Conservation Italy Baroque building is home to Academy of Science and Egypt museum

By Ermanno Rivetti. Web only Published online: 28 June 2012

Six years of restoration work has brought a number of rooms in the Collegio dei Nobili, one of Turins most significant examples of baroque architecture, back to their full glory. The Compagnia di San Paolo charitable foundation provided 7.8m ($9.7m) for the project.

The building houses the Accademia delle Scienze, and work was carried out on the ceilings, floors, tapestries and furniture in the academys rooms, while the grand staircase, designed by the architect Guarino Guarini, was extensively renovated. The project was overseen by Valerio Corino, an architect from Turins architectural soprintendenza (board for cultural heritage).

Work was delayed following a flood in 2009, the result of a faulty fire alarm system, which caused more damage to one of the rooms. The building also houses the Museo Egizio, considered the third most important Egyptian museum after The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, and the British Museum, London.

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Restoration completed at Turin’s Collegio dei Nobili

The seminal Jackson Pollock work Mural will travel from the University of Iowa to J. Paul Getty conservation officials in Los Angeles. (Deb Barber/Iowa City Press-Citizen/Associated Press)

Mural, the seminal, larger-than-life work that represented a sea change in abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock's career, will be travelling from Iowa to Los Angeles this summer for a little nip and tuck.

The painting, which is nearly 70 years old, is being shipped to the Getty Center, where scientists at the Getty's Conservation Institute and curators at its J. Paul Getty Museum hope to restore it to pristine condition.

When the work is complete, the oil-on-canvas painting will be exhibited at the Getty Center museum for three months before it is returned to its owner, the University of Iowa.

The work is more than two metres high and nearly six metres long. It represents a key moment in Pollock's career, as he began to move from creating more symbolic, regional forms to the abstract expressionism that would reach full bloom in his famous "drip" paintings, in which he poured paint directly onto the canvas.

"It may be the most important painting from the second half of the 20th century," said Tom Lerner, head of modern and contemporary art research at the Getty Conservation Institute.

Pollock created it as a commission from wealthy art collector Peggy Guggenheim, who gave it to the University of Iowa in 1951.

The work, filled with colorful, twisting animal-like forms, was described by the artist himself as representing a stampede of animals from the American West.

Although it is dated 1943, Pollock is said to have created it in one burst of frenetic activity on New Year's Day 1944, after complaining for months that he was "blocked" and couldn't come up with an idea to put on canvas for Guggenheim.

"I've had to tear out the partition between the front and middle room to get the damned thing up," he once wrote of the painting's size. "I have it stretched now. It looks pretty big, but exciting as all hell."

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Jackson Pollock mural hits the road for restoration

Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust

News release

FT013

28 June 2012

Swap - 1

Kiwi home-swap deepens the gene pool

Collaboration highlights complex nature of NZ conservation

Eight young North Island Brown kiwi switched Bays today in a home-swapping story that illustrates perfectly the complex scientific, collaborative private/public partnership that kiwi conservation has become. Two young males and two young females from the Forest Lifeforce Restoration (FLR) Trusts Maungataniwha Native Forest in inland Hawkes Bay set off for their new home in the Whirinaki Forest Park in neighbouring Bay of Plenty, and were replaced by four birds from there.

Although in different provinces the Whirinaki and Maungataniwha forests are only about 25 km apart. The transfer will boost the genetic diversity of both projects kiwi population as the birds that have been put back into both forests through Operation Nest Egg have been the offspring of fewer than 15 breeding pairs, with most coming from just a few good breeders.

Without this human-induced genetic dispersal in-breeding may eventually result, said Sarah King, protected species ranger at DOCs Te Urewera Area Office. This would lead to reduced health among the birds and the potential for populations to fall victim to disease, which in turn could have catastrophic results.

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Kiwi home-swap deepens the gene pool

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recognized as the number one home inspection company by Entrepreneur Magazine, AmeriSpec, one of the nation's leading home inspection companies, celebrates 25 years of delivering professional and quality home inspections to buyers and real estate agents.

