Firefighters concerned about conditions at Bragg station News & Observer Firefighters at a fire station on the Fort Bragg have turned to Congress for help with repairs at a fire station that has a leaky roof, holes in the walls, mold, asbestos and even a fire alarm system that's not in compliance. The Fayetteville Observer ... |
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Firefighters concerned about conditions at Bragg station - News & Observer
COUPEVILLE Private air-jet massage tubs for mothers-to-be. Skylights shining above waiting rooms. Patient rooms larger than apodments in Seattle and tiled bathrooms nicer than most motels.
Shades of the colors Quietude, Humble Gold and Nomadic Desert.
Those are among the more obvious differences between the old and new of WhidbeyHealth Medical Center, set to open its $33.3 million-plus addition this year. That amount doesnt include taxes, legal fees, architects, permitting, water, sewer, power, engineering, said Patricia Duff, a WhidbeyHealth spokeswoman.
The two-story, 60,000-square-foot expansion will replace the current intensive care unit, medical and surgical patient rooms and labor and delivery suites.
All 39 rooms are single patient rather than shared. This trend in hospital design the past decade has shown to reduce infection rates and increase patient privacy and rest.
Theres also many more subtle state-of-the-art features of the renovation that are part of the upgrade.
An innovative heating and cooling system developed in Japan is expected to substantially lower energy bills.
And a myriad of infection control features, including smooth, non-porous and easily cleanable walls and floors, increased hands-free sinks and more airborne infection isolation rooms should mean a safer hospital.
Preventing transmission of infectious agents to vulnerable patient populations, health care personnel and visitors is a priority at WhidbeyHealth, said nurse Colleen Klamm, the hospitals infection preventionist.
The $50 million project bond, approved by voters in 2013, costs property owners an estimated 32.2 cents per $1,000 assessed property value over 25 years.
Patients can expect a more healing environment when the medical centers new wing opens in late spring, said WhidbeyHealth CEO Geri Forbes.
We have always provided great care, she said. Now we will have an environment that is as good as our doctors and nurses.
Attention to detail is based on the experience of other recently-constructed hospitals around the country and extensive studies of inpatient care, Forbes said.
In the past 50 years, inpatient care has made enormous strides in treatments, quality, technology, equipment, infection control, safety and privacy, she said. The new wing will reflect these advances while eliminating the complexity of double patient rooms.
Construction is about 74 percent complete, said George Senerth, executive director of facilities for the health care system.
Interior work began in December.
Andersen Construction is the main contractor. HDR Architecture and Engineering Firm, a global company with 50 years experience planning health care facilities, designed the addition.
In addition to paying for the new wing, the bond also provides for remodeling of existing patient rooms into pre- and post-operative areas, a new loading dock, an expanded parking lot and a new exit area to discharge patients.
Whidbey General was built in 1970 and voters approved three expansions over the past 46 years, said Keith Mack, community relations manager for WhidbeyHealth.
Some 20,000-square-feet of the additions first floor will remain undeveloped and available for future use, said project manager Mark Estvold.
The new wing is divided into east and west pods separated by a corridor, reception desk and waiting areas. The central corridor will house nutrition, medication and other supplies.
Every room will be a mirror image, with beds, cabinets and supplies all located in the same places, said Annette Himelick of HDR Architecture.
Theres nothing more disconcerting than a doctor coming into a room and looking around wondering where the gloves are, she said. Standardizing the room is done through design.
The new one-patient medical/surgical rooms measure 280 square feet. Thats bigger than the current patient rooms that hold two beds and measure 160 square feet.
Labor and delivery suites will also be noticeably roomier at 392 square feet with bathrooms measuring 87 square feet.
Large white soaking tubs in the birthing suites bathrooms are not standard hot tubs and they arent used during delivery, Klamm said.
The tubs work like a geyser shooting out streams of heated air so water is constantly circulating, providing a gentle therapeutic massage that may help induce labor.
Last year, 181 babies were born at WhidbeyHealth Medical Center.
Additionally, almost every room has a motorized lift above the bed.
This not only helps handicapped patients but saves the backs of staff, said nursing manager Patsy Kolesar-Hynson.
Huge, huge, is how she describes the impact the new wing will have on patients and her 80-person staff.
