Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By U-T San Diego7:30 p.m.Aug. 14, 2014

Free California Friendly Landscape Training Classes help turn the dream of a more attractive and water-efficient yard into a reality.

The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are offering free classes about WaterSmart landscaping throughout San Diego County. The classes introduce a holistic approach to landscape design and maintenance that emphasizes water-use efficiency.

The three-hour seminars are fast-paced and informative. They offer solutions to common landscape problems. Participants will learn to think about landscapes from the soil up. In addition, they will learn how to design landscapes that are sustainable in San Diego Countys climate. Class topics will include how to make the best use of the regions limited rainfall, irrigate efficiently and choose the best plants for each yard.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Visit WaterSmartSD.org for class dates and locations.

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Low-water landscaping classes are free

AMES | Tom Farniok has surveyed the landscape, and he fails to see a great divide at quarterback.

Discussing Sam Richardson and Grant Rohach, Iowa State's starting center said, "They're both level-headed, good leaders. They like success, obviously, but they really want success. They're driven.

"It's pretty even right now. They're really kind of the same person. That's why it's difficult to pick a guy."

That's been the company line throughout spring practice and fall camp. Richardson and Rohach, a junior and a sophomore, respectively, are neck and neck in the battle to start at quarterback for ISU when the season begins against North Dakota State. Even if head coach Paul Rhoads and his staff make a choice, sticking with it might be another matter, given the revolving door that's been spinning at that position under Rhoads.

Where it used to be Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett a few years ago, or Barnett, Jantz and Richardson, it's now Richardson and Rohach. Another candidate might be Joel Lanning, the true freshman out of Ankeny. But the two men who have won games at quarterback for the Cyclones are Richardson and Rohach.

"They're both - all three of them - at the 1-2 and 1-2-3 positions are great kids," said Mark Mangino, the new Iowa State offensive coordinator. "They have great personalities and I enjoy being around them.

Mangino, like Farniok, chooses to stand on common ground when evaluating the quarterback candidates.

"I think those guys are focused on being the best they can be and winning that position," added the former head coach at Kansas. "They all have certain leadership qualities. Whether your quarterback is a captain or a true freshman, there's a certain amount of leadership. I think those guys possess that. They just need to polish up and put the whole package together. That's the process we're in right now."

Of course, Farniok and Mangino can only run so far with the similarities, because the two veteran quarterbacks are not the same guy.

Richardson is a 6-foot-2, 223-pounder from Winter Park, Florida. Rohach, listed at 6-1, 224, was born in Iowa City, although he attended high school in Moorpark, California.

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Little separation between Cyclone QBs

Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) August 15, 2014

For more than two decades, Reynolds Plantation has been building a modern oasis in Central Georgia. In April 2014, this award winning Lake Oconee real estate development received another significant award. The Merit Award was for The Infinity Pool at the Lake Club overlooking the lake. Why are swimming pools important today as an amenity in master-planned communities? According to the American College of Sports Medicine Conference, research shows that habitual swimmers are biologically 20 years younger than their actual age. As aging Baby Boomers continue to search for the fountain of youth, swimming is expected to grow in popularity.

Reynolds Plantation amenities include not only one, but six beautiful swimming pools inside the gated community. The most impressive is The Infinity Pool at the Lake Club which received the Merit Award from the Tri-State American Society of Landscape Architects. This award recognized the unique qualities of the Lake Clubs Infinity Pool by integrating the Lake Oconee view experience, and taking advantage of the hillside by creating a reflective upper terrace pool and a lower cascade pool. At or near The Lake Clubs infinity pool is the communitys 38,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness center, 6 championship golf courses, 16 tennis courts and 21 miles of walking trails throughout the Lake Oconee real estate development.

For some, swimming is more than just a "dip in the pool". Research shows swimming as one of the most favored exercise activities for those of over 40 who choose a more passive form of exercise with less impact. Swimming helps improve the heart, ward off disease and helps burn fat, trim inches while lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is not only a great form of cardiovascular exercise, but it also offers excellent muscle conditioning as well.

For women, the benefits can be significant. Women who swim 30 minutes a day could reduce their chance of coronary disease by 30 to 40%. Additionally, every kick and arm stroke involved in swimming becomes a resistance exercise and will also help build muscle tone and strength in each and every movement. As women age, it is imperative to continue to resist muscle loss to keep the metabolism active and to also ward off the weight gain associated with aging.

Research supports that even an easy swim burns around 500 calories an hour while an aggressive hour of swimming can burn up to 700 calories. Even as a novice, starting slowly with even a 15 minute swim will burn 125 calories. Remember, this is a total body low impact workout that involves the incorporation of multiple muscle groups including the core (belly).

