Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The view created by somone illegally poisoning of six trees in Ascot. Photo: Shannon Marshall-McCormack, Nine News

Ascot homeowners are suspected of poisoning six 40-year-old eucalyptus trees to make way for multi-million dollar city views.

A Brisbane City Council investigation is underway to find the perpetrator, who could be fined up to $55,000 per tree if convicted.

However, aside from the potential for hefty fines, the environmental destruction on Crosby Road looks set to remain a successful one for the offender, with the council only able to replace the dead trees with saplings, which could take years to mature.

One of the six trees illegally poisoned in Ascot. Photo: David McLachlan

The council will also be left to bear the removal costs of up to $20,000.

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Hamilton ward councillor David McLachlan said there had been a rapid decline in the health of the 20-metre trees over the past six weeks, much to the disappointment of many neighbouring residents.

"This is just pure, wanton vandalism to provide an economic benefit," he said.

"Any tree vandalism can only be condemned. There is no justification for people taking tree removal into their own hands."

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Old trees fall victim to 'plot' for million-dollar views

Spring Horticultural Oil Treatment:An Ornamental Tree and Shrub treatment designed to control damaging insects such as scales, mites and aphids while in the egg stage. This material controls these pests by smothering the eggs and depriving them of oxygen. Horticultural Oils control pest by mechanical means not poisons and are considered very safe and environmentally friendly.

Leaf Eating Insect Control:An Ornamental Tree and Shrub treatment designed to control damaging insects that chew on the leaves of desideous trees and shrubs such as canker worms, gypsy moth caterpillars, and japanese beetles. These treatments are for trees and shrubs no higher than fifteen feet.

Arborvitae/Holly Leaf Miner: Leaf Miners are insects that damages these plants from the inside of leaf tissue. We use a systemic material that can penetrate the leaf structure and control these pest.

Hemlock Wooley Adelgid: This scale like insect targets Hemlocks slowly destroying the tree by sucking the juice out of the needles. We use materials that can smother these insects without harmful pesticides.

Plant Wash Treatments: A material made up from Vegatable Oil Soap that will rid your Ornamental Trees and Shrubs of harmful toxins. This is an organic treatment that is completly safe for humans and pets.

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Tree and Shrub Care - Lawn Pro/Green Leaf

Spring tile work
Found a spring.

By: Nick Humphrey

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Spring tile work - Video

THE HINDU Restoration work in progress at the Arab Serai near the Humayuns Tomb in New Delhi on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

In 2012, when the Sher Shah gate opposite the Purana Quila collapsed, conservationists in the Capital were apprehensive that the two feet tilt in the ornamental facade of the gateway of Arab Serai near the Humayuns Tomb would meet a similar fate.

In the 20 Century, the entrance chambers dome had collapsed and since then much of the structure was in various stages of disintegration. Most of the structure was held up by patches of cement plaster.

As a result, Arab Serai became a dilapidated gateway. Thankfully, now this over 150-foot-long gateway with grand vaulted rooms on either side of the principal arched entrance is now in the process of becoming a landmark structure worth visiting.

To ensure that the Mughal-era Arab Serai is restored to its original glory, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has been doing major restoration work for the past one and a half years. It is working in association with the Archaeological Survey of India. Entrusted with the challenging task, AKTC achieved its objective by putting in 5,000 man-days of work by master craftsmen. The tile work on the canopies is now being restored by the youth of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. These youth were trained in this craft during the conservation of Humayuns Tomb. Before commencing the project, the AKTC did extensive research work.

It was a much larger work than originally envisaged. We believe in on-site evidence as well as archival evidence in the form of photographs or maps. The serai was perhaps built by those who had constructed the Humayuns Tomb. Ninety five per cent of work will be finished by this month end, said AKTC project director Ratish Nanda.

Interestingly, the nomenclature Arab Serai was derived as it was a barrack built for a mix of Arab and Persian Islamic scholars and masons.

