Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By SUZANNE SWEETEN / Staff writer

Changes to the Hot Springs Village architectural control committees agenda created a rapid transit approach to meetings. Conversation is kept to minimum and business conducted efficiently. An alteration and addition request for wheelchair ramp and deck at 10 Valls Lane was approved by email between meetings due to a medical hardship. The build met ACC specifications. Spring approaches, launching requests for patios, decks and pergolas. A sunroom and deck extension/renovation at 5 Celanova Lane, an extensive patio cover and deck remodel at 10 Oliete Way, a deck replacement at 11 South Pego Way and two pergolas at 28 Salobrena Way were approved by acclamation. Homes at 67 Cresta Way, 7 Ferdinand Way, 13 Valls Lane, 31 Segovia Drive and 1 San Clenente Circle can expect to be fenced in soon. A request for a storage building at 25 Cartaya Way was approved with a variance because theres a 3-foot maximum encroachment on an easement. Denied as submitted was the permit request for solar panels at 3 Coronado Circle. The home is located on lake front property and the solar panels would be visible from the lake. In commercial, church and nonresidential requests, a dog walking/cat patio area for the Good Samaritan Community was authorized. The pet area is being built beyond the vision of the general public and meets all ACC criteria. Two new homes are going up in the Village. The first, is at 5 Sacedon Circle, by Castleberry Construction, and the second on 38 Linares Lane, is by Carriage Homes. There was no report by the committee chair nor by the administrator/director. The HSV ACC meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the Coronado Community Center. The public is encouraged to attend.

Continue reading here:
Fast work, good results for ACC - Hot Springs Village Voice

But kind of like an iceberg where only the tip of the massive structure shows, the underground work of snaking utilities to the site and setting deep footings for the structures to be built upon was taking place.

"We did a lot of work underground that people didn't see," said Josh Schwinghammer, project superintendent with Winkelman Building Corp.

Even NLS Superintendent Paul Carlson said he had hard time looking at the drawings, the trenches and piles of dirt and envisioning exactly how it would all look in the end.

But after the looming precast concrete walls for the stage of the 650-seat auditorium were set in place in December on the south end of the high school/middle school and the walls for the new two-court gym went up on the north end, the project is starting to take shape.

"Everybody's just so excited to see progress on the project," Carlson said.

Although some parts of the project are on, or ahead of schedule, wet winter weather has put the complex performing arts auditorium project about a month behind schedule. It's expected to be ready for use by Dec. 1. The original plan had been for November.

The rest of the high school/middle school project, including the new, secure entrance by the auditorium, the revamped bus drop-off area and the new gym are expected to be done by the time school starts this fall.

Over at the Prairie Woods Elementary School, construction of a new cafeteria/auditorium and two new classrooms is far ahead of schedule. Originally, the classrooms weren't expected to be started until this spring but the concrete block shells are already up and the exterior brick is going up on the cafeteria.

The additions at the elementary, as well as a new entrance and security system, are expected to be completed by the start of the 2017-18 school year.

Overall, the project is going well and staying on budget with about $1 million left in the contingency fund, Carlson said.

Carlson praised DeVetter Design Group the construction manager for the district and Winkelman and the other contractors for keeping the project on track.

Although a construction manager is more expensive upfront than hiring a general manager, Carlson said DeVetter has saved the district money in the long run because of the thorough preparations and planning.

"It's been a cost savings," Carlson said.

Schwinghammer said the pre-construction preparations was hugely helpful for the contractors.

"The district is very good to work with," he said. "They're very knowledgable and had their plans together before we started."

Schwinghammer said that kind of preparation and teamwork is uncommon. "The school district is excellent to work with, quite honestly," he said, adding that he appreciates the "open door" policy DeVetter and the district has when contractors have concerns or ideas.

Even with the weather-related delays, Schwinghammer said the project has been progressing well.

"We're lucky we have great contractors on site," he said, adding that many of the contractors are local and several NLS graduates are working as contractors on site.

Current high school ag students have also met with contractors on the school site to learn about construction jobs, Schwinghammer said.

Theater project

During a recent tour of the construction site, Carlson and Schwinghammer talked about the guts of the construction work and the how the projects will affect students and the community when they are done.

A second-story window in the high school provides the perfect observation deck to watch construction of the performing arts auditorium.

The large stage, which is about 52-feet tall to allow for a fly loft for the scenery and curtains to go up and down, includes catwalks for lighting, dressing rooms and storage area for props.

A deep dirt trench shows where the orchestra pit will be located in front of the stage. When not in use, the pit will be covered to create even more stage space.

So far, all that can be seen of the actual auditorium where the audience will be is an outline of blocks barely above the surface of the soil.

