World-Herald reporter Roger Buddenberg and his wife embarked on a major home remodeling project back in March. He blogged about the ups and downs, delays and accomplishments at Omaha.com/living. Now that he has a new kitchen, he's sharing what he learned over the past 12 weeks.

The Beginning -- March 8

Gulp. We knew this day would come.

When my wife and I bought our Omaha home 14 years ago, a friend dubbed it "the Cleaver house." White two-story. Paned windows. Shady yard. The only thing missing, she said, is a white picket fence and a kid named Beaver.

More was missing, in fact. And what wasn't missing was wearing out. In short, it was a fixer-upper. We knew that. That's how we could afford it. We went in with eyes open.

The kitchen has always loomed like a wall cloud over the other fix-up projects. Painting rooms we could do, no problem. Ripping the mint-green disco shag off the wood floors that we could do. We built shelves, updated lighting, even overhauled a couple of bathrooms, stretching my DIY skills to the limit.

Still the kitchen loomed. If we're going to stay in the house, we said heck, even if we're going to ever sell the house then something has to be done with the kitchen. Something big. A makeover, not a comb-over.

Nibbling at its edges new Formica on the countertops, new light fixtures, a lick here, a promise there held us for a while. But nothing could disguise the cabinets, site-built in the 1960s and now falling apart in places. Nor the closed-off, galley-style layout, which might have suited June Dear when the Cleavers lived here but did not suit my Current Wife.

"In the kitchen of the future," she has been saying for roughly 14 years, "we will have double ovens. The kitchen of the future will have an island. And a gas cooktop. The kitchen of the future will have a wine rack." And so on.

The husband of the future mostly muttered to himself and tried not to think about it. But because I desperately love her, and because a gas cooktop does sound pretty cool, the day has come. The future is now. The kitchen commences. Both daughters have now made it through college even snagged juicy scholarships along the way, which makes it easier for Mr. and Mrs. Empty Nest to contemplate the remodel.

View original post here:
Stuff I learned remodeling my kitchen

Tyra Banks's new office on Manhattan's Avenue D is currently under construction, but when it's finished, it'll be located in the same space as her latest project a leadership center for girls. Its official name isthe Tyra Banks TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, but who's going to be like, "Let's go hang out at the Tyra Banks TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club after school?" Yeah. Shortening it to TZONE seems like a long shot, too, because what teenage girl wants to be reminded of the most problematic area of her face? Anyway, the 30,000-square-foot building is tricked out with lots of swish amenities like a bakery, a "wellness center" (is that a gym?), a studio space, and because why not? a planetarium.*

Banks tells theTimesthat her goal for the space is to empower young female entrepreneurs. "My dream was to have a place that was brick and mortar, where they could build on that experience all the time," she said. "The real impact is to have consistency, as opposed to an excursion." Perhaps best of all, she herself will work out of her office in the building when she's in New York, so the girls will see her leading by example as she goes into work every day. In fact, Tyra says she wants them to get to the point where they don't even pay attention to her:

What I dont want to be is Tyra, the "celebrity girl," coming here and the girls being excited when they see me ... I want them to be numb to me. I can do normal work here and they can see me, to know that this is what a business is. Its not about living on a red carpet. I am a businesswoman who goes to work every single day.

Okay, but she surely still wants them to notice her at least just alittlebit.

*A rep for Banks has clarified that the Tyra Banks TZONE will only occupy 2,000 square feet of the 30,000 square foot Lower Eastside Girls Club, and that Tyra's actual office is "small"and will be within the TZONE area.

Excerpt from:
Tyra’s New Complex Will Have an Office, In-House Planetarium, Bakery, and ‘Wellness Center’

Rusty Malik, principal in charge of the central office construction at 35 Leroy Ave., said Darien could get the go-ahead to renovate the former library building as early as July 1 at a Board of Education Central Office/Mather Community Center Building Committee meeting in Town Hall Tuesday.

Malik met with state officials at the Department of Construction's Bureau of School Facilities June 4, where they discussed the review process that determines whether the project

is ready for construction.

"By going through this process, we will get state funding to the tune of $196,000 to $200,000," Malik said.