Haji Begum, wife of Mughal emperor Humayun, returned from a pilgrimage to Makkah, accompanied by hundreds of scholars and masons. Under the supervision of Akbars officials from Agra, the masons constructed the Humayuns Tomb. Some of them were brought all the way to Hindustan to pray for Humayuns soul, said historian and journalist R.V. Smith.

According to AKTC conservation architect Divya Nandini, it was necessary to reconstruct some of the collapsed portions, where there was photographic evidence to tie up the tilting faade.

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Arab Serai to regain its glory

NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a petition Tuesday for the construction of tile to replace an open ditch in Brown County Ditch NO. 45 in Home Township.

The resolution included appointing Bolton & Menk, Inc. as project engineers provided they can begin work within 30 days.

Petitioners Daniel J. and Bonnie Seidl requested authorization to construct about 630 feet of tile to replace an open ditch in Section 20. The petitioners are responsible to pay all costs and expenses related to the improvement. They also agree to pay all costs and expenses that may be included if improvement proceedings are dismissed. The Seidls are also required post at least a $10,000 bond to be paid to Brown County.

In other action, commissioners:

Approved aerial spraying all ditches for tree, brush and weed control except CD 2, CD 28-1 and JD 5 B&W which have buffer strips. Scott's Helicopter Services, the lone bidder, would be paid $30.98 an acre, the same rate charged in 2012 and 2013.

Because the application is spot spraying, aerial sprayer bills are based on gallons of herbicide used at the prescribed rate per acre to calculate acres sprayed. Estimated ground sprayer rates are based on time and materials.

Low bidder Central Applicators, Inc. would do ground spraying in CD 2 ($1,487.50), CD 28-1 ($2,507.50) and JD 5 ($3442.50) for $7,437.50 total. B & W Control Specialists bid $8,000 for the three ditches that were air sprayed in 2013.

Reviewed the Brown County Highway Department monthly update. Minutes from the last Highway Committee meeting included a Christensen Farms request for an overweight permit during spring road restrictions on gravel roads. The company has four-axle trucks that can carry 20 to 21 tons during non-road restriction times.

A highway committee discussion followed on damage come by bigger-but-fewer loads. It was emphasized that if a permit were granted, it would have to be done for others. The committee agreed not to allow overweight loads during the spring road restriction period.

Received the 2013 Annual License Bureau Report.

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Board OKs tile petition

David Kadavy is a designer turned author who writes about productivity, travelling and design. His book, Design for Hackers, teaches developers and makers the necessity and principles of marrying good design with good engineering, and he certainly designs a productive life of his own. We caught up with David to learn about his favourite apps, gear and how he works.

Picture: Erika Dufour Photography

Location: Chicago, Illinois Current Gig: Author/Professor at Design for Hackers, Advisor at Timeful. One word that best describes how you work: Methodically Current mobile device: iPhone 5s (Silver) Current computer: MacBook Air

Without a doubt, number one for me is Evernote. I do everything in Evernote. I draft blog posts, write talks, brainstorm ideas and document processes in Evernote. I even write emails in Evernote, even though when I paste back to Gmail I have to reformat any bullet points that Ive made.

When I started using Evernote, I really just had a notebook called Inbox with a note called Inbox, but since then it has grown into a number of stacks, and I even have a numbering system that Im not quite sure even I can explain, but it works.

I guess it would make sense if I mention Siri, since Im actually drafting this blog post into Evernote using Siri on my iPhone, as I pace around the room.

Next would have to be Timeful, co-founded by behavioural scientist Dan Ariely. Ive been advising them on product the past several months so Im in their private beta and its really grown to be indispensable for me. It allows me to not only plan what is going on during my day and what I want to do during the day, but it also allows me to be clear about when Im actually going to do those things. A lot of times we get a sense of anxiety over traditional tools like email, to-do lists and calendars, but thats because theyre often at odds with one another.

Finally, theres Fancy Hands, which is like an on-demand personal assistant. Ive been concentrating a lot on delegating things, and its really freed up my creativity. Fancy Hands was a great way for me to not only train myself on delegating, but it has also saved me a lot of time making phone calls, booking appointments and doing research.

