MOSCOW, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Itera International Energy Company is known to consumers throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, and the United States, largely for its production and distribution of natural gas, as well as involvement in real estate, lumber production, and more. More recently, however, the company has been involved with a project of a different kind namely, the construction of a new Russian Orthodox Church building, located in Cyprus. The historic building's construction was recently commenced with a solemn religious dedication ceremony.

On June 9, the Holiest Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril performed a ceremony to pray over, and ultimately bless, the ground that will serve as the foundation for this new church building. The church in question is the Church of Nicolas, which, when completed will stand as the first truly Russian Church in the region of Cyprus. The building is currently under construction, with corporate sponsorship coming from Itera and other major companies.

The ceremony was attended by more than a thousand Russian citizens, including many members of the church government as well as civic government officials. Also in attendance were several executives from Itera International Energy Company.

The Church of Nicolas will be the first Russian Church in Cyprus to be constructed on a piece of land owned by the Moscow Patriarchy. Itera International Energy Company is actively sponsoring its construction, not just financially but also with organizational and developmental assistance as the project progresses. The building itself is set to be lavish; the Orthodox Church will include a bell tower and a pilgrim house, to be constructed in line with traditions of the Russian Church architecture of the 17th Century.

Additionally, the area of the Church will exceed one thousand square meters, allowing for worship services to hold as many as 500 to 600 people. A Sabbath school and a Library will also be operational on church grounds.

Itera International Energy Company was founded on the heels of the Soviet Union's breakdown, and since that time has offered vital utility and energy services to communities throughout the region.

ABOUT: Itera International Energy Company is a vertically integrated company founded in 1992, with dozens of enterprises in the NIS, Baltic States, Western Europe, Asia and the United States.

Since 1994, Itera's main business activity has been natural gas. Starting in 1998, Itera Oil and Gas Company, within the Itera Group, has been expanding its own gas production in the Yamal-Nenets region of Russia and has invested over two billion dollars into infrastructure. Overall, over 250 billion cubic meters of gas were produced at Itera's gas fields. The total volume of gas sold by Itera has surpassed 600 billion cubic meters. Itera's strategic business developments are also reaching into development, biochemical and power generating segments.

The American division of the company, Itera USA, was founded in 1992. In addition to their work in the energy industry, Itera USA has also found success in timber, real estate, and more. Itera always welcomes new ideas, and strives to build bridges between peoples and cultures through the implementation of quality energy solutions.

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Itera International Energy Company Aids in Construction of Russian Orthodox Church

(PRWEB) June 26, 2012

Sears Appliance Repair knows there's never a convenient time to have household or kitchen appliance issues. That's why the goal is to provide quality appliance repair service in a timely and honest manner a combination that has made Sears Appliance Repair the first choice of many residential and commercial clients worldwide. With a promise to respect a home and give a solid quote before the work begins so there are no surprises. Sears Appliance Repair technicians are courteous and knowledgeable and take pride in maintaining a level of professionalism. When calling Sears Appliance Repair be confident that the appliance repair technician who services the appliances and equipment is the best person for the job. Clients that are in need of Dishwasher repaired, Refrigerator serviced, having Oven problems should call today. Technicians are standing by that have the knowledge and tools to solve any kitchen appliance repair problems. Sears Appliance Repair is a leading appliance repair franchise system. Opened since 2004, its franchises provide full-service residential appliance repair and light commercial appliance repair services. Sears Appliance Repair has locations throughout the United States and is consistently ranked among the top home service franchises by industry experts. This commitment to quality is the cornerstone of Sears Appliance Repair. Customer Satisfaction is the secret of Sears Appliance Repair success. Now to reward the faithful customers who have made Sears Appliance Repair what it is today, from now until the end of August prices have been slashed on all appliance repair and service. Call today for an appointment right now! Don't try to do it yourself and cause further damage. Sears Appliance Repair technicians are qualified and experienced to repair appliance so that the customer can get on with life ASAP. For more information visit the website at http://www.searsappliancerepair.org or call (281)-214-0488

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Sears Appliance Repair Announces Massive Summer Blowout Sale. From Now Until the End of August Discounts Will be ...