A state review would add a month to the process. He said, however, if the state cannot do a review process in 30 days, the project will go to a local review.

"If that happens, I anticipate that we'd be done with the review process by the end of the month," he said, recalling a previous discussion with the committee of a possible mid-July bid period for construction.

tmichael@bcnnew.com; 203-972-4407; http://www.twitter.com/tmichael89

More:
Shuffle: Central office construction could start July 1

}r8oj9QoVIfc)3rA$$ -+Tp>} )Q;LlF~8poH0+y>$|~*U'uM@ 09+ zfAX5?agBov79pj[[[jMw%{'t=VK;y3ryW#2<"R! e?uNlYWI0vL5gv~0::%`Rw#d`y`21&: [=n0# :fZub5HOH6 F)6E!bF1) $X#bq/d^[,JZ< ,uFlh->Fe" JVO"fA/E@'.1:k"UGJ4RO. H$X@t'K}GRuPTb#)"z`4x.@<=BS4,p0lh sX}wmvR"H|=KuC-S ca8n@hgTQ3,!D!^#U$7Zf a0Wh(' t(3%o{bw@wXNkyE#^,oumns@(J[]k1zIo*JZQx5u:`d*?ER;w> 7zC`WiOc'#hiGXayy&_]uy:DA*~ &TOaD7f;3,;F`+$i)30gWc +[ehMaQac_3pH!0a0P!3'"Pt1#`>:uj|7[ B #Xv$s4w12kp-QB7E ++W<`-ux6R%C#ERI"`eNRiH_] 90=Pq}jc K::rxOd~G,H" /fd~&H$pUL*=5Y8y*^rneVa,=LuB3k)mVw4&"]B*Y{u8fJU8.gt[o~;j=bga,9y{;8ulZ<:#G)kF@Gki Y9^woN^-D.Jye{xwn[9$hNpI9X;A[+9R_fkting49l@A$/>Hywn&UNi`|Gl>D^y-^py]yq+xuh vGL4UzvBOnJ"!zz<#r?rdVwXHx[y0AdG} ]`a0dTGNMP8&[1}2yXK>? pK(~N, 3]uOh(>F}fZUjuZ H7o{ oSMVwNc3612 3[!zZ5~-T 1?%[Nbbkqb0fguoB7;66Gg:"TX_pIGj7h ,?3dqRI$wI'EZu+jtk=|#$u f!zV%yzK++~7K6?FP7;^Ucg@_lgx`D)]G }X^K}L~y/p =0BwWUd4"=9&7+unf,(:"xo4D)rEEY`Ri +}ZeRM:Hj?+DL6wDJS[S8aw=QkdU?EF Q`15!o< `]A-9H3n:.xff=5O=CC:MeAsl[fRpmc8PbPpU 3FD]{odMO8J9l`4fz[)9Q=XPLA|2O:dB{ $7nSL"dDzy@v./k=WZc]/c.V^}*GyPJ{]t0=u6vN7U`@A/0}I"@rML!si{z52.%Y"aw;K!eF08V&%3@>55B<#y-o' }.rA3y7E>X(cndqa: xqId*E@r}2;c2F-VlF' C<1F}F35P! AH'D*(;KQ^];t[!`./gVA.EcSz =c P$fJqyR,^pd& *v2'.?>[0RW0#ju[UHH]zB]j{xH6ui&|`7c@i;NRC^CkR[h&wbm0#dKtpbZilX}x E6bK^9g_"uO>}J`JMY ttr8Qy*I|Gfsq@g^uhe:1Kp|f+t q2$fV$w_.jzjg,-_(JJxq'YT8 R7gK!p; zK yj Mr;|'z $`R,3uMk*u%~W*/kbT?xcEsEnGtZ~hOu~VC9 R p[j 7i/Dqw K=`)8UcX9}b;S|Uj:MNW=_ba*Y'I$'g|B[{+MCBO2n,aO70f-N6v"Y:!8n$i4Ai& veCN|,j=-{K(h?95;@I H##E2d$`"W;q<':Oyw.:r)|u8LL'OYYk 65. G$HHy}'88 #Fb

Visit link:
Del The Funky Homosapien, Arnette Sunglasses Releases Limited Skate Decks

Where have all the porches gone?

