Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Winter has dealt another blow to several families who were already struggling when a frozen pipe recently burst at a transitional building in Manchester.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.

The Way Home has been helping families pick up the pieces of their lives for 26 years. The Manchester nonprofit is a critical link in managing homelessness in New Hampshire, but it has been shut down for more than a week since a pipe burst.

Water flooded the ceiling, walls and floors, and all of the electrical wiring was ruined.

Phone lines have been down for days, and six families relying on the facility have been displaced. They are now staying at a hotel for what could be weeks.

"Down on my luck is an understatement," said displaced tenant Mariah Roux. "It just keeps getting worse for me at this point."

"It was very devastating seeing them try to take out what they had left," said Diane Pitts, program director for The Way Home. "They needed to be homeless to come in here, and here they are, homeless again. So it's a double whammy for them, so helping them through that process is rewarding."

A storage trailer holds the belongings that weren't ruined in the flood.

Roux said it has been a rough year for her and her 12-year-old son. They have been living at The Way Home since July as they try to start over.

"Once we're done here at the hotel, I've got to scramble and try to find a place for me and my kids to stay in the meantime," Roux said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get a job and just go into an apartment."

Original post:
Burst pipe displaces families at transitional housing facility

Smartphone-friendly and free of monthly fees (unless you go premium), this is complete home security in a box.

Oplink

I said it before, and I'll say it again: Home security is a tricky business. Either you pay for a professional system -- and keep paying for monthly monitoring and false alarms -- or you go for a camera-based system that's a hassle to install (and not always a good deterrent).

Somewhere in between lies a new generation of smart, DIY home-security solutions. These can often set you back at least a few hundred dollars, but for a limited time and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Oplink Connected AlarmShield OPG2200 security system for $124.99. Shipping is free, but you're on the hook for sales tax.

The kit consists of everything you need to shore up your home: a Wi-Fi IP camera with infrared LEDs (for night vision), two door/window sensors, two key fobs, a motion detector, a siren and the main hub. As with most such systems, you can scale up with more sensors, cameras, and the like.

Speaking of which, the virtually identical OPG2201 package includes two cameras, but sells for more than twice the price ($296.06). I mention that so you can check out the user reviews (there are none for this particular configuration), which average out to 4.2 stars out of 5. (Another point of reference: a zero-camera version sells at Walmart for $149, and has a 4.5-star average. Suffice it to say, this is the bundle to beat.)

I'm not a fan of anything that involves a monthly fee, and the AlarmShield can be operated for free if you choose. That affords you unlimited live video streaming, remote arm/disarm capabilities, push notifications, and so on. But if you step up to Oplink's Premium service ($19.99 per month), you gain extras like multiple authorized users and SMS alerts to emergency contacts. To me, this is a very fair tier strategy, as many users will be able to get by just fine with the basic feature set.

Honestly, the only thing that bugs me is that the kit doesn't seem to include any window stickers indicating its presence. Call me naive, but I suspect burglars are more likely to bypass a house that has a "Protected By" sticker.

In any case, $125 is a very reasonable price to pay for a very complete home-security system, especially one that doesn't require monthly fees. Your thoughts?

Bonus deal: BinaryNow's SlimPublisher is a desktop-publishing program designed to help you create your own letterhead, labels, bar codes, business cards and the like. (Believe it or not, some businesses still use that stuff!) It normally sells for $24.95, but today only, BitsDuJour has SlimPublisher (Win) for free. To get it, you'll need to "like" both BinaryNow and BitsDuJour on Facebook. To me, that's a very fair trade, though I suspect some readers will get seriously bent out of shape about it -- in which case I'm sure BinaryNow would gladly accept your $25 instead.

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Get an Oplink AlarmShield home-security system for $124.99

(PRWEB) February 25, 2015

In the United States alone, more than 2 million people's homes get burglarized each year. Unfortunately, upward of 30 percent of these break-ins take place in homes where a door or window is unlocked. It's important to note that even renters are at just as much risk for being victims of burglary as home owners are. These trends, and new solutions to help improve home security, will be discussed in a new segment of "In America" with host James Earl Jones.

Most burglaries take place in June and July, when it is warm outside. And the incidences usually take place in the daytime when homeowners or renters are at work or school. A home without a security system has a 300 percent greater chance of being burglarized, making it all the more important to invest in some type of home security.

While consumers might not feel threatened by a theft at home, a new burglary takes place every thirteen seconds. If you would like to learn more about burglaries and how a home security system can be of benefit to you and your entire family, make sure to watch James Earl Jones' segment on In America.