You know that people care about something when theyre willing to sit in sweltering heat for it. (Jess Schiewe)

Last Friday morning, Felix Guzman woke up early, grabbed his fishing pole, and headed over to the East River for some catch and release fun. For 40 years he has lived in the same building on Academy Street in Inwood and in that time he has seen a lot. So when he got back to his apartment around 11 am and saw that his street was teaming with newscasters, elected officials, cameramen, and local community members, he wasnt surprised. Theyd been there before. Its always been tough here, Mr. Guzman said. Im glad theyre doing something about it.

The building in question was 552 Academy Street, a crumbling 72-unit brick building located across the street from Mr. Guzmans apartment. A year ago he had stood outside and watched as dozens of tenants dragged their belongings onto the sidewalk, confused and frightened and wondering where they would relocate to next.

The building, the city told them, was unsafe, which was why they had to vacate the premises. Although Mr. Guzman had never been inside, he heard rumors that at times the units lacked gas, running water, and electricity. This is what happens when you get these slumlords and all they care about is the money, Mr. Guzman said, referring to the buildings landlord, Rachel Arfa, whom the City blames for the hazardous conditions.

With the help of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the tenants31 families in total were relocated to temporary apartments around the city, in neighborhoods like Hillside, Thayer, and Elmwood.

But on Friday, many of the tenants were back in their old neighborhood, rubbing shoulders with the suits and construction workers who were there to announce the good news: 552 Academy Street would be rehabilitated and open for residency in the next 18 months. As part of Mayor Michael Bloombergs New Housing Marketplace Plan, the structure has received $21.1 million in funding that will be used to rebuild, stabilize, and improve the old, defunct building.

This is a really big step for us, said Iris Bertoni, a representative of the buildings tenant association who had lived in the same apartment on the third floor for 50 years. Were coming back home.

In addition to improved mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, the building, which was formerly a walk-up, will be redesigned to include an elevator line, a community room, and new kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry room. The renovations, which will modernize the building and bring it up to code, are the result of a lengthy battle between the City and Arfa for possession of the building. According to the Department of Buildings website, Arfa was charged with allowing structural stability and egress issues to develop over the last ten years, and has since been removed as the buildings owner.

This building has a history that is unfortunately not as uncommon as we would like, HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua said,but one thing that it has in its favor is a support network equal to no other.The rehabilitation of the building, Mr. Wambua said, as well as the selection of a new owner, will bespearheaded by the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) and Alembic Development Corporation.

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, who donated $1 million to the project from his discretionary funds, was at the event on Friday, donning a plastic hardhat and black suit. I feel great, he said minutes after plunging a golden shovel into a pile of dirt as part of the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. Not only was he glad that the tenants would be able to return to their former homes, he said, but he hoped that the event would serve as a warning to inept landlords throughout the city. We have no tolerance for negligence, he said. This is a message to any other landlord who doesnt reflect what they are supposed to be doing in terms of providing decent living situations for their tenants.

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Inwood Stability: City Saves Neglected Apartment Building with New Program and Private Partnership

Arvind Subramanian: Katherine Boo, India and China Boo's reportage on a Mumbai slum highlights the Indian state's inability to provide the basics Arvind Subramanian / Mar 28, 2012, 00:41 IST

The even-handedness that stems from Katherine Boos natural and abundant empathy is one of the many appeals of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, her gorgeous book on one of Mumbais slums, Annawadi. Thus, both cassandras-cum-state interventionists such as Amartya Sen and hope purveyors-cum-market enthusiasts such as the late management guru C K Prahalad can claim vindication in the book.

And yet, Indias generalised economic dynamism, which allows the books teenage protagonist, Abdul, to support a family of 11, leavens life with hope and entrepreneurial possibilities. Prahalads point was that the poor had exploitable purchasing power, and the explosive sales of cheap and small-sized sachets of washing powder, paan and other consumables over these last few decades seemed corroborative evidence. Boos book shows that the Prahalad strategy works in part because the poor can acquire purchasing power in unlikely ways.