The rooms we have now look great when you dont have any patients, she said, but add the patient, equipment, family, it gets very cramped, very quickly.
Nurses can also expect to spend more time with patients because of a design change. Instead of a large centralized desk where they typically gather and record information, theyll work from small work stations in the hallways directly outside patient doors.
Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma studied time its nursing staff walked up and down hallways getting to patients versus time spent with patients before and after a similar upgrade, Himelick said.
Nurses spent only 31 percent of their time with patients before the renovation. After setting up small stations outside every other room, time with patients increased to 75 percent, she said.
A nurse server pass-through slot on patient doors is another design change. Accessible from the inside and outside, supplies, linens and trash can be slid through the slot, meaning more peace and quiet for patients because staff wont be in and out so often.
We want to minimize the disturbance to patients as much as possible, Himelick said.
And we dont need nurses walking six to 10 miles a day.
Coffman Engineers, a consultant to HDR Architecture, is leading the installation of an innovative heating and cooling system known as a variable refrigerant flow heat pump system. It transfers heat from an unoccupied room to a room in use, potentially reducing energy use by 40 percent.
Students with the University of Washingtons Integrated Design Lab are tracking the project to gauge energy savings.
More here:
$50 million hospital expansion set to open later this year - The Daily Herald
Life can be so random. And often is.
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One day in 1985, on his way to work as a sales representative for a cement company, Mitch Marris drove past the area in Camden County where Merchantville and Pennsauken meet. There, in Pennsauken, he spotted a circa-1890s Victorian for sale with interesting angles and loads of character.
He decided to return to that house for a look inside. Never mind that it was obviously in poor condition. Living in an apartment near the Italian Market in South Philadelphia had served Mitch and wife Deborah's growing family well, but it was time for a change.
Had he taken a different route that day, life now might be quite different. But the Marrises realized that Mitch had spotted a treasure, and one at a price they could afford. A definite milestone day in their lives.
"This house just seemed to beckon," says Deborah, an artist and teacher who shared her husband's instincts about it.
Once the house was theirs that summer, the couple worked from the outdoors in, cleaning up an overgrown and neglected but expansive yard and garden. By October of that year, they had moved in and had begun tackling the Victorian's interior a labor of valiant effort, but yes, also of love.
Mitch remembers a "feeble" heating system, a terrible kitchen, and equally terrible wall coverings. But, still, they found reason for gratitude: The Victorian's high ceilings, moldings and other circa-1890s amenities were intact.
Like so many owners who have the courage to tackle older homes, this couple discovered that there was very little that didn't need TLC. More and more projects tumbled their way, and the deeper into improvements they went.
Today, visitors might never guess the effort it took to recreate the house, with its five first-story rooms, four on the second floor, and two large rooms in the now-finished attic.
It didn't hurt that Deborah Moss Marris, 61, is an accomplished artist with a bachelor of fine arts degree from Moore College of Art and Design and an MFA from Syracuse University; currently, she is a professor at Camden County College in Blackwood and also an art teacher at Westfield Friends School in Riverton.
Her expertise as a decorative painter/color consultant is evident here, and her choices of rich, vibrant colors and muted softer tones happily coexist.
And family-friendly features still work, well over a full century after the house was built. There are gathering places, a feeling of connection, a livability in this Victorian. Even terriers Mike and Maeve seem to know they are lucky dogs, indeed, to be sharing these spaces with the Marrises and their daughters, Caroline, Katherine and Eliza.
Another perk: The attic has offered a kind of "dormitory" to those daughters, their own private world.
Deborah, the artist, admits that having a first-floor studio with plenty of light was her dream. She shifted from a darker smaller space and loves every inch of it.
Then there's this: The ever-evolving dwelling is a kind of gallery for Deborah's works, which were recently on display at the Moorestown Community House during a celebration of the arts. The Marris house itself is an extension of that celebration, with Deborah's eclectic works everywhere.
An oversized painting of striking tangled underbrush has a perfect home in the family sunroom, a recent addition that has added prime space for viewing a deep, lush yard. Creatively painted chairs and stools find their own artistic place there.
Mitch, 62, proudly says that "the most gratifying part of the whole experience of this house has been in sharing it and working together with such a creative person as my wife."
