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RALEIGH Snow and ice expected to fall on much of North Carolina could be followed by scammers seeking to take advantage of consumers who need help removing trees brought down by the storm, Attorney General Roy Cooper warned Wednesday.

Tree damage from ice storms brings out scammers trying to rip you off, said Cooper. After a bad storm, tree services will go door-to-door looking for customers. If you need help getting a fallen tree off your home or car, find someone qualified to do the work instead of falling for a scam.

While many tree removal companies are reputable, unscrupulous scammers often travel to areas that have been hit by natural disasters to take advantage of consumers. Consumers should report tree removal scams to local law enforcement and to the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division, Cooper said.

North Carolina residents can report scams and frauds to Coopers office by calling toll-free 1-877-5-NO-SCAM within the state or by filing a consumer complaint.

To avoid problems when hiring a tree removal service:

* Dont pay upfront. Be very wary of any request to pay deposits or other fees for tree work in advance. Out-of-state tree cutters have been known to collect deposits from entire neighborhoods and then disappear without performing any work. Only pay when the work is done and you are satisfied.

* Avoid fly-by-night companies. Tree services that knock on your door or that just arrived in town from another state may not stick around to finish the job. Choose local companies with good reputations for the best results.

* Check out the company. Contact our Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau to see if they have complaints against the company. Ask the company for local references, and look online for reviews of its work.

* Make sure the company is insured. If a tree removal service claims to have insurance, dont just take their word for it. Contact the insurer directly and ask them to send you a copy of the tree removal services certificate of insurance.

* Find out a fair price. Be skeptical of any price that seems unusually high or low. To find out the going rate for tree removal, get written estimates from more than one company. Check with friends whove had tree work done recently to see what they paid and who they would recommend.

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Watch out for tree removal scams, AG Cooper warns

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 12, 2014

The Nor'easter looks like it will deliver a heavy, wet mess in Philadelphia. After the massive damage created by last week's storm, Giroud Tree and Lawn provides actions homeowners can take to prepare for and stay safe when the Nor'easter dumps significant snow on Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County PA.

"Our main concern is family safety," says Lou Giroud, President of Giroud Tree and Lawn and an ISA Certified Arborist. Here are a few actions homeowners can take: 1. Park cars in an open area away from large trees. 2. Once the trees become weighed down with snow:

"Heavy snow and ice loads can weaken trees," says Lou Giroud. "Once the storm passes, it's a good idea to have a professional tree service company check the trees on the property for hidden damage." The following should be part of post-storm inspection and remediation: 1. Safety Inspection: Have an ISA Certified Arborist evaluate trees for cracked limbs, split trunks, weakened root systems and other safety hazards. 2. Remediation: Prune and thin trees that are at highest risk for winter storm damage to lighten the load. White Pines, Arborvitae and Japanese Maple are most susceptible to breakage. However, large deciduous trees such as Oak, Maple and Ash also were heavily damaged in the last storm.

By taking precautions before the storm and then having trees checked and pruned after the storm, homeowners have the power to protect family safety and prevent future damage.

About Giroud Tree and Lawn Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, tree removal and lawn care programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal and traditional and 100% organic lawn programs to keep lawns healthy and green . Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company has been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award every year since 2005. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

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Nor'easter is Heading Towards Philadelphia and Giroud Tree and Lawn Provides Actions Homeowners Can Take to Prepare ...

Lindsay Bustillos didnt realize her high-rise apartment building in West Los Angeles lacked sprinklers until a fire last fall made her unit uninhabitable.

The Oct. 18 fire at the Barrington Towers complex caused water and smoke damage that forced hundreds of residents to leave their apartments.

You would think that when you move into a place like this that they kind of have it nailed down, said Bustillos, 32, of the sprinker situation.

Although laws mandate that residential high-rises built before 1943 and after 1974 have fire sprinklers installed, that leaves a 30-year gap in which high-rises were built in Los Angeles without having to install sprinklers. By the citys count, 71 of the citys roughly 200 residential high-rises dont have fire sprinkler systems installed.

The gap has been debated for years, but the Barrington fire has brought the issue into focus again.

Disaster drives regulation, said Los Angeles fire Battalion Chief Timothy Kerbrat. If its a big disaster then the time to get the ordinance and changes take a little bit more time. If its not a big disaster, its a blip in the paper and we forget about it real quick.

