Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A lot has changed over the years at 210 S. Lexington Ave. in Wilmore. A school that once housed all of the citys students from youngest to oldest has seen buildings, names and student populations come and go over eight decades. The campus has once again housed students of all different ages at separate times recently as it transitioned from Wilmore Elementary School to Jessamine Early Learning Village to The Providence School.

The things that have stayed the same are marks of pride for the city: The site has always been home to students right in the heart of the community, and the buildings in use today contain the same hallways many walked through 50, 60 or 70 years ago. But with history comes a price, and that price for The Providence School has been a fair share of maintenance issues in the old buildings for students and staff to sweat through recently.

The school district has patched problems in the school as theyve come up, but with a new facilities plan on the horizon, the age and condition of the Providence building could put it right at the top of the list for major renovation projects in the coming years.

Providence, which is the districts alternative middle and high school and houses about 150 students, opened in 2002 at a building on Computrex Drive in north Nicholasville. When the Jessamine Early Learning Village moved from the campus on SouthLexington Avenue in Wilmore to the old East Jessamine Middle School in 2010, the administration announced that Providence would move to the old JELV building in less than a year.

Part of that building on South Lexington Avenue is the oldest school still in use in Jessamine County. The stone structure on the south side, called the Roberts Wing, used to be one of three stone buildings in a U shape to make up the Wilmore School. The Roberts Wing was built in 1938, according to district records, with the current building completed with additions in 1960 and 1972 and some renovation work performed in 1987 and 2007. The next-oldest structure still in use as a public school in Jessamine County is the oldest part of Nicholasville Elementary School, which was constructed in 1943. That school underwent a comprehensive renovation during the 2012-2013 school year.

Providence principal Denise Adams, who opened the school in 2002 and oversaw the move to Wilmore, said it was clear the old buildings would need a renovation in terms of ventilation and electrical systems. Adams retired in July; her successor, Charlanne Pook, said the breaker boxes are full and cant accommodate any additional technology.

Its just hard to run a 21st-century school in a building that was designed and built in the 60s and 70s, Adams said. Its difficult.

Around the same time that Providences move was announced, the districts facilities plan which dictates construction priorities for the next four years or so was being developed. That plan came to the board for approval in January 2011, five months after the announcement that Providence would move.

But the plan only had one item related to the Providence building in Wilmore: some work on a science classroom as well as selected renovation for a change in student population. That item was last on the priority list.

Now in charge of the facilities as chief operating officer for the district, Val Gallutia was principal at Warner Elementary School four years ago and served on the team that developed the 2010 plan. Gallutia said the major construction projects of the new Red Oak Elementary School and comprehensive renovations to Nicholasville and Warner were the top priorities and that the unexpected move of Providence came along late in the months-long process of developing the plan. The old building in Wilmore had sat empty for a year, and administrators had signaled that it could have been sold.

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The Providence School wrestles with temperature, maintenance issues in old buildings as staff hope for full-scale ...

Daniella Ponticelli, CTV Winnipeg Published Wednesday, August 20, 2014 5:27PM CST Last Updated Wednesday, August 20, 2014 5:45PM CST

Blink and you might miss them.

Just ahead of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights grand opening next month, window cleaners work 100 metres above the street, to make the glass shine.

The first cleaning were doing is a post-construction, so its a lot of work. Youre cleaning off a lot of residual debris from building the museum, cleaner Silas Chipelski said.

And its a big job, requiring rappels from various points and a cherry picker for those hard to reach places. Chipelski says its sometimes hard to imagine it all gets clean with just a brush and a squeegee.

More than 2,000 glass panes require cleaning inside and out taking the team of eight two months to complete the entire project.

You can see the shape of it is pretty out of this world, Chipelski said.

Museum construction began in 2009, and the final pane of glass was set in 2012. And while heights are certainly a factor for the group, the cleaners say theyre not scared at all , and that something else bugs them more.

As nice as the sun is, thats really the number one thing the hotter it gets, the water dries, so were starting really early in the morning before the sun comes out, said Toban Reimer, operations manager.