The auditorium will not be a square, box-like structure but will feature curved walls. That design was selected in order to elevate the aesthetics of the building. "We wanted the building to be representative of a classy place to be and not a gym," Carlson said.

The curved design also allowed the land-locked district to maximize available space, said Megan Field, NLS director of communications.

An interior cascading stairway alongside the theater will create a functional, flexible learning space, Field said, and the new, window-filled entrance to the high school/middle school will serve as a gathering space, featuring a cafe-style setting.

The NLS drama and music departments are already gearing up for the new space with plans being made for a musical.

Currently, NLS school plays are performed at the historic, but very small, Little Theater in downtown New London. Choir and band concerts are held in the school gyms.

Two-court gym

Construction of the new two-court gym will be used for wrestling tournaments, by the growing danceline program and will create permanent space for the gymnastics program, which has more than 40 participants and is currently housed in a building at an old Bible camp near Spicer.

The gym includes a padded pit that will allow student athletes to try new maneuvers while staying safe.

The gym addition includes a large lobby that will double as a trophy gallery, locker rooms for guest athletes and coaches, a row of windows at the top of the north wall that features mechanical shades to prevent sun from glaring into athletes' eyes and restrooms that can be accessed by fans from the football field that will replace outdoor portable toilettes.

Attention to detail even how splash of the showers hit the floor are all part of building a gym, Carlson said.

The gym project is "right on schedule," said Schwinghammer. "This has gone pretty smooth."

The exterior of the gym and theater will have decorative metal panels and the same color exterior brick, which will be different than the brick color of the main high school/middle school. The contrasting look will give the additions a "distinctive look," Carlson said.

Prairie Woods

At the elementary school, the large windows in the cafeteria/auditorium that give a wide view to the trees, hills and wetlands to the north end of the property that will "bring the woods back to Prairie Woods," Carlson said. "It'll be awesome."

The addition is big enough to seat 650 people. Having a separate cafeteria will allow the elementary students and teachers to have full access to the gym for classes and recess when it's too cold to go outside.

The two new classrooms, which are also built on the north side of the building, will create additional space for the growing elementary student population.

The project also includes creating a new, secure entrance that will provide an indoor space for parents who are picking up children.

Year-round school?

Safety on the job site has been key. "We've had zero accidents on the job," Schwinghammer said.

Field said students have also respected the construction zone and drivers have responded well to the rerouted traffic flow.

Depending on how much of the $1 million contingency fund is left when the project is done, Carlson said one idea for spending some of the money is to air condition the buildings "so we're not restricted to nine-month school year and we can actually look at a 12-month school year, which would be an interesting concept."

Carlson said if the district wants to get "really serious" about the achievement gap consideration should be given to a year-round school calendar.

Here is the original post:
Building from the ground up: NLS construction project starts to take shape - West Central Tribune

If you look under the new construction at Homestead Creamery, you can find its original factory plant still in full operation.

When Homestead Creamery started planning to make an expansion two years ago, it didnt want to move. It wanted to triple the size of its current plant, but didnt want to stop operation for the construction, said Mike Grisetti, Homestead Creamerys president.

Thus, they developed the idea to construct the new building directly over and around the old one. Once the new building is finished, they will tear down the exterior walls of the original plant and begin rearranging existing equipment and adding new pieces little by little.

Most people couldnt understand what we wanted to do, Grisetti laughed. We had a lot of obstacles doing what we wanted to do: build over the top to keep production going.

They looked at other options, including moving somewhere else, too, but we like the area, he said. It operates off more than 50 acres in Burnt Chimney on Booker T. Washington Highway.

Construction started about a year and a half ago and should be finished in about two months, he said.

The first thing they had to do was grade the land and put a parking lot where a hill and ditch used to be. The lot can hold 35 tractor-trailers, and they knew theyd need to use it during construction, he said.

Then they built the wastewater system, handled by RF WasteWater in Blacksburg. The system is designed to be totally green, Grisetti said.

The fats in milk are tough to deal with, he said. The new system isolates them, and injects lime and fertilizer into waste before using the resulting end-product on the fields as fertilizer.

Inside its current plant, milk is bottled and ice cream is made. Steel beams and studs rise up and around it. The roof is already up, and the concrete floor is set.

Only part of the building will be in two stories, an area divided into rooms on the front and right side of the building. Most of it will be the plant.

The main entry will not face the road but rather the companys Farm Market, Grisetti said. To the left of the main door will be a stairway, with cow designs cut into the steps, and an elevator.

Upstairs will be a board room, a training center that would fit 150 people, bathrooms and a display of dairy-industry antiques the company has collected. From a mezzanine people will be able to look over the plant on one side and see the beautiful view of the mountains out the windows on the other, he said.

Downstairs, below the second-story rooms and mezzanine, will be a storage area, laboratories, offices and bathrooms.