For kids, The Village at The Landing has a beach entry family pool with 160 foot waterside and water features. Reynolds Plantation amenities provide plenty of low impact opportunities like swimming to improve health and wellbeing. Whether residents prefer a warm swim in the indoor pool at The Lake Club or a refreshing swim overlooking Lake Oconee, Reynolds Plantation has something for everyone. The community is also known for award winning inspirational architecture.

Take a peek at Reynolds Plantation homes

To learn more about this award winning Lake Oconee real estate development, contact Reynolds Plantation direct at 706.467.1133.

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A Modern Oasis - Reynolds Plantation Amenity on Lake Oconee Wins Merit Award

'Twister' spotted over Ridgeway Hill

Updated 8:56am Thursday 14th August 2014 in News

Twister picture by Sally Tyler

A HUGE 'twister' travelled across the Ridgeway this morning.

Sally Tyler was at work in Weymouth when she spotted the cloud travel up from the Channel and work its way inland.

It disappeared into the rest of the clouds at Ridgeway Hill.

She said she watched it sweep across the landscape. She said: "It was a bit unusual. I have never seen one coming in land.

"It was huge. When it was travelling towards Hardy's Monument it was quite big in size.

"It was changing constantly as it went along - it was rising and falling."

Lorna Strong took a picture of the twister as it travelled over Upwey.

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'Twister' spotted over Ridgeway Hill

Published August 14, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Workers are clearing land in northern Kentucky to build a long-stalled tourist attraction featuring Noah's Ark.

Ken Ham, head of the Christian ministry Answers in Genesis, posted video of the excavation work on his Facebook page this week.

It is the first sign of large-scale construction activity at the site in Grant County since controversial plans for the 510-foot long biblical ark were announced by Answers in Genesis in 2010. The project had been delayed when private donations did not keep pace with the construction timeline.

Answers in Genesis said in a news release that the project also recently secured a federal permit that is allowing construction to proceed. Last month, a state tourism board gave preliminary approval for up to $18 million in tax rebates for the ark attraction.

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Excavation underway at Kentucky's long-stalled, controversial Noah's Ark park site

Part of the general trend towards connected "smart" homes and the Smart City, WallyHome is a system of sensors designed to protect your home against water hazards and the structural consequences of damp.

Every time there is a water leak at a home in the United States, it costs the occupants on average $6,965 (5,190). This is the figure quoted by Seattle, USA-based SNUPI Technologies, which has just come up with Wally, a detection system designed to spot water leaks or any major changes in humidity levels or temperature at your home. Rather similar to the Phone Alert Fire system developed by Alcatel, the Wally system works on the basis of embedded sensors plus wireless technology, which will trigger an alert whenever a problem arises. The main argument for purchasing and installing this type of system is that it will alert the occupant fast, enabling him/her to react in time to reduce the impact of any incident or even prevent it happening. In addition to forestalling any actual water or damp damage however, in the longer term home owners who install WallyHome may be able to benefit from lower insurance premiums.

The complete kit comprises a base station and six sensors. It is relatively easy to install and seems a worthwhile investment, especially for second home owners who are not always in residence. Having created a user account and downloaded the mobile app on to your smartphone, you simply place the sensors close to your various household appliances or in hazard-prone spaces, name them according to their location in the house, and then activate the sensors with your phone. From then on, if one of the water detecting zones of the sensor one on the horizontal part of the sensor and another on the vertical detects moisture, this information will be transmitted to the base station via WiFi and the user will immediately receive an alert on his/her smartphone. Apart from detecting water leaks, the sensors also measure humidity levels and note variations in temperature, displaying this information in real time, remotely and at a glance. The product is easy to use, and boasts a long active life.

One key aspect which differentiates this very first SNUPI Technologies product from other alert systems is that it is free of the constraints of battery life. WallyHome arose from a research project run by the University of Washington called Sensor Nodes Utilizing Powerline Infrastructure, whose abbreviation, SNUPI, became the name of the company. The engineers set out in search of an alternative to the high power consuming WiFi and Bluetooth connections and found the answer in the electrical wiring in the walls of the home, which they use as a huge antenna network. As soon as the sensors are placed close to the basic household wiring network, they require very little power to communicate with the base station and the system will then run for an estimated period of ten years. There is also potential to exploit the SNUPI technology used for the humidity sensors in a similar way for other connected, smart home systems. If the Wally system becomes more widespread, the data gathered could also be aggregated and used to develop generalised models as part of the Smart City movement.

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Smart homes stay dry thanks to a low-energy sensor system

JURUPA VALLEY (CBSLA.com) Residents of a Jurupa Valley neighborhood are keeping a watchful eye out for a manwho has been knocking out their home security cameras.