Reimer said while its not certain yet how often window cleaning will take place, a building the size of the CMHR usually will be cleaned twice a year, in spring and fall.

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Birds eye view as window cleaners tackle 2,000 panes of glass at CMHR

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 | 6:00 a.m. CDT; updated 7:21 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, August 20, 2014

COLUMBIA John McLeod is frustrated with sewage overflows from two manholes in a private park near his home that have become "geysers of sewage."

Ridgefield Park is a private park in southwest Columbia, and McLeod, who lives at 2307 Ridgefield Road, is president of the Ridgefield Park Association. Homeowners in the surrounding neighborhood own the park.

According to Columbia Public Works Department documents, the two problem manholes in the park have overflowed a combined 20 times in the past five years, with 12 overflows recorded in 2013 alone. The manholes are visible from the County House Trail, which runs through the park.

McLeod believes the best solution would be replacing the sewer as soon as possible. The city plans to install a new sewer line in 2021, and city sewer utility manager David Sorrell said that project would significantly reduce the frequency of overflows at the park.

The Ridgefield Park sewer upgrade, estimated to cost $700,000, is one of many sewer projects in line for help across Columbia. According to city documents, there are 13 city sewer projects in progress and 25 others scheduled for construction by 2019 before the sewer would be replaced in Ridgefield Park. The cost of the 25 projects is an estimated $22 million, and the city still needs $18 million in funding.

Projects that are scheduled before Ridgefield Park include repairs downtown in the Flat Branch watershed, sewer main construction near the upper part of Hinkson Creek and maintenance to reduce sewer backups near Stewart Road.

The problems at the park are primarily due to inflow and infiltration of groundwater or rainwater into the sewer system through leaky pipes or improperly installed downspouts, problems that can cause manholes to overflow.

McLeod said he has spoken four times about the sewer troubles of Ridgefield Park at City Council meetings, most recently on July 21.

"The work we want done, they want to do it in seven years," McLeod said. "We want it done now."

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South of downtown, park has its own sewer troubles

Three months after the successful launch of expanded recycling opportunities at Campbell River depots, the city has seen a rise in the amount that is being recycled.

On May 19, Campbell Rivers expanded residential recycling program included changes that allow for polystyrene plastic (such as Styrofoam) and soft plastics (such as plastic bags and film wrap) to be accepted at the Campbell River Waste Management Centre on Argonaut Road and the privately-run depot at 1580 Willow St. (Island Return-It Centre).

While the blue box program also expanded in mid-May, polystyrene such as Styrofoam, and soft plastics are not accepted through curbside pick-up.

The expanded recycling program has been a big success because residents have really made it a priority to make use of these new recycling opportunities, said Ron Neufeld, Deputy City Manager for the City of Campbell River. If we make sure Styrofoam and soft plastics are properly separated we can make an even bigger reduction in the amount of waste going to the landfill and continue to extend the life of that facility.

Through Multi-Material BC (MMBC), a non-profit organization managing the packaging and printed paper product stewardship for the Province of British Columbia, polystyrene foam is now collected at depots across the province. Where equipment is available, it is decontaminated before having the air removed through a squeezing process that leaves it densified. The densification process squishes the foam into irregular shapes that are then shipped out on pallets. If a densifier isnt available, the foam is stored and shipped in megabags. Processors will use the material to manufacture products such as picture frames, construction trim, moulding, park benches and fence posts.

Both the Styrofoam/soft plastics depot collection and increased blue box collection have seen a rise in the amount that is being recycled since the expanded program was launched this spring.

Theres been a lot of interest about this expanded service and its great to see the number of people who are taking the opportunity to learn more about recycling and where to send their recyclable materials so they can be reused, said Amber Zirnhelt, the Citys manager of long range planning and sustainability.

Full details of acceptable items can be found at the Citys website (www.campbellriver.ca) under City Services, Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste. For the most up-to-date list of depot locations and which recyclable materials they will accept, visit http://www.cswm.ca/depots. For more information on MMBC visit: http://www.multimaterialbc.ca

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Campbell River depots see increase in recycling

YARDLEY BOROUGH The North Main Street Sidewalk Project took a step forward Tuesday night with the awarding of a bid for tree removal.