Los Angeles officials first made a push to retrofit all high-rises commercial and residential - with sprinklers in 1988 after a fire at First Interstate Tower downtown killed one man and injured 40. But proponents opted to divide the proposal into two: one for businesses and one for residential.

Our strategy at the time was: If we try to do them both were afraid were not going to get anything at all, Kerbrat said.

Lawmakers approved retrofitting some 350 commercial buildings, but there was stronger resistance from residential building owners. The costs to retrofit were too high, they argued. Its the same argument that was made in 2004 after a woman was critically burned in a tower in Koreatown.

Were always interested in providing clean, safe affordable housing, said Jim Clarke, head of the Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles. If it doesnt have fire sprinklers, it may not be the safest place to live, but at the same time youre bound. Your hands are tied because of finances.

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35% of L.A.'s high-rise apartment buildings lack fire sprinklers

Afghan Hospital Sheds Image of Corruption, Mistreatment
2014 - The Afghan Military Hospital has seen changes and improvements since a history of corruption and patient mistreatment marred its reputation just a fe...

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INDIANAPOLIS -

A familiar face is back in Indiana this week talking about his latest project.

In a week leading up to Valentine's Day, Tony Dungy is focused on a project that sheds new light on a personal love story.

A standing room only crowd of about 400 crowded the Cathedral High School cafeteria Tuesday to hear from the former Indianapolis Colts head coach. Dungy and his wife, Lauren, are on a multi-city tour to promote their new book, "Uncommon Marriage" - 230 pages of the personal and professional highs and lows stretched over 31 years of marriage.

"A lot of it was before we were in the limelight, before people thought of us as Super Bowl winners and it's just average stories that everyone can related to," Dungy said.

The book touches on his family's greatest moments, among them winning the Super Bowl in 2007, and the devastating time when they lost their eldest son to suicide. Through it all, they say it was their faith and a sense of purpose and partnership that saw them through.

"We were able to persevere and to get through the challenging times in a marriage - and all marriages have ups and downs and you can expect that - but it's how you navigate through them," Lauren Dungy said.

Coach Dungy has authored previous books that have reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list. He says when he left coaching, he didn't expect his career to include becoming a best-selling author.

"I really didn't. The broadcasting and doing the books is not something I anticipated, but it's just been an avenue the Lord has used and created a platform and it's been wonderful," Dungy said.

The Dungy's book tour will visit six Indiana cities, including Fort Wayne, Terre Haute and Bloomington, with a stop Thursday at the Walmart store on 151st Street in Carmel.

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Dungys' new book offers advice for marriage

Barclays CEO Antony Jenkins has promised big changes in the culture and behavior of the bank.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

The British-based bank said Tuesday that fourth quarter earnings before tax fell 86%, dragged down by a loss of 329 million in investment banking.

In a move that angered union and boardroom representatives alike, Barclays (BCS) said its investment bankers would share a bonus pot of 1.6 billion, up 13% on 2012, receiving 60,000 each on average.

"Despite claims there would be no return to its old ways, Barclays is increasing bonus pools for those already paid unimaginably high salaries," said Unite union official Dominic Hook.

A Barclays spokesman said 10,000 to 12,000 jobs would go in 2014, including about 7,000 in the U.K. The bank has about 140,000 employees worldwide.

Senior bankers won't be spared -- 220 managing directors and 600 directors will lose their jobs within the next month, the spokesman added.

Barclays is 12 months into a major overhaul initiated by CEO Antony Jenkins to repair the bank's finances, restore its reputation following a series of scandals, and withdraw from some businesses.

Related: Barclays investigating data theft

Jenkins has promised big changes in the culture and behavior of the bank. He took the job after Bob Diamond was forced out in the wake of the Libor scandal.

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Barclays stokes bonus row as 12,000 jobs go

ELMHURST The Elmhurst Heritage Foundation accepted a $1,500 check from AT&T after state Rep. Dennis Reboletti nominated the organization.

The "AT&T Investing in Illinois Award" recognizes organizations and programs that are improving lives in their communities and the state by advancing education, economic growth, new technologies and other essential community services, according to an AT&T news release.

"The first folks I thought about were you," Reboletti said. "You guys do a lot with a little."

The $1,500 is earmarked for the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation's "Visionary Voices" capital campaign as well as other needs. The campaign aims to raise $250,000 for a new exhibit about Elmhurst history that will open at Elmhurst Historical Museum in the fall.