What happened to sprinklers being used as a way to cool off during a summer heat wave? To playing outside all day and not returning until the sun began to set?

kAm(92E 92AA6?65 E@ E96 C2>3F?4E:@FD ?6:893@C9@@5 <:5D A=2J:?8 <:4< 32==[ 7@@E32==[ 32D632== @C 9@4<6J :? E96 DEC66En %@ >2<:?8 =6>@?256 @FED:56 FD:?8 2 3:8 8=2DD ;2C[ =6>@?D[ DF82C 2?5 E96 DF?=:89Enk^Am

kAmx== E6== J@F H92E 92AA6?65i (6 EC2565 :E 7@C 2 3:886C[ 36EE6C[ 72DE6C 2?5 2 >@C6 9:89E649 =:76]k^Am

kAmx 2AAC64:2E6 >@DE @7 E96 E649?@=@8J H6 92G6 E@52J[ 3FE H9:=6 :ED :>AC@G:?8 46CE2:? 2DA64ED @7 @FC =:G6D[ :ED 2=D@ 6C2D:?8 E96 =@H<6J A=62DFC6D H6 E@@< 7@C 8C2?E65]k^Am

kAmp H@>2? @?46 E@=5 >6 H96? D96 2?5 96C EH@ D:DE6CD H6C6 J@F?86C E96J H6C6 =:E6C2==J <:4<65 @FE @7 E96 9@FD6 27E6C E96:C $2EFC52J >@C?:?8 42CE@@?D 925 4@?4=F565]k^Am

kAm%96J 925 E@ DE2J @FED:56 2== 52J[ ?@E E92E 2?J @7 E96> 4@>A=2:?65[ E9@F89] %96J C2? E9C@F89 E96 4@F?ECJD:56 369:?5 E96:C 9@>6[ DA6?E E96 52J 2E E96 36249[ >256 FA 82>6D[ E2=<65 2?5 5:5 H92E6G6C E9C66 D:DE6CD H@F=5 EC25:E:@?2==J 5@]k^Am

kAmp?5 H96? E96J 8@E 9F?8CJ[ E96 @=56DE H@F=5 CF? FA E@ E96 9@FD6 2?5

kAm%96:C >@> H@F=5 E96? H9:A E@86E96C D@>6 D2?5H:496D[ A2DD E96> E9C@F89 E96 D=:5:?8 H:?5@H 2?5 4=@D6 :E 369:?5 96C[ 3FE ?@E 367@C6 E6==:?8 96C 8:C=D E96J 4@F=5 5C:?< H2E6C 7C@> E96 9@D6]k^Am

kAmqFE D96 H@F=5 E6== FD E@ =6E :E CF? 7@C 2 >:?FE6 D@ H6 5:5?E 5C:?< E96 9@E H2E6C[ E96 H@>2? D2:5 =2F89:?8]k^Am

Go here to see the original:
Life without porches

Look out, you food-hoarding, gun-loving, camouflage-wearing conspiracy theorists: the government really is on your front porch.

Literally. A few days ago, the Durham City Council approved an ordinance striking down a Southern tradition. It banned indoor, upholstered furniture from front porches.

You read right: you can no longer indulge in one of the great Southern comforts known to mankind - coming home after a hard days work and plopping down with a cold one and chatting with your neighbor on that genuine imitation Naugahyde couch you dragged onto the porch because its too tattered for the front room but not raggedy enough for the trash heap. And if your neighbor is a pretty little thing who Sweet Thang doesnt like, you may find yourself sleeping on it that night.

Not only is the banning of sofas from the front porch an assault on a cherished Southern practice, its also an assault on poor people. Do you have any rich relatives whore going to hold onto a red pleather Barcalounger whose guts are held in place with silver duct tape?

You can sympathize with city officials even if you, like me, view keeping a battered easy chair on the front porch a constitutional right. Ric Hester of Durhams Neighborhood Improvement Services told me sofas and such sprouting on porches and in yards has become almost an epidemic in parts of Northeast Durham. On some streets, he said, it seems like every other house is guilty.