"Over the last 25 years, AmeriSpec has provided buyers and real estate agents with a professional, comprehensive 400-point general home inspection," said Kathy Thiessen, vice president and general manager. "Buying or selling a home is a large investment of time and resources. We're proud to provide the confidence buyers and agents need, and to help reduce the risk of unwanted surprises."

Recommending a professional home inspector with the proper qualifications could mean the difference between a smooth real estate transaction and unfortunate roadblocks. Through state-of-the-art training and the AmeriSpec Report Binder, AmeriSpec home inspectors can help reduce the risks involved in buying a home.

For real estate agents, a professional inspection can help improve sales, help provide fewer objections in price listing and help reduce the overall listing time for a client.

For a home buyer, a professional home inspection helps provide assurance in making a sound buying decision, can help reduce the risk of unwanted surprises after move in and provides valuable details about a home.

"AmeriSpec provides our sales professionals and customers the confidence of knowing the property is being inspected by one of the nation's leading home inspection companies," said Rei L. Mesa, president and chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate Services in Florida. "AmeriSpec inspectors are trained with the highest industry standards, which translates into exceeding our customer's expectations. We could not be more pleased with our professional preferred service partnership with AmeriSpec and look forward to the next 25 years of continued exceptional service for our customers."

In addition to general home inspections, AmeriSpec also offers relocation inspections, energy assessments, commercial property inspections, radon gas testing, mold testing, water analysis, septic testing, pool and spa inspections and many more. For a full list of services, please visit http://www.amerispec.com.

About AmeriSpec

AmeriSpec has more than 150 independently-owned and operated franchises located throughout the United States and Canada. AmeriSpec has performed more than 1.5 million quality home inspections. The company, which has been in operation since 1987, is one of seven companies in the ServiceMaster family of brands. The other companies include TruGreen, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids and Furniture Medic. For more information, call 1-800-426-2270 or visit http://www.amerispec.com.

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AmeriSpec(R) Celebrates 25 Years as an Industry Leader in Home Inspections

Bangalore, Jun 27 : A section of the legislators, including Ministers, who are supporting Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda in the crisis-ridden BJP in Karnataka today threatened that they would pull down the government if Mr Gowda is replaced.

The B S Yeddyurappa camp has been pressing hard for a change in leadership and seeking replacement of Mr Gowda with pro-Yeddyurappa camper and Minister for Rural Development Jagdish Shettar.

Speaking to reporters at Gokak in North Karnataka today, Minister for Municipal Administration Balachandra Jarkiholi said majority of the legislators were opposed to the demand by the Yeddyurappa camp, and if the central leadership succumbs to pressure, the legislators opposed to the former Chief Minister will 'pull down' the government.

'We do not agree with this proposal. Mr Gowda has the support of majority of legislators. We will not keep quiet if any attempt is made to effect a change in the leadership ,' the minister, who is opposed to the Yeddyurappa camp said.

He said Mr Gowda, who was free from any controversy, had been doing a good job and his group would impress upon the central leadership in this matter.

According to party sources, the pro-Yeddyurappa camp has given an 'ultimatum' to the central leaders to replace Mr Gowda by June 30. Otherwise, eight minister in this camp have threatened to quit Mr Gowda's cabinet. The camp followers have claimed that there would be a leadership change by the end of June. (UNI)

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Section of legislators opposed to Gowda's replacement

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio Gil delos Reyes. PHOTO FROM GOV.PH

Rumors of a cabinet revamp are swirling around Malacaang but presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda indicated he was not aware of any immediate changes in the works.

There was rife speculation the other week that Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes was on the way. Now, there is supposedly a statement from some lawmakers to remove those Cabinet ministers who have been bypassed thrice by the Commission on Appointments.

Among the Cabinet secretaries who have yet to be confirmed by the CA are Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

[President Aquino] believes that these people, the Cabinet secretaries that he has appointed to those departments are capable. These people enjoy his trust and confidence, Lacierda said.

The President believes that while they have not been rejected, it is important that they continue to deliver the services which they were tasked to do. So thats his position as far as I remember speaking to him about this issue, Lacierda added.

