Foundry III rings up one of SF's highest price-per-sq.-ft. sales San Francisco Business Times If the building's construction signaled a revival in the city's office market, then the sale of the building by Tishman Speyer and J.P. Morgan Asset Management to American Realty Advisors in December reflected its continued upward trajectory. Located ... |
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Foundry III rings up one of SF's highest price-per-sq.-ft. sales - San Francisco Business Times
By Carole LaMond, Correspondent
The gracious four-bedroom colonial at 32 Longfellow Road is a rare find in Wellesley for its setting on a nearly one-acre lot with views of the Boston skyline.
The fully updated, bright and sunny 11-room house has an additional bonus with its location in the popular Poets Corner, a close-knit neighborhood of traditional homes on short streets and cul-de-sacs with poets names such as Tennyson and Shelley. Residents say it is an old-fashioned neighborhood where kids ride bikes and walk to each others homes to play and adults get together for book groups, block parties and an annual progressive dinner that is the highlight of the year.
The area is also in an excellent commuter location with quick access to the Mass Pike, routes 128, 9, 30 and 16 and train, as well as to shopping, restaurants and recreation.
Sandy Balzer Tobin of Benoit Mizner Simon is marketing the 3,300-square-foot home on a 0.97-acre lot for $1,829,000.
The house was renovated top to bottom in the past five years, but retains all of the character of its 1926 origins with its bay and arched windows, lovely millwork - some polished to a rich patina over the years - and built-ins with decorative detail, original glass doorknobs, satiny hardwood floors and front and back staircases.
The house has a charming center foyer, a front-to-back living room with doors to a spacious sunroom, a formal dining room with a fireplace, a study, an updated granite kitchen with a butlers pantry, and a family room. The second floor has four bedrooms which include a master suite and three new bathrooms. The walk-out lower level has a playroom with a fireplace.
The addition of bluestone patios, which includes a gorgeous tired rear terrace, emphasize the amazing yard and provide wonderful space for outdoor entertaining and leisure.
The cedar shingle house has nice curb appeal with a center portico, dark shutters, a wide bluestone walk, ledgestone walls and terraces.
The front door opens to the classic vestibule of the period. Flanked by coat closets, the vestibule has double French doors which open to the foyer with a turned staircase, doorways to the living room, study and dining room.
The focal point of the foyer is the gracious turned staircase with its beautiful arched window which floods the entry with natural light. The lower staircase has a wide half flight of steps to double French doors which open to the rear terrace.
The floor plan has an excellent flow for entertaining with its easy access to the dining room and spacious living room and sunroom which opens to a bluestone patio that wraps from the side of the house to a two-tier terrace overlooking the back yard.
The front-to-back living room is filled with light from a triple window at one end and double windows at the other. Two solid double doors on each side of the wood-burning fireplace with a decorative mantel open to a sunroom.
The sunroom has triple windows at each end and a wall with beautiful arched windows flanking a French door with full side panels. The door opens to the side bluestone patio which leads to the magnificent two-tier back patio which is bordered by stone walls.
There is a cozy study with a wall of built-in bookshelves to the left of the foyer which provides a quiet workspace separate from the main activity of the household.
The dining room is off the back of the foyer and has all of the lovely original details of the home with a wood-burning fireplace, paneled molding above and below a chair rail and a bay window with a wide sill for serving, plants or decorative objects.
The kitchen also retains its period charm with its back staircase and butlers pantry, but with all the amenities of today. There are granite countertops with a peninsula with breakfast bar seating, wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances by Jenn-Air as well as a triple window above the sink with sweeping views.
The butlers pantry has wood counters polished to a soft patina from years of use, glass-front cabinetry and a window.
The kitchen is open to the family room with a bay window bordered by a picture window that floods the room with sunlight and provides sweeping views. The room has built-in bookcases, a door to the attached two-car garage and a door to the covered porch with access to a bluestone patio that opens to the driveway. There is a half bath off the family room.
The second floor has four bedrooms that include a master suite, and three full baths.
The master bedroom has a wood-burning fireplace, a triple window with views of the Boston skyline and built-in cabinetry. There is a private bath and a sunny dressing room off the bedroom has multiple closets and windows and is large enough to be used as a nursery.