Thats too much even for me, a dude who not only appreciates tackiness but who worships at its altar. Still, at a time when your garbage man will chastise you for putting a plastic milk jug in the trash can instead of in the recycling bin - oh, so Im the only one? - it seems incongruous of the city to hassle people who are really buying into the recycling movement. It ought to give them blue ribbons.

A warning from Wilson

I warned you about this 14 years ago when a group of busybodies called the Wilson Appearance Committee persuaded that city to ban indoor furniture from front porches. That it has come to such a pass in Durham is our fault. We shouldve protested instead of passively accepting it when our Wilson brethren and sisteren were being assaulted by the good-taste police. Who knows how effective a massive protest - a front-porch sit-out? - would have been in halting the spread of such a law?

Just as when Sherman passed through here on his gloriously destructive march to the sea, another cherished Southern tradition is falling to another Northern movement. I figured nobody born down here is going to object to a couch on the porch, unless theyve been colleged Up North, but Hester said his department receives three to five complaints a week from people who cant abide their neighbors louche and waterlogged faux-leather front porch loveseat.

Whither Rockingham?

See more here:
Saunders: Banning sofas on the porch? That’s just tacky

Members of St. Luke Methodist Church in Newton are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their congregation all year. It was June 3, 1962, when the first worship service was held in the gymnasium of Emerson Hough Elementary School, and the church has made some impressive improvements since that time as well as constructing a building of their own.

There were 28 charter members and 11 preparatory members for the first worship service. The Rev. Duane Churchman was appointed as pastor of the new congregation, and St. Luke Methodist Church was officially incorporated in August 1962.

Church members were eager to move from the schools gym, and in June 1963, church trustees were empowered to borrow $40,000 from the National Board of Missions for a new church. More than $14,000 remained from the Builders Club Call, and the new church was estimated to cost $60,000.

Ground-breaking for the new church was held on Feb. 16, 1964, and construction began the following March. The church was consecrated on Oct. 18, 1964, at 501 E. 19th St. N. Membership at that time was 120, with 180 in the church school.

In November 1966, Pastor Leo Spiker requested a church conference to vote to build an education addition to the church. The following February, Pastor Spiker took seriously ill with an inoperable lymphomasarcoma, and on May 27, 1967, he died at the age of 38. The Rev. Carroll Robinson was appointed to succeed the Rev. Spiker.

In June 1968, nationally the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined to become the United Methodist Church, and St. Luke became St. Luke United Methodist.

In March 1969, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the education unit of the church, which included six classrooms, a fellowship hall and kitchen.

The Rev. Arthur Campney was appointed to St. Luke in June 1969. He was succeeded by the Rev. Scott Hall in the fall of 1973, who was then succeeded by the Rev. W. Robert Fowler in June 1980. The Rev. Paul Wilcox was appointed pastor in June 1988. The Rev. Daryl Pals was appointed as pastor in June 1993. The Rev. Kalen Fristad was appointed in June 2001, and the Rev. Linda Butler was then appointed as pastor when the Rev. Fristad announced he was leaving to pursue a traveling ministry for universalism. The Rev. Jon Dinsberg was appointed interim pastor in March 2007, when Pastor Butler left for Ames Collegiate United Methodist Church. The current pastor, Audrey Young, was appointed in June 2007.

Today, St. Luke United Methodist Church is 305 members strong, with six of the charter members still in attendance. Charter member Rose South deserves special credit because she served as pianist for the first service at St. Luke and still plays the piano at the church every month.

John Jennings can be contacted at (641) 792-3121 ext. 425 or via email at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.

The rest is here:
St. Luke United Methodist Church celebrates 50 years of fellowship

Roughly 225 members of Outreach Christian Church celebrated Sunday as they broke ground, marking the beginning of the churchs new addition.

Senior Minister Fred Lab said because the church is growing at a significant rate, they are running out of space.

We need more room for ministry, said Lab.

He said the new structure will create a worship center that will seat 350 people and that can be expanded to hold 550, a cafe, narthex and church offices. The current building will be made into a youth center.

