Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

With the high cost of new construction preventing homeowners from adding square footage to their homes, many are understandably looking to make existing space work harder for themincluding any unfinished space. Attics are a top pick when homeowners decide to gain some extra storage or add a guest room, but not all attic flooring structures are up to the task of supporting the weight of a new living space. If youve ever wondered whether or not your attic would support decking for storage or, even better, a loft conversion, keep reading. Well explain the most important factors and how to find out what you can safely do with your attic space.

A common misconception is thatit takes little more than the installation ofsome decking over the attic joists to ready an attic for move-in. In some houses, this may be the case; in many others, however, the original joist structure that supports the ceiling of the room beneath was never designed to hold anything more than the ceiling drywall. In part, it boils down to joists:

Beyond the size of joists, the spacing betweenthem shouldalsobe taken into consideration. Standard joist spacing for the installation of attic flooring materials is 16inches on center (OC), meaning the distance from the center of one joist to the center of the next joist is 16 inches. Joists in attics that were never intended for the installation of flooring or conversion to a living space are often 16 inches OC or 24inches OC.

If your existing attic flooring isnt adequate for conversion to a living space, all is not lost. Virtually any attic floor can be brought up to codeits just a matter of how much additional structural support it will require.

Modifying an attic floors joist system is a job for the pros. But before even they can start on a job that involvesaltering your homes structure, theyll almost certainly have to pull a permit. This involves submitting a plan of the intended modifications to the local building authority, who will analyze the plans and issue a remodeling permit if the plans meet building codes. Only then can they get to work.

The type of modifications selected for reinforcing the joists will depend on the recommendations of the engineer, but the following methods are commonly used to beef-up undersized attic joists:

Consult a flooring expert

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When houses are constructed, specific walls are selected to be load-bearing walls and designed to support the weight of the structure above them. Houses thathave been constructed with the idea of finishing out a future living space in the attic will not require joist reinforcement nor additional vertical reinforcement.

If your home wasnt designed to support a futureattic conversion, not only will the joist system require modification, an engineer may require additional vertical reinforcement installed in the floor(s) below the attic to support the new attic weight. This could involve installing structural posts in one or more areasof the home (which can often be hidden within an existing wall).

Other structural issues are also factors, including whether there is adequate space to install a stairway to the attic. Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to be used as a bedroom. If you intend to install only a sitting loft, you might get by with just a ladder.

The headroom in the attic will determine how much usable floor space you have. While local codes vary, many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished living area (attics included) to be lower than 6 8 to 76 from the floor. That doesnt mean you cant use the attic areas where thesloped ceiling is lower;that space just wont count toward your homes official living space. For example, you could construct storage cabinets or cubbies in the low-sloped sides of the attic; when an appraiser measures the square footage of the finished attic, though, only the portion where the ceiling meets minimum height standards will be recorded as living space.

A limited amount of usable floor space can obviously impact how you intend to use the space. Small bedrooms are cozy set in an attic with slanted ceilings, butyou may want to reconsideryour plans if your usable floor space doesnt fitmuch more than a bed.

If your attic joists wont bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage, you can install -inchplywood or oriented strand board (OSB) in 4-foot-by-8-foot panels over existing 16-inch OC joists.For joists spaced 24 inches OC, use thicker, -inch plywood to prevent sagging between them. If youre familiar with basic carpentry and framing techniques, installing decking for attic storage is a DIY-friendly project. Just remember:This type of attic flooring will providestorage spacefor overflow items and seasonal items, but it wont pass muster as a living space floor.

Attic flooring intended for a living space must be installed in compliance with building codes. Some communities will allow homeowners to do their own construction, but they are still subject to all inspections required by the building authority. Accepted floor decking for a living space is typically -inch tongue-and-groove subflooring, glued and screwed to the joists. The manufacturer of the subflooring may specify an attachment pattern, such as one screw every 6 inches along the edge of the panel and every 8 inches in the field (center of the panel).

Even if permitted by your community, converting an attic to a living space is a complex project that most homeowners are not prepared to tackle. It involves installing outlets, switches, and (potentially) water-supply lines and drainage pipes if a bathroom will be added. Attics are fresh-air ventilated so provisions must be made to reroute the attics ventilation through the rafter spaces and the rafters must then be insulated. An attic conversion is a great way to expand your homes living space, but best to leave the work to a licensed contractor.

Consult a flooring expert

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Attic Flooring 101: All You Need to Know - Bob Vila

Many homeowners at some point consider changing the way that their kitchen looks. We tend to spend a lot of time in our kitchens, and various upgrades are a great way to make the room more exciting. Many people choose to upgrade their kitchens by replacing their cabinets. The following are some things to consider when thinking about replacing your kitchen cabinets.

This will depend on the state of the cabinets that you currently have. If your existing cabinets are falling off of the wall or have water damage, it is worth it to replace them. If you simply dont like how your cabinets look, cabinet refacing may be a better option.

Keep in mind that it generally costs a few thousand dollars to completely replace the cabinets in a kitchen. You must consider your base cabinets, drawers, and any other custom cabinetry that you might have. If you have a lot of cabinets in your kitchen, then you could be looking at an expensive project.

There are a few signs to look for that could indicate that you need new cabinets. You could, of course, replace your cabinets just because you dont like them. However, the following are signs that you need to replace your cabinets for health and safety concerns.