Two family bedrooms off the landing share a bath while a third bedroom, at the top of the back stairs, has a private bath.
The walk-out lower level has a game room with a wood-burning fireplace with a dramatic terra cotta tile surround, a large laundry room, a wine cellar, a half bath, storage and a door to the backyard.
The house has gas heat, central air, and the professionally landscaped yard has a sprinkler system.
Details
Address: 32 Longfellow Road, Wellesley
BR/BA: Four bedrooms, three full and two half baths
Size: 3,300 square feet of living space on a 0.97 acre lot
Age: 1926; renovated
Price: $1,829,000
Taxes: $16,933
Features of home: This gracious colonial in the popular Poets Corner neighborhood is set on nearly an acre with views of the Boston skyline. Thoughtful renovations have retained the charming 1926 details and feature a granite kitchen with a butlers pantry that is open to a family room, a formal dining room, a front-to-back living room and sunroom, four bedrooms which include a master suite and a lower level with a playroom with a fireplace. Terraced bluestone patios add outdoor space for entertaining and leisure. The house is in an excellent commuter location with easy access to major roads and rail station and is close to shopping, restaurants, library, the Cross Town Trail, Warren playground and recreation department.
Close by: Schofield Elementary School
Contact: For more information contact Sandy Balzer Tobin of Benoit Mizner Simon at 781-820-4720 direct or 781-444-8383 office or sandy@benoitmiznersimon.com. This home may be seen by appointment.
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Wellesley House of the Week: Poet's Corner colonial fully updated - Wicked Local Wellesley
TheOldfather Group of Ocean Atlantic Sothebys International Realtyis pleased to announce a pair of coastal open house events this weekend, located in both Sussex and Kent Counties.
These homes are both located near area waterways, with one being so close that the front yard is literally blue and salty.
So if you have a little free time on either Saturday or Sunday, stop by and say hello. We've love to see you!
Hosted by the Oldfather GroupsGrace Nelson, the first home that's open this weekend is nestled in theRefuge at Dirickson Creeknear Fenwick Island and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open floor plan over nearly 2,400-square-feet of living space.
In addition to the front porch and the oversized screened-in deck in the back yard, other features of this home at37017 Serenity Driveinclude a light-filled sunroom, a chefs kitchen with double wall oven and updated cabinets, a central vacuum and a vaulted great room with gas fireplace, as well as a two-car garage.
The Refuge at Dirickson Creek community is rich in amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness center, a fishing pier and a community boat ramp thats perfect for accessing all of the nearby waterways.
This coastal property will be open on Sunday, March 26, from 12 to 2 p.m., so be sure to stop by and have a look.
The second home being showcased this weekend by southern Delaware's top real estate firm for buyer represented sales is located at327 Sandpiper Drivein Kent County, on the shores of the Delaware Bay.
This four bedroom, two bathroom home is only 10 years old and sits literally on Pickering Beach. Featuring an elevated main floor, an open concept floor plan and panoramic water views, the home boasts more than 2,500-square-feet of living space.
The property spans more than five acres and includes 1,000 feet of beach, and is just a short drive from the state capital region of the nations first state.
Other features of the home include an expansive deck, a great room with cathedral ceiling, a gas fireplace, a large kitchen and a nice sized loft area.
This stunning coastal home will be open on Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your host is the Oldfather Group'sDiana Harbert.
If you'd like to these homes but aren't available this weekend, just click below to easily schedule an appointment with a member of our staff. Or give us a ring at 302-260-2000.
We'd love to take you on a private tour ofthese homes, or any of our featured properties.
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Pair of Coastal Homes Featured This Weekend by the Oldfather Group - CapeGazette.com
Allegheny Restoration and Builders Incorporated out of Morgantown are replacing and restoring some of the windows in the A.F. Kisar House on Third Street.
Main Street Point Pleasant has helped secure the funds for the continued restoration of the historic Kisar home.
POINT PLEASANT Restoration efforts are continuing on a historic home in Point Pleasant.
Several windows in the A.F. Kisar House, located on Third Street, are being replaced/restored to their original appearance, thanks to two grants one from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and a Governors Community Participation Program Grant. Matching funds were also provided from Main Street Point Pleasant.