The congregation has been working for three years to organize the project and planned for two years. Thanks to financial commitments for the next three years from church members, the construction can begin.

Lab said the church is using general contractor Tailored Building Systems out of Grand Rapids, but is also taking advantage of more local builders. The addition is expected to be completed in about five months. Although Lab said he is a bit anxious about the project, he added he expects things to run smoothly due to the great foundation that was put into place before he became senior minister.

I am blessed to have great elders that I serve with, he said, adding the task has already strengthened the faith of the church.

The main goal with the addition, Lab said, is to connect more people to Jesus within the communities in which the church identifies.

Members of the congregation are looking forward to seeing their plans come to light.

Theres a high level of excitement about what were doing, he added. They are incredibly fired up.

Go here to read the rest:
Outreach Christian Church breaks ground for new addition

From NeighborhoodNotes.com: If there's one thing Portlanders know, it's that it's never too cloudy, rainy or cold to sit outside. That's why so many patios are built to stay open all year long. But sometimes the sun does shine, and when it does, you'll most likely find yourself soaking it in or relaxing beneath an umbrella while enjoying a cheeseburger, digging into a vegan rice bowl, or kicking back with a cup of joe or a nice, cold beer. Looking for such a place? Keep reading. Rontoms Prior to its public unveiling in the summer of 2011, the unused space behind this living room-style bar and music venue was nothing much to look at. Now, its one of the city's largest, most relaxing patios comprised of wooden decks and picnic tables, complete with long wooden benches that wrap around the patio's perimeter and (surprisingly comfortable) red plastic chairs. And if you'd rather not sit, you can always challenge your friend to a match at the Ping-Pong table. Forecast: The entire space, inside and out, is licensed to hold up to 550 people and about 70 percent of the seating is out back, so you should never have trouble finding a table. SPF: The space near the patio's outdoor bar (only open on weekends) is covered, but the rest of the patio is exposed to the rain and sun. But since the bar opens at 4:30 p.m., the sunlight is of the late-afternoon and setting-sun variety. Advisory: Smoking is permitted, but dogs and kids are not. In fact, you must be at least 21 years old to enter. Also, the very narrow inside path near the bar leading to the back patio is often crowded with bodies waiting for a drink. So be patient and polite when making your way to the patio. Barometer: Vegetarians will enjoy the grilled cheese and tomato soup, while carnivores will like the hamburger topped with seasonal ingredients. And while Rontoms has no specialty cocktail menu, it does have a full bar and a staff of knowledgeable people tending it. Rontoms, 600 E Burnside St., 503.236.4536 READ THE REST at NeighborhoodNotes.com

Oregonian News Network

The Oregonian News Network links to stories on partner blogs and independent news sites.

Here is the original post:
6 (more) Portland patios for soaking up fresh air, sunlight, food and drink

Padron Flooring & Design Center is a modern flooring company that offers the largest selection for floors, baths and kitchens.

The family-owned business was established in 1979, and has since grown considerably. Their 30,000-square-foot location contains a new, 10,000-square-foot interactive showroom, where employees help customers design the space that is right for them. This personalized service comes at no extra cost to the client.

"We take great care when planning our displays so that our customers may envision our products in a real-life setting," said Alisa Padron, the sales manager of Padron Flooring & Design Center.

The showroom, in Lake Worth at 3223 Lake Worth Road, features an array of quality materials. From porcelain and ceramic, to wood and laminate, marble and carpet, Padron Flooring & Design Center has it all. And if that isnt enough, they carry the largest selection of wall tile in South Florida.

Padron Flooring & Design Center carries a unique product line that the company imports directly from factories around the world, with a large focus on Spain and Italy. Importing directly eliminates the cost of a middleman, allowing Padron Flooring & Design Center to make its top-of-the-line products available at the lowest prices possible.

Does all of this sound too good to be true?

Are you worried about delivery and installation problems?

Dont be. Padron Flooring & Design Center delivers every day but Sunday for a flat rate.

Perhaps you are worried about a back order on a desired tile?

Not going to happen. Padron Flooring & Design keeps a separate, fully stocked warehouse that provides supplies when its main site doesnt have what you need.

Read more:
Take a step in the right direction