Aquino bill

The latest round of political rumors come with well-timed reminders that Mr. Aquino, when he was still a senator in 2007, had filed a bill (SB 1719) that would stop the executive department from reappointing someone who has been rejected by the legislative CA three times.

The issue at that time was then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos repeated reappointment of some Cabinet members who had been repeatedly bypassed by the CA.

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Palace: No cabinet revamp, DAR chief staying

27-06-2012 17:27 Assurance Remodeling, LLC. is a residential remodeling company that has been providing top quality craftsmanship to homeowners and real estate investors in the dallas metroplex for over 20 years. We are a full service remodeling company that offers everything from major renovations and additions to small jobs and repairs.We are a local based company with a professional staff of highly skilled craftsman to cover all your residential improvement needs. Whether you're looking to build, remodel, or repair. Call 214-930-8906. Assurance Remodeling strives to "MAKE YOUR HOUSE A DREAM HOME". We take our job seriously and personally. No job is complete until the customer is happy. You can rest assure that we will clean and inspect your house prior to completion of the job. We provide safe and professional installation every time. We are the company that goes above and beyond for all your construction and remodeling needs. Our philosophy is simple, unmatched craftsmanship and quality a cut above the rest while still offering competitive prices. We are specialized in complete home remodeling, adding space to an existing home, remodeling your kitchen or renovating your bathroom. These are the areas that we excel at. If you just want to change the color of your room or add some decorative molding we would love to do that too. Our team is highly experienced and extremely skilled from which everyone in the company is personally involved in your project from ...

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Assurance Remodeling (214) 930-8906 - Video

It all began with the bathroom.

We had been noticing that the vinyl flooring near the toilet was becoming spongy. The time had come to address this problem.

My wife, Marilyn, and I are not very handy around the house, so we sought help.

Our son, Casey, had the answer. His friend, Adam Schenk, works in construction and was willing to help us out.

Adam discovered that the seal attached to the bottom of the toilet had deteriorated to the point that water was leaking into the floorboards. He replaced all of the boards and fixed the toilet.

Casey thought it would be a good idea to tile the bathroom floor instead of using vinyl flooring. Adam was good at tiling as well, so we went that route.

Everything went according to plan. We didnt mind (too much) with having to go without a bathroom for two days.

With the bathroom project completed, we decided to expand our laundry list of things that needed to be done in our house. When you have a house that is 100 years old, there are a lot of things that need to be done.

Casey suggested that we refinish the floors in our kitchen, dining, living rooms and downstairs bedroom. We thought that that would be a great idea since we had already pulled the worn-out carpeting in our living room and bedroom. We also decided to paint the bathroom and kitchen.

Our original intent was to pull the vinyl flooring in our kitchen and refinish the wooden floor. But after we removed the vinyl flooring, we discovered another layer of vinyl flooring that looked like it was from the 1930s. We did some research and found out that flooring that old was often made with asbestos, so we came up with an alternative plan: We would have Adam tile our kitchen floor.

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PAINTER: Remodeling takes perseverance, learning from mistakes

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Henry Company, a leading manufacturer of roofing and building envelope products and systems, has been acquired today by an investor group led by the private equity firm Graham Partners and certain other co-investors including the private equity firm OceanBridge Partners, members of current management, and the Companys former owners.

With one of the largest manufacturing footprints in North America, Henry supplies roof coatings and cements, air and vapor barriers, underlayments, waterproofing products, spray foam, green roofing systems, and other building and do-it-yourself products. Henry also is a supplier of wax and asphalt emulsions for a variety of OEM applications. Henrys products are critical for managing the flow of water, air, and vapor through the building envelope, from foundation to roof, improving the structures energy efficiency, sustainability and livability. Henrys business is supported by one of the best recognized set of brands in North America including Henry (roof cements and coatings), Bakor (building materials), Blueskin (air and vapor barriers), Aqualite (wax emulsions), Black Knight (roof coatings and driveway sealer) and Permax (spray foam).

Graham Partners and the co-investors acquired Henry from the private equity firm AEA Investors and other minority shareholders. Terms of the transaction are not being released.