Alongside traditional and handsome furniture is far more quirky and unexpected decor, just as pops of color live happily withe more stately browns and neutrals. The lightness of contemporary pieces is counterbalanced by arresting Oriental rugs that themselves feel like art.
Handsomely textured walls throughout the house are precisely the kind of surprises that spring from an artist's point of view. The dining room walls are a case in point.
Based on the home's original look, Deborah used a color-wash technique that imparts tones of gold, rose and bronze to create a glow that's almost magical. The walls are a perfect blend with the room's spectacular patterned ceiling.
It was quite a job to get from the house that needed so much TLC to the home that exudes such joyful charm today. And given all it took, it's not a project they might repeat. But Deborah and Mitch still are grateful for Mitch's ride to work that long-ago morning that brought them to their Pennsauken haven.
"Maybe someday, we'll live in a place where the windows are new and easily cleaned and dust is at a minimum," Mitch says somewhat wistfully.
But somehow, one wonders whether he really means it.
Published: March 26, 2017 4:00 AM EDT
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A Pennsauken Victorian reblooms under its owners' deft touch - Philly.com
MANCHESTER Exceptionally spacious at just over 5,000 square feet; ideal for a large family, thanks to 10 rooms including four (or five) bedrooms; and sited on five private acres directly opposite Augusta Golf Club and less than a mile from Lake Cobbossee, here is one of Central Maines finest homes, in one of the regions most desirable locations.
Quality-built in 1988, the home has been scrupulously maintained, and updated in the most important respects, such as systems. And the kitchen custom, with Corian surfaces, and stainless appliances including wall ovens, massive SubZero refrigerator, gas range, and built-in microwave. Theres even a huge new wait-until-you-see-this sunroom, with skylights in its cathedral ceiling, a pretty Palladian window, and French doors out to a large patio and beautiful back yard.
The dining room, with classic china closet and chair rails, and the living room, with its own floor-to-ceiling built-in, and a brick-and-tile, wood-burning fireplace, are at the front of the house. Floor-plan flexibility is an asset: Theres a study-library that works will as a bedroom; a room-sized breakfast nook off the kitchen; and an extra-large, carpeted family room with an abundance of built-ins.
Upstairs, the bright west-wing bedroom makes a perfect studio (and indeed was one until recently). There are two full suites: the master, whose elegant bath has a jetted tub, on the first floor; and second master above. In addition to three full baths, there are two half-baths (surely a boon to family life).
The basement adds 621 feet of finished space (included in the total above). Beyond a very nice recreation room, theres tons of workshop/storage space. The attached two-garage has walkup storage above, and theres an additional, detached two-vehicle garage.
The home at 88 Pond Road, Manchester, is listed for sale at $549,000 by Bill Sprague of Sprague & Curtis Real Estate in Augusta. Taxes are $8,750.
Please visit https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=fnkRouueUMX&mls=1 to enjoy a virtual tour. For more information or to schedule a viewing, please contact Bill at 623-1123, 458-0555 or at [emailprotected].
The Central Maine Home of the Week is produced by the Marketing Department of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Virtual tour by Mitchell Morrissette, Locksley Consulting.
Please send feature home suggestions to [emailprotected].
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88 Pond Road, Manchester - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
A proposed contract would push most Waukegan School District 60 teachers' salaries up 3.5 or 4.5 percent next year, which the school board president said was part of an effort to bridge the pay gap between Waukegan and other nearby communities.
The district released a draft of the proposed contract changes Friday afternoon after a district spokesman said union members approved the new four-year contract.
Teachers approved the proposed agreement by a wide margin, with 97 percent voting "yes," teachers' union President Kathy Schwarz said, adding in a news release announcing the vote that the Waukegan Teachers' Council and the Lake County Federation of Teachers would be endorsing school board President Mike Rodriguez along with candidates Porfirio Garcia and Brandon Ewing in the April 4 board elections.
"(W)e know that they will continue to promote the spirit of cooperation between the Board and the Teachers' Union," Schwarz said in the statement.
Rodriguez said it was important to him to reach a deal before the elections because no one knows what the make-up of the new board would be, and he wanted to ensure a contract was in place before the next school year started.
Rodriguez added that he started reaching out to union leadership two years ago after he was elected board president. He said he vowed then that the 16,800-student district would not go through another situation like the bitter monthlong strike in 2014 that preceded the last contract.
