Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Updated: Friday, August 15 2014, 11:57 PM CDT Reported by: Ewa Roman

This Sunday is the start of restaurant week near the Palmyra area and some business owners hope it boosts business after a road closure threatens to shut down one restaurant.

The signs read "road closed," but there are many detour signs as well, that are easy to follow and will help get you around the Lebanon County area.

About a half-mile section of U.S. Route 422 just east of Palmyra in North Londonderry Township has been closed for about two weeks. The closure is right in front of the Hometown Family Restaurant. Co-owner Doug Horst says because of it, they've been forced to lay off almost half their staff and business is down up to 40-percent some days.

"You know HersheyPark is 10 minutes from here. I get a lot of tourists from there for the summer. But when you go on vacation, would you go through detours and places you don't know to go to a restaurant that you don't know?" Said Doug Horst, Co-owner, Hometown Family Restaurant.

The nearby Palmyra Bowling doesn't seem to be striking out.

"So far we really haven't noticed much impact on the business, we're still getting used to the detours and traffic patterns," said Chris Uecker General manager at Palmyra Bowling.

So are Linda and her family.

"I think where the stop sign is, behind the bowling ally, if they would put up maybe a four-way stop sign at the intersection, I really think it would help," said Linda Beniston, Lebanon County resident.

Work on the section of U.S. Route 422 is scheduled to be completed this fall.Construction threatens life of local business

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Construction threatens life of local business

A lot can happen in the first three years of a restaurant's life. Things can go haywire. Investors panic, managers quit and staff moves on.

But sometimes, not often enough, wisdom prevails. The restaurant considers what works, what doesn't. It reacts, but doesn't overreact, to diners' responses, and it changes things, thoughtfully, gradually, confidently.

If you believe in the capacity for change, head down to Wit & Wisdom, the principal restaurant at the Four Seasons Baltimore Hotel. The restaurant its formal name is Wit & Wisdom, a Modern American Tavern by Michael Mina has settled into an impressive groove, and the kitchen is flourishing. In July, Zack Mills completed his first year as the restaurant's executive chef. He's cooking up a storm, while a new pastry chef, Dyan Ng, is turning out some mind-boggling, delightful desserts.

Wit & Wisdom opened in November 2011 on a tide of publicity, much of it about the acclaimed San Francisco-based chef Michael Mina, whose Mina Group had developed high-profile restaurants in competitive locales such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Miami.

Wit & Wisdom was the Mina Group's first stab at a tavern concept, and it showed. The restaurant felt contrived, and there was a disconnect between the casual atmosphere and the fine-dining prices. If you don't feel that disconnect anymore, it's not because the atmosphere has changed but because the quality of the food and service has made it a nonissue.

Besides the new personnel, there have been other changes. The restaurant's splendid waterside patio was not ready when Wit & Wisdom opened, and the views from the dining room were marred by ongoing construction.

The massive rotisserie, which occupied a place of prominence in the restaurant's open kitchen, has been removed. Not that it didn't produce lovely food, but it felt aggressive, demanding to be noticed and admired. I don't miss it.

Fundamentally, the menu remains what it was when Wit & Wisdom opened. There are opening sections of seasonal shellfish, appetizers and salads, and main sections devoted to wood-grilled meats and wood-fired seafood. The menu's centerpiece is a selection of what Wit & Wisdom calls "regional tavern classics," and it's here that you'll find Mills' tour de force, the Maryland Blue Crab Tasting.

This $45 extravaganza presents a minimally seasoned crab cake made with pretty lump and sweet claw meat on a bed of succotash and corn pudding; a crispy deep-fried soft-shell crab with avocado puree and marinated cherry tomatoes; and, the unexpected highlight, a spicy tomato crab stew that Mills adapted from his mother's recipe. Zesty and rich, balanced beautifully, with sweet crab notes and smoky tomato ones, this is the best crab soup in Baltimore right now

For sheer drama, there's the Hudson Valley foie gras torchon, a sculptural composition incorporating a perfectly formed disc of super-rich foie gras, intensely flavored vacuum-compressed strawberries, a pretty creme de cassis gelee and translucent shards of peanut butter crisp. There's a lot going on here crispy textures and gelatinous ones; salty flavors and rich, fruity flavors and the sum of these parts is pure pleasure.