I try not to spend too much time at one particular workspace, because my thoughts then start to get kind of stale. At home I have an IKEA Jerker desk with an Aeron chair, and I use my split keyboard and a 24-inch Apple Cinema Display. I have a piece of tile board I got at Home Depot, which I occasionally throw on the floor in my living room for high-level thinking.

About three days a week, I go to a co-working space, and I use my mobile setup, which again includes my split keyboard, an AViiQ laptop stand and my MacBook Air. I stand most of the time at the co-working space and need to get around to converting my home workstation to standing.

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I'm David Kadavy, Author Of Design For Hackers, And This Is How I Work

Rain Bird Easy to Install Automatic Sprinkler System D26
Click to find the product on HomeDepot.com http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rain-Bird-Easy-to-Install-In-Ground-Automatic-Sprinkler-System-32ETI/205081852.

By: PKTV

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Rain Bird Easy to Install Automatic Sprinkler System D26 - Video

Irrigation Systems, Sprinkler Systems in White Lake MI 48386
At Rain by Russ it is our desire to provide our customers with quality materials and workmanship at affordable prices. By continuing to do this, we ensure our future. Call any time for a free,...

By: MSPEG13005

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Irrigation Systems, Sprinkler Systems in White Lake MI 48386 - Video

The Salt Lake City Facilities Division is in the middle of upgrading the sprinkler system in the Salt Lake Central and Sugar House business districts to reduce water usage. Sensors measure temperature, humidity and rainfall. That information is sent to a controller, which sends a signal to each sprinkler system to water or stop watering. In the areas with the new system, the division has seen a 20 percent reduction in water usage.

Mike DeBernardo, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY The Salt Lake City Facilities Division is upgrading the sprinkler system in the Salt Lake Central and Sugar House business districts to reduce water usage.

Jim Cleland, the division's program director, said in some places the sprinkler system still has 1980s technology.

Which means that a technician would have to run around and turn off every single controller, each time there is going to be a storm, Cleland said. And, this time of year, you dont get a lot of notice that they are going to come.

At one point, the business districts had about 150 old-fashioned, 1980s controllers regulating irrigation and thousands of circuits that could go wrong, Cleland said.

With water being such a precious resource in the state, city officials are working to reduce water usage. Over the past three years, city crews have been installing smarter sprinkler systems with rain sensors and remote-controlled access.

One new controller can take the place of more than one of the old controllers. Cleland said the districts need 50 stations. The division has installed 30 of those stations so far.

It has a sensor at each location that measures temp, humidity and rainfall, Cleland said.

The data are sent to a controller that sends a signal to each sprinkler system. For example, it may tell the system to shut off during a rainstorm.

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Sprinkler systems upgraded in business districts to reduce water usage

New sprinkler system designed to conserve water in business discticts

By Mary Richards and Viviane Vo-Duc

May 6th, 2014 @ 11:59pm

ALT LAKE CITY The Salt Lake City Facilities Division is upgrading the sprinkler system in the Salt Lake Central and Sugar House business districts to reduce water usage.

Jim Cleland, the division's program director, said in some places the sprinkler system still has 1980s technology.

Which means that a technician would have to run around and turn off every single controller, each time there is going to be a storm, Cleland said. And, this time of year, you dont get a lot of notice that they are going to come.

At one point, the business districts had about 150 old-fashioned, 1980s controllers regulating irrigation and thousands of circuits that could go wrong, Cleland said.

With water being such a precious resource in the state, city officials are working to reduce water usage. Over the past three years, city crews have been installing smarter sprinkler systems with rain sensors and remote-controlled access.

One new controller can take the place of more than one of the old controllers. Cleland said the districts need 50 stations. The division has installed 30 of those stations so far.

It has a sensor at each location that measures temp, humidity and rainfall, Cleland said.

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New SL sprinkler system designed to conserve water, money