A third silo, which would hold 15,000 pounds of milk, will be added. For now, the company has two, one with 10,000 pound capacity and the other at 15,000 pounds.

Additions are coming to the ice cream department, as well. In two weeks, the company will receive a machine that can fill ice cream into 4-ounce and 8-ounce cups at the rate of 120 per minute.

The company already has begun using its new bottle washer. It was able to wash 144 bottles at a time, but six weeks ago, the creamery started using the machine that washes 900 bottles at once. Cleaned and sanitized bottles leave the machine on a conveyor belt which takes them into the milk-bottling area.

The company produces 200,000 pounds of milk in four days, he said.

Currently, the company uses milk from 400 cows, Grisetti said. Once the companys expansion is complete, this place should be able to grow 20 times.

Its not going to do so immediately, he added. We need to make a couple of equipment changes to start with.

The company now gets milk from four farms, and we calculated that in the next five years, we would take on three or four new farms. Thats not anywhere near capacity of what their expansion eventually would allow them to do, Grisetti said.

Homestead Creamery was started in 2001. It had a lot of years of struggle before evening out. Grisetti bought into the company in 2005 after a career as part-owner of Nationwide Homes in Martinsville.

Cheese

With the extra floor space in the plant, the company will begin making cheese, Grisetti said, which it has not done before.

They havent decided yet which types of cheese theyll make, but they will include some aged and some quick cheese.

Making cheese would allow the company to utilize the product. By aging the cheese, it allows you to spread out the life of it. Cows produce more milk in winter, he said right at the time of the year people consume less milk and ice cream. By making cheese, that extra milk they produce wont go to waste.

Milkman deliveries

Also with Homestead Creamery, the home delivery service is expanding. It has added routes in Lynchburg and Forest and is really taking off, Grisetti said. The company had been making deliveries to Roanoke and Salem since 2006.

The milkman goes right up to the door, Grisetti said. Each customer has a box into which the milkman leaves the orders. More than just milk, they also leave eggs, bread, meats, frozen foods, vegetables, cheese, jams and other food, all grown or produced locally or within Virginia.

Weve really grown to be a mobile food store, Grisetti said.

Their milkmen are recognized in three levels, Grisetti said. A milkman is in training for one year. After three years, a milkman carries the title senior milkman; and after five years, he is a premier milkman. So far, theres only one premier milkman.

If having milkmen seems old fashioned, so might the fact that a website only recently is being developed. Two of the nine owners are of a religion that prohibits internet use, and they had been the most recent presidents of Homestead Creamery, Grisetti said. Now that he is the companys president, he is having a website created.

Meanwhile, Homestead Creamery gets the word out to its customers and fans through a Facebook page one of the employees handles, he said.

The store is a lot of fun, he said, serving as a social center as well as a shop. It holds regular events, such as bingo games every couple of weeks. It holds ice-cream eating contests, a big St. Patricks Day event and, in the spring, Sundaes on Mondays. It recently held an ice cream breakfast.

Theres always something going on, he added.

How its made

At 6 a.m., two tankers deliver milk from four farms to Homestead Creamery, where it is pumped into two silos. The plants employees are already there and waiting they arrived at 4 a.m. to begin the process of preparing the milk for bottling, and to make ice cream.

The company, located in Burnt Chimney, produces 200,000 pounds of milk in four days, said Mike Grisetti, Homestead Creamerys president. The company can make 4,000 quarts of ice cream a day, he added.

Homestead Creamery packages its milk in returnable glass bottles; customers receive a $2 deposit back when they return them. Nine hundred bottles are washed at a time a vast improvement begun six weeks ago over the previous system that washed 144 bottles at a time.

Everything tastes better in glass bottles, Grisetti said, adding that they are free of lingering aftertastes plastics have, which affect the flavor of milk and other products. Homestead Creamery uses only glass bottles, and we have no intention of changing that.

One silo that holds the newly arrived milk holds 15,000 pounds of milk and the other holds 10,000 pounds worth. The movement of milk through the silos is managed by controls in a room about the size of a long home hallway.

In its natural state, the milk and cream are separated. You dont see the layer of cream on top of milk in modern grocery-store milk, because it is homogenized stirred so thoroughly it wont separate.

The separator separates cream from milk at the rate of 30,000 pounds of milk in less than three hours. It beats the milk with 1,000 pounds of pressure.

In the case of milk which has had some cream removed, such as 2 percent milk, Vitamins B and D are added to the milk, Grisetti said.

Homestead Creamery sells homogenized milk and it also sells non-homogenized milk, which was the norm in years past. Their labeling on that is premium.

Next to the homogenizer is the pasteurizer, which quickly heats milk to destroy bacteria. Milk comes in at 36 degrees Fahrenheit, Grisetti said. It is run through the pasteurizer, where it is heated to 165 degrees for 23 seconds, then immediately brought down to 34 to 36 degrees. That quick chilling locks in flavor.