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Wit & Wisdom, wobbly on arrival, is now walking tall

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) August 15, 2014

Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, announced today the release of its Second Quarter 2014 Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) detailing activity in the remodeling and replacement industry.

The index gained 4.3% in the second quarter, year-over-year, which follows a 6.5% year-over-year increase in the first quarter. Despite the moderation in growth rate, the RRI has posted ten consecutive quarterly improvements and eight consecutive year-over-year increases since the market bottomed at the end of 2011.

The slower growth pace of the home improvement sector came as American households adjusted to the sticker shock of higher costs of living, particularly in bumps to food and gasoline prices. The seasonally adjusted second quarter national composite of the RRI registered a score of 95.5, which was a 0.4% improvement over the revised first quarter result of 95.1. The 0.4% increase follows first quarters 0.6% gain.

Second quarters reading on national remodeling activity was just slightly weaker than what was initially forecast in the first quarters release missing the actual number by 0.2%. Consumer confidence paused in April and May as inflationary pressures crept in, and Americans tempered remodeling efforts against some cooling in home price appreciation, remarked Brad Hunter, Chief Economist of Metrostudy. Still, a better-than-expected report on second quarter GDP, rebounds in the Consumer Confidence Index in June and July, and six consecutive months of job growth in excess of 200,000 allows us to remain bullish on our remodeling forecast. A firming in housing fundamentals faster job growth, more non-distress home sales, and higher household formations is expected to drive remodeling and replacement growth for many quarters ahead. According to our latest forecast, the remodeling market will reach full recovery nationally by third quarter 2015.

The long-term outlook for growth remodeling is positive as well, Hunter added. Once mortgage rates start to rise, many people who locked in todays low mortgage rates will be reluctant to move and lose that low financing rate, choosing instead to improve the home they already own.

Metrostudy produces the RRI to provide the industry visibility into local market remodeling activity, forecasted future activity, and potential demand. According to the companys second quarter report, 371 out of 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas should see year-over-year growth in remodeling and replacement projects in 2014, with average growth of 4%.

About the Residential Remodeling Index The RRI is a quarterly measure of the level of remodeling activity in 381 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) in the U.S., with the national composite reflecting the national level of activity. Activity includes home improvement and replacement projects, but does not include maintenance or projects of less than $1,000. The seasonally adjusted index shows the relative level of activity in the geography specified (MSA or national composite) compared to 2007 (the baseline year). A number above 100 indicates a level of remodeling activity higher than the level of activity at the beginning of 2007, which was the peak of remodeling activity in the prior decade.

The index is produced through a statistical model that leverages detailed data on remodeling activity, including household level remodeling permits, and consumer-reported remodeling and replacement projects. Quarterly historical results for the national composite and for each of the 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. are available back to 2004. In addition, Metrostudy also produces annual estimates of project counts and expenditures as well as forecasts of the quarterly RRI and annual projects and expenditures.

About Metrostudy Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, is the largest provider of comprehensive research and insight for the real estate industry. Builders, developers, banks, manufacturers, retailers and many other industries all rely on Metrostudy's data and analytics to support strategic business decisions at the local, regional and national market level.

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Metrostudy Releases Q2 2014 Residential Remodeling Index (RRI

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SANTA FE A man who had apparently been working on a remodeling project on East Alameda Street was shot and killed at the house Thursday night, Santa Fe police said.

Edwin Watters, 57, has been charged with an open count of murder in the case. SFPD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza said Watters called police and told them hed shot and killed Diego Sena, 45, just before 8:30 p.m.

WATTERS: Called police after worker was shot

Officers found Sena unconscious, bleeding and not breathing in the back yard of the home, according to a police statement.

Responding officers began preforming CPR before paramedics arrived and quickly pronounced Sena dead at the scene, in the 1100 block of East Alameda near Patrick Smith Park and Canyon Road.

Watters was detained as soon as police arrived. There apparently had been some kind of confrontation before the shooting, and a handgun was recovered, Espinoza said.

She said detectives determined Sena had been employed by Watters, who was in charge of doing some remodeling work at the home where the shooting took place. The house belongs to Senas niece.

Police dont believe anyone else was at the house when the shooting took place, Espinoza said, but the case remains under investigation.

Jail records indicate Watters is from Santa Fe. He does not have a prior criminal record in New Mexico, according to court records that are available online.

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Santa Fe man charged in fatal shooting

RARE FLYER: The long-tailed bat is one of the endangered species set to benefit from a 1080 pest-control operation.

