Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. -

In the wake of an act of vandalism in which 50 pheasants were killed at Richland Center High School several individuals and organizations have offered to replace the birds for the student program.

Last Wednesday the agriculture teacher at the school discovered the pheasant-raising sheds had been broken into. Inside the two sheds he found 50 birds dead, another 50 escaped the enclosure to nearby fields and 50 pheasants were found alive inside the sheds.

The pheasants are raised by students at the school throughout the summer and then released in the fall. The pheasant-raising program has been operated at the school for 16 years.

Jon Bosworth, principal at Richland Center High School, confirmed that four individuals or organizations have contacted the school with an offer to replace the pheasants that were killed. That information has been given to the agriculture teacher at the school.

A decision on when or how to replace the birds killed by the vandals will be made at a later time.

Here is the original post:
Help coming for school where pheasants were killed

Angie Hong

On the south end of Afton, just before the road heads out of town, a small stream flows down from the wooded bluffs to meet the St. Croix River below. A little less than three miles long, Kelles Creek is groundwater fed and surrounded by mostly undeveloped land. The stream is home to an unusually large number of macroinvertebrate species (insects and other water critters), which is an indication of very good water quality and a healthy, intact biological web. A few years ago, however, the Valley Branch Watershed District and Washington Conservation District discovered a problem in this otherwise healthy stream E. coli.

E. coli is a type of bacteria that can sometimes make people sick and is an indicator organism for other harmful pathogens as well. E. coli in our waterways can come from dog and goose poop, manure or even human wastewater.

Across Minnesota, 533 streams and river reaches have unsafe levels of E. coli or fecal coliform (another variant). Along with Kelles Creek, eight other creeks in Washington County have E. coli impairments: Browns Creek (from Lansing Avenue to Manning Avenue in Grant); Trout Brook (which flows through Afton State Park); Perro Creek (Bayport); Gilbertson Creek (near the Log Cabin landing in Scandia); Swedish Flag (Copas); and three unnamed streams (one running from Boutwell Road to the diversion structure in Stillwater, one flowing into Big Carnelian Lake in May Township, and one connecting Bone Lake in Scandia to Birch Lake in Chisago County).

Down in Afton, the Valley Branch Watershed District has spent the past year conducting additional research to determine where the E. coli is coming from in Kelles Creek. In addition to testing water at the existing monitoring station in town near St. Croix Trail, theyve also collected samples further upstream and at the headwaters of the stream where it begins to flow from groundwater springs. The results show that E. coli levels are high even at the headwaters and even during low-flow conditions, which are both indications that the bacteria are coming from groundwater, not surface runoff. As a result, the district has concluded that outdated and failing septic systems in the area are most likely to blame for the E. coli contamination in Kelles Creek.

Septic systems, officially known as subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS), use biological, physical and chemical processes to treat and clean household wastewater. A typical SSTS consists of a septic tank followed by a soil-based treatment system such as a mound, trench or at-grade drainfield. If designed and installed properly, septic systems are very effective.

In many places, however, extra precautions are needed to make sure they work right. For example, if there is a high water table, the soil-based treatment component of the system wont work, and pathogens can move quickly through the soil without being adsorbed or filtered, thus polluting the shallow ground water which can, in turn, infiltrate into deeper aquifers as well.

Karst topography creates another challenge for SSTS. In southern Washington County there are many places where there is less than 50 feet of sediment over limestone bedrock. Over time, rainwater has cracked the limestone, creating passageways for pollutants on the lands surface to travel down into both shallow and deep aquifers. Two unfortunate examples of this process in action include bacteria from outdated septic systems working their way into Kelles Creek, as well as nitrates from fertilizers contaminating many private wells in Cottage Grove and Denmark Township.

The city of Afton has a large improvement project underway to upgrade roads, flood protection and septic systems in town. As part of the project, the city plans to build a shared sanitary sewer system to replace individual systems within the downtown village. Most of the 160 septic systems in the Kelles Creek watershed are outside of the downtown area, however, so this project alone wont solve the problem. Testing has not yet identified the sources of E. coli in other streams in the county, but it is possible that septic systems may be to blame for contamination in some of those streams as well.

This year, Washington County introduced a new program to help homeowners throughout the county replace failing and noncompliant septic systems. Low interest loans are available for anyone, and there are grants for low income households as well. To qualify for this assistance, septic systems must be deemed noncompliant by the county or a private inspector. Learn more about these programs at co.washington.mn.us or 651-430-6655.