Under the proposed four-year contract, starting teacher salaries would rise 2.25 percent the first year, 2 percent the second, 2.25 percent the third and 2 percent the fourth, according to a breakdown of contractual changes provided by the district. In the last contract, starting salaries rose 2.5 percent in the second year and 1.25 percent in the final year.
Teachers who have between one and 22 creditable years of service would see their salaries rise 4.5 percent the first year, 4 percent the second, 4.5 percent the third and 4 percent the fourth, according to the contracts. The last contract started with raises of 5.75 percent followed by increases of 5 and 2.5 percent.
The longevity bump for teachers who hit 23 years of service would remain at 6 percent, according to the contract documents.
Teachers with 24 or more years would see a 3.5 percent increase the first year followed by raises of 3 percent in year two, 3.5 percent in year three and 3 percent in year four, according to district records. Teachers with that level of experience received raises of 3.25 percent in both year one and year two of the last contract and 2.5 percent of its final year.
The proposed increases fall within what the district was prepared to offer and is something the district can afford under financial projections prepared by district staff, Rodriguez said. He added that he feels it's important to bridge the pay gap between Waukegan and other nearby districts but that it can't be done in one contract.
"Their level of pay is below par with a lot of the neighboring districts," he said. "We get so many good teachers right out of college. We train them, we prepare them, and as soon as they become really experienced and knowledgeable, they go to another district."
Schwarz said she was "on the same page with his sentiments" in making the district more competitive, noting that bringing in new teachers and keeping them is always a concern.
The new contract also includes a new section on Senate Bill 100, a state law passed in 2015 that makes it harder for school districts to use discipline methods like suspensions and expulsions that takes students out of the classroom, according to the draft.
The changes are designed to address concerns raised by the union, Rodriguez said. The new law has led to uncertainties about how teachers can discipline students, making them more tentative and creating "times when students were a little bit more how should I say this bold and daring because they thought, 'Well, they can't suspend us,' " Rodriguez said.
The new law did not provide a lot of clarity and left a lot to districts to figure out for themselves, Schwarz said. She said she thought the only way to overcome those challenges was to inform teachers what the law says and include them in the process.
The proposed contract language says a team of teachers and administrators will assess how different interventions and consequences are working for individual students who commit infractions; teachers will be allowed to provide input before a final decision on interventions or discipline is made; and teachers will be notified of what that decision is.
Each school will develop their own "discipline plans," a fluid document meant to show how responsibility for student discipline is shared by the parents, the administration, the teacher and the student, and list nondisciplinary interventions available, according to the draft.
These additions would allow teachers and administrators to work together in building the frameworks in which discipline and interventions would occur, Schwarz said.
Twitter @mekcoleman
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Waukegan teachers' union approves proposed four-year contract - Chicago Tribune
In 2015, quarterback Blake Bortles threw 35 touchdowns and receiver Allen Robinson had 1,400 yards.
Center Brandon Linder is regarded as the teams best offensive lineman.
Aaron Colvin doesnt have an interception but is a steady nickel cornerback.
And linebacker Telvin Smith has three 100-tackle seasons.
The Jaguars 2014 draft class has certainly shown flashes throughout their careers.
But theyve been on teams that went 3-13, 5-11 and 3-13.
So as they enter the final year of their rookie contracts, should the Jaguars let them play it out and prove they can be a part of a winning team?
That doesnt make a lot of business sense, general manager Dave Caldwell said earlier this month at the Combine.
That out of the way, Caldwell said more than likely the Jaguars will begin extension talks with select players after the draft and called it a case by case basis.
I think its important for the new staff to get a feel for them and how theyre going to be used and evaluate their value, Caldwell said.
Last season, we projected extensions for Robinson, Colvin, Linder and Smith, a fifth-year picked-up option for Bortles and a wait-and-see approach with receiver Marqise Lee.
After last years debacle, the changes in the front office/coaching staff and free-agent additions, its time to revisit and revise our predictions.
We would let all of them except for Linder start the regular season without an extension, but this is a guess on what the Jaguars will do:
*Bortles: Wont pick up the fifth-year option.
*Linder: Should be Priority A for the Jaguars among this group.
*Robinson: The Jaguars likely want to have him locked up long-term by the time training camp starts.