Bottles come into the bottling room from the washroom along a conveyor belt which crosses the wall in a small opening. The conveyor belt swirls around a bottle-filling machine. The bottles are filled, then pass a stamper which sprays the expiration date onto the lids. They move down to two or three packers who inspect each bottle, then put in into a section of a crate.

The company has been filling 1,100 bottles an hour but has the ability to bottle 2,500 bottles of milk an hour. Weve built in a lot of capacity to have room to grow, Grisetti said.

Beyond the bottling room is a bagging room. Milk for colleges, and some of the milk for Franklin County High School, is bagged, Grisetti said. The bagger can package 9,600 pounds of milk in an hour.

Also off the milk section is the ice cream room. It has two 300-gallon tanks to hold cream, and two 45-quart mixers to mix the ice cream. The ice cream is made in batches, one flavor at a time. Thats different from larger operations, which pump in ingredients on one continuous feed, all fully operated, Grisetti said.

On a recent morning there, the ice cream base poured into the mixers through a spout in a tank above, while a woman measured chocolate chips and coffee syrup and poured them in. When the ice cream was finished, she opened a door at the bottom of the mixing tank to let it into a large bowl.

She carried the large bowl onto a worktable, where another woman helped her fill the quart packages, one large scoopful at a time. They capped the packages and rolled them into the freezer.

Homestead Creamery ice cream is composed of 17 percent cream and 20 to 23 percent overrun another way of saying air. Common ice cream is made with 100 percent overrun, Grisetti said.

Milk comes to the creamery from 400 cows on four farms, two owned by the company and two which supply milk through contract. The suppliers must fulfill a long list of requirements, Grisetti said. That includes healthy care for the animals and how their bedding is kept. It also requires farmers to give the cows constant access to pastures.

Were all-natural milk, Grisetti said. The only difference between us and organic is being certified plus the fact that Homestead Creamery sprays the corn it uses for feed. However, he said, samples are always taken, and never has any spray residue shown up in the feed.

Go here to see the original:
Creamery construction finishing soon with plans for cheeses - Franklin News Post

With the 2017 trade deadline in the rearview mirror, teams can now focus on the stretch run and preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs. There's been a little shuffling in the middle of the pack among those teams fighting for a postseason berth, while the top dogs solidified their positions with key acquisitions.

The Capitals showed they are all-in when they acquired defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 27. His presence should be the final piece Washington needs for a deep Stanley Cup playoff run.

The Blackhawks are playing fantastic hockey, and newly reacquired defenseman Johnny Oduya -- who won two Stanley Cups with them -- will once again be a perfect fit in Chicago. You can never count against general manager Stan Bowman improving his team at the deadline.

I hear St. Paul is beautiful in the spring. GM Chuck Fletcher acquiring Martin Hanzal from the Arizona Coyotes could prove crucial if the Wild make a deep run in the playoffs. Minnesota's been one of the most consistent teams all season and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky posted his second consecutive shutout and 34th win of the season last week -- a franchise record. His consistency has become a dangerous weapon for the Blue Jackets, and Bobrovsky should become even more valuable in the playoffs.

GM Jim Rutherford made one of the smartest moves at the deadline by not dealing veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. For the Penguins to repeat as Cup champions, they will need both Fleury and Matt Murray. Even though Murray is coach Mike Sullivan's guy, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Fleury once again becomes the go-to at some point.

After the Rangers were eliminated from the Shattenkirk sweepstakes, GM Jeff Gorton acquired defenseman Brendan Smith from the Red Wings. Smith was in and out of the lineup in Detroit, and maybe a change of scenery will help both him and New York down the stretch.

GM Doug Wilson added depth before the deadline, acquiring Jannik Hansen from the Vancouver Canucks. As they were last season, the Sharks are built for a playoff run. But are they deep enough to reach the finals again?

GM Peter Chiarelli added forwards David Desharnais and Justin Fontaine from the Montreal Canadiens and Rangers, respectively, before the deadline. They bring depth to a young and potent roster. The Oilers could have an interesting playoff run if their goaltending stands up.

The Flames have gone 8-1-1 over their past 10 games, and the addition of defenseman Michael Stone at the deadline -- along with the solid play of goaltender Brian Elliott, who has six consecutive wins -- should give Calgary added energy for the stretch run. The Flames considered adding a goalie at the deadline, but Elliott went 10-1-1 record in his past 12 games.

GM Pierre Dorion wanted to add forward help for the final push and he got Viktor Stalberg from the Carolina Hurricanes before the deadline. The Senators are trying to keep pace with the Canadiens for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. It didn't take long for Stalberg to have an impact.