A war on pests is set to launch in Fiordland as part of a national offensive to save the country's endangered native wildlife.

The first operation in the Department of Conservation's Battle for our Birds pest control programme starts with an operation in the Iris Burn valley in Fiordland National Park tomorrow.

The Iris Burn operation is one of 22 confirmed operations that will use aerially applied 1080 over about 600,000 hectares of conservation land to knock down rising predator numbers fuelled by unusually heavy seeding in South Island beech forests.

Critically endangered long-tailed bat populations along with whio, mohua, Fiordland tokoeka kiwi, kea and kaka over 11,200 hectares in the Iris Burn valley and adjacent areas, including alongside Lake Manapouri, will be protected.

DOC Fiordland Conservation Services manager Lindsay Wilson said monitoring results showed significant silver beech seed-fall in the area and rapidly rising rat and mice numbers.

"Rodent numbers are already tracking towards levels that will trigger a stoat plague in the next few months - just as our most vulnerable species are nesting and trying to raise their young," he said.

"If we don't act now to knock back these predators, we could lose species such as long-tailed bat and mohua from the Iris Burn."

Tomorrow, non-toxic cereal bait pellets will be spread across the target area.

This "pre-feeding" technique would encourage rats to eat the biodegradable poison-laced cereal pellets, which would follow when weather conditions allowed, Wilson said.

Excerpt from:
1080 blitz against pest plague begins

By Gregg Hennigan, The Gazette

IOWA CITY Iowa Citys police chief wants more regulations on taxis to improve public safety, but some owners of taxi companies are protesting the financial effect that would have on them.

I dont know why the city controls all this. This is my own business, said Rafat Alawneh, who runs Number One Cab. It doesnt seem like we have freedom.

The recommendations from Police Chief Sam Hargadine come after a series of alleged assaults on women by Iowa City taxi drivers last fall and winter.

In addition to that, Hargadine said its not uncommon for cabs to be used in crimes or drivers to be victims themselves.

Taxi companies, however, are not always able to provide timely and accurate information on vehicles and drivers, he said. As an example, Hargadine said during the assault investigation last winter, officers spent more than 200 hours tracking down drivers and compiling information because the business owner did not know who all of his drivers were.

Many companies hire drivers as independent contractors. They use their own cars under the companys name rather than being actual employees of the business. In fact, when recently asked by the city, many owners could only guess at the number of drivers they had, Hargadine said.

As of Friday there were 94 vehicles from 10 companies registered as taxis in Iowa City, although that increases daily as the busy football season and cooler weather approaches, City Clerk Marian Karr said.

Hargadine is recommending companies be required to hire drivers as employees of the business and own the vehicles. He also wants:

l Companies to have unique color schemes so people can better identify to which company a cab belongs.

Link:
Iowa City police seek more taxi rules after sexual assaults

Weeds (Thomas Maccubbin / August 15, 2014)

A funny thing happens during the summer.

The weeds grow big and tall. Actually it is not funny at all as some grow much larger than your flowers and shrubs. Most are sneaky growing up among the desirable plants to gradually overtake the landscape. Some even look like the desired plantings as they grow bigger and wider. I know, its hot outside and you are often tempted let them grow. You will deal with them during the fall.

Big weeds are hard to control and by the end of summer they can be intermingled with your plantings. Even though you may be a bit behind, now is the time to take control as there are several months of good growing weather ahead. And you do not want that most unfavorable weed to go to seed. Take back your landscape and prevent more growth using one or more of the following weed controls.

*Do the old fashion thing of pulling or hoeing out the weeds. This may be the only control if weeds are close to your favorite plants or have overtaken large areas of the yard.

*Spot treat the weeds with a nonselective herbicide that allows use in flower beds and near shrub plantings. Some are natural weed controls including soap and vinegar-based products. Just make sure you do not spray or treat the desirable plants and follow label instructions.

*Control grassy weeds in flower beds, shrub plantings and ground covers with an over-the-top selective herbicide. Several companies have products specifically for grassy weeds that can be used with many of your plantings following label instructions.

*After removing weeds apply a landscape fabric to the surface of the soil. Use one of these in flower beds and shrub plantings. They can be topped with stones or mulches if you wish.

*Maintain a one inch mulch layer in flower beds and up to a 3-inch layer with shrub and perennial plantings.