*Colvin: One league source thinks Colvin will want to play his deal out and leave so he can get a chance to play outside instead of over the slot receiver.
*Smith: Our guess is the Jaguars want to get a deal done.
*Lee: If he picks up where he left off last year, start contract talks midway through the year.
Rivera review
The Jaguars signed tight end Mychal Rivera on Wednesday so we went to the tape. In a 24-13 Oakland win over San Francisco in 2014, Rivera had a career-high 109 yards receiving on seven catches.
A look at Riveras receptions:
1. Right slot (five yards). Rivera had a free release and ran an out route.
2. Right H-back (19 yards). Lined up off the ball, he used an out-and-up move to easily get open.
3. Left tight end (18 yards). Rivera ran a 10-yard route down the middle, stopped to make the catch and re-started to gain additional yardage as three 49ers tried to tackle him.
4. Right tight end (27 yards). The Raiders lined up three tight ends to the right and used an eight-man protection. Rivera ran an over route and stopped in an open pocket of the coverage to wait for Derek Carrs throw.
5. Left receiver (27 yards). In a bunch formation with two teammates, Rivera ran another over route against soft coverage.
6. Left tight end (eight yards). Another free release and Rivera ran a shallow cross.
7. Right receiver (five-yard touchdown). In man coverage, Rivera used his body to gain position to make a jumping catch.
At least in this game, it looked like Riveras value to the Jaguars will be as a receiving tight end. He appeared to run good routes and was impressive after the catch.
Analyzing the spending
The industry website Overthecap.com had a terrific breakdown of each teams spending by position and by unit.
*The Jaguars ranked eighth overall ($160,141,244) and their breakdown was 58 percent defense and 42 percent offense, interesting because defensive contributors Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Colvin are all on their rookie (less-expensive) contracts.
*The Jaguars defensive spending ranked fourth in the NFL, behind Tennessee (60 percent) and Denver and the Jets (both 59).
*Twenty-seven percent of the Jaguars 2017 money is allocated to the defensive line, behind only Tampa Bay (30) and Miami and the Jets (both 28).
*Only the Jaguars and Buffalo spend less than 10 percent apiece on the quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end positions.
*The highest positional spending is Cleveland on its offensive line (32 percent).
Appreciating Alualu
Tyson Alualu never played in a postseason game or a Pro Bowl during his seven years with the Jaguars, was demoted to back-up status entering the 2014 season and was a healthy scratch for the first two games of last year.
But Alualu, who signed with Pittsburgh last week, deserves a hat tip for his years of service to the franchise. Alualu played through knee issues, accepted a reduced role and became a starter in 2015 (tackle) and 2016 (end) because of injuries to SenDerrick Marks and Jared Odrick, respectively.
From the 2010 draft, Alualu ranks tied for second with Detroit/Miami defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in games played (110), just behind Denver/Jaguars/San Francisco guard Zane Beadles (112).
Final Drive
*Signing a player from a division rival isnt new for Jaguars executive vice president Tom Coughlin. This month, the Jaguars signed cornerback A.J. Bouye (Houston) and linebacker Josh McNary (Indianapolis). As the New York Giants coach from 2004-15, Coughlin saw the team sign eight free agents from NFC East rivals, including linebacker Antonio Pierce (2005 from Washington), defensive end Chris Canty (2009 from Dallas), tight end Martellus Bennett (2012 from Dallas) and special teamer Dwayne Harris (2015 from Dallas).
*All but one of the Jaguars nine unrestricted free agents have re-signed or signed with another team. Tailback Denard Robinson remains unsigned. The Jaguars re-signed guard Patrick Omameh and receiver Bryan Walters. Departing were Alualu, tackle/guard Luke Joeckel (Seattle), strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (Tennessee), left tackle Kelvin Beachum (Jets), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (Detroit) and cornerback Prince Amukamara (Chicago).
*Base salaries this year for nine Jaguars newcomers: Defensive end Calais Campbell ($9 million), left tackle Branden Albert ($8.425 million), strong safety Barry Church ($5 million), Bouye ($3 million), guard Earl Watford ($2 million), linebacker Lerentee McCray ($1.5 million), defensive tackle Stefan Charles ($1.25 million), linebacker Audie Cole ($1 million) and McNary ($775,000).