You have to give GM Don Sweeney credit for standing pat at the deadline and not dealing away assets just for the sake of making a transaction. He did add forward depth in the form of veteran forward Drew Stafford at the 11th hour. Meanwhile, the Bruins have gone 8-2-0 in their past 10 games under interim coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Canadiens have won five in a row and are 6-4-0 in their past 10 games after struggling for the most part in January and February. GM Marc Bergevin added grit with the acquisition of Steve Ott from the Detroit Red Wings and defenseman Jordie Benn from the Dallas Stars before the deadline.

The acquisition of veteran forward Patrick Eaves was a strong move. He has two goals in three games since arriving in Anaheim -- which is exactly the offensive spark the Ducks need for a playoff push.

Adding forward P.A. Parenteau -- a two-time 20-goal scorer -- will help Nashville keep pace in the Central Division playoff race.

Until Sunday night, the Blues hadn't won a game since they traded Shattenkirk away to Washington. St. Louis took advantage of the lowly Avalanche and emerged with a 3-0 victory, but it has to be a frustrating time for Blues fans.

After adding goalie Ben Bishop to share the duties down the stretch with Jonathan Quick, GM Dean Lombardi acquired veteran forward and future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla from the Avalanche. Iginla will add another strong voice in the dressing room and will play with Anze Kopitar.

Smart move by GM Lou Lamoriello to add veteran forward Brian Boyle to the mix for the stretch run. Boyle's presence in the room, on the fourth line and power play will pay dividends for a young and inexperienced roster.

GM Garth Snow was in the market for the Avalanche's Matt Duchene but wouldn't part with the necessary pieces to acquire the highly skilled forward. Instead, Snow remained quiet at the deadline and even held on to goalie Jaroslav Halak, who remains in the AHL.

Don't count the Lightning out just yet. With Bishop gone, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is motivated to prove why he's a true No. 1. If he gets hot, watch Tampa climb in the standings.

In an attempt to spark a late run, the Panthers acquired veteran forward Thomas Vanek from the Red Wings. Did it work? It's too soon to tell, but Florida is 0-1-1 since the deadline.

The Sabres were quiet at the deadline, as GM Tim Murray focuses on the future and on building on what is already a promising, young team. Forward Jack Eichel -- who's on a career-best, 10-game point streak -- is quietly putting together an impressive second season. Overall, he has 42 points in 45 games in 2106-17, which is another indication of why the future is bright for this organization.

Sending Stafford to Boston in exchange for a 2018 conditional sixth-round pick was all GM Kevin Cheveldayoff did at the deadline. The Jets are a good team with a roster built to win consistently in the future, and rookie Patrik Laine is a strong contender to win the Calder Trophy.

These are tough times for the Flyers. GM Ron Hextall did make one solid move, acquiring veteran forward Valtteri Filppula, along with a 2017 fourth-round pick and a 2017 conditional seventh-round pick, in exchange for defenseman Mark Streit, who was then flipped to Pittsburgh for a fourth-round pick in 2018.

With less than a quarter of the season left, it's all about finding players liable to get and stay hot right now. Plus, the top players on the move in the latest rest-of-season top-250 rankings.

Viktor Stalberg of the Ottawa Senators and Nikolay Goldobin of the Vancouver Canucks were among trade-deadline acquisitions providing early bang for the buck for their new teams.

Prolific Predators forward Filip Forsberg continues to light the lamp at a ridiculous pace for Nashville, while 21-year-old newcomer Nick Schmaltz has become the center of attention in Chicago.

2 Related

Other than sending forward Jannik Hansen to the Sharks in exchange for prospect forward Nikolay Goldobin and a 2017 conditional fourth-round pick, GM Jim Benning stood pat and kept his assets. The Canucks have a lot of work ahead, and Benning should consider a complete rebuild during the offseason -- even if that includes moving Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.

As expected, GM Ray Shero moved pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Kyle Quincey, dealing him to the Blue Jackets in exchange for blueliner Dalton Prout. The Devils also traded Parenteau to the Predators for a 2017 sixth-round pick. These moves will open the door for prospects to step into key roles next season.

Amid a disappointing season, GM Jim Nill became a seller at the deadline, moving Oduya to Chicago and Jordie Benn to Montreal, along with forwards Lauri Korpikoski (to the Blue Jackets) and Patrick Eaves (to Anaheim). Goaltending now needs to be the priority for the Stars during the offseason.

The Red Wings will likely miss the playoffs for the first time in 25 seasons. GM Ken Holland became a seller at the deadline and dealt Ott to Montreal, Smith to the Rangers, Vanek to the Panthers and Tomas Jurco to the Blackhawks.

GM Ron Francis also sold off a few pieces at the deadline, including Stalberg and veteran blueliner Ron Hainsey. The Hurricanes still have a solid roster and it won't be long before they are a consistent playoff contender.