*Apply a preemergence herbicide made for flower and shrub plantings that prevents weed seed germination. Most can only be applied to specific established plantings so follow the label carefully.

Read more:
Don't Let Weeds Outgrow Your Yard

Vibrant Blues, Pinks And Purples Not Expected Back In These Parts Until 2015 August 15, 2014 6:23 PM

From our newsroom to your inbox weekday mornings at 9AM.

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) You know summer is in full swing when you see those gorgeous blue hydrangea flowers arguably the most popular shrubs in our area.

But, as CBS 2s Carolyn Gusoff reported Friday, this year, the most common of the beloved hydrangea is missing from our landscape.

Daniel Kubovicks front yard is bursting with color all but his 70-year-old hydrangea plant, which never disappointed before this summer.

This is all new growth but no buds no flowers, Kubovick said.

No big leaf hydrangea flowers across our region. Those ubiquitous mop-head flowers, usually a mid-summer garden staple, have been a no-show.

The perennial favorites that usually bloom to softball size in vibrant blues, pinks and purple have been yet another victim of the polar vortex, Gusoff reported.

Because that winter was so harsh those buds got killed, unfortunately, said landscape designer Rich Abate of Hicks Nurseries.

Abate said hydrangea flower buds form the year before they bloom, on old wood. But this year they were zapped by the extended winter, leaving many wonder where have all the hydrangeas have gone.

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Experts: Polar Vortex Has Crippled This Summers Hydrangea Bloom

A neglected strip of land in Middlesbrough has been transformed into a training and community facility.

The area in Grove Hill known as Jellystone has been revitalised by Erimus Housing, which worked with Middlesbrough College and Groundwork to create a training centre for the colleges first horticulture students, as well as providing community allotments.

As the college took on the construction of the buildings and polytunnels, students put their training to good use by working on areas like kitchen-fitting and electrical work to convert shipping containers into classrooms.

To fit in with its surroundings, the building has been given a low profile and set back from the edge of the site. The facility will also be suitably rendered and have planting to screen it.

The official opening was by Mike Carr Chair of Erimus Housing

Mike Carr, who chairs the Erimus Housing board said: Were very pleased with the results of all the hard work at Grove Hill and were very grateful for the patience of local residents who will now be able to benefit from a wonderful addition to their surroundings. The security of the site should also help combat anti-social behaviour.

Michelle MacCallam, principal landscape architect who oversaw the project said: Groundwork and Erimus Housing spoke to all our neighbours and sent out leaflets to make sure we arrived at a design solution satisfactory to all parties.

New Community allotment and training base

The realisation of this project is a tribute to partnership working and sensitive community engagement.

We were also pleased to be able to utilise the skills of our Galvanise team, a project which supports people back into employment.

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Grove Hill's neglected 'Jellystone' land transformed into training and community facility

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --The Medical Affairs function has begun to play an increasingly important role in clinical development, market education, and regulatory compliance, as the healthcare landscape changes.

The Medical Affairs Consortium at Best Practices, LLC is designed to give Medical Affairs leaders a forum for sharing insights about the key challenges they face and provide a mechanism for creating and sharing solutions. Through three virtual roundtable discussions over a year, Medical Affairs leaders learn about how their peers address key issues, discuss potential solutions, and gain valuable insights.

Best Practices, LLC is in the data collection stage of the Medical Affairs Consortium and the survey was launched on Wednesday, August 13th.

Please click on the link to take the survey: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1714147/2014-2015-Medical-Affairs-Consortium-Developing-Top-Tier-Medical-Affairs-Capabilities

This year's research topics may include, but are not limited to:

Benefits of Participation: All survey participants will receive the important findings with charted results and analysis.

Deadline: Friday, September 5th

Research from Best Practices' 2014-2015 Medical Affairs Consortium will provide leaders with an evidence-based understanding of current and evolving approaches to the most important Medical Affairs challenges. Current consortium members include, but are not limited to: Astellas, Baxter, Eli Lilly, ProStrakan, Sanofi, Teva and Upsher-Smith.

For more information regarding the Medical Affairs Consortium studies, please review our Weekly Medical Affairs Consortium Research Release.

To learn more about Medical Affairs Consortium, click on the following link:http://www.best-in-class.com/medical-affairs-consortium.

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Best Practices Launches 2014-2015 Medical Affairs Consortium Survey