If you decide on cabinet replacement, consider how you want them to look. Dont just pick something that is trendy now. Instead, choose a style and color that is timeless. The National Association of Home Builders put out a studythat found that kitchen cabinets usually last about 50 years. You will want to pick a cabinet color and style that will still look good 50 years from now.

Another thing you should consider is the other cabinetry in your house that you might want to replace. One good thing about replacing both types of cabinets at the same time is that they will look cohesive in your home. The more cabinets you replace, though, the more your project will cost.

One option that you have to consider when thinking about replacing your cabinets is refacing them instead. Cabinet refacing is simply replacing the kitchen cabinet doors instead of the entire cabinet. You might want to only replace the cabinet doors if the rest of the cabinet is in good condition.

However, if the entire cabinet is in poor condition, it makes more sense to replace the whole cabinet rather than just the kitchen cabinet door.

If you are thinking about replacing your cabinets, consider Reliance Cabinetry, the top cabinetry specialists in Richmond Hill. Call us today at (912) 785-8508 to get started.

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Top 5 Best Cabinet Replacement Concerns for 2021

Are your kitchen cabinets looking a little dated? Maybe your cabinets have seen better days, and no matter how hard you clean them, they look dirty and worn.

If you're no longer happy with your kitchen, the problem could lie with your cabinets. A new set of cabinets can completely change the look of the room.

Still not sure that it's time to make the change? Here are seven signs you need a kitchen cabinet replacement.

Damage, such as noticeable scratches, dents, or cracks, drastically affects the look of your kitchen cabinets. Cabinets covered in flaws are not only an eyesore, but they reflect poorly on your home too.

Water damage is another common concern. If the wood feels soft or squishy, that's a red flag. It means the wood has been damaged and isn't structurally sound anymore.

If the flaws are only surface deep, you may be able to resurface them. However, noticeable damage such as water damage, chips, or deep gouges can't be repaired. You're better off replacing your cabinets.

Certain styles come and go, and if your kitchen screams "80s cabinets," it's time to let them go. They're only affecting the look and value of your home.

If you're planning a kitchen renovation soon, this is the perfect time to swap out the old cabinets and replace them with something more modern.

Of course, it's important that you're happy with your kitchen design as you'll be the one living there. That's why you can follow some of the latest kitchen trends, but you don't have to!

Choose designs and styles that work for you and your home.

Adding to the last point, if your kitchen cabinets don't match the look and feel of the rest of your house, it's time to replace them. Perhaps you've recently remodeled the living room and dining room or put down new flooring. Old cabinets can stick out like a sore thumb in these instances.

This can really detract from the aesthetic of your house. Thankfully, replacing or upgrading the cabinets should make your house flow again.

Not sure which style to go with? White cabinets are a classic style that looks great in any home. They also help to brighten up a room and can benefit smaller kitchens by bouncing the light around.

Cleaning your kitchen cabinets helps them to look their best, but there may come a time cleaning alone doesn't cut it. Whether it's fading paint or damaged wood, no amount of cleaning and polishing can bring these cabinets back to their former glory.

Age and general use wear cabinets down. Depending on the quality of your cabinets, they may have reached the end of their lifespan. If you can't stand the look of your cabinets anymore, that's a sure sign you need new ones.

Do you have cabinets that won't close or open?

There's nothing quite as frustrating as doors that won't open or close properly. If one of your cabinet doors sticks, doesn't stay closed or looks crooked, it's a sign it's time for new kitchen cabinets.

What causes cabinets to become misaligned?

The most common reason is age. As cabinets age and with repeated use, they can warp. This can cause them to stick, create gaps, or hang crookedly. Unfortunately, replacing the doors alone isn't enough, so you'll have to replace the entire cabinet.

A kitchen layout plays a huge part in how efficiently your kitchen works. Unfortunately, cheap or incorrectly installed cabinets can create problems.

For instance, you might have cabinets that won't open at the same time or crash into one another. Similarly, you want cabinet doors and drawers to open without banging into other doors or appliances.

Maybe you simply don't have enough space to store your cookware, kitchen utensils, and dishes. Disorganized kitchens make cooking and prepping meals a headache.

In this case, you might need a better layout and a design with more storage options.

Maybe you need taller cabinets that can hold more. What about a Lazy Susan insert? Rotating shelves make it easy to find what you need in the kitchen.

Perhaps you want a cabinet to hide the microwave or trash can or a spice drawer. These are all possible upgrades that can enhance the look and feel of your kitchen.

Maybe you moved into an older home, and you don't like the look of the kitchen. Whether the cabinets are dated or if the previous owner painted them a color you don't like, you don't have to settle.

If you don't like the wood used or the color of the cabinets, there are plenty of options on the market to choose from. Here are a few different choices you can consider:

As you're considering your options, think about how well the look of the cabinets will match the other aspects of your kitchen design. For example, you'll want to choose a style that goes with the type of metal you have for the kitchen faucet. You also want to think about the style and color of the countertop and other hardware in the kitchen.

Do any of these warning signs sound familiar? If so, it's time for a kitchen cabinet replacement. You'll be so glad that you made the choice to swap out your old cabinets once you see how it changes the look and feel of your kitchen!

Nuform Cabinetry offers a wide selection of assembled or RTA cabinets. We also offer a free 3D design and quote, so what are you waiting for? Take a look at our selection of kitchen cabinets, and contact us today.