The grant applications had been completed some time ago, and work has been planned for the last couple of years. Though progress is sometimes slow, regardless of the pace, forward motion is still progress. In all, the work on this portion of the windows will cost around $75,000, total, Main Street Point Pleasant Treasurer Darlene Haer said. Allegheny Restoration and Builders Incorporated out of Morgantown is doing the unique work and will likely be done by the end of this month.
Main Street Point Pleasant has gone after all the funds to restore the home in the last several years with that restoration including: $200,000 for the roof and gutters; $546,000 for exterior brick and mortar wok, restoration of the front and side porches and installation of a handicapped ramp. The organization has raised around $821,000 so far for restoration efforts. Main Street Point Pleasant Executive Director Charles Humphreys said the next step will be looking for grants to install a heating and cooling system to maintain the temperature in the home which he hopes will eventually serve as a museum in some capacity.
Humphreys has long said the home is a showplace and theres no other quite like it in the state of West Virginia.
We are West Virginias best kept secret, Haer said about the tourism sites in Point Pleasant.
Main Street Point Pleasant has actually had a hand in developing some of those tourism sites, like Riverfront Park and its murals. The organization is also the longest running Main Street program in the state. In addition to Haer, Board Members include Sandy Dunn, Judy Hensley, Elizabeth Jones, Georgianna Tillis, Paul Simon, Joe Supple, Ed Lowe, Ruth Finley, Brian Billings, Bob Doeffinger, Denny Bellamy, Sharon Stapleton. The late Carolyn Harris was also a well-known member of the board.
With Gov. Jim Justice running on a platform of promoting tourism in West Virginia when he was a candidate, Humphreys is hoping Point Pleasant benefits from this in some way down the road, though but he and Haer are aware of the budget situation the state is in at the moment. Funds are drying up for projects like the Kisar Home.
Haer said if anyone has any ideas in terms of going after funding, or fundraisers, they should contact herself or Humphreys. Main Street Point Pleasant can be reached at 304-675-3844.
Allegheny Restoration and Builders Incorporated out of Morgantown are replacing and restoring some of the windows in the A.F. Kisar House on Third Street.
http://mydailyregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_3.23-PPR-Kisar-1.jpgAllegheny Restoration and Builders Incorporated out of Morgantown are replacing and restoring some of the windows in the A.F. Kisar House on Third Street.
Main Street Point Pleasant has helped secure the funds for the continued restoration of the historic Kisar home.
http://mydailyregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_3.23-PPR-Kisar-2.jpgMain Street Point Pleasant has helped secure the funds for the continued restoration of the historic Kisar home.
Window replacement ongoing at Kisar house
Reach Beth Sergent at [emailprotected] or on Twitter @BSergentWrites.
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Restoration efforts continue on historic home - Point Pleasant Register
Replacement windows can be a smart investment in comfort and design appeal of a home.
Replacing old windows is often a worthwhile investment for homeowners. Energy-efficient windows can prevent heating and cooling loss and keep homes more comfortable throughout the year. Such windows also can improve a homes resale value, proving a good return on investment for homeowners who want to upgrade their homes before putting them on the market.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners might find it more cost-effective to replace very old and/or inefficient windows to improve their energy efficiency. Such an upgrade can save homeowners substantial amounts of money on heating and cooling costs.
Window replacement projects can be costly, so it pays to get the job right the first time. Before beginning a window replacement project, homeowners should research which windows will meet their specific needs, learning the subtleties between finishes and features, as well as comparing prices for the windows and installation.
The best time of year to plan window replacement is when the weather will be warm, ideally in the spring or early summer. However, homeowners do not want conditions to be too warm, as each room where new windows will be installed will temporarily be exposed to the elements. Furthermore, caulk adheres better in warmer weather and will dispense easily.
When replacing windows, homeowners may want to install the same style windows they currently have. But the problems that led to the need to replace windows may still exist even when new windows are installed. When replacing windows, consider energy performance ratings based on the locations of the windows in the house. To make sure they make the most educated decision, homeowners can investigate the solar heat gain coefficient, U-factor, visible transmittance and light-to-solar gain. Explanations of these ratings are available at Energy.gov.
