), DeWanna Bonner (pregnancy) and Penny Taylor (retirement).

Hard To Forget

The Minnesota Lynx lost the WNBA championship in heartbreaking fashion last season when Nneka Ogwumike made the championship-winning shot with 3.1 seconds remaining in Game 5 in October.

"It's something that I don't think you'll ever forget. All the emotions. Both teams were easily champions, just one team had to lose," Maya Moore of the Lynx told WNBA.com. "It just adds to that fire and that hunger and that little chip on the shoulder to fight to get there again."

The Lynx have played in five WNBA Finals since 2011 and won championships in 2011, 2013, 2015.

Moving On

The biggest challenge the Sky will have is figuring out how to replace Delle Donne, who averaged 21 points and has defined the franchise since 2013. She helped the Sky make the playoffs four straight seasons and the Finals in 2014. She asked the team to trade her so she could be closer to her Delaware home and the Sky accommodated with the trade to Washington.

The Sky received former UConn player Stefanie Dolson, wing Kahleah Copper and the second pick in this year's draft. Chicago took center Alaina Coates of South Carolina. But the scoring will come from the backcourt, where Cappie Pondexter, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley will combine to create the team's best position. The team also has a new coach and general manager in Amber Stocks, an assistant for the Sparks.

Charles And Company

Tina Charles led the league in scoring (21.5) and rebounding (9.9) last season and was the MVP runner-up to Nneka Ogwumike. The former UConn star also led the Liberty in assists with a career-best 3.8.

The Liberty also have a talented backcourt. Sugar Rodgers averaged 14.5 points and made 86 three-pointers. The Liberty also added former UConn player Bria Hartley from Washington, drafted Notre Dame's Lindsay Allen and welcome the return of Epiphanny Prince, who played in only six games last season.

More here:
Getting Ready For WNBA Season With Some Major Additions, Subtractions - Hartford Courant

SWAINTON For the 40 staff workers who daily report to the aging, cramped, functionally-challenged former "Shute" residence, also known as the administrative offices of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) at 1523 Route 9 North, looking out back gives them hope.

Those engineers and other specialists of the MUA can see the progress being made on the Charles M. Norkis Administration Building. That two-story 20,560-square-foot structure, with a 9,870-square-foot basement, is named in honor of Norkis, a 38-year-employee who was its former executive director.

Like someone living in a rented apartment, the workers eagerly anticipate their new work center with weather-tight windows, central air conditioning and all bathrooms that function.

A May 3 tour of the present and future administration offices of the county MUA led by Chief Engineer Thomas LaRocco and Executive Director Joseph Rizzuto highlighted the physical limitations of the present collection of buildings. Siding in many places is rotted so that insulation is visible.

Since the MUA's inception in August 1972, its scope of responsibility broadened.

Those who oversee the daily operations work in a collection of add-on buildings that grew as the agency's operations expanded.

The ranch-style dwelling was bought by the MUA. In 1978 a north-wing was added. Then, in 1983, pre-fabricated trailer sections were added.

In 1987, more land was acquired south of the original property. After that, the southeast, south and southwest additions were built in 1989.

The present building totals 19,500 square feet, with 2,700 in the second-story storage area, and a 300-square-foot basement.

In addition to the offices, two meetings of the Board of Commissioners are held in a room that is not compliant with handicap access rules.

The board realized in 2014 the time had arrived to renovate or build a new office. The firm of Hatch Mott MacDonald's team of engineers did a thorough inspection of every aspect of the facility.

Its estimate was about $1.9 million to fix deficiencies and life-safety issues. To extend the facility's useful life for another 20 years, an additional $1.5 million would have had to be spent.

Instead, the board opted to take that approximate $3.4 million and put the money into a building with a 75-year-life expectancy.

In 2014 the MUA sought proposals from architects and engineers to erect a new building. The firm of OSK Design Partners was awarded the design and construction management contract.

A design was finalized in December 2015. The construction phase was bid early in 2016 and the construction contract for $8.496-million was awarded to Arthur Ogren Inc.

The ground was broken in May 2016. Construction is anticipated to be complete in August.

When completed, demolition of the former office will take place. That will pave the way for a parking lot that will accommodate 90 vehicles with the main driveway direct to the front entrance.

Heating and cooling of the building will be geothermal, LaRocco said. He noted that a configuration of wells 500 feet would supply groundwater, year-round, at about 55 degrees. Heating takes less energy in winter while cooling in summer also requires less energy.

That feature, along with LED lighting, thermally-improved windows, and an Energy Star rated metal roof system will reduce the carbon footprint of the structure.

A part of the building's cost for energy efficient improvements is being "financially supported" by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program.

CINCINNATI -- FC Cincinnati is no longer satisfied just with improving the club internally.