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7 Signs You Need a Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

If you are looking for replacement cabinet doors, Cabinet Door World has what you need. Replace your kitchen cabinet doors easily. Shop now and save!

Replacing your cabinets can be expensive, labor intensive, and often requires the aid of a contractor. Save time and money by simply replacing the doors and drawer fronts. The best part of this solution is that if you choose, you can easily do it yourself.

We provide quality unfinished and finished replacement cabinet doors in a wide variety of styles and colors. If you want to update the look of your kitchen cabinets or your bathroom cabinets, you should find the perfect solution for you in our selection of doors and drawer fronts!

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Cabinet Doors | Kitchen Cabinet Doors | Custom Replacement ...

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am hesitant to enter into an argument with Derrick Smith, someone whom I hold in high regard for his many years of sterling service to our country. However, it is incumbent on me to set the record straight.

Contrary to his assertion, I had no second thoughts about appointing him as minister of national security in September 2008. Our parliamentary margin did not factor in that consideration. Derrick had shadowed that portfolio for many years, developed a keen understanding of the issues and, importantly, built a strong relationship with the rank and file of the police through the Police Federation. He was a valued member of the Cabinet. Indeed, I also assigned him responsibility as leader of the House.

The security portfolio is undoubtedly the most challenging of Cabinet assignments. It is the one that has to respond to our failures as a society that are outside of its remit. We have had seven ministers of national security in the last 20 years a measure far less of the competence of the appointees, but more of the fierceness of those challenges that has resulted in a high turnover rate. In addition, Derrick, unfortunately, was experiencing formidable health challenges that had kept him out of office for an extended period.

As confirmed by my official diary at the Office of the Prime Minister, I met with Derrick at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2008, and advised him that he would be reassigned to the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications. An official announcement of this change and the appointment of the late Col Trevor MacMillan as the new minister of national security was made on Monday, May 12, 2008. While his disappointment was clearly obvious, he agreed to accept the new portfolio assignment. For Derrick to claim that I did not have the decency to discuss the matter with him is egregiously untrue.

I do not recall, but it is possible that, given the agility of local journalists and the fact that I would have held prior consultations to ascertain Colonel MacMillans availability and willingness, and to negotiate a vacancy in the Senate to facilitate his appointment, there may have been speculation in the media regarding the impending change. This may be what has led to the blurring of Derricks memory and his failure to recall that we met on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

Derrick draws a contrast between that experience and the JLPs decision to name Nigel Clarke as its candidate to replace him in North West St Andrew. In the latter case, he is reported as saying, the party leader, Andrew Holness, had the decency to discuss the matter and while it didnt end the way he had hoped, face-to-face, man-to-man discussions were held.

If, indeed, there had been speculation in the media in 2008 prior to my meeting with Derrick, the contrast escapes me because Derrick is quoted in The Gleaner of January 22, 2018, as saying, As we speak, nobody in the leadership of the party has mentioned anything to me about a likely replacement. I saw Clarkes name in The Gleaner this morning and I would believe a decent way to approach my replacement would be to have a discussion with me as to who I think fits the constituency.

Various references in the media, including The Sunday Gleaner story published on December 26, speak of Derricks dismissal in 2008. Derrick was not dismissed; he was reassigned to the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications. Change in portfolio assignments is a prerogative that every prime minister has exercised in seeking to improve the effectiveness of the government.

BRUCE GOLDING

Former Prime Minister of

Jamaica

Read more:
Letter of the Day | Derrick Smith was reassigned, not dismissed - Jamaica Gleaner

A majority of Conservative voters at the last general election want Boris Johnson replaced as party leader and prime minister next year, a poll has found.

Sixty per cent of all voters said they backed the idea of the Tories ditching Mr Johnson 35 per cent were strongly in support.

More worryingly for the PM, strategic research firm Redfield & Wilton Strategies found a clear majority of Tory supporters have turned against him and want someone else in charge.

Fifty-three per cent of those who voted Tory in the 2019 election want him ousted from No10, according to the poll for MailOnline, 27 per cent in favour and 26 per cent strongly in favour.

Only 15 per cent of voters are opposed to the Tories getting rid of Mr Johnson and only 22 per cent of Tory voters are opposed to his removal.

Leading Conservatives have claimed that Tory MPs are now definitely having conversations on how to replace Mr Johnson in 2022 after a turbulent month on multiple fronts.

The PMs personal ratings have plummeted and the Tories have lost their poll lead to Labour following the Owen Paterson scandal, claims of parties held during last years Covid curbs and remaining questions over the funding of his flat.

The latest polls indicate that chancellor Rishi Sunakwould be the most popular replacement for Mr Johnson.

Forty-three per cent of adults surveyed said Mr Sunak would make a better prime minister.

By comparison, only 23 per cent of voters said foreign secretary Liz Truss another leading Tory touted for the job would make a better PM.

However, according to regular ConservativeHome surveys,Ms Truss remains the most popular cabinet member among Tory supporters. She maintains her commanding lead over other ministers a position she has held for over a year with a net satisfaction of +82.

Mr Johnsons opponents in the party would have to gather 55 signatures required for the powerful 1922 Committee of backbenchers to initiate a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

A majority of Tory MPs would then need to vote against Mr Johnson to spark a leadership contest decided by Tory party members.