Maintenance costs involved with cleaning, repairs and painting can add up. When shopping for windows, consider the amount of maintenance they will need. Wood-framed windows may require more upkeep than aluminum, fiberglass or vinyl. Also, consider if certain window types, such as double-hung windows, casement windows, awning windows, or slider windows, would be practical.
A poor match between windows and the style of the home can produce unwanted changes in the appearance of the home. Replacement windows should match the style and appearance desired.
When homeowners hire professionals who are good at their craft, window replacement projects should not be a terrible inconvenience. According to American Window Products Inc., seasoned professionals will be able to complete a replacement window upgrade in a short amount of time depending on the size of the home and the number of windows being replaced.
Replacing windows can be a costly task, but one that will provide a more energy efficient home that can help homeowners save money in the long run.
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How to find the right replacement windows - Journal Times
Frank Gehry, the legendary starchitect who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall and myriad other Los Angeles landmarks, is leaving his mark on El Segundos growing creative office landscape.
Construction is underway on an 80,000-square-foot standalone building designed by Gehry at Utah Avenue and Douglas Street, part of a campus that was formerly home to Xerox Corp.
Set to open by the years end,Ascend at Utah Avenue Campuswill feature 24-foot clear-height ceilings, towering glass panel walls and a 16,000-square-foot balcony.
Unlike other creative offices taking shape in repurposed warehouses once used by aerospace and defense manufacturers, Gehry is starting from scratch, demolishing existing structures and raising the building onto a podium that will house ground-level parking.
Renderings show a vast open space filled with natural light, skeletal support beams, lights hanging from exposed high ceilings and a mix of hip work stations and lounge areas. The space also can be divided for two 40,000-square-foot tenants.
The $50 million project is being developed by NSB Associates, a Beverly Hills-based commercial real estate firm founded by Gehrys longtime friend, Larry Field.
Freeing space
In a video highlighting the project, Gehry said tenants like creative office space because it offers the freedom of not being locked into a cubicle.
Its not architectural in the sense that youre making an architectural statement, it is really creating an environment that energizes and promotes interactivity in a less formal way, said Gehry, who also designed Facebooks 430,000-square-foot campus in Menlo Park.
Seven years ago, Gehry came close to moving his own offices to El Segundo. He also designed a43,500-square-foot research and development facilityon the Utah Avenue Campus for Kite Pharma.
In the video, his son, Sam Gehry, called the city an up and coming area with a nice, sort of small-town feel in LA, but theres always been sort of these quirky little warehouse spaces leftover from the aerospace industry kind of moving out.
Utah Avenue Campus promotes its location near Los Angeles International Airport, the 105 and 405 freeways, and the Metro Green Line as selling points, as well as the citys business-friendly reputation.
Several years ago, El Segundo embarked on an ambitious rebranding and marketing effort to draw in tech companies getting priced out of Silicon Beach, highlighting incentives, such as lower business tax rates, a streamlined permitting process and accelerated plan checks.
More than 100 companies have opened up shop since in the small city of 16,500 residents, where the population swells to more than 70,000 mostly professionals in the daytime.
Sending parking underneath the building breaks the mold of a standard warehouse, Sam Gehry said in the video.
Because we had the freedom to break from a traditional warehouse in the sense that theyre pretty much boxes with no windows, we were able to incorporate all of the windows into the facade at this point in the design of the building as well as a lot of skylights and natural light, he said.
A website marketing the property gives visitors a 360-degree virtual tour of the building and patio.
A 'pioneering building'
Anthony OCarroll, vice president of NSB Associates, said the firm originally planned to refurbish a couple existing buildings it acquired on the site.
But when we had the opportunity to work with Frank, he suggested to us building across those two lots, taking them down and solving the parking problem by going up, he said. He thought it would really work here and I think its the first time Im aware of that this sort of ground-up construction is being done in El Segundo.
NSB Associates began acquiring property in El Segundo 12 years ago, OCarroll said, and in that time, the city has transformed from an aerospace hub to a magnet for creative offices. He called the Ascend project a vote of confidence in the city.