Thirteen trees will be cut down in phase one of the two phase project to make way for a new sidewalk, which will link the boroughs downtown to residential neighborhoods located north of Afton Avenue, including the new Yardley Walk development.

Phase one will extend the existing sidewalk on the east side of North Main Street from the Grist Mill parking lot north to roughly 112 North Main Street. Phase two will extend the walkway to McKinley Avenue.

Council voted on August 20 to give the phase one tree removal job to Kents Quality Tree Service, the lowest bidder for the project. The price-tag is $8,700, but additional work could be done not to exceed $12,000 total.

Councilman Rich Wayne noted that 22 trees in all have been identified for removal along North Main Street. Thirteen are slated for removal during the first phase with the balance being removed during the second phase.

Those numbers could fluctuate somewhat, said Wayne, based on requests being made by several North Main Street residents living in the phase two project area. They are asking that several problematic trees be considered for removal during the first phase.

Council vice president Kathryn Cadwallader said moving ahead with tree removal is a good idea, a feeling echoed by councilmember Uri Feiner, who added that it would be helpful for property owners to receive timelines for when the trees will be removed.

Wayne noted that residents may notice x marks on trees and utility poles, but said they are for a separate PECO project. They are not part of the boroughs North Main Street Project.

Wayne, who ran for office after a previous council nixed the North Main Street sidewalk project, said he anticipates the new sidewalk to be completed by the end of this year.

In other action, council gave the Harvest Day Committee approval to hold a wine tasting during the fall street festival on Saturday, Sept. 20 in the borough. Continued...

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Tree removal to clear the way for North Main Street Sidewalk project in Yardley Borough

Another Toynbee Tile has been uncovered at Greenwich Street and North Moore, this time in front of the Tribeca Film Festival headquarters, according toGothamist.

Toynbee Tiles were first recorded in the 80s as the crop circles of busy city streets and have since been covered by the Times, NPRand conspiracy theorists everywhere. Heck, thereseven adocumentary about it.

These license plate-sized secret messageshavegraced the pavements of cities all over the world and are apparently made usinglinoleum, asphalt glue and tarpaper which all work together to bake theminto the sidewalk. According to Phillyist, they generally appear at intersections and consist of the same eerie phrase with minor variation:Toynbee idea / Resurrect dead / Movie 2001 / Planet Jupiter.

Our top-notch street tile analysts at theObserverare baffled, but youve got to admit that every segmentof that phrase would make an excellent band name.

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Toynbee Tile Mystery Continues With New Discovery in Tribeca

Cotswolds Conservation Board trains record numbers in rural skills

4:30pm Wednesday 20th August 2014 in News By William Crossley

THE Cotswolds Conservation Board secured more than 2.4m of investment in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and trained a record 340 people in rural skills over the past year, according to the boards annual review.

The review is the first to be produced after the board launched a five-year management plan for the AONB last year and summarises its work over the 12 months until the end of March.

The Cotswolds AONB, which was set up in 1966, covers 2,038 square kilometres, including much of West Oxfordshire north of Burford, Witney and Woodstock.

Forty rural skills courses, including dry stone walling, hedgelaying, blacksmithing, making lime mortar and Cotswold tile roofing, were attended by 343 people, a 49 per cent increase over 2012-13.

The board also became an approved LANTRA (rural sector skills council) training provider and created the Cotswolds Dry Stone Walling Academy at its headquarters in Northleach.

Other achievements highlighted include projects to achieve a reduction of 500 tonnes in carbon emissions across the region and supporting nearly 300,000 worth of community projects with just under 50,000 in grants.

The Cotswold Voluntary Wardens put in more than 45,000 hours of work on projects including improving flower-rich grassland sites, coppicing woodland, clearing streams and building walls.

The boards director, Martin Lane, said: Through the hard work of all our staff, voluntary wardens, members and many partner organisations, including 15 local authorities, we were able to once again secure significant investment and bring a wide range of benefits to the Cotswolds AONB and its communities.