One Conservative MP from a so-called red wall constituency toldThe Independent the polls would be the biggest factor in determining Mr Johnsons fate in 2022.

I dont think theres going to be any leadership push quickly, the backbencher said. The people who already want Boris out will let him keep finding a bit more rope. Its bad poll numbers that will rattle a wider group.

Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie hold video calls jab heroes Dr Laura Mount and carer Tom Jones on Christmas Day

(Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street)

The latest YouGov poll found that71 per cent of voters believe Mr Johnson was doing badly in his job approval ratings are now similar to those faced by Theresa May in the week before she was forced to resign.

This week, the audience at the WorldDartsChampionship chanted: Stand up if you hate Boris, while Leeds United fans were heard singing, Boris Johnsonis a c***, at the clubs match with Arsenal last weekend.

Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie were pictured on a sofa at Chequers, the prime ministers official country residence, speaking to NHS vaccination heroes on Christmas Day.

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Majority of Tory voters want Boris Johnson replaced in 2022, poll finds - The Independent

ALBION, MI The president of Albion College, who has been the subject of controversy in recent months, has resigned.

The colleges Board of Trustees announced on Friday, Dec. 24, that it has accepted the resignation of Mathew B. Johnson, who is moving into an expanded role to lead a global initiative partnership with the Carnegie Foundation.

The board is now conducting a national search for Johnsons replacement. Meanwhile, the board has appointed trustee Joseph S. Calvaruso as interim president. Calvaruso recently retired as executive director for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in Grand Rapids after a career that included nearly three decades in banking.

Mathew joined Albion College during one of the most tumultuous periods of the past century, Board Chair Michael J. Harrington said in a statement. Despite the overwhelming challenges of COVID-19, he was able to achieve significant academic and financial accomplishments during his tenure.

He inherited no playbook for how to navigate a global pandemic, yet his decisive actions and strong leadership enabled us to provide an exceptional residential experience at a time when many institutions were entirely remote and others were closing.

Johnson was appointed president by the board in April 2020. He officially started his presidency on July 1, 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was unable to have an official inauguration until the 2021 fall semester.

Related: After long pandemic wait, Albion College finally inaugurates new president

Shortly before Johnson was inaugurated, he was the subject of an online petition seeking his removal. The petition alleged Johnson of bullying staff and students, hiring people of color only on superficial grounds, inappropriate financial activities, and more.

The petition has garnered 2,362 signatures.

The people of Albion College and the surrounding Albion community deserve better than this, the petition states. We deserve better than him. Mathew Johnson needs to face consequences for his actions and be removed from office.

Related: Petition seeks removal of Albion College president for alleged bullying, racism

On Dec. 14, Johnson allegedly had a confrontation with 76-year-old retired Albion teacher and NAACP Executive Board Officer Hazel Lias at a basketball tournament on Albions campus.

In a Dec. 17 press conference regarding the incident, Lias said she was at the basketball game when she asked Johnson for T-shirts being handed out. Johnson told her she could have one, but that she had to control a friend of hers, activist Maurice Barry.

The truth is he insulted me, he degraded me, he embarrassed me, thats the truth, Lias said. Dr. Johnson didnt speak to me he yelled at me. His finger was inches from my nose, right out, straight out, with force, with the jabbing-type finger.

Lias said Johnson later apologized.

On Dec. 20, Albion spokeswoman Susie Pentelow provided a statement regarding the incident, saying, The college is aware of the incident last week. The executive committee of our board of trustees and our cabinet are working as quickly as possible to determine our course of action.

A silent protest was planned to take place outside of Johnsons home on the evening of Jan. 4, in reaction to his interaction with Lias.

Albion College interim president trustee Joseph S. Calvaruso

Going forward, Johnson is to serve as president of the Commission for Public Purpose in Higher Education in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation, which is responsible for the stewardship and continuous development of the basic and elective classification systems of higher education institutions.

Albion Colleges Board of Trustees listed the following accomplishments of Johnson during his tenure at the college:

Though incredibly challenging, I have loved my time serving Albion and successfully leading the college through the pandemic and strengthening our financial position, Johnson said in a statement. I am proud of the change we accomplished together and the change still under way.

This new role will allow me to focus full time on the work I love of strengthening the public purpose of higher education institutions at the national and international level and to build on the lessons learned in the work we have done at Albion. I have complete confidence in the skill and commitment of the cabinet and Interim President Joe Calvaruso to lead through the presidential search process and to extend and build on our successes.

Calvaruso currently serves on the board of First National Bank of Michigan. He has also served in leadership positions with the Risk Management Association, including on its international board of directors. In addition to his role as a trustee of Albion College, he serves on the board of the Michigan Certified Development Corp.

It is an honor to serve my alma mater and the Albion community, Calvaruso said in a statement. My roots in the Albion area run deep: I am the fifth generation of my mothers side of the family to live in the area, and the third generation on my fathers side. I even got married on Albions beautiful campus, and my wife, Donna, has adopted Albion College and the Albion community as her own.

I really look forward to connecting with campus and the community. Im excited to be working with a number of people on different initiatives that will make a difference in the community I have long called home.