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Jaguars/NFL Insider: Post-draft, team will face decisions on contract extensions - Florida Times-Union
Running back James Butler is Nevada's top returning player for the 2017 season.(Photo: USA Today Sports)
The Nevada football team hits the field for its first practice under first-year coach Jay Norvell on Monday morning when it opens spring camp. The team will have 15 practices that culminate with the spring game April 29 at Mackay Stadium as it breaks in a new offensive scheme (the pass-happy Pack Attack) and defensive scheme (a 3-3-5 system). Here is a position-by-position look at the team, which includes the returning scholarship players, according to Nevadas online roster,and additions (most of which are freshmen who will arrive in the fall); a summation of the position and a position strength rating (out of 10).
Returners: Ty Gangi (jr.); Hunter Fralick (jr.); Dant Mayes (sr.); Cristian Solano (soph.)
Additions: David Cornwell (jr.); Kaymen Cureton (fr.)
In short: Gangi was solid after taking over the starting job late last season, throwing for 1,301 yards and completing 57.6 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and six interceptions (he also rushed for three scores), but Nevada didnt add Cornwell, a transfer from Alabama, to sit on the bench. Cornwell is on campus for spring ball and will battle with Gangi. He hasnt thrown a pass in a game since 2013 or played a full season since 2012, so theres rust to knock off but he could thrive in the pass-happy system.
Position strength 6 (out of 10) Gangi showed last year he was capable of leading a team; Cornwell has all the physical skills you want at the position.
Returners: James Butler (sr.); Jaxson Kincaide (so.); Kelton Moore (so.); Blake Wright (jr.); Isaiah Hamilton (fr.)
Additions: None
In short: The Wolf Pack coaches have stressed that the running back wont be phased out of the new pass-oriented offense and theyd be wise to get the ball to Butler as often as possible (hes the best player on the team). Kincaide, in particular, could thrive in the new offense as it is designed to get players in space and hes shifty. Butler caught just 12 passes in his first two seasons at Nevada but upped that number to 37 last season and will likely be a featured player in the passing attack.
Position strength 8 Butler is excellent and showed last season he can be a workhorse, but there isnt a lot of depth here if he gets hurt.
Returners: Wyatt Demps (sr.); Andrew Celis (jr.); Ahki Muhammad (jr.); Dominic Christian (so.); Brendan OLeary-Orange (so.); Victor Gonzalez (so.); David Harvey (fr.); Trevion Armstrong (fr.)
Additions: Theo Goodwin (fr.); Elijah Cooks (fr.); Ian Zamudio (fr.); Tyson Williams (fr.); McLane Mannix (fr.); Kaleb Fossum (jr.)
In short: Demps, who caught 53 passes for 686 yards and nine touchdowns last year, had a breakout junior season but could really blossom in Nevadas new offense. Only he and Celis (23 catches for 318 yards last season) have more than six career catches, so lots of roles will be open in Nevadas new four-receiver base. Muhammad is feisty in the slot; Christian has lots of potential; Armstrong and OLeary-Orange are huge targets; Gonzalez is a speed demon; and the incoming freshmen will get a shot.
Position strength 4 Demps is a potential pro but Nevada needs some young guys to grow up fast to maximize its new offensive system.
Returners: Evan Faunce (sr.); Brandon Scott (jr.); Miles Beach (fr.)
Additions: None
In short: Nevada has a long and storied history of excellent tight end play and has thrown out all-conference-caliberplayers like Anthony Pudewell, Erick Streelman, Virgil Green, Zach Sudfeld, Kolby Arendse and Jarred Gipson in the last 15 years. The Wolf Packs new offense wont kill the tight end, but the position will be de-emphasized. Faunces Pack career has been derailed by injuries, Scott proved last year he can catch some passes and Beach is an excellent prospect who could win reps at this position.
Position strength 3 The group has combined for seven catches (six from Scott) during their time at Nevada.
Returners: Austin Corbett (sr.); Daren Echeveria (jr.); Sean Krepsz (jr.); Ilya Lopez (sr.); Cliff Porter (soph.); Carl Burton-Hill (fr.); Jake Nelson (jr.)
Additions: Marshall Levins (jr.); Anthony Palomares (jr.); Gray Davis (fr.); Chase Windham (fr.)