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Cotswolds Conservation Board trains record numbers in rural skills

One recent structure fire in Pearland reinforced the value of fire sprinkler systems. Not only were there no reported injuries, but the structure also sustained minimal damage.

On August 18, 2014, the Pearland Fire Department was dispatched to a commercial fire alarm on the west side of Pearland where upon arrival, they discovered a sprinkler head activated in a tenant space near the kitchen. The fire started near a wall outlet, traveled up the wall and activated the sprinkler system.

The fire sprinkler kept the fire from causing severe damage to the commercial establishment and prevented it from spreading to adjacent tenant spaces and extinguished the fire before the Fire Department arrived.

This incident demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems. Had a sprinkler system, or automatic fire suppression system, not been present in the building, the outcome may have been very different, said Roland Garcia, Fire Marshal.

While fire sprinklers are required in all new apartments in Pearland, as well as specific commercial structures, most people dont consider installing automatic fire suppression systems in private residences. For a small investment, often less than cabinet upgrades or new carpeting, these life- and property-saving systems can be installed.

The Pearland Fire Department encourages individuals building a new home, or renovating an existing residence or other property, to seriously consider the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. For additional information on fire protection systems, visit pearlandtx.gov/firesprinklers or contact the Pearland Fire Marshal at 281-997-4650.

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Pearland Fire Marshal encourages installation of fire sprinklers

Seared flat iron steak with caramelized red onions Seared flat iron steak with caramelized red onions

Updated: Wednesday, August 20 2014 12:41 PM EDT2014-08-20 16:41:41 GMT

Chef William Hall from Picano's Italian Grille shares his recipe for seared flat iron steak with caramelized red onions.

Chef William Hall from Picano's Italian Grille shares his recipe for seared flat iron steak with caramelized red onions.

Updated: Wednesday, August 20 2014 10:49 AM EDT2014-08-20 14:49:47 GMT

An aardvark at the Detroit Zoo recently gave birth to a baby.

An aardvark at the Detroit Zoo recently gave birth to a baby.

Updated: Wednesday, August 20 2014 10:38 AM EDT2014-08-20 14:38:47 GMT

As technology changes, so do choices when it comes to your child's education. For some, traditional schooling is best while others prefer homeschooling.

As technology changes, so do choices when it comes to your child's education. For some, traditional schooling is best while others prefer homeschooling.

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Grosse Pointe Re-opens access to Kercheval Avenue

VOL. 129 | NO. 162 | Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Some time in October, lovers of local craft beers could enjoy a cold brew in a new tasting room at Memphis Made Brewing Co.s facility in the Cooper-Young district.

Carpenters Dave Harris, left, and Eric Fields sand and stain baseboards inside what will become Memphis Made Brewing Co.s new taproom.

(Daily News/Andrew J. Breig)

Memphis Made Brewing, which launched its line of local libations last October, is adding a roughly 2,000-square-foot tasting room inside its 6,400-square-foot space at 768 S. Cooper St. In addition, Memphis Made Brewing is building a roughly 1,000-square-foot covered patio facing York Avenue.

Andy Ashby, the head of sales for the local beer maker, said the new additions, which will cost around $150,000, will allow Memphis Made Brewing to make deeper connections with beer lovers.

The tasting room will really allow us to reach out to the community, he said. It will allow folks to come up here and get a pint of beer, or half pint of beer, and drink it on the premises, or they can get a growler to go. Well also have events so we can meet the people who like our beer.

In addition to providing a place where people can enjoy a beer onsite, the new taproom inside the old Keathley Pie Factory building will give the public a better opportunity to understand the brewing process, Ashby said.

You go in, see the equipment and talk to the brewers and learn about the process, he said. Were really excited that when we open our taproom well be bale to educate more people in Memphis about brewing and the brewing process.

The additions come after Memphis Made Brewing doubled its production capacity. Earlier this summer, the brewery added three 30-barrel fermenters, which can each hold 930 gallons of beer.

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Another Round