Read more:

Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion College

Student responsible for racist graffiti that was found in Albion College dorm, officials say

Albion College will house national program aimed at enhancing institutional diversity

Albion College turning local parish into Alumni Unity center

Couple gifts $1.2 million to Albion College for gym, other campus improvements

Graduates give back to Albion College with $2.25M donation

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Albion College president, subject of recent controversies, resigns to take Carnegie Foundation role - MLive.com

The Viking Ship play site when it was installed in 2009. It has since deteriorated significantly Image CPCL

A public protest is due to take place tomorrow (December 20) in a bid to save the Viking Ship equipment at the Ethelbert Crescent play area (Newgate Gap) in Cliftonville.

The Viking Ship play area was installed in 2009 with the major structural components being of Robinia wood rather than the galvanised/powder coated steel used for most apparatus. It was funded with 300,000 from the Stronger, Safer Communities Fund according to council agenda minutes from the year of installation.

However, a report to Thanet council Cabinet members said the condition of play equipment has been deteriorating and become a Health and Safety risk. An inspection in December 2020 reported 83 defects at the Viking Ship playground with concerns raised over the timber structural elements of the Viking ship itself.

In response Thanet council plan to use 169,517 of a 211,280 allocation from Kent County Council for Community Parks for demolition at the existing site and then installation of replacement play equipment.

Work is due to take place in February and March 2022 and will include the demolition/removal of the existing Viking ship, playhouse climbing frame, rocker seal and sprung rocker ship.

They will be replaced with:

Castles Keep large 3 storey castle with multiple slides, poles and net

Castle Gatehouse castle with slide and rope bridge

Track Ride Tower zip wire type apparatus with tower and net

Wheelchair Carousel inclusive roundabout carousel

Swings with cradle swing set and inclusive you and me swing

Jumper Square floor trampoline type jumper

Horse Seesaw

Spinner Bowl

Agility Trail

The funding must be spent by 31 March 2022.

But members of the Friends of Cliftonville Coastline group say the iconic and unique Viking Ship must be saved. They will gather at the playground tomorrow at 10am and are inviting others to join them, who:

Have children who will be heartbroken by the loss of our unique iconic Viking Ship, so integral to imaginative natural play.

Believe this money should be spent on renovation and improvements (eg improved access and a wheelchair carousel) rather than a demolition and expensive rebuild.

And that the saved money could then be spent across Margate and beyond to benefit multiple deteriorating playgrounds in need, eg Dane Park.

Think the council must be held to account for the lack of future planning and ongoing maintenance of ailing community infrastructure.

Is fed up with the lack of scrutiny over whether Section 106 funds from developers are properly collected, and why they are not being used to maintain local playgrounds, as allocated.

Believes we should safeguard our conservation areas, and adhere to planning permissions where required to protect them.

Thinks we should scrutinise large and sudden expenditures such as this, where the legal tendering process for contractors and planning permission is skipped.

And that there should be far more consultation within the community to find out what is wanted and needed locally.

A Friends of Cliftonville Coastline spokesperson said: The ROSPA consultants report recommends that the Viking Ship should have 5 supporting posts replaced, the sand pit frame should have 2 replacement posts and that these should be inspected every 2 years.

The cost of replacing the supporting posts is estimated to be 8-10K. Due to the high level of the ship mast inspection costs are estimated to be 3K every two years.

So why is demolition the only option being considered, instead of the obviously much cheaper and more environmentally sustainable option of renovation and maintenance?

Section 106 payments are meant to be used to maintain playgrounds near to new developments of a certain size. There is no trace of whether allocated money was ever gathered or spent on the Viking Ship Playground.

At a Cabinet meeting on December 16, when the park funding was approved, Green councillor Mike Garner suggested Section 106 money contributions from developers for isle infrastructure should be investigated with any outstanding amounts added to the fund for the Cliftonville park which, in turn, would release funding to replace fencing at Memorial Rec play area. An amount for this work has been provisionally allocated from the parks grant and officers have said they will investigate the section 106 funding.

Allocations have also been made for work at Crispe Park in Birchington and Northdown Park.

On The Isle of Thanet News article revealing park funding plan, a post from CEO at The Childrens Playground, Rinske Wassenaar said: Being the supplier of this bespoke playground and with over 20 years of experience working with Robinia playground equipment, this playground is in no need of replacement.

Looking thoroughly at the photos (in the article), I am convinced only minor repairs would be required, e.g. replacing of missing parts, addressing possible splits, sanding off sap wood and repaint. We have overhauled similar sized playgrounds for a cost ranging between 8-12k, where we completely sanded off the sapwood. The playground will look like new and would last at least for another 10 years.

The total annual playground revenue budget of 39,000 a year is split between the isles 31 playgrounds. In 2020/21, Thanet council says 12,647 of this was spent on essential maintenance and 1,900 on inspections at the Ethelbert Crescent play area alone.

Cllr George Kup, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Youth Engagement said: Im delighted that the Council has been awarded 221k of Community Parks grant funding as part of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF).

170k of this funding will be used to replace and improve the play area equipment at Ethelbert Crescent. The cost of maintaining and repairing the existing apparatus at Ethelbert Crescent has become unsustainable, with a disproportionate amount of the maintenance budget for all play equipment across the district being spent here. Without this improvement work the play area would be closed due to its deteriorated condition.

The Community Parks funding will also fund improvements at other parks in the district to encourage the use of outdoor spaces in line with the objectives of the grant funding. The funding must be spent by the end of March 2022 and officers have had to work quickly to develop a scheme based on prioritised need and community benefit. Due to these tight timescales, it is regrettable that we have not been able to consult with the local community.

