Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When he shuffled his federal cabinet in July 2013, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made it clear that the team he was assembling was the one he believed could help him win the next election.

With eyes to 2015, Harper reportedly asked ministers in advance of the shuffle if they planned to run again. As a result, some ministers felt pressured that summer to reveal their retirement plans essentially clearing the way for the eight new faces that would eventually land in cabinet.

Harper said at the time that his revamped cabinet boasted a good mix of young talent and experienced hands.

"The prime minister is setting his lineup for the upcoming battle," Jason Lietaer, a former Conservative insider, told The Canadian Press at the time.

However, less than two years later, some key members of that line-up won't be joining him in a battle that is now just months away.

Here is a look at how things have changed since that pre-election cabinet shuffle.

Jim Flaherty

Photo credit: The Canadian Press

In July 2013, Flaherty was one of those "experienced hands" who was kept on as finance minister.

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The Team Harper Built For Battle Set To Lose More Members With Paradis, Glover Exits

COUNCILLORS have agreed to spend millions of pounds on much-needed behind-the-scenes refurbishments at a busy leisure centre.

A report to Darlington Borough Council cabinet members said that, without the improvements, some of the electrical and mechanical systems at the Dolphin Centre were at risk of 'catastrophic failure'

The full council had previously approved 2.7m for improvements to the 'back of house' systems at the centre many of which have not been updated since the it opened 33 years ago.

The release of that funding was approved by members of the council's ruling cabinet committee at a meeting on Tuesday (April 7).

A detailed study has been carried out, identifying the work that needs to be carried out and in what order.

An initial phase of work will begin in September and last until next March, with the remaining work staggered over the next five to seven years.

The report to cabinet members said elements of the centre's mechanical, electrical and plant installations were now in need of 'significant ongoing maintenance, with some areas being liable to critical/catastrophic failure in the near future.

Cabinet members also agreed to allocate 210,000 of council funding to cover the anticipated loss of income, as areas of the centre will need to be temporarily closed when work is carried out.

The centre, in Horsemarket, was opened in 1982 and attracts more than 900,000 visits a year.

Its last significant refurbishment came in 2006, when only limited work to the mechanical and electrical systems was carried out, as it was felt the majority of the installations had a further ten to 12 years' life expectancy.

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Multi-million pound leisure centre works 'could avert disaster'

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday he will no longer use the expression shukushuku-to, which roughly translates as proceed as planned, when explaining the Abe administrations position on the planned relocation of the Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture.

Suga made the comment a day after Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga criticized him for repeatedly using the term to express the administrations policy of pressing ahead with the plan to build the replacement facility in the Henoko area in Nago, farther north on Okinawa Island than its current location in the city of Ginowan.

If (the expression) made him feel uncomfortable, I dont think I should use it, Suga, who doubles as minister in charge of reducing the burden on Okinawa of hosting the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, said at a news conference.

In a meeting with Suga in Naha on Sunday, Onaga said that with repeated reference to the expression, it sounded like Suga was looking down on Okinawa.

It was the first meeting between the two since Onaga took office in December with a pledge to block the Futenma relocation within Okinawa. He and other base opponents want the airfields functions moved out of the prefecture.

The two failed to bridge their gaps over the relocation plan. Suga vowed Monday to uphold the plan, saying the administration will maintain its policy to respond appropriately based on related laws and regulations.

However, he said Sundays talks represented a first step for dialogue between the central and Okinawan governments, as the two sides need to cooperate in handling various issues involving the island prefecture.

We saw differences in our positions yesterday, he said. But I believe it is important to hold talks to try to fill such gaps.

Suga said the administration will consider Onagas request for a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Asked if such a meeting could come before Abe goes to the United States in late April for a summit with President Barack Obama, Suga only said the government has not heard specifically as to what kind of request (Onaga) may have.

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Suga says he will no longer use term proceed as planned over Futenma relocation

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ?Here is a list of some road projects from around the Heartland.

Bollinger County, MO

Route N in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs. This section of roadway is located between Route F to Route 51. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Butler County, MO

Route WW will be reduced to one lane while contractor crews perform asphalt resurfacing. This section of road is located between Route 53 and the railroad crossing. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Monday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. and will reopen on Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 a.m.

Route 53 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. This section of roadway is located from County Road 616 to County Road 617. Weather permitting, work will performed Monday, April 6 through Thursday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

MoDOT is currently planning to improve three Butler Co. bridges. Two of the bridges are located on Route 142 over Hart Ditch and Long Slough Ditch. The third bridge is on Route 158 over the drainage ditch located about 0.7 miles west of Route BB. The project will involve replacing the existing bridges over Hart Ditch and the drainage ditch.

The bridge over Long Slough Ditch will be replaced with a culvert; grading and paving will also be completed. Acquisition of the right-of-way will be minimal and will only be required for the Hart Ditch bridge project. Existing utility lines will be affected on this project. Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in summer 2015.

Work is expected to be finished in about four months, weather permitting. As construction is underway, Rte. 142 and Rte. 158 will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the bridges for the duration of the work. Property owners within the project limits will have access into their properties during this time.

Ripley/Butler Counties, MO

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Heartland road projects for 4/8

The difference isnt as stark as night and day, but for the people shopping at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, the newly remodeled back of the store almost glows when compared with the darker front section.