Excerpt from:
Column: Outdated septic systems contaminate area streams

Photo by Richard Gwin

Studio 804 has been working on an addition to Marvin Hall on the KU campus since last fall. Dubbed "The Forum," the addition should be open for business later this year.

Photo by Richard Gwin

From left, architecture graduate students Renee Brune, 25, and Christina Harwood, 23, screw pedestals to flooring inside the new Marvin Hall addition.

The people, places and projects that energize Kansas University, plus tips for newcomers to campus. --- List of all stories: ljworld.com/kuedition2014 Green Edition: ljw.bz/1p2iVTG More

The Kansas University School of Architecture, Design and Planning might never have had a lecture hall of its own if the schools students had not built it themselves.

John Gaunt, dean of the school and a professor of architecture, said the finances for an addition to Marvin Hall might never have worked out without the schools Studio 804 program, a yearlong design-and-build course.

Costs for the $2 million building would have been nearly double if the school had sought an outside contractor, Gaunt said. At the same time, it took several years for the studio to build up its reputation and credibility across the university and the state, both of which had to approve the project.

It required a kind of planetary alignment, Gaunt said.

The addition, dubbed The Forum, will house a 120-seat auditorium and a commons area that will overlay the schools previous jury room for viewing projects. With the main construction wrapping up in the late summer, The Forum could start holding some classes later in the fall semester.

Originally posted here:
Students take Marvin Hall addition into own hands

"This drug is misunderstood," said, "Mark Trudeau, the President and CEO of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals on "Mad Money". "It's actually approved for 19 different indications. It's a drug that's really delivering value. And there's future value to be unlocked."

However, in addition to the pipeline, Cramer likes Mallinckrodt for reasons that are strictly financial.

"The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Therefore it's subject to the Emerald Isle's extremely low tax regime," Cramer said. "And that means when Mallinckrodt acquires a U.S. company, it can instantly boost the target's earnings simply by gobbling that company up and making it Irish."

The catalyst isn't simply theoretical. "In the last year, Mallinckrodt has done two sizable deals, buying Cadence and then most recently announcing the acquisition of Questcor Pharma in April," Cramer said.

Given the pipeline and the ability to generate profits through acquisition, Cramer thinks the stock should have room to run.

"They're doing everything right," Cramer said.

------------------------------------------------------------- Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer New energy company attracts Cramer's attention Cramer adds CEO to Wall of Shame Cramer's top charity holding may surprise you-------------------------------------------------------------

"Even though Mallinckrodt has already had a monster run, up more than 64 percent since being spun-off from Covidien last summer, I think it could have a lot more upside, in part because this company can keep snapping up other drug businesses to become a pharma colossus, or it could be swallowed by someone else looking to become a part of a lower tax regime itself."

Continued here:
Cramer: Pharma firm with room to run

Construction has begun on a Japanese restaurant thats expected to open in December at the former Bakers Square restaurant site at 1227 Crossing Meadows Drive in Onalaska.

Work began this month on the Shogun Sushi and Hibachi restaurant, said Jeffrey Brown of North Rock Real Estate, a commercial real estate advisory firm in Minnetonka, Minn. He is assisting the eaterys owners, who live in the Twin Cities and own several other Japanese restaurants.

Construction work on Shogun originally was expected to begin last fall, with the eatery opening by early this summer. But the projects design was put on the back burner because the owners were busy opening a new restaurant in Burnsville, Minn., Brown said.

Shogun will serve a variety of upscale Japanese cuisine, Brown said, including seafood, steak, chicken and vegetable courses with a Japanese flavor. There will be a large sushi menu and sushi bar.

All of the ingredients are extremely fresh and high quality, Brown said. Especially the seafood, which is flown in fresh. The approximately 6,000-square restaurant will have 14 hibachi tables.

Owner Maria Norberg plans to expand Grounded Specialty Coffee at 308 Main St. to the west, onto a vacant lot at 304-306 Main St. in downtown La Crosse.

The expansion would transform Grounded from a coffee shop into a full restaurant available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with a full coffee and wine bar, she said in her application for an exception to city building requirements.

The expansion would include indoor and outdoor seating on the ground level, and partially covered and open air seating on a terrace above the addition. About half of the proposed terrace would be below the citys minimum two-story height requirement for new construction downtown. The La Crosse Common Council likely will vote Sept. 11 on Norbergs request for an exception.

