Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A vital part of any historical property lies in the landscaping.

Mound House on Fort Myers Beach is no different as committee members, volunteers and representatives eye a winter opening of a project that has been many years in the works.

Now that Town officials have approved a master contract for cultural resource management firm Search, Inc. to complete a landscape signage design, fabrication and installation program, the overall project to fully open the property for history buffs is beginning to "come up roses."

BOB PETCHER Mound House foreground landscaping features meadow plantings, such as gaillardia and dune sunflowers. Near the home is a jacaranda tree to the left and a strangler fig to the right.

The design portion of landscape signage has been reported to cost just over $55,000, while the fabrication and installation elements is not expected to exceed $117,484.79. Both task orders are funded by a Lee County Tourist Development Council grant for landscape restoration.

"Landscaping is an integral part of the educational experience that a visitor will get when everything is open to the public," said Barbara Anderson Hill, chairperson of the Town Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board. "It is value-added. It talks about the history from the Calusas to the Longs, how that property was utilized and how the landscaping provided an important resource for over 2,000 years. The plants and the trees tell a story."

Hill stated William and Florence Long, the last residents of Mound House, were the ones that developed Shell Mound Park back in the 1950s.

"The other mounds were flattened and the shells were used to pave a large part of the beach," she said.

Signage under the Town's action plan is being designed for plant identification, directory/directional signs and interpretive panels. Templates for each sign type is being developed. Once approved, Search, Inc. will begin full design of them. The program is expected to take many months, well after the property should be fully open for visitation.

"That's the unfortunate part," said Hill, who also stated the landscape lighting will probably not be in as well at that time.

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PLANT PROJECT: Mound House landscaping adds natural beauty

By Sakini Mohd Said

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Malaysia has a diverse landscape that offers even the novice thrill seeker an extreme challenge.

There are steep hills and high mountains, challenging rapids and verdant jungles, thus extreme activities like jungle tracking, scaling hills and mountains, whitewater rafting provide the perfect challenge for adrenalin rush seekers.

And what more, many of these places are easily accessible so even the average person feels he is ready for an extreme challenge without any preparation.

A good example is Bukit Tabur in Taman Melawati, at the fringes of the city. This hill is the prominent part of nature reserve with its nature laden trail attracting city folks up to the peak to enjoy fresh air and the panoramic view of the city.

The eastern side has a rock face and it attracts those who want to put their endurance and bravery to test. But since 2009 four people have fell to their deaths and many injured due to falls.

Early this year Soleha Abd Rahman, 25, fell 60 metres into a ravine and died while trying to abseil the rock face. Less than a month earlier a science teacher Ng Pee Tat, in his 30s slipped from a ridge and lost his life. In 2009 Dr Haliza Mohd Shafie and Dr Amin Tai Abdullah believed have fallen to their deaths during while tracking to the Bukit Tabur's peak.

Then there was host of reports of people getting lost while jungle tracking or washed away by strong water currents. This made many to think twice in indulging in such extreme undertakings.

THE BRAVEST OR THE MOST FOOLHARDY

Many of those participating in such risky extreme activities do so without preparation, equipment or event guides. There are literally tempting their fate.

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Challenging Times For Malaysia's Extreme Sports Industry

MERRIMACK An initiative to construct the towns first dog park has been in the works for more than two years, and may soon become a reality.

Land clearing is taking place at Wasserman Park, which is the future home of the Merrimack Dog Park.

With fundraising efforts continuing, organizers are hoping that a new, online contest may push the campaign along.

The town has been very supportive of our project, but we really need to raise the money for this on our own, said Christine Lavoie of Merrimack, a member of the dog park subcommittee.

Earlier this year, the town council approved the completion of logging and forestry work at Wasserman Park, which includes a separate area of less than an acre for the dog park.

Progress is being made, said Lavoie. The logging work has begun, but was delayed slightly because of the wet ground. The logging should be finished in a few weeks.

Lavoie said the focus has shifted to securing enough funds for the project.

The Friends of the Merrimack Dog Park have submitted their proposal for an online dog park contest hosted by PetSafe, a nationwide leader and manufacturer of electronic pet training products.

The contest, which runs until June 7, will award $100,000 to a community to build a new PetSafe dog park. In addition, four other finalists will each receive $25,000 toward their local dog park projects.

Merrimack really needs a great place where residents can bring their dogs to socialize with other dogs, she said. Initially, the future dog park was proposed for Watson Park, however the location was switched to Wasserman Park in part because the park is larger, and because there is easy access to trails and the nearly Horse Head Hill Preserve.

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Land being cleared for dog park in Merrimack

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has selected its 2014 Class of Fellows. The organizations highest honor is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service, leadership, and contributions to the interior design industry and profession.

Patricia Kluetz, FASID As a professor of interior architecture at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Kluetz brings design to life for her students. Kluetz, who also is a practicing designer, has served as the faculty advisor of the universitys ASID student chapter for nearly 20 years. Under her guidance, the group has won numerous awards, including Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year in 2006. Kluetz has received four Wisconsin Chapter Presidential Citations and a Chapter Educator Medalist Award.

