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Samuel Eto'o has completed a move from Everton to Sampdoria Roberto Martinez is wary of finding replacement in the January market Toffees boss believes fit again Arouna Kone can step in for Cameroon star

By Pa Reporter

Published: 09:39 EST, 28 January 2015 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 28 January 2015

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is not looking to sign a replacement for Samuel Eto'o during the January transfer window.

The veteran striker's move to Sampdoria was confirmed on Tuesday and Martinez sees Arouna Kone, who is fit again after a long-term knee injury, as the player to step into the breach.

Everton are enduring a difficult season and have failed to win any of their last eight games, but Martinez is in no hurry to bring in reinforcements.

Arouna Kone can fill the striker's void at Everton after recovering from long-term injury

Roberto Martinez is wary of trying to find a replacement for Samuel Eto'o in the January transfer window

The Cameroon legend holds aloft a scarf after completing his move to Serie A side Sampdoria

He told the club's official website: 'January is not the place to find solutions (in the transfer market). Our moment of form, we want to change, but the solutions are in the squad.

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Arouna Kone can step into Samuel Eto'o void at Everton, says Roberto Martinez

CHAUTAUQUA - Support for renovation, rather than replacement, of the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater gained further momentum this week.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced Tuesday its designation of the building as a national treasure during a press conference held in Buffalo, throwing its weight behind finding alternative means of making improvements to the 122-year-old structure, contrary to the institution's previously proposed project that would have constituted the demolition and construction of a new amphitheater on the site.

"The plan to demolish the (amphitheater) would tear at the heart of Chautauqua and compromise the historic character that many Chautauquans and visitors from around the country deeply value," said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust, according to the Associated Press.

Pictured from left to right are Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of New York State; Stephanie K. Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Peter Flynn, co-chairman of the Preservation Buffalo Niagara board; and Brian Berg, chair of The Committee to Preserve the Historic Amphitheater. The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced during a news conference Tuesday that the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater has been designated as a national treasure by the organization. Photos by Joe Cascio

Meeks is pictured above speaking to members of the audience about the national treasure designation for the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater. Pictured, at left, Flynn talks with attendees of the event about Chautauqua Institution.

The designation does not carry legal weight, but it falls in line with Chautauqua residents' concerns that the amphitheater is historically significant to the culture of the institution. During Tuesday's press conference, Meeks asked the leadership of Chautauqua Institution to work with preservationists in order to conserve an iconic building in which notable speakers and entertainers perform each summer.

The announcement comes one week after Chautauqua Institution President Thomas Becker announced his recommendation to the board of trustees that the decision on whether to proceed with its $33 million project to replace the structure with an updated model be tabled until the board's August meeting. Last year, leaders of the institution had proposed replacing the amphitheater to increase capacity, handicap accessibility and safety; but these plans were opposed by a coalition that includes preservationists, architects and Chautauqua property owners.

As a result of the strong criticism drawn by the project proposal, Becker said in a statement to institution members that a productive discourse between the institution and its community would be the best way to go about determining what course of action should be taken in the future.

"Following a detailed review of the project to date, it is clear from the public and private communications going back and forth between the institution and various members of the Chautauqua community that meaningful re-engagement of our various constituencies - especially those who are so passionate in their views, both positive or critical, about the (amphitheater) and its future - should occur; especially during the summer season and before we move forward," Becker said.

"It is clear to me that there has been a lot of communicating at each other, but not enough discussion with each other ... and (the amphitheater restoration project) is too important to (the institution's) mission not to get it right," he added.

Excerpt from:
National Treasure

Insteon 5282-242 Connected Kit $380.00

Insteon's Connected Kit is a very inexpensive, but its weak camera and clumsy installation procedures (in some areas, but not others) drag down our opinion of the system as a whole.

For simple, yet flexible home lighting control, Insteons dual-band technology is hard to beat. The company has been in the market longer than just about anyone else (more than 20 years), it has 200 connected-home products in its inventory, it offers great tech support, and it even operates its own online store dedicated to the connected home.

As great as all that is, Insteon still has a ways to go when it comes to effectively integrating its disparate collection of devices with the smartphone app and the web portal that are designed to manage it all. Thats the conclusion I reached after reviewing Insteons 2582-242 Connected Kit plus a couple of connected LED light bulbs that the company recently submitted for review.

The Connected Kit consists of Insteons latest hub, which you hard-wire to your home router/Internet gateway; a standard-definition pan/tilt security camera; motion, door/window, and leak sensors; and a wired thermostat. Insteon also sent a pair of 60-watt-equivalent LED light bulbs (these arevery expensive at $30 eachthats twice the cost of the GE and Cree bulbs recently reviewed).

If you buy an Insteon starter kit, make sure that it comes with the latest Insteon hub, as this kit does.

