Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Photo by: Tom Kacich

That's Stefanie Pratt's billboard ... but it's not a gang sign she's flashing.

A little break in the mailbag monotony this week. Virtually nothing about shootings, school siting, mayoral politics or construction projects.

This week we have questions about gang signs, mold in the problematic satellite county jail, an apparent voter registration snafu at Central High School, whether recyclables are recycled, parking meter revenue, that suspicious Nudo/Bambenek/Frerichs deal two years ago and votes for best all-time local restaurants and best pizza.

A misinterpreted sign

How come there is a billboard with three real estate agents and one is throwing a gang hand gesture? Is that really appropriate?

Champaign Realtor Stefanie Pratt found this question both amusing and frightening.

It says that Stefanie Pratt is the Realtor that rocks, she said of the billboard. Its a rock sign, a rock n roll sign. Its not a gang sign. If you look at rock n roll bands like Poison and Def Leppard, they say its gonna rock. Thats what that is. I cant believe someone thought that was a gang sign. Oh my gosh.

My friend Bret Michaels, thats what he does all the time, she said of the former member of Poison, who now performs on his own. Ill send you a picture of him and I from about a month ago, doing the rock sign together.

OK, but the question isnt that far-fetched. To my baby boomer eyes unfamiliar as they are both with gang signs and rock n roll signs (although I still can flash a good peace sign) that rock n roll sign looks something like the one for the Latin Kings, the notorious Chicago street gang. I can see why someone would be concerned, although a real estate agent flashing gang signs isnt a winning marketing move.

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Tom's Mailbag Aug. 9, 2014

ALLIANCES

Clayton-based Sansone Group formed a joint venture with Walter K. Robinson , principal of Robinson Commercial Real Estate, to create Robinson-Sansone Brokerage Services LLC , which will focus primarily on office and industrial properties in Florida.

AWARDS

The Missouri Division of Workforce Development recognized these St. Louis area businesses with its Flag of Freedom award for making it a priority to hire veterans when they return home from military service: American Metals Supply Co., Baldor Electric Co., Cadco Program & Machine Inc., Fitness Plus Equipment Services, Laclede Gas, Special Construction Services, St. Louis Parking, Triad Manufacturing and Top Care.

GETTING BETTER

Jackie Kemp of Maryland Heights-based BSR Services earned her Advanced Snow Management certification from the Snow and Ice Management Association, an industry organization.

Brian C. Loose , a certified public accountant with Diel & Forguson LLC, was selected to participate in the American Institute of CPAs sixth annual Leadership Academy this fall in Durham, N.C.

HELPING OUT

Anheuser-Busch donated a total of $150,000 in scholarships for 30 students attending historically black colleges.

PetSmart donated $5,000 to Support Dogs Inc. for training service dogs and other programs.

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Business Bulletin Board

Published: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 10:56 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 10:56 p.m.

LAKE HAMILTON | When Phillip Miller walked into the Lake Hamilton public works barn and saw his supervisor lying on an American flag spread across the grease-stained concrete floor, he was shocked.

Public Works Director J.D. Johnson on Friday acknowledged using an American flag as a drop cloth while working on a lawn mower in the barn on July 31.

Miller and a co-worker had taken down the 5-foot-by 8-foot flag from the Town Hall flagpole about a month ago because of its fading and frayed edges. Because Town Hall was closed at the time, they left it in the public works break room. Miller said the flag disappeared after that.

He said the next time he saw it was when Johnson had it on the floor.

"I was so appalled, I was speechless," Miller said. "I could not believe anybody would do that."

Miller didn't say anything to Johnson at the time, but he used his town-issued cellphone to take a photo of the flag on the ground after Johnson had walked away. He brought the photo to Mayor Marlene Wagner the next day.

While the mayor said she is not happy about the situation, no decisions have been made regarding disciplinary action.

The incident was not brought up during the Town Council meeting this week.

Johnson, a U.S. military veteran, said the flag had been in the barn for a while, on the floor and draped over tractors, before he ever touched it.

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Treatment of Flag Creates Controversy in Lake Hamilton

By Mark Sterk, Special to the U-T3 p.m.Aug. 8, 2014

The updated pool area is now flanked by beautiful succulents and outdoor seating.

The renovation of a 20-plus-year-old landscape into a water-wise, functional and low-maintenance space recently earned my company, Columbine Landscape Inc. (CLI), an award in the Landscape Renovation category as well as the Judges Award from the San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA).

The property in the Torrey Highlands area has a fabulous view of the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the ocean beyond. It also has a remarkable old tipuana tipu tree, which had outgrown its space in the landscape but provided a great shade area and focal point. But the landscape lacked congruity and seating areas from which to enjoy the views. An outdated pool, barbecue counter and wood deck, excessive lawn area, overgrown and unsightly plants, and an ill-functioning irrigation system all clamored for renovation by a detail-oriented landscape contractor.

A beautiful tipuana tipu tree provides shade for a new path and seating area.

Working closely with landscape architect Mike Nichols of Nichols Design Group, CLI enhanced the view from the landscape by replacing an old iron fence with a low wall and glass wall. Beautiful seating areas were created on stone and concrete patios and around an unusual fire pit surrounded by colorful and interesting plantings.

New tile and stucco enhance the barbecue counter, and the pool was brought up to date with new stone coping. A raised planter area at poolside adds interest and softens the lines of the pool.