GM John Chayka did well at the deadline, even though his decision to trade Hanzal was not a popular in his team's locker room. Chayka stockpiled draft picks in the Hanzal-to-Minnesota deal. Arizona also acquired forward Teemu Pulkkinen from the Wild for future considerations.

GM Joe Sakic decided to stand pat and keep Duchene and fellow forward Gabriel Landeskog. Sakic didn't feel like he was getting enough in return, so he will wait until the offseason and will likely make a deal for one or both of them before the draft.

We can now add the Golden Knights to the list after they became an official NHL franchise last Wednesday. And George McPhee can now begin to operate like a normal GM.

View original post here:
NHL -- Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild ... - ESPN

Carter Eiden, Joey Larson, Jed Pietila and Brenden Tulpa are former AAA players who joined Hartland's hockey team this season. Playing in big games like Tuesday's quarterfinal against Livonia Stevenson is why they came out. Bill Khan

Hartland's Brenden Tulpa has an overtime winner against Brighton among his 9 goals and 21 points in his first season with the high school team.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

HARTLAND Hartland's Rick Gadwa could beat himself up and wonder "what if," but so can every other high school hockey coach in Michigan.

That's because, no matter the strength of the program, even the best high school teams in the state have players walking their hallways who can help them be even better.

Detroit Catholic Central loses such players. So does Brighton. So does Trenton.

As long as there's the perception that travel hockey is a better option for talented players than high school hockey, coaches like Gadwa will never get the best roster his school is capable of producing.

"I've said that the last five years that the one year you throw it all together you'd be a juggernaut, almost unstoppable," Gadwa said. "That's the way it works."

Hartland got Josh Albring and Jake Behnke to come out for the team last season, additions that helped the Eagles reach the state Division 2 semifinals.

Meanwhile, Hartland students Carter Eiden, Joey Larson, Jed Pietila and Brenden Tulpa continued their hockey careers at the AAA travel level.

This year all four decided to play for Hartland. One of the reasons they play for the second-ranked Eagles (24-2-1) is a game like the onethey'll play at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday against fourth-ranked Livonia Stevenson (17-10-1) in the state quarterfinals at Novi Ice Arena.

All four were spectators last season when the Eagles made their run to the state semifinals, losing 5-1 to Stevenson. Now they'll all play key roles as Hartland tries to win the program's first state championship.

"The reason I actually came over to Hartland is because of the state quarterfinal last year," said Eiden, a senior defenseman. "I was at the Brother Rice-Hartland game. Ever since that game, it's been in the back of my head. That's what I'm here for. That's what I play for."

Eiden has been the cornerstone of Hartland's defense, who has allowed only 41 goals in 27 games.

Hartland's Jed Pietila has 19 goals and 34 assists in 20 games heading into the state quarterfinals against Livonia Stevenson.(Photo: Timothy Arrick)

Pietila has been an explosive addition on the offensive end, scoring 19 goals and 34 assists in only 20 games. He missed seven games with a broken jaw.

Pietila doesn't believe he short-changed his hockey future by playing for his high school.

"The coaches said, 'If you're good enough, you can move on from wherever,'" Pietila said. "I figured I'd spend less money and see what I can do."

Larson and Tulpa have brothers who were on last year's team, so they were at nearly every Hartland game, soaking in the atmosphere.

Now that they're part of it, they believe it's the best decision they could have made.

"It's the best year of hockey I've ever had," said Tulpa, who scored the overtime winner in the first of Hartland's two victories over Brighton. "I've had more fun than I've ever had before. It's awesome."

Larson said that playing high school hockey has made him better.

"When I played on Compuware, we only skated three times a week," said Larson, who has 15 goals and 10 assists in 27 games. "Now we skate every day of the week. I'm improving and playing against bigger kids, so it's a lot harder and more challenging."

Playing in rivalry games has been a huge change, Eiden said. The Eagles will face another rival in the quarterfinals, having lost to Stevenson in the 2013 state championship game and 2016 semifinals. Hartland beat Stevenson in the regular season the last two seasons.

"It's just been the greatest hockey I've ever played in my life," said Eiden, who had the winning goal in the second game against Brighton. "The whole community is behind you, coming to every game supporting you. The hatred between Brighton and Howell, every aspect of that, puts fire in the pot for you. Guys are ready to roll at a whole different level than in AAA games."

Hartland may have to play Stevenson without No. 1 goalie Andrew Heuwagen, who missed Monday's practice with a 102-degree temperature. If he can't play, the Eagles have a capable No. 2 goalie in Brett Tome, who has victories over Hancock, Brighton and Detroit Catholic Central on his resume.