First, by hustling in waste: one might say that for many Annawadi residents, life is all about crap and scrap. In a nice twist, globalisation plays a key positive role in this hustling. When global commodity prices boom, so does the value of commodity-related waste aluminium, plastic, copper, steel the scavenging for which provides sustenance for the slum dwellers. Similarly, when foreign tourist traffic slows down, the supply of waste declines, thus depressing slum incomes. Blinkered to the lives of the marginalised, we instinctively equate globalisation with the free flow of goods, forgetting that bads such as detritus which are not bad at all for the poor are globalised too.

Second, the poor acquire purchasing power by partaking of the venality and corruption of those in power. The book is a reminder that the perpetrators of corruption are not its exclusive beneficiaries. As Boo writes: For the poor of a country where corruption thieved a great deal of opportunity, corruption was one of the genuine opportunities that remained.

The trickle-down of public funds looted is a source of income for some of the poor. Electoral politics compels venal politicians to share their loot even if, or especially because, it is ill-gotten. After all, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi have spread TV ownership in Tamil Nadu despite their motives and means being thoroughly dubious. Trickle-down must also occur because of the pseudo-accountability required of poverty interventions. To allow donors to feel good about themselves, they must see first-hand the changing reality on the ground. Some collateral benefit, even if cosmetic, is unavoidable.

But the most important and depressing development insight that Behind the Beautiful Forevers offers is this: the related pathologies we variously call weak public institutions, ineffective governance, and corruption are especially costly, and most difficult to escape from, for the poorest.

Boo perceptively notes that succumbing to the narrative of jugaad the creative entrepreneurial spirit associated with circumventing regulation and corruption growth-addled India is in danger of overlooking the colossal costs for the poor of deteriorating Indian governance. And her explanation of these costs is novel. It is not just that navigating, say, the Indian judicial system can be time-consuming, financially draining, and livelihood-destroying. The Indian system severs the link between effort and result, engendering deep despair: We try so many things, as one Annawadi girl put it, but the world does not move in our favour.

Worse, since life at the bottom has a dog-eat-dog quality, a collective action trap condemns the poor to coping with, rather than having any chance of reforming, Indias institutions. Instead of uniting, poor people competed ferociously with one another for gains as slender as they were provisional, Boo writes. As a result, the gates of the rich, intermittently rattled, remained unbreached... The poor took down one another and the worlds great cities soldiered on in relative peace.

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Arvind Subramanian: Katherine Boo, India and China

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, KNS/2012

photos by AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL A vanity top produced by Virtuous Products Inc., made of Sedonite on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Sedonite consists of crushed recycled glass and a proprietary bonding agent that is activated with water, the material can then be cast like concrete.

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, KNS/2012

Mark Wasserman, president of Virtuous Products Inc., with a table made of Sedonite;

A Knoxville company has developed a proprietary material made from recycled glass that can be used for flooring, countertops and casual outdoor furniture.

Virtuous Products Inc. is the exclusive producer of Sedonite, named for the colorful "Painted Desert" around Sedona, Ariz. where the company was founded in 1999.

Founder Mark Wassenaar recently won the "What's the Big Idea" business plan competition sponsored by The Development Corp. of Knox County, Knoxville Chamber and Tech 2020.

Sedonite is made from crushed recycled glass bonded with a unique glue-like material that can be cast like concrete.

Unlike concrete, which can take several weeks to completely dry, Sedonite can be poured into a mold and removed within a few hours, according to Wassenaar. The water-based binding agent is easier to work with and less expensive than epoxy resins, he said.

"Lowering the production cost has allowed us to offset the increasing price of fuel. We can now afford to ship our products," he said.

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Different kind of recycler

The St. James Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Staples Floor Covering as June Business of the Month. Staples Flooring is located at 100 West Washington Street, St. James.

In July of 2002, Jerry Staples started the flooring business with the goal of serving the community and surrounding area, while keeping prices as low as possible. In order to provide the maximum selection in flooring, Staples set up direct accounts with the largest and most reputable flooring companies. The result enables customers to select the type of flooring that they desire from a huge selection of proven products.

Carpet, tile, hardwood, stone, vinyl, and laminate are available in a myriad of colors, styles, and price ranges. Carpet choices include selections from Shaw, Mohawk, and Beaulieu, the three largest carpet mills in the world. Summerset, one of the many hardwood companies carried by Staples Flooring, offers over 200 hardwood options including Tiger Wood (Astronium), Exotic (Kempas),Acacia, Acajoum, Bamboo, Hickory, Red Oak, and White Oak. Stone andtile include Daltile, American Olean, Florida, Marazzi, Ragno, Esquire and others.