Its a kind of pioneering building and it speaks to the way that El Segundo is going to continue to grow and to develop, OCarroll said. Theres a lot of interest from real estate investors and builders down there.
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Frank Gehry designed this hip, creative office building in El Segundo ... - Beach Reporter
What's the status on SouthPark new construction, redevelopment projects? Charlotte Business Journal Many of the projects are repositioning dated office buildings and aging apartment properties into denser, more urbanized mixed-use developments. The new investment and redevelopment in SouthPark has even spurred a collective group of landowners, ... |
Constructed in 1980 for a builders personal residence, this stately Colonial on two professionally landscaped acres is as well crafted as it is beautiful. Moreover, updates/improvements and maintenance since then reflect only the highest standards.
ADDRESS: 107 High Ridge Road, Boxford
BEDROOMS: 4
BATHROOMS: 2 full; 1 half
LIVING SPACE: 4,648 sq. ft.
PRICE: $957,000
Constructed in 1980 for a builders personal residence, this stately Colonial on two professionally landscaped acres is as well crafted as it is beautiful. Moreover, updates/improvements and maintenance since then reflect only the highest standards.
Come take a look
Paneled wainscoting, three-inch convex-shaped crown molding, detailed bump boards and a sparkling marble tile floor in the roomy foyer are initial clues that this home is special inside, too. There are more many more.
Take the spacious dining room where hardwood flooring (in here and throughout much of the main floor) complements the continuing paneled wainscoting and detailed millwork. Two built-in corner hutches with "shell" arches and 12-over-12 windows are additional classic touches in this room that seats eight-plus comfortably.
Another classic a swinging door leads to a contemporary version of a butlers pantry. Here a granite topped "server" has cabinets below for china, serving pieces, etc.
Like any well-bred center entrance Colonial, the living room is on the other side of the foyer. Solid wood French doors open to a room that is almost the entire depth of the house. In this big and very attractive room, a brick-front wood-burning fireplace has a mantel with dentil trim.
An adjacent office/den/library/music room has a wall of open and closed custom built-in shelving. This room with a view overlooks the lovely landscaped yard.
More French doors (these are from the living room) lead into an inviting family room with a gas fireplace on a brick wall with a raised hearth and wood niche. Horizontal wainscoting is a subtle country accent.
In this room two sets of full glass pane sliders open to a wonderful (heated via a wood stove) four-season sunroom overlooking the grounds. The tile floor and the vaulted paneled ceiling with two skylights add a casual ambiance but its true forte is that with seven sets of full glass sliders yes, seven this is the quintessential indoor/outdoor room. Open the sliders and you are "in" lush landscaped grounds that include a terraced yard.
Aah, the kitchen. Grand-sized and U-shaped the better to maximize counter space this kitchen easily handles a center island plus an already existing eat-in area that seats eight or more. Horizontal wainscoting and a brick-front gas fireplace add character; the glass tile back splash and under cabinet lighting pizzazz.
Definitely the heart of this home (in so many ways), the kitchen also has access to the garage and to the "side" entrance off the farmers porch.
Well-planned and beautiful
Large enough for furniture even a comfy chaise lounge the second-floor landing is the gateway to the bedroom wing.
The master suite at one end of the bedroom "wing" for added privacy is bright and spacious. The king-bed size sleeping chamber has hardwood flooring and two closets; one of which is an exceptionally deep walk-in affair.
In the en suite bathroom, a radiant heated floor and a Runtal towel warmer are very pleasant any time of year. Decorative glass inserts in the tile surround are striking accents in the tub/shower combination that has sliding glass doors.
The remaining bedrooms on this floor are big and bigger. Each room has ample closet space, too. Even the shared bathroom has a separate linen closet. This also has a tub/shower combination and two sinks.
However, the piece de resistance is would you believe off the back staircase. A suite of rooms that is certainly no afterthought has a wide range of uses. Paneled walls are certainly one focal point in a huge office but two skylights in the cove ceiling are also eye-catching.
While this space is very impressive, the next room is positively amazing. Running back-to-front, this grand-sized space is fully paneled. A "smaller" (size is relative) finished room currently used as storage could be a spacious full-size bathroom. Leaving this as a Great Room is a no-brainer but as it has a separate entrance from the garage, creating an au pair/in-law suite is doable. A teen suite is, of course, another option.