In short: Former Nevada football coach Brian Polian was never able to build a strong offensive line and Norvell inherits a group thats thin on starting-caliber players. Corbett is excellent and Krepsz and Echeveria have started games (a combined 12), but thats about it. The rest of the group is a question mark after Nevada lost starters Jeremy Macauley, Nathan Goltry and Jake Henry, who started a combined 85 games. The JC additions Levins and Palomares need to be able to play right away.
Position strength 3 Youd like to have at least eight players ready to go on the offensive line. Nevada has just three sure things entering the spring.
Returners: Malik Reed (jr.); Patrick Choudja (sr.); Korey Rush (jr.); Jordan Silva (jr.); Kalei Meyer (jr.); Jarid Joseph (jr.); Nakita Lealao (sr.); Kori Collons (soph.); Hausia Sekona (soph.); Ricky Thomas Jr. (soph.); Kameron Toomer (fr.); Nick Gregg (fr.)
Additions: Chris Green (fr.); Dominic Peterson (fr.)
In short: Nevada has heavily stocked up at this position over the years, so Norvell didnt want to add much other than two prep defensive tackles who will likely redshirt. He was pleased with the talent level on the defensive line and said the staff just needs to develop those players. Reed made last years All-MW team and Choudja has talent that needs to be unlocked. Rush, Silva, Meyer, Joseph, Lealao and Sekona have all played snaps, so Nevada has plenty of players to pick from for its new three-man front.
Position strength 6 Reed is a difference-maker and theres enough talent here to develop some other high-level producers.
Returners: Gabe Sewell (soph.); Jaden Sawyer (sr.); Travis Wilson (sr.); Austin Paulhus (sr.); Lucas Weber (jr.); D.J. Powe (fr.); Lawson Hall (fr.)
Additions: Trevor Price (fr.); Lamin Touray (fr.)
In short: This position was a problem last season and lost its most productive player in Alex Bertrando, who had 106 tackles. Sewell and Sawyer started last season, so theyre a nice base to start with. Wilson has had the potential tag for a long time and is an uber athlete. Can he finally break out as a senior? Dont be shocked to see Nevada rely heavily on the freshmen (Powe and Hall, who redshirted last year, and Price and Touray, who are true freshmen) as the season goes along. Theyre the future here.
Position strength 4 Nevada needs this group to improve after the Wolf Pack ranked last nationally in run defense (297.6 yards/game) last year.
Returners: Kendall Johnson (sr.); EJ Muhammad (so.); Elijah Moody (jr.); Daniel Brown (so.); Kevin Howell (fr.); Daq Irby (fr.)
Additions: Brandon Brooks (jr.); Vosean Crumbie (jr.); Berdale Robins (fr.)
In short: Nevada lost one of its starting cornerbacks (Elijah Mitchell) and returns the other (Johnson, 25 career starts). Norvell targeted the defensive backfield in his first recruiting class, adding three cornerbacks and two safeties. JC transfers Brooks and Crumbie need to add immediate depth and should vie for starting jobs as the Pack shifts to a five-starter defensive backfield. Muhammad and Moody have played their share of snaps and Brown played as a true freshman (mostly on special teams) last season.
Position strength 4 There isnt an All-MW performer here but theres enough experienced depth and talented additions to be somewhat confident.
Returners: Asauni Rufus (jr.); Dameon Baber (jr.); Daylon Johnson (fr.); Cameron Turner (soph.); Marcus Lucas (fr.)
Additions: Nephi Sewell (fr.); Austin Arnold (fr.)
In short: Rufus and Baber enter their third season as starters, making this one of the teams most experienced units. Rufus has 200 tackles in his first two seasons and Baber has 139 tackles and six interceptions in two years, although he played better as a freshman than as a sophomore. Those two lead this group, which has a number of young players on the second line (four of the other five scholarship players are freshmen, including Arnold, who is listed as an athlete on Nevadas roster).
Position strength 5 Nevada should be confident about Rufus and Baber but theres not a lot of depth given the copious transfers at safety in recent years.
Returners: K Spencer Pettit (soph.); LS Wes Farnsworth (jr.); PR Andrew Celis (jr.)