If the council approves, I would like to start construction next spring and have the new addition open and running by early summer, Norberg told me. I plan to keep the name of Grounded but would drop Specialty Coffee since we would be a full-service restaurant with a full coffee and wine bar as well.

Three sisters and a daughter have opened Curvy Chicks Consignment LLC at 123 W. Hamilton St. in West Salem.

See the original post:
Steve Cahalan: Japanese restaurant to open in December

Home Remodeling Sacramento Home Improvements Renovations
Home Remodeling Sacramento Home Improvements Renovations.

By: Home Improvement Pros

See more here:
Home Remodeling Sacramento Home Improvements & Renovations - Video

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) August 25, 2014

NARI of Greater Charlotte and Distinctive Design / Build / Remodel, LLC are pleased to announce that General Contractor, Vince Busby, has recently achieved the prestigious Certified Remodeler status.

The Certified Remodeler (CR) designation proves a remodeling contractors superior knowledge, technical comprehension and skill in remodeling. Many guys talk about being the best in the remodeling business but this is a quantifiable way to measure the best.

NARIs CR program measures skill and expertise valued not only by other professional remodelers, but by consumers as well. The CR program separates the wheat from the chaff. Remodelers who have undergone this comprehensive review and rigorous testing have proven their expertise in areas of business management, ethical conduct, and technical skills. In addition, they must also adhere to NARIs strict Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. And they must be committed to continuing education to maintain their certification.

The NARI certification program checks the knowledge of the remodeler in over 20 areas including business methods and practices, building codes and construction law, planning and building site layout, and all specialty trades required in remodeling including electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Attaining this certification requires the candidate to have been working full time in the remodeling field for at least 5 years and to pass a comprehensive assessment exam. Preparation for this exam takes up to 16 weeks of intensive study.

Ive been in the construction business for more than 30 years, and while preparing for the Certified Remodeler exam was humbling at times, it made me realize that I have a tremendous amount of remodeling knowledge stored in my noggin, says Busby. Would you hire an accountant who isnt certified? Or a surgeon who isnt committed to continuing education? Of course not! That would be foolish. Use the same logic when youre searching for a remodeling contractor. Make sure the guy youre hiring to tear apart your home and put it back together again is certified, Busby concludes.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers can call the NARI National hotline at (847) 298-9200 and request a free copy of NARIs brochure, How to Select a Remodeling Professional, or visit http://www.RemodelToday.com and click on the homeowners guide for more information.

About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. The Association, which represents member companies nationwidecomprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors is The Voice of the Remodeling Industry".

Vince Busby is co-owner of Distinctive Design / Build / Remodel - an award-winning, fully certified Design / Build team based in Charlotte, NC. Busby is co-owner with Erin Dougherty - an award-winning designer. Distinctive remodels and builds custom homes in and around Charlotte, NC as well as in the Charleston, SC area including Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Folly Beach and select communities in the Carolina mountains.

Who Should Hire Distinctive? If an ordinary or cookie-cutter design is all you need, we are probably not the right choice for you. And if the absolute cheapest price is what you want, there will be less skilled contractors willing to underbid us. But if you want absolutely beautiful, hand-crafted remodeling or custom home building that you will enjoy for a lifetime, give us a call. 704-975-4390 or toll free 888-399-0290.

Continued here:
Charlotte, NC Remodeling Contractor Earns Distinctive Certification

Boston Air conditioning compressor |857-301-6101| Best Plumber | Affordable| HIVAC| Air conditioning
Over time, these things construct up inside the coils and obstruct the coils. Lowering that surface location causes the compressor to work harder since there is less heat being exchanged from...

By: Elizabeth Kelsey

Continue reading here:
Boston Air conditioning compressor |857-301-6101| Best Plumber | Affordable| HIVAC| Air conditioning - Video

Affordable Atlanta Plumbers...24 Hour Emergency plumber Atlanta tips
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing 24 Hour Emergency Plumber Atlanta Ga expert Atlanta plumbers get the job done right and quickly. We are the best plumbing repair service in the Atlanta...

By: video maker

Follow this link:
Affordable Atlanta Plumbers...24 Hour Emergency plumber Atlanta tips - Video

Affordable Plumber Atlanta..24 Hour Plumbers
4 Hour Emergency Plumber Atlanta Ga expert Atlanta plumbers get the job done right and quickly. We are the best plumbing repair service in the Atlanta area. Call Now for Immediate Emergency...

By: video maker

More here:
Affordable Plumber Atlanta..24 Hour Plumbers - Video