It is disappointing that a small minority of people are protesting against a decision that is providing a lifeline for the popular Viking Ship playground. The funding means that a high quality play area, with more inclusive and accessible equipment than currently, will now be available in the long term for the benefit of the local community.

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Public protest as campaigners bid to halt demolition and replacement of Viking Ship play equipment in Cliftonville - The Isle of Thanet News

Issued on: 23/12/2021 - 15:40Modified: 23/12/2021 - 15:38

Beirut (AFP) Sixteen months since a monster blast ripped through the Lebanese capital, the judge investigating the tragedy has been beset by numerous lawsuits, mostly filed against him by officials demanding his removal.

With judge Tarek Bitar forced to suspend his probe for a fourth time on Thursday in the face of such complaints, here is a look at the increasingly complex web of court challenges obstructing investigations into Lebanon's worst peacetime disaster.

The August 4, 2020 explosion of a shipment of ammonium nitrate fertiliser stored haphazardly in a port warehouse for years killed at least 215 people and disfigured the capital.

Top political and security officials were aware of the threat posed by the stored chemicals but failed to take action.

In February, Fadi Sawan, the judge initially appointed to lead the probe, was removed from the case after chasing some of the country's top brass.

Bitar succeeded him, and has since faced similar hurdles amid a concerted political campaign to force his removal.

Officials he had summoned on charges of negligence have filed more than a dozen lawsuits against him, forcing him to suspend his probe four times.

They include several ex-ministers, two of whom were hit with arrest warrants in recent months after they failed to show up for questioning.

Attempts by officials to dodge accountability have been aided by the state.

Parliament has refused to lift immunity granted to lawmakers and top officials have turned down requests to interrogate top security officials.

The interior ministry has also failed to implement arrest warrants issued by Bitar, further undermining his investigation.

Attempts to obstruct Bitar's work have spilled onto the streets, with the powerful Shiite Hezbollah movement staging a rally in Beirut in October demanding his removal.

The protest turned Beirut into a war zone, with live fire exchanges between rival parties leaving seven dead.

Hezbollah and its Amal movement allies are spearheading efforts to replace Bitar.

Their affiliates in cabinet have said they would boycott sessions until an official stance is taken on his replacement.

As a result, Lebanon's fragile government, formed in September to stem the country's worst-ever financial crisis, has failed to meet since October.

In a country where political leaders determine judicial appointments, including in top courts, there is little room for the judiciary to work against Lebanon's ruling elite.

Bitar has been forced to suspend his probe repeatedly over lawsuits filed by officials he had called in for questioning on suspicion of negligence.

A judicial source said the number of lawsuits filed against Bitar now stands at 18.

Some of the judges who turned down requests to replace Bitar have since been hit with lawsuits themselves by the same officials, and they have in turn mobilised affiliated judges at every opportunity.

Last month, a judge backed by Hezbollah and Amal processed a lawsuit filed against Bitar that forced a third suspension in the investigation.

This created a rift within judicial circles, with many arguing that the judge in question had no authority over the Beirut blast case.

Following accusations of political "hijacking", a legal complaint filed against the Shiite judge forced him to stand down.

The lawsuits against Bitar will inevitably delay the presentation of his findings which were previously expected by the year's end, according to a judicial source.

In a country where even high-profile assassinations and bombings go unpunished, many fear a Lebanon-led blast probe will fail to hold anyone to account.

"The judicial body in Lebanon is sick," a former judge told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Some judges are merely an echo chamber for the political leaders that appointed them," the same judge said.

In a joint letter sent to the United Nations Human Rights Council in September, rights groups and relatives of blast victims said "flagrant political interference, immunity for high-level political officials, and lack of respect for fair trial" have rendered the Beirut blast probe incapable of delivering justice.

Nizar Saghieh, who heads the local organisation Legal Agenda, said divisions over Bitar's fate expose deeper rifts within the state.

"The democratic components of the Lebanese state are supporting judges working to tighten the space for impunity, while others are backing judges that are working to preserve this system," he wrote on social media.

2021 AFP

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Beirut blast probe: what's the snag? - RFI

The clock on congressional redistricting in New Jersey for 1972 began in 1970 when Gov. William Cahill was trying to clear the field for GOP State Chairman Nelson Gross to run for the United States Senate.

Republicans thought they could beat two-term incumbent Harrison Williams with Gross, who had served as an assemblyman from Bergen County and had close ties to President Richard Nixon. Standing in his way was State Sen. Joseph Maraziti (R-Boonton), a longtime Morris County legislator who wanted to run for the U.S. Senate.

Cahill and legislative leaders offered Maraziti a deal: in exchange for dropping his U.S. Senate bid, he would chair the committee that would redraw New Jerseys fifteen congressional districts for the 1972 election. Maraziti took the deal; Gross lost his race by twelve points.

Jersey style, Maraziti drew a district for himself.

Maraziti eliminated one of the two Hudson County congressional seats, putting Democrats Dominick Daniels (D-Jersey City) and Cornelius Gallagher (D-Bayonne) into a primary fight.

The new 13th district was hugely Republican. It started East Hanover and went through northern Morris County, picked up all of Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties, and ended in northern Mercer. In the 1968 presidential election, the towns in the new 13th had given Richard Nixon a 55%-36% win over Democrat Hubert Humphrey.

