Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Q: Every morning when I drive to work, I see anywhere from three to six tractor-trailers parked on the side of the ramp from Cedar Crest Boulevard to Interstate 78 eastbound near Lehigh Valley Hospital. They are loaded with sheds of varying shapes and sizes. Many times, the drivers are walking on the ramp conversing with each other. During the winter months, the trucks were parked on the ramp due to the snow being piled up on the shoulder. I suspect since they are considered wide loads, they are awaiting the clock to hit 9 a.m. so they can enter the highway; however, this is a very dangerous situation. They are a major distraction for those of us trying to merge to the left onto the highway while also having to watch for wandering truck drivers, sheds and tractor-trailers to the right. The truck drivers are putting themselves and others at risk. Is this legal?

Jennifer Weighknecht, Lower Macungie Township

A: It's not legal, Jennifer, and if it's happening routinely, state police should intervene before someone gets hurt. At our request, they've already taken action in this regard.

At least some of the trucks I came across on Monday morning were operated by LG Transport of Kinzers, east of Lancaster, an independent company. The driver I spoke to referred me to LG for information on the shoulder-parking practice.

LG dispatcher Ken Miller allowed that LG trucks sometimes wait on the shoulders, but said this happens only "every once in a while when there's a traffic jam" or problem that puts the drivers behind schedule. "I know it's not us every morning" engaging in the practice, he said, adding that other trucking companies also are involved.

These trucks are part of an ongoing caravan of shed deliveries from Lancaster County builders to dealers in New York, Connecticut, Boston and all over New England, Miller said. In the Lancaster area they crank out sheds like Toyota makes Corollas, and I-78 lures them through our area in the same way that it fertilizes former Valley farmland for weed-like warehouses.

"This is the busiest time of the year" for shed deliveries, as the winter doldrums give way to spring planting and other outdoor activities, and the brutal conditions of this past winter hindered deliveries more than during an average winter, Miller said.

The rigs probably aren't on the shoulders for extended periods; they're cooling their brake pads during the rush-hour ban on travel imposed on wide-load permit holders in PennDOT-defined "urbanized areas," including ours.

Wide loads are supposed to stay off the highway between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily, so shed carriers that approach I-78 before the stroke of 9 need a place to wait. The group I came across Monday two shed-bearing big-rigs at Hamilton and three at Cedar Crest jumped the gun a bit, departing at 8:55.

PennDOT spokesman Ron Young said trucks parked in the manner described likely would be violating the state Vehicle Code (which prohibits parking on limited-access highways) as well as their wide-load permits, which don't allow the trucks to drive on the shoulders (you can't park on a shoulder without driving onto and off it).

Excerpt from:
Tractor-trailers don't belong on shoulder of I-78

Tropical storms and hurricanes can cause flooding. Although skin contact with flood waters does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk, health hazards are a concern when waters become contaminated. Flood waters may contain waste material with associated bacteria and viruses.

DOH recommends the following precautions to prevent possible illness from flood waters:

Basic hygiene is critical. Wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage.

Avoid eating or drinking anything that has been contaminated with flood waters.

Do not wade through standing water. If you do, bathe and put on clean clothes as soon as possible.

Avoid contact with flood waters if you have open cuts or sores. If you have any open cuts or sores and cannot avoid contact with flood waters, keep them as clean as possible by washing them with soap to control infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention. People who sustain lacerations and/or puncture wounds and have not had a tetanus vaccination within the past 10 years require a tetanus booster.

If there is a backup of sewage into your house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup. Remove and discard absorbent household materials, such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and dry wall. Clean walls and hard-surfaced floors with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Thoroughly disinfect food contact surfaces (counter-tops, refrigerators, tables) and areas where small children play. Wash all linens and clothing in hot water. Air dry larger items in the sun and spray them with a disinfectant. Steam-clean all carpeting.

If your plumbing is operating slowly or sluggishly, you should:

Save water as much as possible; the less water used the less sewage the septic tank must process or a sewer line needs to handle. Minimize use of your washing machine. Rental of a portable toilet for a temporary period may be another option.

Do not have the septic tank pumped. Very high water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry. If the basic problem is high ground water, pumping the tank does nothing to solve that problem.