Bonuses, bonuses
In addition to the attached, heated three-car garage, this home has another three-car garage. This free-standing perk is great for car and/or boat enthusiasts.
A natural gas generator is one more nice-to-have when Mother Nature decides to demonstrate her power no pun intended. Oh, this home also has an energy-efficient Buderus heating system that was installed about three years ago.
Let us not forget that this residence has an in-ground Mountain Lake shape heated Gunite pool as well as an in-ground hot tub set against a beautifully wooded background.
As long as were talking about unique features, consider location. Not only does this home have easy access to Route 95 (and therefore the rest of the entire North Shore and beyond) but also it is equidistant between Boston and New Hampshire a mere 25 miles north or south.
Seeing is believing, so be sure to check out the website: http://www.107HighRidgeRd.com.
Contact Andrea Anastas at Re/MAX Village Properties at 978-729-2605 or 978-887-7273 or by email: andrea.m.anastas@comcast.net.
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HOME PROFILE: Boxford Colonial is warm and inviting - Wicked Local Danvers
For Jessica Rollins, one of the chief challenges as Farmamerica's executive director is making the center appealing to visitors.
"I think a lot of people see the words 'interpretive center' and wonder why they would want to come out here," she said.
She thinks the events she and the Farmamerica board have planned for this year, though, promise to provide a memorable experience for area residents and other visitors.
Rollins came on board as Farmamerica's executive director last fall, and since then has worked to find new ways to communicate the story of agriculture in southern Minnesota to visitors as part of the center's mission.
The board is in the final stages of developing its strategic plan, which it will unveil at its annual meeting April 17.
"That will give us some good direction," Rollins said. "It's been a couple years since we've looked at a strategic plan. Ive gotten five months under my belt to assess whats happened in the past and to make some decisions about where we think we want to go."
Farmamerica Board Chair Warren Formo says the main focus of this process has involved reviewing the center's plan, making sure it tracks with where the board wants to see Farmamerica go in the future.
"Our core mission of being a place where people can experience and learn about the evolution of Minnesota agriculture has not changed," he said. "We're still committed to telling the story of agriculture over the last 150 years."
The piece that's new, he said, is the board's effort to include more about ongoing issues within agriculture right now.
That includes adding fields and exhibits that demonstrate what's happening in agriculture. Among the additions visitors to the center will see this year are plantings of modern hybrids that have biotechnology traits, with signage that explains how they came to be, what their purpose is and how they fit into modern farming.
There will also be more focus on technology in farming, with events that will put some of those things on display.
As usual, the center will provide school tours in May, and has already had over 900 students signed up. In addition to the traditional tour, Farmamerica this year offers a revamped version that provides more hands-on experience to students.
These activities include washing clothes by hand, old-fashioned schoolyard games and the opportunity to shear a "sheep," or rather a fake sheep covered in shaving cream which students can scrub off. Students will also get to compare and contrast the ag equipment today with that of the past.
"Well have some modern equipment onsite for them to climb up in and see how it looks compared to stuff farmers were using 100 years ago," Rollins said.
Also new this year are Community Education classes Farmamerica will offer in June and July.
One class for kindergarteners through second-graders focuses on apples, making use of a small apple orchard that was donated to the center.
"The apples are planted in chronological order of how apple varieties developed in southern Minnesota," Rollins said. "It's a neat space and we want to utilize it and tell that story."
For second- through fourth-graders, there will be a class through which they can learn about soil, planting and seeds. Students will make a terrarium and a seed mosaic art piece.
Third- through fifth-graders will also learn about soil, learning about worms.
Sprinkled in between these activities will be regular summer tours, taking place on second Saturdays in June, July, August and September.
In partnership with the Waseca County Farm Bureau, Farmamerica hosts the Taste of the Farm June 13. This event, which the center previously hosted in 2015, will feature a free meal and events for all ages.
The center holds an ice cream social the second Saturday in July.
The big event Rollins is currently trying to get her head around is a "meatapalooza," a meat education event planned for Aug. 12.