Jane Garland Lucas, FASID Throughout her 30-year interior design career, Lucas has served as an author, volunteer, mentor, educator, and legislative advocate. Her dedication to ASID includes holding various leadership positions in the New England and Texas ASID chapters. Lucas spent 12 years spearheading a Massachusetts coalition for interior design legislation. In addition to her role as principal of JGL Interiors in Austin, Texas, Lucas is on the faculty or board of colleges and universities in three states.

Shashi Caan, Honorary FASID Caan, founder and principal of the Shashi Caan Collective, is recognized for her collaborative ideology and design projects that improve quality of life. She also has garnered praise for her progressive thinking on the impact of design in society, as well as her work on unifying the global design community. In 2004, she was named Contract magazines 25th Anniversary Designer of the Year. She is currently president of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI).

The three Fellows will be inducted on June 21 at the ASID Awards Gala in Los Angeles.

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ASID Announces 2014 Class of Fellows

by Catherine Holland

Video report by Heidi Goitia

Posted on May 14, 2014 at 7:34 AM

Updated yesterday at 7:40 AM

PHOENIX -- Investigators believe an electrical issue sparked an early morning fire at a Phoenix home Wednesday.

It happened in the neighborhood northwest of 41st Avenue and McDowell Road. Eight crews responded at about 5:30 a.m.

The homeowner was not home when the fire started because the house is undergoing renovations.

While they have not pinpointed the cause yet, investigators said it looks like there might have been a problem with the wiring in the attic.

Because it was a "very active fire" with quite a bit of heavy smoke and flames, crews quickly went defensive.

Firefighters limited the damage to the inside of the home. The external structure is still sound.

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Electrical wiring possibly to blame for house fire in Phoenix

May is Electrical Safety Month and a good time to review electrical safety practices. Increasing electrical safety awareness, following electrical safety guidelines and using tools and technology designed to address electrical hazards are all components of a safety program.

What causes the top electrical hazards? Many are the result of the growing use of electrical power, combined with electrical systems that are over 20 years old. Wiring hazards are both a major cause of electrocutions and home fires, killing hundreds and injuring thousands each year. Misuse of surge suppressors, power strips and extension cords is also a cause of electrocutions and fires.

Contact with power lines and major appliances contribute to hundreds of deaths annually, both at home and in the workplace. Eliminating these electrical hazards will help reduce deaths and injuries.

Eliminating electrical hazards begins with education and awareness. A focus on electrical safety, both at home and in the workplace, can prevent the hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in economic losses that occur each year because of electrical hazards.

Use of tools and technology can also make our reliance on electrical power less hazardous. Investing in ground vault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), circuit testers and where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE), can significantly reduce risk.

Eliminate top safety threats to prevent electrical injuries

We recommend that taking the proper steps to eliminate the top electrical safety threats around the home can prevent thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths that needlessly occur each year.

The top electrical safety hazards include:

Electrical fires caused by aging wiring.

Misuse of surge suppressors and extension cords.

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Eliminate the top electrical safety threats around your home

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By: Mark Ratti Sr

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Solid Brick Home! - Video

Wireless Home Security For Your Family (855) 999-0911
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By: AlarmAlertLLC

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Wireless Home Security For Your Family (855) 999-0911 - Video

House Cat SAVES Child from vicious dog attack
This is a video taken from home security cameras where a VICIOUS DOG attacks an innocent child playing in his driveway. Moments later a house cat comes to the rescue.

By: EL PESCADOR

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House Cat SAVES Child from vicious dog attack - Video

East Dundee, IL (PRWEB) May 14, 2014

SafeXone, a leading provider of home automation and wireless home security, has recently seen a significant increase in consumer demand for the companys interactive home automation services. SafeXones sales team has noticed a major uptick in Illinois with consumers inquiring about the companys high-tech automation products. The recently revamped SafeXone website has also seen a noteworthy surge in traffic over the past several weeks.

With innovative automation systems and interactive equipment, SafeXone helps clients save time and money with its unique Smart Schedule Activity Patterns. This one-of-a-kind wireless home automation feature not only provides users with remote access to their propertys system and settings, but it also allows them to create preprogrammed schedules that make automatic adjustments, providing unprecedented convenience and energy management.

It is very exciting to see residents of Illinois, and Chicago specifically, beginning to recognize the immense value of our advanced home automation systems, said SafeXone Vice President Frank Vivirito. At SafeXone, we aim to provide consumers with a state-of-the-art Xone of security and comfort around their home or business, and we are constantly innovating to provide industry-leading automation technology that saves our customers money, time and worry.

As a top home security provider, SafeXone has recently launched a company blog and collection of social media pages to help educate interested consumers and the general public about wireless home security and home automation systems. SafeXone provides valuable home monitoring and automation information on its Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as on the company website.

About SafeXone SafeXone is an industry-leading provider of wireless home security and home automation systems. Based in East Dundee, Illinois, SafeXone offers a variety of plans and services tailored to fit each clients unique needs and budget. From home alarms to energy automation to Personal Emergency response, SafeXone effectively safeguards your home or business with the ultimate Xone of state-of-the-art protection. Learn more at safexone.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter.

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Top Security Provider SafeXone Notes Increased Consumer Demand for its Home Automation Services in Illinois