Not all Republicans were thrilled with the map. Assembly Speaker Thomas H. Kean (R-Livingston) and State Sen. James H. Wallwork (R-Short Hills), both potential congressional candidates in the future, saw their hometowns put into a district that went through Morris and Somerset counties into Princeton.

The map went to federal court and a three-judge panel upheld it they tinkered with the plan by moving the boundary between two Bergen-based districts so that South Hackensack wasnt split.

The new map put the entire city of Newark into the 10th, a move designed to make the 11th district seat of five-term Rep. Joseph Minish (D-West Orange) more competitive. The candidate the map was draw for was former State Sen. Milton Waldor (R-South Orange), who had lost his Senate seat in 1971 by 908 votes to Essex County Freeholder Wynona M. Lipman. (Lipman, who would later move from Montclair to Newark to survive 1973 legislative redistricting, became the first Black woman to serve in the New Jersey Senate and remained there until her death in 1999.)

Maraziti faced a primary challenge from two assemblymen, Walter Keough-Dwyer (R-Vernon) and Karl Weidel (D-Pennington), and Delmar Miller, Sr., a political newcomer from Ewing who ran under the slogan Speaking for the Silent Majority. Maraziti won big: a 7,491 vote, 50%-25% victory over Keough-Dwyer, with Weidel finishing third with 17% and Miller getting 8%.

Three Morris County candidates sought the Democratic nomination: Joseph P. ODoherty, Jerome Kessler and Norma Herzfeld. ODoherty won the nomination by 1,248 votes over Kessler, 43%-35%, with Herzfeld receiving 22%. (Kessler and Herzfeld both won Democratic legislative primaries in 1977 but lost the general election.)

During the primary, Herzfeld filed a lawsuit challenging ODohertys constitutional eligibility to run for Congress, alleging that the Irish-born Chester resident had not become a U.S. citizen until 1967.

ODoherty dropped out of the race a week after the primary.

Democratic State Chairman Salvatore Bontempo convinced former New Jersey First Lady Helen Meyner to become the replacement candidate. The wife of former Gov. Robert Meyner and the cousin of former Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, Meyner lived in Princeton but had a home in Phillipsburg, where her husband had served as a state senator.

In the general election, Maraziti defeated Meyner by 25,154 votes, 56%43%. Nixon carried the 13th by a 70%-40% margin over Democrat George McGovern.

Under a Republican-drawn map, Democrats won eight of the states 15 House seats, a net pickup of one.

Republicans held the open seat of retiring eight-term Rep. Florence Dwyer (R-Elizabeth), with State Sen. Matthew Rinaldo (R-Union) defeated former State Sen. Jerry Fitzgerald English by 27 points.

The closest an incumbent came to losing was in the Middlesex-based 15th when newcomer Fuller Brooks held five-term Rep. Edward Patten to a 52%-48% win. Nixon won the district by 22 points.

In a Camden-Gloucester district, three-term Rep. John Hunt (R-Pitman) defeated 35-year-old Assemblyman Jim Florio (D-Runnemede) by a 52.5%-47% margin. Nixon carried the 1st, 60%-40%.

Four much-heralded GOP challengers fell way short: former Nixon White House aide Bill Dowd, making his second bid to unseat four-term Rep. James Howard (D-Spring Lake Heights), received 47% of the vote. Frank Thompson, Jr. (D-Trenton) won his 9th term by a 58%-42% margin against Assemblyman Peter Garibaldi (R-Monroe); Assemblyman Alfred Schiaffo (R-Closter) lost to four-term Rep. Henry Helstoski (D-East Rutherford), 56%-44%; and Minish beat Waldor 18 points. Nixon carried all four of these districts by double-digit margins.

Daniels won the Hudson Democratic primary with 51% against West New York Mayor Anthony DeFino (32%), Gallagher (1%) and former Rep. Vincent Dellay (2%0. He received 61% in the general election.

Republican Map Flips to 12-3 Democratic

Even though Republicans drew the new congressional map, the Watergate scandal resulted in the loss of four seats in the 1974 mid-term elections that came three months after Nixon resigned the presidency.

Florio ousted Hunt by 19 points, 57.5%-38.5% in the 1st district. The GOP has never been able to win that seat back.

In the 2nd district, four-term Rep. Charles Sandman (R-Erma), the unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor in 1973, lost his seat to former Cape May County First Assistant Prosecutor William J. Hughes by 16 points.

Democrats flipped the Bergen County-based seat of 12-term Rep. William Widnall (R-Ridgewood) by five points. The winner was Democrat Andrew Maguire, who had served in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Local newspapers aimed considerable coverage at Maraziti, whose seat on the House Judiciary Committee put him on national television as Nixons defender. He voted against all three articles of impeachment.

Maraziti also became bogged down in a scandal as he faced a rematch with Meyner.

Meyner had to first win a Democratic primary. She faced ODoherty, who now met the citizenship requirement, former Hunterdon County Prosecutor Oscar Rittenhouse, and Fairleigh Dickinson University Professor Bernard Reiner.

Her 47% -26% win in the Democratic primary was unimpressive. She defeated ODoherty by just 3,801 votes, with Rittenhouse finishing third with 18% and Reiner at 9%. Meyner won everywhere but Hunterdon, where Rittenhouse defeated her, 49%-36%.