Original post:
James Earl Jones to Host Upcoming "In America" Segment on Home Security

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 25, 2015

Parker & Sons, Inc. a leader in the industry when it comes to maintaining, repairing and installing a wide array of heating and cooling systems reports record demand for leak detection services throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Parker & Sons is a company with decades of experience in a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing services. With well over four decades of trusted and reliable service throughout Phoenix, Parker & Sons is a business that stands behind its promises when he comes to providing the very best in customer service and total customer satisfaction. The company is an expert in finding and fixing hidden leaks throughout a home or business.

Parker & Sons has an array of tools and equipment that are all specifically designed to quickly and accurately locate a leak so that it may be repaired as quickly as possible. Homeowners and business owners alike understand the dangers associated with water damage and the incredible costs that can be incurred when water damage strikes. That is why it is so essential to locate, isolate and fix a leak in a fast and efficient way. Parker & Sons uses a host of equipment such as acoustic leak location devices and other advanced technologies such as digital leak location equipment to detect the source of the leak in record-breaking time. Finding a broken pipe with incredible accuracy using state-of-the-art equipment also means that homeowners will not have their entire yard torn apart searching for a leak.

Using advanced technology and advanced processes the company helps to save the homeowner time, trouble and money as well as saving landscaping. Parker & Sons is an established name throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and has provided expert services in everything from heating and cooling to plumbing and air filtration. The company is recognized on a national level for being one of the most experienced and knowledgeable heating and cooling as well as plumbing and air quality contractors in the industry. The company has an outstanding record with the Better Business Bureau and has been recognized on multiple occasions with local and national awards as well as certifications.

Parker & Sons trains each and every customer service representative and technician to ensure the highest level of customer service. The company institutes customer relations training programs to maintain the highest level of quality control in this regard. From tune-ups to unit replacement, Parker & Sons can handle virtually all aspects of heating and cooling maintenance, servicing, repair and installation. With years of experience and a dedication to fair pricing and quality customer service, Parker & Sons is a home services contractor that is known for integrity and consistency. This recent announcement with regard to record demand for leak detection services throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area is one more bit of evidence that Parker & Sons has earned its excellent reputation by providing outstanding service for both residential and commercial customers.

Parker & Sons, Inc. is an innovative and forward-looking Air Conditioning Repair & Plumbing Service in Phoenix Arizona. Having served the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area since 1974, Parker & Sons, Inc. has earned its reputation one customer at a time. Delivering quality for both residential and commercial customers, the company enjoys a long record of national recognition and has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Parker & Sons, Inc. is known for its impressive attention to detail and old-fashioned quality work. The company has been voted #1 in Ranking Arizona for the last five years and maintains a goal of 100% customer satisfaction. Parker & Sons works on heating systems, cooling systems, ducting, air filtration and offers a variety of plumbing related services. Parker & Sons, Inc. is an established name in reliable service calls throughout Phoenix Arizona.

Originally posted here:
Parker & Sons Reports Record Demand for Leak Detection Services Throughout the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area

CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A Crossville man is driving throughout Cumberland County to repair electronic fireplaces, and he's doing it all for free.

There is a certain saying that nothing will stop a postman from getting the job done. While Terry Bowen is not a certified letter carrier, he is in a class of his own.

"We've been to 113 calls since Friday," Bowen said as he's driving across Cumberland County.

As General Manager of Affordable Heating and Cooling, Bowen is the guy calling the shots for the company. And after this past weekend's storm did so much damage across his hometown, Bowen decided to deliver a big play.

"Nobody pays anything until the power is back on," Bowen explained. "If the power is out, the call is free, the labor is free, and the parts are free."

Bowen is talking about his work as a fireplace installer and repairman. He said most modern fireplaces aren't wood burning, but electronic. So with most of Cumberland County residents without power, furnaces and fireplaces alike are no longer working. That's when Bowen comes in to transform the fireplace into a natural gas burning heater so people can have a way to heat at least part of their homes.

And he's doing all the work completely free of charge.

Tina Brumbaugh knows full well the value of Bowen's work as her power has been out since Saturday morning.

"Going out, it's almost like taking our lives into our own hands," Brumbaugh explained. "This way we can now stay home with the kids and know that the kids will be warm."

Bowen said he's told his crew to do this work at no charge to any of their clients, because after 35 years of service to the community, it's time for him to give something back.

Link:
Crossville man repairing fireplaces to bring people heat for free

A complete overhaul of the Beatrice Police Departments heating and cooling equipment was recently finished. Now, the city is determining how to pay for the project.

With a price tag of more than $155,000, the HVAC overhaul ended up costing nearly double the estimated cost of $90,000, according to City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer.

When we hired Davis Design to help us put together that project, they estimated it would cost us about $90,000 for the installation, he said. When we came back and bid, the only bid came back at about $176,000. We did have a change order that brought that number down to about $155,876. We had budgeted about $90,000 for the installation.

Beatrice Mechanical was the company that submitted a bid for the project. During Mondays meeting, where no action was taken, the council considered various funding options for the project.