Staples Flooring hasnot, nor haseverbeen affiliated with any other floor covering store. Anexperienced staff with knowledge of theproducts, as well as expert installation crews, provide service that is second to none.Staples Floor Covering carries only first quality productsthat providea full warranty. States Jerry, Honesty is our standard and we try to treat others as we ourselves would want to be treated. We are VERY thankful to our community and the surrounding communities for all their support. Staples Floor Covering is located at 100 West Washington in downtown St James, right next to the Railroad tracks. Store hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday; 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m., Tuesday Friday; and 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Saturday. Phone: 573-265-3355

The SJ Chamber of Commerce will host a coffee at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, at Staples Flooring Covering. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend, showing your support to Staples Floor Covering for their many contributions to the community. Refreshments will be served.

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St. James business of the month: Staples Floor Covering

Points: 0 Article Discussion: $5 million in stolen artifacts returned

by SmileySometimes on Yesterday, 4:56 pm #2548852

Wow, this is great news. I love to hear about these items being returned. Kudos to Berk the antique dealer for being vigilant--and ehthical. If not for him, we'd never know of these objects' whereabouts--or extistence, even. I wonder if possibly this former curator didn't "steal" the items, per se...maybe he (I'm assuming it's a "he") took them home to his basement for safekeeping, planning to return them. Who knows, maybe the museum roof was leaking, or remodeling was scheduled, something like that, and he felt the items would be safest in his home temporarily. It was a long time ago; probably not as much museum protocol was in place, as there is today. So nobody objected. Then time passed, he may have forgotten about the box of stuff in his basement, or become ill...there could be any number of explanations. Whatever happened, it's fantastic that they've been found and returned. : )

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Comment on $5 million in stolen artifacts returned to Polish museum

Everlight showcases series of LED components at LED Expo 2012 in Korea

Press release, June 26; Alex Wolfgram, DIGITIMES[Tuesday 26 June 2012]

Everlight recently showcased its new series of LED component products at the 2012 LED Expo in Korea. The company presented a whole series of packages for different applications including automotive, smartphone, digital display, indoor/outdoor signage, flash light, infrared LEDs, backlight and general lighting.

Everlight's SMD LED series can be installed as a backlight, indicator or flash light in smartphones or tablets and its infrared LEDs can be installed for sensor or communication functions in phones, remote controls or power supplies. The company's High Power LED can be installed in high brightness lighting fixtures like down lights or street lights whereas its Low/Mid Power LED series are directed towards light bar and replacement omnidirectional retrofit applications. In addition, the COB LED can easily be installed on the heat sink.

Everlight also showcased its Show D series, a high-power LED that is used for automotive and general lighting applications and its small-sized LED packages, which are used for smartphones, tablet PCs, TV backlights, indoor signage and general lighting applications. Everlight's Infrared LED series is commonly used in sensor, power supply, electricity meter or communication instruments whereas its JU series, a COB LED, is suitable for directional, decorative or high brightness LED lamps.

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Everlight showcases series of LED components at LED Expo 2012 in Korea

Regency Centers Corporation (REG), a real estate investment trust (:REIT), is set to commence construction of a 280,113 square-foot shopping center named Grand Ridge Plaza in Issaquah Highlands, east of downtown Seattle. Spanning across 24.58 acres, the center will be anchored by Safeway, a major grocery chain in the U.S.

Grand Ridge Plaza will be an open-air center featuring a 44,543 square-foot Safeway store, a 56,820 square-foot 12-screen Regal Cinemas and other retail stores, restaurants and entertainment centers. The construction is expected to be completed by fourth quarter 2013, with the first-phase of Regal Cinemas opening in the second quarter 2013.

Regency will largely benefit from the prime location of the property as Issaquah Highlands has limited competition due to high barriers to entry. Once fully complete, Issaquah Highlands will have up to 4,540 homes and 3 million square feet of commercial space.

Grand Ridge Plaza will serve the nearby Sammamish Plateau and greater Issaquah areas and Interstate 90. The center is expected to further expand Regency's presence in the Pacific Northwest.