CBS2s Tom Wait spoke to residents on the 7400 block of Pico Avenue who arent quite sure why they are being targeted.

Its a story Only On CBS2.

Security camera video shows a man leave his pickup and make his way to a roof, where he rips a security camera from its position. The question is, why?

You just dont know what to think, said Jeff Navigato, the homeowner.

He had driven by one time and he saw the camera and backed up and came back, and thats when he decided to disable the camera on the roof, said Navigato.

The homeowner told Wait hes stunned by the brazen nature of the crime.

The man knocked down the camera in the middle of the afternoon.

Navigatos home wasnt the only target.

A home just down the block was hit, too. The homeowner there says one security camera was stolen.

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Jurupa Valley Residents Keep Watch For Person Knocking Out Home Security Cameras

A photo of a New Jersey home flying a flag that resembled the flag of ISIS, the militant group being bombed by U.S. planes in Iraq, sparked alarm and a complaint to the Department of Homeland Security -- but the home's occupant said he meant no offense and was just expressing his religion.

Mark Dunaway told ABC News that he's flown that black flag for the 10 years hes lived in Garwood, New Jersey.

Im Muslim, and I fly a flag in front of my home that says Im a Muslim, he said.

Dunaway has flown the black flag -- which bears the Arabic inscription familiar to Muslims, There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God -- every year during Ramadan, and every single Friday, he said. Having already had the flag up during Ramadan, he originally planned to keep it up until Friday.

However, after the Garwood Police Department received a complaint about the flag, officers visited Dunaway's home on Tuesday.

"The Garwood Police follow up with any complaint received," Police Chief Bruce Underhill said in a statement to ABC News.

Police came by that day on a matter of safety, Dunaway said, I had no idea until they pointed it out to me. My reaction was, Are you serious?

"Mr. Dunaway was very receptive when we approached him with our concerns and he voluntarily took the flag down," said Chief Underhill.

Watch: The View From the Frontlines of the War Against ISIS

Read More: German Artists: We Switched Brooklyn Bridge Flags

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ISIS Flag Flap: Man 'Expressing My Religion' Sets Town on Edge

VERNON, AZ (CBS5) -

Crews are working to restore the 1,220 acres in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest that were damaged by the San Juan Fire earlier this summer.

The San Juan Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) said their efforts are nearly finished.

Last week, crews performed aerial seeding of 60,000 pounds of sterile barley and native seed mix over the 1,220 acres burned south of Vernon, AZ.

BAER spokesman Paul Brown said the grass seed mix can sprout quickly and develop roots to reduce soil erosion.

BAER crews have also removed hazardous trees, stabilized roads, set up warning signs and installed gates.

The nearly 7,000-acre fire straddling theFort Apache Indian Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the White Mountains was reported just before 12 p.m. June 26.

The fire grew from an initial 100 acres to 2,000 acres by 5 p.m. that day, according to officials with Apache Sitgreaves National Forest and mandatory evacuations were ordered. More than 600 personnel were assigned to fight the fire that is believed to be human-caused.

According to the White Mountain Independent, between 200 to 300 Boy Scoutsfrom Gilbert were in the White Mountains when the fire started.

Matthew Wright was withthe group and an additional 100 adults and chaperones who were camping in the area. A group of them split off and headed for a ridge at about 9,000 feet and noticed the smoke. They then went back to base camp and told the others it was time to go.

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Seed scattered over 1,220 acres burned in San Juan Fire

Published on August 14, 2014 By Kelly Snider

COMMUNITY. Cumberland Councillor Stephen Blais is pleased to announce that the Pirate theme was the choice of the residents, during recent consultations on splash pad designs for Millenium Park.

Photo Provided

The pirate theme was chosen as the winner for Millenium Park.

"Ottawa's hot and humid summer days will soon give way to treasured times and memorable moments with family," said Blais."The invasion of swashbucklers at Millenium Park is something to behold."

Three designs were brought up by park architects and an open competition was held by Councillor Blais, in order to choose the winning theme. The pirate theme ended up being the treasured.

"I'm thrilled to take our community into battle against the crews of Captain Jack Captain Jack Sparrow, Anne Bonney, Francois l`Olonnais, Edward Teach "Blackbeard" or Captain Hook, joked Blais, or in this case known as 'Councillor Redbeard Blais'.

The destination splash pad will be build beside the existing play structure, as part of the innovative $8 million Millenium Park expansion.

Along with the splash pad, this Millenium Park expansion will include many more features. That includes artificial turf for soccer and football fields, stadium seating and lighting, 400m running track, swing sets, junior and senior play structures, two shade structures with gazebos, and much more.

Millenium is known as a family-oriented destination sports and recreational park, located in Cumberland Ward's emerging community in the east-end.

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Cumberland splash pad theme chosen