I wasnt able to test the thermostat, but it represents another weak spot in the Insteon ecosystem. On the one hand, it supports advanced features such as support for two-stage heating and cooling systems, duct dampers, and remote sensors. On the other hand, its aesthetically ugly compared to just about any modern thermostat on the market, it lacks a touchscreen user interface, and it doesnt support heat pumps or three-stage HVAC systems. Fortunately, youre not limited to Insteons thermostat. The company just announced that it has joined the Works with Nest program.

I installed everything besides the thermostat and the IP camera in less than two hours. That includes the time it took to download and install the control app on my iPhone (there are Android and Windows Phone versions available, too) and to program rooms (groups of devices) and scenes (rules for controlling those devices). So far, so good.

Insteon's thermostat is no great shakes, and the only alternative is Nest Learning Thermostat.

My living room is lit by an overhead light and several lamps. I replaced one light bulb with a dimmable Insteon 60-watt-equivalent LED bulb and plugged two other lamps into plug-in dimmer modules (these cost $50 each if you need more than the two that come in the kit). Insteon also offers in-wall dimmers and switches (priced from $50 to $80, depending on their capabilities).

Excerpt from:
Insteon Connected Kit review: Strong lighting controls; weak app integration

CLAYTON -- The city may approve a Property Assessed Clean Energy program allowing homeowners to make energy-efficient home improvements that are financed as a property tax assessment instead of a regular loan.

Homeowners could now take advantage of a program first offered to commercial and multiresidential property owners. Funds for water- and energy-efficient projects such as windows and water pumps requires no credit or income verification because homeowners essentially tax themselves.

Jack Cooper, of Custom Exteriors Inc. explained the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity program to the Clayton council at their Jan. 6 meeting because city approval is required before the program can be authorized by the state in each municipality.

"Everybody benefits," Cooper said later. "It reduces water and energy use, improves home values, and creates jobs. Lower utility bills help cover the cost of the payment and you get a tax deduction."

Community Development director Charlie Mullen said the city staff is researching Cooper's proposal and will likely make a decision soon. HERO and CaliforniaFIRST have been approved in Martinez. Walnut Creek recently approved HERO and San Francisco voted for CaliforniaFIRST on Jan. 5.

"CaliforniaFIRST came to us last fall and has cleared the state validation process. We think HERO will be available in Martinez by summer of 2015," said Michael Chandler, senior management analyst in Martinez.

"We liked the idea that there is a friendly competition between the companies and we can give residents more options. There is a CaliforniaFIRST page on our website (services, sustainability, PACE) and we will put one up for HERO when it is ready."

There is no cost to the cities involved, and Cooper said energy improvements increase home values because trained, certified contractors install energy-saving products.

HERO also helps resolve issues between homeowners and contractors, who are not paid until the customer signs a notice of completion, according HERO's website.

Heating and cooling systems (including solar), lighting upgrades, doors, insulation siding and other improvements can be financed over periods of time from five to 20 years depending on durability and energy/water savings. In other words, the improvement has to outlast the financing.

Read more here:
Clayton: Setting the PACE for energy efficiency

Villalba Homes General Contractor | Kitchen Remodeling Cape Coral FL
Villalba Homes General Contractor | Kitchen Remodeling Cape Coral FL.

By: Mike Smith

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Villalba Homes General Contractor | Kitchen Remodeling Cape Coral FL - Video

Design-Built Custom Kitchen Remodel in Aliso Viejo Orange County By APlus
This beautiful custom kitchen remodel was done in city of Aliso Viejo Orange County. Everything has been upgraded in this spacious kitchen with a new custom island. Love to get everyone #39;s...

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Design-Built Custom Kitchen Remodel in Aliso Viejo Orange County By APlus - Video

Tour of Custom Design Build Kitchen Remodel in San Clemente by APlus
This is a beautiful custom kitchen remodel that was completed in city of San Clemente Orange County. As you can see from the before photos, the kitchen was very outdated and needed a major...

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Tour of Custom Design Build Kitchen Remodel in San Clemente by APlus - Video

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nations leading construction forecasters, is projecting that spending will see a 7.7% increase in 2015, with projections for 2016 nudging up to 8.2%.

Though weather-related delays impacted the nonresidential building market during early 2014, conditions improved dramatically and the year ended with greater than anticipated spending levels.The projected increases for 2015 are led by the demand for hotels, office buildings, and institutional projects.

This is the first time since the Great Recession that every major building category is projected to see increases in spending, said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. But by far, the most significant driver that will fuel greater expansion in the marketplace is the revival in the institutional sector, especially with growing demand for new healthcare and education facilities, which alone traditionally account for a third of spending on new building construction."

Baker continued, The overall construction industry appears to be on very solid ground for the next two years. That said, uncertainties in international economies, potential labor shortages, lower energy costs, rising interest rates and construction costs all are factors that we will be watching closely to see how they may adversely impact the marketplace.

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AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Projects Increase in Construction Spending in 2015

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