Link:
Warning: Flood Waters Pose Health Risks

Ga. man questioned in parents' stabbing deaths Ga. man questioned in parents' stabbing deaths

Updated: Friday, May 2 2014 12:10 PM EDT2014-05-02 16:10:37 GMT

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a suburban Atlanta man suspected of stabbing his parents to death with a samurai sword has been arrested and is being questioned by police. DeKalb County Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish says the bodies of a 73-year-old woman and her 75-year-old husband were found by a relative who visited their house Thursday afternoon. Parish says the couple's 39-year-old son was identified as a suspect and was found at a nearby park less than two hours after his parents...

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a suburban Atlanta man suspected of stabbing his parents to death with a samurai sword has been arrested and is being questioned by police. DeKalb County Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish says the bodies of a 73-year-old woman and her 75-year-old husband were found by a relative who visited their house Thursday afternoon. Parish says the couple's 39-year-old son was identified as a suspect and was found at a nearby park less than two hours after his parents...

Updated: Thursday, May 1 2014 12:22 PM EDT2014-05-01 16:22:13 GMT

Record-breaking rainfall overflowed creeks and streams, causing flooding throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Heavy rains slowed overnight, but officials warned motorists on Thursday to keep watching for flooded roads.

Record-breaking rainfall overflowed creeks and streams, causing flooding throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Heavy rains slowed overnight, but officials warned motorists on Thursday to keep watching for flooded roads.

Updated: Wednesday, April 30 2014 10:39 AM EDT2014-04-30 14:39:06 GMT

ATLANTA - Two teaching assistants were caught on camera allegedly beating special needs students in Atlanta. The video shows them allegedly slapping and choking the students. At one point one of the students falls off a chair. The woman who taped this says she thought something was wrong in the classroom, so she set up a hidden camera. The Atlanta Public School District says it removed both assistants from the classroom after seeing the video. One of the women was arrested and charged wit...

ATLANTA - Two teaching assistants were caught on camera allegedly beating special needs students in Atlanta. The video shows them allegedly slapping and choking the students. At one point one of the students falls off a chair. The woman who taped this says she thought something was wrong in the classroom, so she set up a hidden camera. The Atlanta Public School District says it removed both assistants from the classroom after seeing the video. One of the women was arrested and charged wit...

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Marion Barry criticizes planned HBO movie about his life

534 Albert Street, Strathroy, ON N7G 1W9
http://534albertstreet.ePropertySites.com?rs=youtube For more info and pics, Text "house 8712832" to 32075 Diamond in the Rough! This charming traditional 40`s home has quality craftsmanship...

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534 Albert Street, Strathroy, ON N7G 1W9 - Video

By DCist Contributor Alan Zilberman

Located adjacent to The 9:30 Club, Satellite Room is a bar/restaurant that's inspired by diners in Los Angeles. In addition to a menu of comfort foodone that includes everything from tacos to meatloafthis spot is noteworthy for its self-described boozy shakes. For $10, you can get drunk from dessert with shakes named after famous characters from pop culture (the menu has references to Peanuts, Pulp Fiction, The Departed, and even Saved by the Bell). Milk and alcohol can be a potent mix, so after two or more shakes it's important to have facilities that are significantly above average. The bathrooms here are thoughtful, if a little austere, and my most recent visit included one or two unfortunate kinks.

+5 for a concrete floor with a drain: Nobody needs to eat off a bathroom floor (gross), so it follows that function is more important than form. There's no pretense of marble in The Satellite Room; instead, the floors are easy-to-clean concrete with a mild slope for the drain in the middle. The emphasis on cleanliness is admirable. Who cares if the floor is designed like a locker room? The drain implies that the owners are serious about scrubbing everything down.

-4 for a bathroom without light: There are four single-serving, multi-gender bathrooms at Satellite Room, but when I visited the light was out in one of them. I discovered this when a person emerged from the dark bathroom with their iPhone flashlight switched on. It's possible to piss in the dark, I guess, but my emergency wasn't so dire that I was willing to risk a mess. And if a smartphone light source is the only one available, does that then mean one, um, does everything else one-handed? If the answer is "yes," then I admire the dexterity of braves ones willing to enter that void. For me, anyway, the lack of light cuts the available facilities by a quarter.

+1 for minimalist design: There is no pornography on the bathroom walls, nor is there any passive aggressive signage. Instead, the walls are stark black and white, with only a minimum of graffiti (a little graffiti is inevitable). If a bathroom with wall art is meant to inspire specific thoughts, then the austere design is a blank slate by comparison. Are you worried that you name-dropped too much on your first date? Are you feeling guilty that the next round means you're going to sleep in the following morning, not work out? You can think about anything you want while you use the bathrooms at Satellite Room. The only limit is yourself.