See the original post:
Spectators last year key cogs in Hartland hockey run - Livingston Daily

FOX31 Denver

The perfect replacement windows FOX31 Denver If you know you need new windows, but you're not sure where to start the process, call Renewal by Andersen. Their local team was in our Help Center this morning to explain the different window materials available and how they are engineered. Call now ...

Read more:
The perfect replacement windows - FOX31 Denver

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As St. Patrick's Day approaches, get ready to see proud displays of green, from shamrocks to clothing, to even green beer. What better way to celebrate the spirit of the day than by going green and also saving green?

One of the easiest ways to achieve those goals, at least when it comes to home improvement projects, is with professionally installed window film. Updating inefficient or outdated windows with professionally installed window film is cost effective and can attain energy efficiency that rivals the outright replacement of existing windows. The potential saving of the green can be dramatic as well.

"Homeowners, especially owners of older homes, often struggle to deal with energy inefficiency caused by age and poor insulation," said Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA). "Windows are a notable problem area, typically accounting for 15 to 30 percent of the total heating load, and up to 50 percent of the cooling load during warmer months. Professionally installed window film allows homeowners to increase energy efficiency for up to 80 percent less than the cost of new replacement windows."

More environmentally friendly than a total window replacement, window film delivers seven times the energy saving benefits per dollar spent when compared with installing full replacement windows, and also preserves the window frame and casement so that those materials do not need to be discarded.

In addition, the many benefits of window film are not limited to just going green and saving money. Window film can also block a significant amount of UV rays that typically penetrate a home or building. Untreated windows normally block 25 to 50 percent of UV rays. The remaining rays that enter a home can damage the floor, furnishings and rugs, and even valuable antiques. Professionally installed window film blocks up to 99 percent of UV rays from passing through unprotected glass. Adding that extra layer of protection for interiors to a home's windows can help slow continued fading and disintegration.

For more information on how professionally installed window film can help you go green and save green with your home, and to find an installer near you, please visitwww.iwfa.com/FindanInstaller.

About the International Window Film AssociationThe International Window Film Association (IWFA) (www.iwfa.com) is a unified industry body of window film dealers, distributors, and manufacturers that facilitates the growth of the window film industry though the use of education, research, advocacy and consumer awareness. The organization builds alliances with trade associations, utilities and government agencies to advance dealers' and distributors' businesses and provide value to their customers.

Media Contact:Erin Vadala, Warner Communications erin@warnerpr.com 978-468-3076

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/go-green-and-save-green-with-window-film-this-st-patricks-day-300418402.html

Link:
Go Green and Save Green with Window Film This St. Patrick's Day - Yahoo Finance

Submit the press release

To enhance the beauty of home interior and exterior, the best way will be to replace the existing window with a new ones.

McFarland, WI, March 6, 2017 (Newswire.com) Building without windows will be lifeless and dull. It is an important part that lets the air, heat, and light play inside the house. As per the latest report published by the U.S Department of Energy, 25 percent of a buildings heating bill is because a lot of heat loss goes through a window. Proper window maintenance and replacement is, therefore, of utmost importance to enhance both the exterior and the interior. Kool View is one such company that is a leading expert in installation and window replacement in Madison WI.

Since its establishment, the company has been delivering quality service and maintenance at affordable rate. Whether the customers are looking for remodeling or renovation service, the company is equally expert at handling a range of tasks to make the home even more comfortable and habitable. The experts window installers possess industrial knowledge and experience in handling variety of projects pertaining to doors and windows. All of the technicians at Kool View are fully licensed and certified, meaning they can be trusted for their service.

They are responsive, friendly and courteous, deliver the service on time. The quality products they deal in are increasingly engineered and designed to make the residential unit even more comfortable and significantly decrease the energy bills with improved home insulation. The replacement window contractors are fully trained in proper installation. They possess the knowledge and expertise in eliminating gaps and ensuring a tight seal of maximum energy efficiency.

The experts technicians at Kool View specialize in variety of window replacement services such as double hung replacement windows, slider replacement, casement replacement, bay replacement, bow replacement, awning replacement and more. The windows are constructed with the most durable and strongest materials that make them more advanced and superior in terms of energy efficiency.

To learn more about patio enclosures in Madison and Janesville WI and other product lines, feel free to visit .

About the Company:

Kool View is the leading expert in installation of replacement windows for the Madison, WI area. Whether one looks for remodeling, renovating or construction service, they offer high quality replacement vinyl windows that will reduce energy cost, maintenance but most importantly provide one with a more comfortable, beautiful home.

Source: Koolview Company

View post:
Enhance the Home Decor With Window Replacement in Madison WI ... - Satellite PR News (press release)

Its no secret that summer is right around the corner for Southwest Floridians. As the seasonal snowbirds begin to flock home over the next couple months, signaling the end of season, Florida residents remain to deal with the heightened heat and humidity that is a hallmark of South Florida summers.