Grand Ridge Plaza is included in Regency's 'greengenuity' program and accordingly will feature green building strategies and energy-efficient design and practices. It will also comply with the overall sustainability principles of the Issaquah Highlands community.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Regency owns, operates and develops grocery-anchored retail shopping centers in the U.S. With properties in high income, high-barrier markets, Regencys retail strip center portfolio is among the best in the sector and allows it to continually perform at the top-end of its peer group.

Regency currently retains a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating. We are also maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock. One of its competitors, Simon Property Group Inc. (SPG) holds a Zacks #2 Rank, which translates into a short- term Buy rating.

Read the Full Research Report on SPG

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Regency to Develop Shopping Center

NEW YORK, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Silverstein Properties President and CEO Larry A. Silverstein was joined by approximately 1,000 construction workers and other New York government, civic and business leaders at a topping out ceremony marking the completion of steel erection for the new 4 World Trade Center the first office tower that will be completed and opened on the original 16-acre World Trade Center site.

The final steel beam, which weighed 8 tons and was adorned with an American flag, was signed by Mr. Silverstein and other dignitaries. It was then raised 977 feet in the air and placed at the top the 72-story tower.

"The topping out of 4 World Trade Center represents another milestone in the effort to create a new, dynamic World Trade Center at the heart of a resurgent Downtown," said Mr. Silverstein. "This neighborhood has undergone a remarkable transformation into a one-of-a-kind model of sustainable urban development. Over the past decade, the number of people living Downtown has doubled. We have the best mass transit network, new parks and schools, and the densest concentration of green buildings of anywhere in the world. That is why lower Manhattan is fast becoming the location of choice for all kinds of creative companies, as well as the financial powerhouses of Wall Street."

"The World Trade Center site is at the heart of Lower Manhattan's rebirth," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "As 4 World Trade Center takes its place in the New York City skyline, we're creating a neighborhood that is stronger than ever. Congratulations to all who have taken on the challenge of rebuilding and worked so hard on this important project."

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: "To think that such a beautiful structure now stands where there had once been such shocking ugliness and terrible pain is, on the one hand, breathtaking and inspiring, and on the other, so perfectly symbolic of New York's 'can do/never surrender' spirit. I congratulate Larry Silverstein and Dan Tishman on this outstanding achievement."

Designed by Pritzker Prize winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, 4 World Trade Center is located at 150 Greenwich Street and bounded by Greenwich, Church, Cortlandt and Liberty Streets. The tower was designed to have an abstract quality minimal, light, cool in color, and ephemeral, changing with the light of day. Seen from a distance, the building presents a unique angular profile at the crown, in keeping with the spiral composition formed by the group of four towers and looking back to the Memorial and One World Trade Center.

The fourth tallest skyscraper on the World Trade Center site, 4 WTC will include 72 floors that total approximately 2.3 million square feet. It has been designed to meet a LEED Gold level of sustainable design like 7 World Trade Center and the other office buildings at the WTC site. A quarter of the office space is slated to become the new headquarters of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Another 600,000 square feet will be occupied by the City of New York. The remainder of the office space will be retained by Silverstein Properties for commercial tenants.

The podium base of 4 WTC is made up of the ground floor, plus two levels above grade and two floors below grade that are dedicated for retail use restaurants, shops and boutiques of every kind. The building provides primary access from Wall Street to the World Trade Center's underground transportation and retail concourse, which in turn connects to the central PATH terminal and virtually every subway line.

Said Fumihiko Maki, "The design of the tower at 150 Greenwich has two fundamental elements a 'minimalist' tower that achieves an appropriate presence, quiet but with dignity, and a 'podium' that becomes a catalyst for activating the surrounding urban streetscape as part of the revitalization of lower Manhattan."

The conceptual design for 4 World Trade Center was unveiled in September 2006. In February 2008, excavation and foundation work began and in July 2009, below-grade work on the project was completed. Steel erection began in December 2009. Glass curtain wall installation began in April 2011 and the building will be fully enclosed in December 2012. 4 World Trade Center is scheduled to open in fall 2013.

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WTC Developer Larry Silverstein Celebrates Topping Out of Steel at 4 World Trade Center