Additions: None
In short: Pettit returns as Nevadas starting kicker after making 7-of-9 field goals and 18-of-19 extra points. The Wolf Pack doesnt have a punter listed on its roster entering spring camp, so it will have to figure that position out. Celis returned punts for Nevada last season but the Wolf Pack infused its roster in Norvells first recruiting class with several players who could return kickoffs and punts, so those positions will be sorted out through spring and fall camp, but it has been an emphasis of the new staff.
Position strength 4 Pettit proved to be an excellent kicker and the return unit should be improved, but the lack of a punter (right now) is an issue.
Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at cmurray@rgj.com or follow him on Twitter @MurrayRGJ.
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Breaking down Nevada football as it enters spring camp - Reno Gazette Journal
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PHILADELPHIA The Indian River Central School District is embracing clean energy with its planned installation of a geothermal heating system.
District Business Administrator Joseph A. Dougherty said he anticipates that the oil tanks will be removed from the high school as soon as they are shut off.
Weve actually had geothermal power at the intermediate school since it was constructed in 2002, Mr. Dougherty said.
The Indian River Intermediate School is also home to the districts solar panel array, with its construction being completed in Oct. 2016.
Mr. Dougherty said the district anticipates that the funds originally intended for fuel oil, $250,000 according to current budget documents, will cover any increased electricity costs.
Geothermal power involves heating and cooling water underground and then using that water to either heat or cool the air. The steam is also sometimes used to power electricity.
Noah A. Prior Jr., Facilities Director at Indian River, said that the high school is already partially powered by geothermal energy and the final 140 wells have been installed nearly 500 feet into the ground.
The last step now is to install the pipes and remove the conventional heating system. Youre dealing with equipment thats probably 30 or 40 years old, he said.
In order to make sure the high schools final push to green energy is the right choice, the facilities department first reported its energy costs at the intermediate school to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
We sent them our bills for about a year and they determined that our geothermal system there was 99 percent more efficient than a conventional one, Mr. Prior said.
The improvements at the Indian River High School are part of a Capital Project in partnership with NYSERDA.
Other buildings within the district use geothermal power: Theresa Primary School installed their systems in 2002, and Calcium Primary has gotten half its power from geothermals since 2010.
The district hopes to continue its environmental stewardship by using renewable energies in its other buildings.
Were excited about this move to green energy, Mr. Dougherty said, This has been a Board of Education priority for at least five years.
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Indian River High School plans to switch to geothermal power - WatertownDailyTimes.com
Many homes can claim a location close to nature, but few can boast front-row seats for title fights between boxing kangaroos.
This four-bedroom home is in the exclusive Bracker Place in Macarthur with direct access to an adjoining nature reserve and walking tracks.
Homeowner Vicki Dempsey says the match-ups between the younger marsupials is just part of the daily passing parade on the other side of her garden.
9 Bracker Place, Macarthur: An elevated but flat block. Photo:Supplied
I sit on my swing with a glass of wine and I watch horse riders, joggers, walkers, people on bikes, everybody just enjoying this wonderful patch of nature, she says.
Vicki says she and her husband, Dominic, moved into the architect-designed home in 2003.
Wed previously rented in Macarthur and promised that if work brought us back, wed buy there, she says.
9 Bracker Place, Macarthur. Photo:Supplied
The couple were attracted to the home and its elevated, but flat block, and a sense of privacy.
It combines the best of both worlds you feel like youre in a rural setting, but youre still only 15 minutes to Kingston, Vicki says.
This well-maintained home on a 944-square-metre block offers open-plan living highlighted by a large sunroom that opens onto low-maintenance grounds, landscaped in a formal style.
The sunroom was an addition, but it presents like its part of the house, not something that was tacked on, Vicki says.
Its one of our favourite places to entertain or to simply sit and enjoy the gardens.
Other features of the home include ducted gas heating, cooling system (ducted and split system), double car garaging and double carport, large under-house storage area, automatic watering system and rain water tank, and a gas outlet for barbecue connection.
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Boxing roos are neighbours of this Macarthur home - Domain News
Patch.com | Update: Space Heater Caused Fire at Vienna Home, Says Fire Department Patch.com Fire investigators determined that the house fire, in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court, began in a sunroom above the garage, the Fire Department said Thursday. It was caused by an unattended space heater that ignited other items in the room ... |
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Update: Space Heater Caused Fire at Vienna Home, Says Fire Department - Patch.com