Maraziti put his 35-year-old girlfriend, Linda Collinson, on his congressional payroll in a no-show job while she continued to work at Marazitis Morris County law firm.

Collinson was outed after she applied for a loan with the House Credit Union. A staffer in Marazitis Washington office told the credit union that she had never heard of Collinson.

Reporters later discovered that Maraziti owned the house Collinson lived in.

Maraziti was also damaged by reports that a Warren County newspaper fired their managing editor, Donald Thatcher, after learning that he was also on Marazitis congressional payroll. Later, news broke that Nicholas DiRienzo, the general manager of two New Jersey radio stations, was also on the congressmans staff.

Meyner became one of the Watergate Babies, defeating Maraziti by a 57%-43% margin. She carried Mercer with 65%, Warren with 61%, Hunterdon with 58%, Morris with 56%, and Sussex with 51%.

There was one open seat in 1974: Rep. Peter Frelinghuysen (R-Harding) retired after 22 years in Congress. Republican Millicent Fenwick (R-Bernardsville) defeated Kean by 83 votes in the GOP primary a little more of Essex under the Maraziti map would have sent Kean to Congress. She won the general election by a 53%-43% margin against Fred Bohen, a former Johnson White House staffer.

GOP Gains

By the end of a map drawn by the GOP, Republicans had picked up just two of the seats they lost in Watergate, plus two more. In a decade, the map went from 9-6 Democratic to 8-7 Democratic. During the decade, six incumbents lost re-election.

In 1976, Republicans flipped the Bergen-Hudson 9th district seat after six-term incumbent Henry Helstoski became embroiled in a scandal. The winner, by a 53%-44% margin, was former State Sen. Harold Hollenbeck (R-East Rutherford).

Meyner held the 13th seat by 5,241 votes, 50%-48%, in 1976 against former State Sen. William Schluter (R-Pennington). President Gerald Ford had carried the district that year by a 50%-41% margin against Democrat Jimmy Carter.

But 1978, Carters mid-term election, Meyner lost.

After his close call, Schluter sought a rematch against Meyner in 1978. This time, Schluter faced a strong primary opponent, Assistant Warren County Prosecutor Jim Courter. Courter beat Schluter by just 134 votes in a campaign managed by Roger Bodman, who would go on to run Keans campaign for governor and later serve in his cabinet. Courter unseated Meyner that year by a 52%-48% margin.

Ford had also carried the 7th, 58%-42%, but Maguire defeated Republican James Sheehan, a Wyckoff township committeeman, by 13 points to secure a second term.

The Republican challenger against Maguire in 1978 was Marge Roukema, a former Ridgewood school board member.

Roukema won the primary, 39%-32%, against a well-known name in the Republican primary: Joseph Woodcock (R-Cliffside Park), who served 12 years as an assemblyman and state senator, four years as the Bergen County prosecutor, and was briefly a candidate for the 1977 Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Maguire won by six points but lost a 1980 rematch to Roukema

The Republicans also picked up the 4th district. Thompson, a 26-year incumbent and the chairman of the House Administration Committee, was implicated in the FBI sting operation known as Abscam, when an undercover agent pretending to be an Arab sheik offered the congressman a cash bribe to help him circumvent federal immigration laws.

Republican Christopher Smith was the 25-year-old executive director of New Jersey Right to Life when he challenged Thompson in 1978. He lost by 24 points.

But with Thompson under indictment, Smith beat Thompson by 26,967 votes, a 47%-41% margin. Hes held the seat for the last 41 years.

Hughes held the 2nd district seat in 1976 against the strongest possible Republican challenger, Assemblyman James Hurley (R-Millville). He won 62%-38% in a district where Carter beat Ford by two points.

In the 15th district, Republicans nearly unseated Patten.

details began emerging about Pattens involvement in the Koreagate scandal. Lobbyist Tongsun Park was charged with using funds provided by the government of South Korea to bribe six congressmen as part of a bid to ensure that the United States kept their military presence there.

The allegation against Patten was that he solicited an illegal campaign contribution from Park, including funds that found their way into the account of the Middlesex County Democrats. Patten allegedly took cash contributions from Park and then wrote personal checks to the county organization.

A 30-year-old Edison attorney, George Spadoro, challenged Patten in the Democratic primary and held him to 59% of the vote, a 6,323-vote plurality. (Spadoro would later become the mayor of Edison and an assemblyman.)

Summer headlines on Koreagate dominated the summer news, as well as Pattens testimony before the House Ethics Committee. Patten steadfastly proclaimed his innocence. In October, the Ethics panel voted unanimously to clear him of the charges. And the Friday before the election, state Attorney General John Degnan announced that he had cleared Patten of any wrongdoing in Koreagate, which had become a state issue since some of the contributions had come to the county party organization.

Patten also faced allegations that he failed to disclose his assets as required by House rules. Patten had filed a financial disclosure saying that he had no personal assets; he eventually announced that all his assets were in his wifes name.

The scandal took its toll on Patten. He won re-election, but just narrowly 48%46%, with a plurality of only 2,836 votes, against Republican Charles Wiley, a conservative radio commentator from Sayreville.

New Jersey lost one congressional seat after the 1980 census.

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The time NJ Republicans won the congressional map but lost the election - New Jersey Globe | New Jersey Politics