-3 for a disregarded pint glass on the toilet: It was strange, even a little alarming, when I ventured into a lit bathroom and found an empty pint glass inside. This implies that someone brought their drink into the bathroom, finished it before or after relieving themselves, then left the sullied glass for everyone else to ponder. I understand how bringing a drink into a bar bathroom is sometimes necessary: Black Cat and Rock' and Roll Hotel both have drink shelves along their wall of stalls. Satellite Room, on the other hand, is a slightly classier establishment. Oh, and we musn't forget that shit is particulate matter, which means that some wretch drank in more than they bargained for.

+3 for a Dyson Air Blade: Longtime readers of this column know my undying love for this hand-drying option, so let me focus on a different aspect of its excellence. When I was in the bathroom, I couldn't help but hear the Air Blade turn on in the private stall opposite mine. In other words, the noise of the hand-dryer offers an unintentional signal that another bathroom is about to open. This can be useful when the line is particularly long, which is yet another reason why paper towels will always remain inferior to thoughtful English engineering.

Overall score: +2. This score is artificially low due to unusual circumstances, yet Satellite Room is a terrific bathroom. It knows it's excellent, and does not go out of its way to call attention to itself. Once all the lights are functional, the facilities will be good enough to inspire measured confidence when it's time to order the boozy shake that's probably a mistake.

Read more from the original source:
Dear John: Satellite Room

by Marilyn Ten, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 1, 2014, Thursday

KUCHING: Imperial Hotel Kuching will be holding its soft opening on May 9 with a special promotional room rate from RM180 per room per night.

This promotion is inclusive of breakfast and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi for a limited period only, said Imperial Hotel general manager Patrick Kuek at a media preview of the hotel yesterday.

Also present were Boulevard Group of Companies chief executive officer Yew Hoon and Imperial Group general manager Su Sii Jiong.

The upcoming four-star business class hotel, which is the latest addition to the fast-expanding Imperial Group of Hotels, features 325 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, including two executive floors, all carefully designed with practicality and comfort in mind.

Each guestroom is tastefully furnished and complete with complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and wired Internet access point.

It also comes equipped with individual control air-conditioning, 42-inch flat screen LED television, laptop-size in-room safe, mini fridge, coffee and tea making facilities, HyppTV channels, bathroom with bath tub and separate shower, iron and ironing board and hair dryer.

We take pride in being the first hotel in Sarawak to subscribe to the Hospitality Entertainment Solution, the hassle-free offering from Telekom Malaysia (TM) with the latest ICT and entertainment package comprising In-Building Broadband Solution (IBS) and TMs IPTV service, HyppTV all powered by TMs high-speed broadband network connectivity, said Kuek.

In addition to this, there are also a full range of hotel facilities and services provided for the comfort and convenience of hotel guests such as the Business Centre as well as the Fitness Centre featuring a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and steam room complemented by an outdoor swimming pool.

Safe deposit boxes are also provided on complimentary basis at the Front Desk for guests to keep their valuables.

Read more:
Imperial Hotel Kuching to open May 9

Edward Gately, The Republic | azcentral.com 2:44 p.m. MST May 1, 2014

SkySong and its development team are now leasing a planned10,500-square-foot retail building to be built onthe northeast corner ofScottsdale Road and SkySong Boulevard.(Photo: Skysong)

SkySong, the Arizona State University Scottsdale Innovation Center, will be bringing more retail and restaurant space to the McDowell Road corridor.

Leasing has started on a planned 10,500-square-foot restaurant and retail building to be built at Scottsdale Road and SkySong Boulevard, just south of McDowell and east of Scottsdale Road.

"We plan on breaking ground in the fall," said SkySong spokesman Tom Evans. "We have to go through the (city's) Design Review board but do not have to go to City Council. The total cost of the building is approximately $5 million."

It's part of the overall mixed-use vision for SkySong, which will include 1.2 million square feet of development upon completion. A third office building, SkySong III, and parking garage are nearing completion, with a fourth office building expected to be under construction before the end of the year.

Also, the 325-unit SkySong Apartments complex was completed in April.

Plaza Cos. is the master developer of SkySong, in partnership with the ASU Foundation and Scottsdale. Tucson-based Holualoa Cos. also has partnered with Plaza Cos. for the project.

SRS Real Estate Partners is handling the leasing for the retail building, which will include adjacent surface parking for visitors to the restaurants and stores.