An aggressive approach to finding immediate results has led to a handful of player acquisitions this season. It backs up the team's ambitions for a United Soccer League championship.

Six weeks into its second season, FC Cincinnati already has brought in three new players. The club made one in-season addition last year, picking up since-departed Casey Townsend just before theUSLroster freeze on Sept. 6.

Obviously, our franchise is well-established now, FCC President and General Manager JeffBerdingsaid. We have a new coaching staff and we're working well together to assess our roster and where there may be good opportunities to improve."

FC Cincinnati President and General Manager JeffBerding.

Berdingadded that if opportunities arise, the team will evaluate them to see if they make sense to pursue.

One of those opportunities recently presented itself, and on Wednesday,FC Cincinnati announced a dealthat sent forward Andy Craven to Western Conference foe Oklahoma City FC. In exchange, FCC receives DanniKonig, a 6-foot-2 striker who scored 22 goals in 2015 while leading the Energy to the conference final.

Konigarrived in Cincinnati on Tuesday and met his new teammates at the end of practice. He will be available for Saturdays home game against Orlando City B.

The signing followed a short-term loan addition ofColumbus Crew SC midfielderCristianMartinez, who was brought in for last weekends1-1 draw at Richmondand now is back with his Major League Soccer club up I-71. FCC alsopicked up former English Premier League defender JustinHoyteafter the first game of the season, but he has been out since injuring his hamstring in his debut April 9 at Bethlehem.

WCPO Insiders can read more about FC Cincinnati's new approach to adding players during the season.

See the article here:
FC Cincinnati is willing to juggle roster, make additions much more than first season - WCPO

A huge entertainment venue is coming soon to Delmarva. Lefty's Alley and Eats, located next to Dartmouth Plaza on Coastal Highway in Lewes, will officially open Friday, Dec. 16. Produced by Megan Raymond

Kaisy is fluffy like a pancake, spongey like french toast and a little crispy like funnel cake, according to the owner of Kaisy's Delights in Rehoboth, kaisysdelights.com. Highly ranked on Yelp and TripAdvisor, Kaisys claims it is the first maker of Kaisy in the country. This traditional Austrian dessert, named after Austrian emperor Kaiser Franz Joseph 1, is basically shredded pancake. For the less adventurous, Kaisys also offers sandwiches and coffee.(Photo: Submitted photo)Buy Photo

Delaware's tourism industry is working to make sure it's the "first state" on travelers' minds for summer excursions.

One of the biggest additions to the beaches entertainment scene is actually a short drive from the shoreline. Highway One Group, the ownerof the Dewey Beach nightlife hot spot Bottle & Cork,isbranching out to Milton, opening anoutdoor stage at Hudson Fields off Route 1.

With a capacity of 4,000, the venueoffers the largest concert space in Sussex County.

The venue kicks off its inaugural season June 1 with the country-rock outfit Old Dominion. Promoters have lined up several national acts so far, including the reggae bands SOJA and Dirty Heads.

Hudson Fields is no stranger to big events. It was the original home of Punkin Chunkin and hosted national acts in the 1990s under the management of the Delaware River & Bay Authority.

Several other familiar names also have new takes for the season and beyond.

The Juice Box Cafe has made a name for itself asOcean View's headquarters for smoothies. This past spring, it opened a second location farther to the north, on Second Street in Rehoboth Beach.

Like the original, the jaunty establishment will also serve breakfast and lunch fare with plenty of hard-to-pronounce ingredients, such as acai bowls, kombucha, quinoa and wasabi aoli.

Speaking of things that are literally difficult to say: Now, people in Lewes will no longer have to travel to Rehoboth's boardwalk for theirKaiserschmarren.

That is the specialty at Kaisy's Delights, which first brought its taste of Austrian cuisine to Rehoboth in 2015. The "kaisy" is essentially a diced-up pancake served with fruit compote, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Its latest location is on Savannah Road in Lewes.

While in Lewes, visitors can roll into a new attraction: Lefty's Alley and Eats. The business offers a respite from rainy or especially hot days, with its dozen-plus bowling lanes, big-screen TVs and two-story laser tag arena.

Lefty's Alley and Eats located in Lewes on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016.(Photo: Staff Photo by Megan Raymond)

Farther down the shore, a well-known hotel inRehobothis joining forces with one of the city's most prominent restaurants. In March, the people behind the Henlopen City Oyster House opened the Blue Hen restaurant at the Avenue Inn.

ELSEWHERE:Find out what's new for the 2017 season in Ocean City.

READ MORE:Dogfish Head announces brewpub grand opening

The drink menu occupies an entire page and, of course, boasts a drink called the Blue Mule the Cold River Blueberry Vodka providing the blue.

For 22 years, Dogfish Head's Brewings & Eats, has put downtown Rehoboth on the map as a beer aficionado's destination, and big changes are in store this season with the reopening of the brewpub in a new building.