"The new exhibit is intended to be a real attraction for the museum and to serve and function as a continually evolving story as additions will be made," Elmhurst Heritage Foundation President Cathy Jordan said.

The new exhibit will replace the "Visions of Home" exhibit that was installed in 1986. Touchscreens, interpretive panels, videos and artifacts will make up the new exhibit.

Jordan thanked AT&T as well as Reboletti, whom she referred to as Elmhurst's homeboy.

"Dennis has always looked out for Elmhurst, and this is just another example," Mayor Steve Morley said.

Museum Director Brian Bergheger thanked Valerie Bruggeman and Steve Selcke from AT&T who presented the foundation with a $1,500 check and an award.

"I thank you not only for your gift, but your trust in what we're doing here at the historical museum, your trust in the Heritage Foundation as well as your trust in Elmhurst," Bergheger said.

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AT&T awards $1,500 to Elmhurst Heritage Foundation

Mobile App for Remodeling Contractors
Mobile app for Remodeling Contractors. A powerful sales tools that will get your business more clients and more referrals. Help iPhone and Android mobile app...

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 11, 2014

The residential remodeling and replacement industry completed its best year since 2008, based on the latest release of the Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) by Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company. Across multiple metrics produced by Metrostudy, 2013 marked a clear and substantial move towards recovery in the home improvement sector. The seasonally adjusted fourth quarter national composite of the RRI registered a score of 94.6, which was a 1 percent improvement over the third quarter result of 93.4. Year-over-year, the index gained 9%, marking the second consecutive year of gains and representing the largest year-over-year increase in activity since 2005.

The increase quarter-to-quarter was the eighth consecutive improvement after the industry experienced declines in 2011 and bottomed out after peaking in 2007. As housing fundamentals began turning the corner in 2012, remodeling and replacement began to increase.

2013 turned out to be a banner year for remodeling and replacement due to strong housing market fundamentals, resurging consumer confidence, and pent-up demand, remarked Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist of Hanley Wood and the architect of the residential remodeling index. We are forecasting the market to continue to show gains over the next several years. I am confident that the total level of remodeling and replacement activity will be fully recovered nationally by the end of 2015, and we have a chance at reaching that milestone in 2014 if the economy picks up more steam.

Metrostudy produces the RRI to provide industry visibility into local market remodeling activity, forecasted future activity, and potential demand. According to the companys fourth quarter report, there were 379 out of 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas with year-over-year growth in remodeling and replacement projects in 2013, with markets averaging growth of 9% over 2012.

Metrostudy ranks the best markets for remodeling for the year ahead based on market health, level of forecasted future growth, extent of recovery, and potential demand. The current top ten best markets for remodeling in 2014 are Denver, Buffalo, Austin, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Midland, San Francisco, and Houston. The largest remodeling markets based on forecasted projects in 2014 are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, and Boston.

The Residential Remodeling Index is a quarterly measure of the level of remodeling activity in 381 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) in the U.S., with the national composite reflecting the national level of activity. Activity includes home improvement and replacement projects, but does not include maintenance or projects of less than $1000. The seasonally adjusted index shows the relative level of activity in the geography specified (MSA or national composite) compared to 2007 (the baseline year). A number above 100 indicates a level of remodeling activity higher than the level of activity at the beginning of 2007, which was the peak of remodeling activity in the prior decade.

The index is produced through a statistical model that leverages detailed data on remodeling activity, including household level remodeling permits, and consumer-reported remodeling and replacement projects. Quarterly historical results for the national composite and for each of the 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. are available back to 2004. In addition, Metrostudy also produces annual estimates of project counts and expenditures as well as forecasts of the quarterly RRI and annual projects and expenditures.

About Metrostudy Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, is the largest provider of comprehensive research and insight for the real estate industry. Builders, developers, banks, manufacturers, retailers and many other industries all rely on Metrostudy's data and analytics to support strategic business decisions at the local, regional and national market level. http://www.Metrostudy.com

About Hanley Wood Hanley Wood is the premier information, media, event, and strategic marketing services company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries. Utilizing the largest editorial- and analytics-driven construction market database, the company produces powerful market data and insights; award-winning publications, newsletters and websites; marquee trade shows and executive events; and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com.

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Metrostudy Reports Remodeling and Replacement Activity Ends 2013 Up 9 Percent Over 2012

Plumber Athens GA
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