With the summer heat comes the inevitable rise in the electric bill, with air conditioning units cranked to their highest capacity. There are several ways to combat the uptick in kilowatts, according to several local businesses.

Custom glass window films offer an alternative to custom glass, according to Naples Tint Company owner and operator, Matthew Sandherr.

Sandherr says that with the increase in new construction in Southwest Florida, newer homes are being fitted with custom glass that do indeed help combat the elements.

However, applying custom glass window films can lower the temperature of a home by up to 20 degrees on a hot day, according to Sandherr.

Its also an alternative for [older homes] to window replacement. Even if they have new glass, it only meets the bare minimum for energy efficiency.

Conditioned Air CEO Theo Etzel agreed with Sandherr that lowering a homes radiant heat gain couldtranslate to noticeable savings in ones energy bill.

When we perform energy calculations and whats known as a Manual J calculation for sizing of the equipment, we must specify the square feet of glass in the house, and the amount of shade provided from the overhang of the structure, Etzel said. Replacing windows is one factor to consider for low-emissivitywhich cuts down on theradiant heat allowed into the home. There are tints that do the same thing, as well as cut down on UV light to help with fading of carpets, drapes, etc.

The lower the heat gain, according to Etzel, the less cooling needed to counteract it; this could translate the A/C unit to run less, or even the size of A/C unit to be reduced for a home.

Sandherr and Etzel agree that the tint manufacturer can come into play regarding its effectiveness. Sandherrs Naples Tint Company utilizes Huper Optik Autobahn, a German-engineered, non-reflective window film that Sandherr says only three dealers in Florida use.

The films make that existing clear glass look like custom glass, he said of the film. He also says that, despite misconceptions of the industry, the window film does not change the look of the house or diminish the view to the outside.

Utilizing tint allows homeowners to spend a fraction of what they might spend to get custom glass fitted in their home, as low as 15 to 25 percent of the cost.

To learn more about the Naples Tint Company, click here.

2017 Naples Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Get great content delivered straight to your inbox every morning Monday-Friday at 8:00am,just a click away, Sign Up Now.

Go here to read the rest:
Local Businesses: Window Tint Could Translate to Big Summer Energy Savings - Naples Herald

When it comes to making our homes safe for those active babies and toddlers in our lives, we must think about childproofing furniture, electric outlets, small objects and more.

It can be easy to overlook something as simple as windows. But windows pose specific child hazards that are extremely important to address. Keep a few simple things in mind when it comes to windows and kiddos, and your little wild child will be safer.

Nearly one child per month dies from strangulation by cords attached to window treatments, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These cords are one of the most overlooked hazards in the home. Take these simple steps to avoid this danger when childproofing, and consider these options when outfitting the windows in your home:

The safest choice you can make are window treatments without accessible cords, such as cordless cellular shades, spring tension roller shades, plantation shutters and drapes (without cords or ties). If youre looking for new or replacement window treatments, consider these the safest options.

If you already have window treatments with continuous cord loop lift systems, be sure that cords are properly anchored to the wall. If you do not have an anchor or tensioning device, contact the manufacturer to request one.

If you already have window treatments with exposed cords and are not able to switch to a safer option, keep cords out of reach at all times by wrapping them around cord cleats high in the window.

Keep cribs, baby beds and other furniture away from windows where cords are within reach of your baby or toddler, as these items can be used as step stools to reach cords.

Cordless window treatments (cellular shades, shutters and drapes) are most important in bedrooms or playrooms, where kids may be left unattended. However, the safest choice is to use window treatments without accessible cords throughout your home. Fortunately, safer window treatments are available in many styles and price points, so replacing window treatments can be a simple childproofing upgrade.

2. Window locks and latches:

Window safety goes beyond just the window dressings. After all, windows are made of glass and are essentially open holes in your home some of them high above the ground. Its important to make sure children are not able to open windows and push through window screens. Beyond just locking windows shut, you can also install window stops in the frame to regulate how far up the window can go just in case your crafty kiddo manages to get through any safety locks.

Of course, you probably dont want to leave your windows closed year-round, and you dont need to even in the name of safety. In addition to installing window stops, you can install stronger, sturdier metal window guards in windows on higher floors to safeguard against falling.

Katie Laird is the director of social marketing for Blinds.com, and a frequent public speaker on social media marketing, social customer care and profitable company culture. An active blogger and early social technology adopter, you can find her online as happykatie, sharing home dcor, yoga, parenting and vegetarian cooking tips. Laird wrote this blog for momaha.com. To learn more about the variety of shades and other window treatments like those highlighted in this article, visit the Blinds.com website.

View post:
Must-know window safety tips for children - Omaha World-Herald