View of the exterior of the new Dogfish Head brewpub on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.(Photo: Jason Minto, The News Journal)

The new building breaks from the old location in several ways, with its ceilings, bigger music stage and a new pub floor plan with seating for 180 guests. Its rustic atmosphere also is more in tune with Dogfish Head's "off-centered" brewery in Milton.

Another Sussex County business rooted in adult beverages has undergone amore-extreme makeover.

Forget familiar names. Fenwick Wine Cellars is now Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery. What's more, it has moved from a strip mall east of Selbyville to a sprawling farm in the countryside outside Frankford on Blackwater Road.

Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery recently opened in Frankford, Delaware.(Photo: Staff Photo by Megan Raymond)

Patrons are greeted by a large tasting room, with high ceilings,a roaring fireplace (when it's chilly) and rustic decor. Outside, they can enjoy a glass on the patio, covered to block the blazing summer sun.

Some other new places of note: the Big Chill Beach Club, opening in Bethany Beach later this summer and overlooking the Indian River Inlet bridge; Axis in downtown Rehoboth; a fifth location of Big Fish Grill, in Ocean View; the Pig & Publican in Lewes; and Mason's Lobster Rolls, also in downtown Rehoboth.

READ MORE:'Big Chill' beachfront event venue slated for May

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Find out what's new to coastal Delaware in 2017 - Delmarva Daily Times

VIDEOS: BEST OF PREDATORS' 2017 NHL PLAYOFFSPredators explain 'dog on a bone' mentality, award | 0:57

The Predators' player of the game award is a chain necklace. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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The Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games in the second round.

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Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode analyze the Predators' victory over the Blues Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean, Adam Vingan / USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee

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Predators fan beg to flip the Blues Smash Car after the Predators win the second round NHL Playoff series 4 game to 2 at Bridgestone Arena. George Walker / USA Today Network Tennessee

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The Nashville Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to win the Western Conference semifinal for the first time ever. USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Pred fans in the concourse of the Bridgestone Arena after the team won 3-1 in the Western Conference semifinals Tom Stanford / Tennessean

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Nashville Predators fans celebrate as their team defeats the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history on Sunday, May 7, 2017. Dave Ammenheuser and Jessica Bliss / The Tennessean

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Preds fans cheer on the team as the clock runs out in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinal against the St. Louis Blues. Tom Stanford / Tennessean

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The Commodores celebrated with all of Nashville on Sunday as the Predators scored their third goal on the St. Louis Blues to seal a playoff victory. Adam Sparks/The USA TODAY NETWORK--Tennessee

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Nashville Predators fans celebrate after their team defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Andrew Nelles / USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Bridgestone Arena ushers give out high-fives to fans exiting after the Predators defeated the Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Jessica Bliss / The Tennessean

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Predators fans celebrate after the team's historic win over the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference semifinals, Sunday, May 7, 2017 Elaina Sauber / USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Nashville's status has Music City is well known, but its hockey town credentials are still surprising some. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

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Tennessean writers Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode breakdown the Predators 2 to 1 loss in Game 5 against the Blues at Scottrade Arena. George Walker/The Tennessean

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Predators ready themselves for game 5 against the Blues at Scottrade Center. George Walker IV/The Tennessean

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The Predators lead the Blues 3-1 in the second round of the playoffs. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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The Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues are pulverizing each other during their best-of-seven series in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jon Garcia / The Tennessean

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators 2-1 victory over the Blues in Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Predators lead the series 3-1. Andrew Nelles, Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode

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The Predators lead their second-round series 2-1. Michael Murphy, Adam Vingan, Joe Rexrode / The Tennessean

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The Predators lead their second-round series with the Blues through three games. Adam Vingan / The Tennessean

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Preds fans at Bridgestone Arena show some team spirit ahead of Game 3 in the NHL Playoffs against the Blues. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

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NBC sports analyst Mike Milbury calls P.K. Subban a clown during warm ups. During interview with USA Today Network Tennessee columnist Joe Rexrode he says he wishes he had something different. Courtesy of NBC Sports

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators game 2 loss against the Blues in their NHL Playoff series.

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The Predators play the Blues in Game 2 of their second-round series. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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Predators head coach Peter Laviolette and Mike Fisher react to news of Kevin Fiala's leg injury he suffered during game 1 of playoff series against the Blues. George Walker/The Tennessean

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators 4 -3 victory over the Blues in Game 1 of their second-round NHL Playoff series

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Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4), defenseman Roman Josi (59) and center Calle Jarnkrok (19) congratulate goalie Pekka Rinne (35) after their 3 to 1 victory against the St. Louis Blues of game six to close out the second round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs four games to two at the Bridgestone Arena Sunday, May 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

David Poile waited by Pekka Rinne's locker Sunday, the Predators general manager and the team's longest-tenured player sharing an emotional hug.