"We kept hearing from people that they wanted more restaurant and retail options to be a part of the future of SkySong, and this will help us accomplish that goal," said Sharon Harper, Plaza Cos.' president and CEO. "We have a wonderful caf on site and have had smaller retail presences in the past, but this will truly bring back strong, established retail to this property and provide some great services for the area."

Read more from the original source:
SkySong adding restaurant, retail to Scottsdale campus

On Feb. 25, the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issued a stop-work order for the Checkered Parrot, a two-story bar and restaurant under construction on Prytania Street near Touro Infirmary.

The first Checkered Parrot, now closed, was in the French Quarter. Construction began in the summer 2012 on the second location at 3629 Prytania St.

A spokeswoman for the state licensing board said a stop-work order was issued "because the contractor was acting as a contractor without a license." The issue remains under investigation. A date for a hearing has not yet been set.

According to the state licensing board and various media reports, the Checkered Parrot is owned by Mark Morad.

Last May, Morad was charged with Medicare fraud by a federal grand jury.

Morad also operates the Italian Pie restaurant across the street at 3706 Prytania St.

That Italian Pie location is currently closed for "systems modifications," according to a sign posted outside, and will reopened in "approximately 710 days."

The recorded message on the Prytania Street Italian Pie's phone was less specific, stating "if we answer, you will know we are reopened."

Morad could not be reached for comment. The number listed on the Checkered Parrot website was temporarily disconnected.

The Checkered Parrot is franchised by the same company that operates the Fire of Brazil chain in Atlanta and Latin America. A Fire of Brazil restaurant in the French Quarter closed in 2008.

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At Checkered Parrot bar and restaurant on Prytania Street, state stops construction

Oliver's, a new casual neighborhood restaurant proposed for Old University Avenue, wants to bridge the culinary gap between Lombardino's high-end Italian and burgers at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill.

The food, as described in an application to the Alcohol License Review Committee, would be approachable and familiar salads with roasted beets; pan-roasted brussels sprouts and candied nuts; sandwiches with hand-carved turkey, grassfed beef, braised pork and pan-fried walleye; entrees of mussels, perch fish fry and a half chicken with frites.

"There will be food that will take people back to when they were young, maybe something grandma made for Sunday dinner, said Bob Harriman, who will run the restaurant with Don Michelson. Thats the environment.

The proposed restaurant at 2540 University Ave. would be located on the first floor of the six-story apartment building recently completed by the Mullins Group, 2550 University.(City planners have recently pushed for taller, denser construction in the area.)

At 3,016 square feet, Oliver's would have seating for 93 people inside and 24 more on an outdoor, seasonal patio.

The current proposal is to open quietly for business on Labor Day, serving lunch and dinner from Monday through Friday, with brunch, lunch and dinner (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) on weekends.

No chef has yet been named, but the application lists Chad Vogel (Maduro) and Craig Madigan (Johnny Delmonico's) as manager/collaborators. Harriman is a co-owner of Sardine and his construction company has had a hand in building many restaurants including Heritage Tavern and Francesca's al Lago.

Harriman, 67, calls himself an "old west side kid." Both he and Michelson, recently of Michelson Associates in Middleton, graduated from Madison West High School.

"Oliver's is the culmination of 35 years of around or in the business," Harriman said. "My grandmother owned a restaurant and bar on Lake Wisconsin I would have been 11 years old when I started bussing tables."

Harriman chose not to be a manager or owner but "simply a designer and builder of restaurants," until now.

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Restaurant veteran brings Oliver's, contemporary comfort food to Old University

There's a lot of construction underway on Duling Street in Fondren.

A new restaurant, Saltine Oysters and Brew, is setting up shop in the old Duling school.

"We really want to celebrate the oyster," said Saltine owner Jesse Houston. "We're going to have varieties from all over the world -- the East Coast, West Coast. Of course, we're going to celebrate our Gulf Coast and all of the seafood and oysters that come out of there. We're going to get oysters from Canada, Japan and Europe."

The restaurant, which is slated to open in August, will also serve special beers from local breweries.

A few feet away, Duling Hall is getting a $50,000 renovation in the hope of bringing in more acts. The improvements include a new stage, kitchen, and repainting. A dressing room has also been added upstairs for performing artists.

"If the music is coming in, you can come in, sit at a high top, get out of the racket. This will be a new bar here just to open up and have better service for our customers," said Arden Barnett of Ardenland Entertainment.

A concert is scheduled for Friday night for the new Duling Hall debut.

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New restaurant opening in Fondren