Under very capable leadership, Henry delivered solid performance over the past several years in spite of the difficult market environment, stated Rob Newbold, Managing Principal at Graham Partners. We look forward to working actively with management to enhance Henrys leadership in building envelope systems through the development of innovative, high performance building solutions and the ongoing commitment to sustainable, profitable growth aided by the resources we have to offer at Graham.

Brian Strauss will remain President and Chief Executive Officer of Henry, and the existing senior management team will continue to lead the Company following the transaction. Henry is a proven leader in innovative building envelope solutions. Our teams highly developed understanding of the market has enabled us to develop new products to better serve customers needs. We are enthusiastic about the partnership with Graham and look forward to working together, said Brian Strauss. Also, we wish to sincerely thank AEA Investors for their collaboration as we have worked together to grow Henry since their acquisition of the Company in 2005.

About Henry Company LLC (www.henry.com): Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Henry Company is a leader in Building Envelope Systems. Henry products control the flow of water, vapor, air, and energy through the entire building envelope, from foundation to roof. Henry understands the principles of integrating air and vapor barrier, roofing, and waterproofing systems to ensure superior building performance. Henry professionals offer designers, contractors, and building owners a combination of technical experience and a commitment to provide quality products. For more than 75 years, Henry has been the trusted source for a variety of building solutions.

About Graham Partners (www.grahampartners.net): Graham Partners is a private investment firm focused on investing in companies with proprietary technologies, advanced manufacturing know-how, innovative product development capabilities, and exceptional growth potential. Graham Partners targets businesses with revenues between $30 million and $500 million, and will invest in smaller companies to the extent they complement one or more of its other holdings. Since the firm's founding in 1988, Graham Partners has closed over sixty acquisitions, joint ventures, financings and divestitures. Today, the committed capital of the Graham Partners funds and Graham led co-investments totals approximately $1.6 billion. Investors include university endowments, charitable foundations, financial institutions and private investors. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the firm has access to extensive operating resources and industrial expertise as a member of The Graham Group, an alliance of independently owned and operated industrial and investment management businesses that share in the common legacy of entrepreneur Donald C. Graham.

About OceanBridge Partners (www.ocbrpartners.com): OceanBridge Partners is a new breed of global investment and advisory firm with offices in New York and London. Founded by a small group of senior investment professionals from prominent firms, it applies established private equity skills and techniques to identify and execute investment opportunities both within and outside the remit of the conventional private equity model.

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Henry Company Acquired by Investors Led by Graham Partners

PEABODY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (BECN) (Beacon or the Company) announced today that its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, David R. Grace, will retire effective January 1, 2013 for health reasons. A nationally recognized executive recruiting firm is conducting a search for his successor. Mr. Grace will remain in his current role until a new CFO is named and has also agreed to devote as much time as necessary to ensure a seamless transition.

Mr. Grace graduated with an accounting degree from Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. Mr. Grace has been the leader of Beacons financial organization and also oversees information technology and investor relations. He joined the Company as an accountant in 1987, when Beacon operated three branches, and served in positions of increasing responsibility until he was named CFO in 1997. He was most recently promoted to Executive Vice President on January 1, 2011.

Paul Isabella, the Companys President & Chief Executive Officer, stated: Throughout his 25-plus years of service to Beacon, Dave has been a key part of the Companys tremendous growth and success, including the completion of our 2004 IPO, a secondary offering in 2005, and many debt financings and acquisitions. He has built strong finance and IT teams and a disciplined financial culture that will serve the Company well in the years ahead. Although we certainly will miss Daves leadership and guidance, we understand and appreciate his decision that his health and family are his main focus at this time. We are grateful that Dave will continue to lead his departments until we transition to his successor. We wish Dave a long, enjoyable, and healthy retirement and thank him for his many years of service to Beacon.

About Beacon Roofing Supply Inc.:

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. is a leading distributor of roofing materials and complementary building products, operating 199 branches in 38 states in the United States and across Canada.

Forward-Looking Statements:This release contains information about management's view of the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's latest Form 10-K. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so other than as required by federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

BECN-F

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Beacon Roofing Supply Announces Retirement of CFO David Grace