The series-clinching Game 6 win against the St. Louis Blues was a milestone achievement for thefranchise.

It carriedgreater significance for Poile, the Predators' architect who previously had been to the conference finals once in more than three decades in the NHL.

Hes done a great job," Rinne said. "Youve got to be willing to take a lot of heat and have a big set of

He trailed off, then laughed.

Let's just say thatittakes a certain fortitude to undertake a full-scale renovation of a franchise.

The Predators, through a series of daring and difficultmoves made over the past three-plus years, have been sculpted into a potential powerhouse.

Their first appearance in the Western Conference final,which starts Friday against the Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m., NBC SN/102.5-FM), is not the franchise's ultimate vision. The Stanley Cup is all that will suffice in that regard.

Nashville's inclusionin the NHL's final four, however, is proof that itsplan is proceeding as hoped.

"Just judging by making (the) second round last year and getting to the third this year, it seems to have paid off," Predators forward Colin Wilson said.

The landscape-altering additions ofNo. 1 center Ryan Johansen and big-name defenseman P.K. Subban last year understandably receive the most attention. Those two have been essentialin pushing the Predators to unprecedented heights.

But those trades were partof a larger transformation that began three years ago when Poile implored himself to exit his comfort zone.

On April 14, 2014, the Predators parted with original coach Barry Trotz after 15 seasons. They hired current coach Peter Laviolette three weeks later.

"It was just time to try to play a little bit different brand of hockey," Poile said. "We had been pretty successful up to that point, but I think we all wanted ... to add a little more offense into our game.

ThePredators' previous identity as a scrappy, defensive-minded team was born out of necessity. A budget-conscious approach meant few stars,particularly those who could score.Trotz's teams often finished near the bottom of the NHL in goals per game.

The acquisitionof forward Filip Forsberg, made one year before the coaching change in April 2013,began to address that lack of dynamic offensive players.

It never gets easy when you make a trade, especially significant trades like weve done in the past couple years," Poile said.

Predators center Ryan Johansen, acquired in a January 2016 trade with the Blue Jackets, scored the game-winning goal Sunday against the Blues.(Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

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Predators' evolution carries them to NHL Western Conference final - The Tennessean

OTTUMWA Andrew Birch, building maintenance manager at Wapello County Courthouse, promised to take contractors to the dreaded fifth floor Wednesday to see how bad the windows are.

Douglas J. Steinmetz, an architect out of Cedar Rapids, and Victor Amoroso Jr., president of A and J Associates consulting firm, examined windows at the courthouse, inside and out, and took copious notes for a project years in the making.

In March, the county board agreed to have Supervisor Chairman Jerry Parker contact Amoroso for advice on replacing the windows. Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, there are certain things we can and cannot do, Parker told the board.

I think its a timely project, said Steinmetz Wednesday. These windows have served their purpose.

Steinmetz estimates that the current windows were installed in the 1970s. [They] dont reflect the character of the building at all, he said. The goal of the project is to give the courthouse windows that will reflect the character of the building and still be energy efficient.

Steinmetz said the contractor will attempt to keep the new windows historically accurate. Fortunately we have drawings of the original building, he said. The drawings and photos will be used as a reference and will be the basis of design of the new windows, he said.

The project will not require any additional money from taxpayers. Weve been saving every year out of our sales tax money, said Parker.

Supervisors contracted with A and J Associates in March to prepare a study that would address the historical requirements of the window replacement, grant options or other financial incentives for historic preservation, window options, lead time for the windows and estimates of construction costs.

A and J Associates is in charge of the specifications; Steinmetz makes sure the designs meet the standards of the Secretary of the Interior for historic buildings.

We want to retain as much historic fabric as we can, Steinmetz said as he examined the windows.

Amoroso said the contractor will try to get the windows back to historic relevance. He thinks the study will be finished in a month or so, and then the designing process will begin.

Amoroso hopes the project will be out for bids in the fall. That will allow the windows to be manufactured over the winter months.

Steinmetz estimated that making the windows would take about three months. The windows would be installed when the weather allows in the spring of 2018, Amoroso said.

Parker said the county has more than $700,000 in sales tax money available for capital projects. Weve been able to accumulate it every year. Thats an accumulation from just 25 percent of the sales tax. The other 75 percent of the sales tax is earmarked for other uses.

Parker said the county has kept the cost of capital improvements low enough to save part of the money each year; that means the county wont have to levy more taxes or pass a bond issue and pay interest.

Parker doesnt know how much the windows will cost, but he said, Wouldnt surprise me if they [were] half a million."

Reporter Winona Whitaker can be contacted at wwhitaker@ottumwacourier.com and followed on Twitter @courierwinona.

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