This year will feature pork and beef, but could in the future expand to other meats like poultry.
"I come from a pork background. I know pork better," Rollins said. "Pulling off an event like this for the first time, it's good for me to stick with something I know."
Different from the center's other events, attendees will be asked to buy their tickets to this event ahead of time. There will be meat samples and demonstrations, and Rollins is hoping to partner with a brewery to provide a beer tasting.
"The Minnesota Beef Council did an event like this up in the Twin Cities in February," Rollins said. "I kind of had the idea before, then I went to the event and realized this is a fantastic opportunity for everybody to learn about meat."
On Sept. 9, Farmamerica hosts its Fall Fair, which will be largely the same as it has been in past years. October will features more school tours, its Haunted Corn Maze and could see the return of its All Hallow's Eve event, which features activities for kids.
"I think theres a lot of that's already going on in the community for them to choose from," Rollins said. "Our attendance has been down the last couple years so we didnt do it last fall. But we also heard people liked it, so we might try to bring it back."
Other plans include a hands-on exhibit about corn targeted for July, provided for by funding from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
We're working with them and designers to make sure the message is accurate and the hands-on experience is good for people 9 to 109," she said. "That's tricky the message you say to a third-grader is pretty basic compared to what you can start talking about with an adult consumer. At the end of the day I think the simpler, the better."
Farmamerica has received grant money to go into classrooms and talk with students about agriculture. However, Rollins is now thinking about bringing kids to the center for a full-day experience. The focus will be on career opportunities, both generally and in agriculture.
"We have so much space here," Rollins said. "If we can get the schools interested, itd be fun to bus them out for the full day, versus going out there for one class session where I come into the room and talk about some stuff, then Ill leave and theyll never see me again. I think this will have a more lasting impact for them."
She wants to pilot that in May, work out the kinks and kick it off next school year.
As she has been involved with this decision-making process, Rollins has adjusted to her new position with the center.
"Its different every day," she said. "There's a lot of moving pieces, and just when I think I have one piece figured out, five more fall out of place Everything will come together, I have no doubt. There's just a lot of unexpected things along the way."
All that aside, she says she has had a wonderful experience.
The board made the decision to change the executive director position from part-time to full-time when it brought Rollins on board. Formo says this has allowed Rollins to devote more time to developing some of the educational materials the board is talking about.
"In the past, we've done that in kind of a piecemeal fashion, but now, by having someone who has the skill set and understands some of the modern issues, she's able to do more of that sort of work," Formo said.
With spring approaching, Formo says, visitors will see gardens planted and animals on the farms.
"As people are thinking about their spring and summer plans, I hope they include Farmamerica," he said.
Everyone Rollins has spoken within the ag industry, she says, can see the potential Farmamerica has.
"Theyre excited to see how our strategic plan shakes out because they want to be part of it," she said.
That potential is something Rollins is excited to build on.
"Eventually, I want it to be an expert place to go if you need information about anything agriculture," she said. "That kind of sounds like what the University of Minnesota Extension is doing, but I'd like for us to be a place where you can maybe experience it hands-on. Were not quite there yet but the potential is there."
Reporter Jacob Stark can be reached at 837-5451 or follow him on Twitter @WCNjacob.
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Mark your calendars: New activities planned this year at Farmamerica - Southernminn.com
City councilors also approved a few change orders to the permanent indirect potable reuse project.The first phase of the project is the installation of the pipeline which is 90 percent complete and is expected to be done by summer.
The change order for this phase is miscellaneous additions to the original contract which will cost around $141 thousand dollars with a 13 day extension.
And the money for these change orders are in the budget because through the course of the original design of the project they were able to eliminate some costs.
"Consequently, the project came in well under budget. We had actually borrowed, I think it was $33 million and both contracts together was only 25, so there is adequate funding available, which is nice because we know we always run across these change orders during construction projects," Russell Schreiber, Wichita Falls Public Works Director.
The second phase will include changes to the wastewater treatment plant which will cost around $255 thousand dollars with a 59 day extension.
It is 45 percent complete and will now be done in December, versus the fall.The change order includes different maintenance work.
Original post:
City's Pipeline Project Coming in Under Budget - KFDX