CLI installed a stone-paved seating area and pathways under the shade of the tipuana tipu tree to provide another view area. The garden areas have been replanted with colorful and low-maintenance plants, including dwarf rosemary, ornamental grasses, dwarf salvias, succulents, dymondia ground cover, beautiful blooming Iceberg roses and bougainvillea shrubs. Standard-form bay laurel trees are planted along the new pool deck and front driveway, adding a more formal element to the landscape.

Auroralight spot and path lights were installed by CLI to illuminate the trees and pathways, create a warm glow and encourage use of the outdoor spaces in the evening. By using a plant palette that is slow growing and upgrading the irrigation system to low-volume sprinklers, CLI has created a low-maintenance landscape that requires less trimming and upkeep. Mulched planter areas reduce weed growth and retain soil moisture.

The property owners now spend much more time outdoors enjoying this elegant and functional new space.

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Outdoor space gets new life

Aug. 8, 2014, 5:33 p.m.

A RARE land release in Jamberoo is attracting great interest with about 200 inquiries for the 31 blocks in the new Chapel Hill development.

Siblings and business partners Lawson Fredericks and Jennifer Macquarie at the Chapel Hill estate. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER

A RARE land release in Jamberoo is attracting great interest with about 200 inquiries for the 31 blocks in the new Chapel Hill development.

MiltonbrookReal Estates Jennifer Macquarieand her brother Lawson Fredericks, themelves sixth generation Jamberoo residents, are auctioning the estate on Sunday, August 17.

Mrs Macquarie said the historic Catholic stone church overlooking the site was a primary feature of the landscape and was the inspiration for the subdivisions name.

She said the new development would be a massive boost to the village in the long-term, bringing a range of new families to the area.

There is a shortage of residential land across the Illawarra, and vacant lots in Jamberoo are as rare as hens teeth, Mrs Macquarie said.

The lots range in size from 800sqm to 2500sqm, which is relatively large these days and that is very appealing, particularly in this lovely country setting.

Future residents of Chapel Hill are within walking distance of the village shops and caf, the school and the golf club, and at the same time get to enjoy fantastic rural and escarpment views.

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Jamberoo's Chapel Hill Land release getting attention

Aug. 9, 2014, 4 a.m.

ACCUSED murderer Ian Robert Turnbull must answer yet another allegation of illegal land clearing on a property at Croppa Creek in the states North West.

MESSY SITUATION: An excavator carries out work this week on a Croppa Creek property at the centre of a bitter dispute over native vegetation laws. Accused murderer Ian Robert Turnbull and his grandson Cory Ian Turnbull face fresh allegations of illegal land clearing.

ACCUSED murderer Ian Robert Turnbull must answer yet another allegation of illegal land clearing on a property at Croppa Creek in the states North West.

The 79-year-old, who is on remand charged with themurder of Tamworth man Glen Turner, is alleged to have cleared a further 320ha of native vegetation.

The latest claim relates to activities allegedly carried out at the property Strathdoon, about 60km south of Moree, between January and September 2012.

Turnbulls grandson, Cory Ian Turnbull, owns the property at the centre of the investigation, and is also being prosecuted by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).

In a statement to The Leader, an OEH spokesman said the department launched the case against the Turnbulls on June 25 following an investigation.

OEH is also investigating other reports regarding the alleged illegal clearing of native vegetation on properties located between Moree and Goondiwindi, he said.

As these matters are either still before the courts, or the subject of continuing investigation, it is not appropriate to provide any further comment at this stage.

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More clearing charges loom

Kitchen Design and Remodeling Rockford IL at Benson Stone
Benson Stone Company provides expert kitchen and bath design and remodeling. Everything you need is right here. With our huge selection of cabinets, countertops, tile and hardwood flooring....

By: Benson Stone Company

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Kitchen Design and Remodeling Rockford IL at Benson Stone - Video

Little Rock Arkansas Kitchen Remodeling Contractor
Little Rock Arkansas Kitchen Remodeling Contractor.

By: Hiroko Steider

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Little Rock Arkansas Kitchen Remodeling Contractor - Video

At the Thursday special school board meeting, the only bid for the Libby Middle/High Schools planned new kitchen was not viable under the boards proposed plan.

The bid from Idagon Homes, a company based in Sandpoint, Idaho, came in at $426,000 for the complete project, which is twice the amount expected by the school board and the boards consultant Jackola Engineering & Architecture, PC., a Kalispell-based architecture firm.

Superintendent Craig Barringer originally said the kitchen remodeling project was proposed by Jackola to cost between $198,000 and $250,000, depending on the bids received.

School district business manager Leslie Forster and Barringer said the very highest the district would have accepted was $270,000.

Although nine potential contractors toured the facility last week, only one filed a bid.

Idagon proposed other alternatives to cut down costs. The first was to omit the dishwashing equipment from the plan, which would save $8,682. The second, to omit the salad bar, would slice $6,617. The final option was to omit the planned prep tables, which would save $10,808. However, these three options added up still would not lower the rate to the boards budget.

The kitchen project had become a priority after unpredicted developments came up with the food vendors who provided the district with food first, provider Sandy Cook died in a rollover crash, and then another vendor, Frank Hendrickson, pulled out his contract.

Although the district asked voters in 2013 to approve a tax increase to pay for teacher salaries, building improvements and other costs, members realized that the district has enough money to pay for the proposed project.

The school board members were at odds about what to do since the board will not be able to afford the bid.

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Libby schools unable to accept new bid for kitchen

What Should you Tell your Interior Designer [Panel Discussion]
You need to decorate your new home. What is that you should be telling your interior decorator?

By: Bonito Designs

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What Should you Tell your Interior Designer [Panel Discussion] - Video