Everything looks great you can see much better than before and its so much nicer, said Carmen Ortz, who was shopping there for clothes last week. Its like its brand new.

Her reaction has been the norm among longtime customers, said Dan Torrington, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the Tucson Dioceses.

You would have thought that we had moved the Taj Mahal, he said. It was nice to have customers come in and say that. We never closed, so they put up with us during the construction part of it.

Since November, the nonprofit has invested more than $100,000 to remodel the sales floor of the thrift shop, located at 820 South Sixth Ave. The changes in the back half of the store include 10 skylights, new bathrooms, an expanded book area and wall-mounted air-conditioner units.

The thrift shops main building a car dealership during the 50s is about 8,000 square feet. The sales floor is divided between the old car showroom and the service area.

So far most of the major changes to the thrift store have been to the showroom half, including removal of an executive office that used to jut out into the center of the room and take up space.

But the renovations have also gone beyond the areas the public generally sees. Across the street, the St. Vincent de Paul administrative offices are also being upgraded as part of Torringtons plan to improve building conditions.

When I became the president I said we have to change. We cant be living out of a place that has all the wires hanging on the wall, and were not going to attract any young people to come in and become part of our organization, he said.

That philosophy extends to making customers have a better shopping experience.

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Remodeling shines a new light on St. Vincent de Paul store

Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Time to pack away the winter coats and pull out those Wellies spring is finally here! With this checklist as your guide, help your home burst into spring with a curb appeal makeover. Pick as few (or as many) tasks as you want to tackle, from porch swings to plantings, and your home will be looking its best before you can say baseball season.

1. Enhance the front door. The front door should be your homes exterior focal point ramp up the appeal by painting it a rich hue, updating door hardware or adding a new knocker. For a seasonal touch, hang a spring wreath or craft your own eclectic one using gardening tools, as these creative homeowners did.

10 Ways to Bring Charm to Your Homes Exterior

2. Add plantings on the street side of your fence. Remember, curb appeal starts at the curb so instead of just planting inside the border of your fence or stone wall, plant perennials and spring bulbs just outside it as well. The extra layer of foliage and color will create a sense of depth, making your front yard appear larger. If you dont have a fence, planting perennials in the hell strip between the curb and sidewalk can have a similar effect.

3. Check that house numbers are easily visible. Go across the street from your home to get a better idea of how easy it is to find your house numbers. Large house numbers in a clear font are the easiest to read from a distance. Place them where they are not blocked by trees or porch railings, and position the numbers horizontally rather than vertically if possible theyre easier to read that way. Ideally, place house numbers beneath a porch lamp or landscape light, where they will be illuminated in the evening.

4. Group pots of flowers on the porch. Theyre beautiful and as easy as can be to add. Cluster three pots in various sizes on your front porch or stairs, and fill them with blooming spring flowers.

5. Carve out space for front-yard living. If youre blessed with a deep front yard but find you rarely use it, consider whether it would be better put to work as a fun and functional hangout zone. A bench curved around an outdoor fireplace is sure to become a favorite gathering place for friends and neighbors but even a simple garden bench (minus the fireplace) can be a welcome addition.

6. Care for grass and mulch flower beds. If you have a lawn, early spring is a good time to reseed or add sod if it looks like its coming back patchy. Mulch flower beds with a natural mulch to help the soil retain moisture and give the beds a finished look.

7. Check the condition of the roof. If you notice spacing or curling at the edges of shingles or crumbling bits, its time to have a pro roofer take a look. If you need a new roof (or a second layer of shingles), check references and get at least three competing estimates before hiring a pro for the job.

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Freshen Up Your Home's Curb Appeal This Spring

Alamo City Remodelers is Bathroom Remodeling and Roofing near San Antonio,TX 78232
Alamo City Remodelers is Bathroom Remodeling and Roofing. We will help you with all your home repair needs. From Roofing to Additions. Drywall to Windows and even from painting to sun-rooms....

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Alamo City Remodelers is Bathroom Remodeling and Roofing near San Antonio,TX 78232 - Video

Best Pros Construction Corp. is a Roofing Contractor and Tile Driveway Builder near Jamaica, NY
Best Pros Construction Corp. offers a full range of home business services including roofing, exteriors, interiors, storm damage outdoor services. Most home improvement companies can find...

By: Best Pros Construction Corp.

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Best Pros Construction Corp. is a Roofing Contractor and Tile Driveway Builder near Jamaica, NY - Video

What type of roof damage is covered by Insurance?
Call Radiant Roofing Contracting today! 855-897-2342 In this video, Jeff Ogle of Radiant Roofing and Contracting discusses what type of roof damage is covered by insurance with local insurance...

By: Radiant Roofing Contracting Inc.

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What type of roof damage is covered by Insurance? - Video

ROOF TESTIMONIALS EAST SIDE PROVIDENCE RI, KAC CONSTRUCTION
ROOF TESTIMONIALS EAST SIDE PROVIDENCE, KAC CONSTRUCTION TEL. (401)837-6730 // Best Roofing Contractors East Side Providence RI...quality roof replacement done right at the best price ...

By: Karl Camilo

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ROOF TESTIMONIALS EAST SIDE PROVIDENCE RI, KAC CONSTRUCTION - Video