Three options were highlighted as potential funding sources for the HVAC renovation.

At the end of the fiscal year, the city is projected to have $1.5 million in cash reserves the funds could be taken from.

The city also had a budgeted item for trail work from Hannibal Park to the pool, in the amount of $122,000. Tempelmeyer said the city hasnt begun getting right of ways to proceed with this project, and chances are slim it would be done in 2015, anyway.

He added that since the trail funds arent going to be spent as budgeted, theyll return to the general fund anyway, so it makes little difference which pool the funds are taken from.

A third option presented was to defer various capital funds, though councilmen indicated this option would not be preferred.

The council could also opt to use a combination of funding sources for the project.

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Council questions funding for HVAC system

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The hot and dry spell Malaysia is currently experiencing, which is expected to last until end-March, is causing the public to become jittery.

Besides health concerns like fatigue and higher risk of stroke due to the extreme temperatures, the public, especially Klang Valley residents, are also worried about a looming water crisis and water rationing exercise, similar to what they had faced last year.

There is already cause for concern because the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies water to 60 percent of consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor, has been seeing its water level dropping since Feb 2.

According to the National Water Services Commission index, the average domestic water consumption per person in Malaysia was 210 litres in 2013, enough to fill up 140, 1.5-litre-capacity, bottles.

The consumption level is considerably high when compared to the World Health Organisation's recommendation of 165 litres per capita domestic consumption.

Reusing rainwater

It is worth pondering why most urban Malaysians are totally dependent on their supply of treated water to carry out daily activities like washing their toilets, floors and cars and watering their gardens. Why don't they consider performing these tasks using rainwater?

In kampungs, it is not uncommon to see villagers placing huge jars or containers outside their homes to collect rainwater, which they use for washing purposes or watering their plants.

National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) Director-General Datuk Ir Ahmad Jamaluddin Shaaban said it was unfortunate that most people still did not realise the value of reusing rainwater

"Rainwater goes to waste just like that, it's not given any value... when there's not enough water, we panic.

The rest is here:
Cushioning impact of water crisis through rainwater harvesting

Mantecas ugly ducking thoroughfare Moffat Boulevard is inching closer to swan status.

The $1.16 million Moffat Community Center in the 500 block that is expected to break ground in the coming weeks is the latest city investment along the road that once served as the southern Highway 99 entrance to Manteca. The city may also locate a dog park along Moffat this year as well.

The City Council reaffirmed last month during their goal setting and budget review workshop that eliminating blight along Moffat Boulevard is still a city priority.

Moffat Boulevard just over 19 years ago was one of the last few left exits for northbound traffic traveling Highway 99 through the Central Valley.

Once motorists crossed over southbound traffic on an arching bridge they were dumped onto Moffat that ran past tumbleweed infested fields, an aging cattle feed lot, the back entrance to Spreckels Sugar, shuttered businesses, inexpensive motels, abandoned gas stations, dilapidated buildings, recycling centers and not much more until they reached South Main Street.

Ten years ago the city launched an effort to breathe new life into Moffat. The city with the community center construction will have invested almost $13 million along Moffat during the past decade.

Among the municipal investments:

The Spreckels Park BMX Park.

Extending Industrial Park Drive across the railroad tracks to Moffat where it intersects with Spreckels Avenue.

A landscaped storm basin complete with trees.

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Blight fight continues along Moffat

In the heart of the Kent countryside where people enjoy pheasant shooting and quad biking, an odd-looking thatched structure stands with some garden furniture underneath.

This is a lapa, a large South African gazebo-style structure, which has made its way to these shores thanks to entrepreneur and Great Britain triathlete Craig Ormiston.

His Borough Green-based business the Lapa Company celebrates its 10th anniversary this year in far better shape than it was when he started the company with a computer and a phone in his infant daughters bedroom in Kings Hill.

Craig Ormiston, with one of the lapas his company installed at Kentfield Country Estate in Offham

In its first month, the company made 123 from selling two wooden poles it imported from South Africa to build its lapas. Today, it is a near 2 million turnover a year business, building a range of outdoor living structures.

They are stunning, said Mr Ormiston, who was inspired to set up the company by his South African wife Vanessa.

They are very simple. There is nothing in the UK like the traditional lapa, which is made out of hard wood with a thatched roof.

No one uses traditional techniques from South Africa to construct the products.

Part of the lapas success has been down to the long time it takes to make them. Each takes four to five weeks to construct, which limits the amount the firms 12 staff can build each year. It also makes the product more exclusive.

Typically the business makes eight to 10 lapas every 12 months, selling for up to 30,000.

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The Lapa Company in Borough Green celebrates 10th anniversary of making African-themed buildings

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The American Feng Shui Institute - Your Feng Shui School