June 12, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL) Vancouver Giants VANCOUVER, BC - The Vancouver Giants are proud to announce the signing of Surrey native Jakob Stukel to a WHL Player Agreement.

Stukel was the Giants' second selection in the 2012 Bantam Draft, going 37th overall in the 2nd Round. He is a product of Cloverdale Minor Hockey, where last season he posted 25 goals and 37 assists in 20 games. The left winger is listed at 5'9", 150 lbs.

"We're excited to now have all three of our early picks from the 2012 Bantam Draft commit to the program", said Giants Executive Vice President & General Manager, Scott Bonner. "Jakob, Ty (Ronning) and Jesse (Roach) are all great additions to the future of our club, and getting everyone committed so soon after the draft shows how excited they are to be part of the Giants family."

Stukel joins Ty Ronning (1st Round, 15th overall) and Jesse Roach (2nd Round, 42nd overall) as members of the 2012 draft class who have officially signed with the Giants. All will attend Giants Training Camp this August, however players in their age group (1997-born) are only eligible to play in a maximum of five games during the 2012/13 WHL regular season, until such time as their club team is eliminated from the playoffs.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Giants Sign Jakob Stukel

Rafael Nadal continued his reign at Roland Garros, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. (Getty Images)

The second major of the season is in the books. Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova put up solid performances to hoist hardware at the French Open. Now its time to take stock of individual performances by handing out grades.

Rafael Nadal: A-plus. By now the numbers have been repeated over and over again. A record-breaking seventh Roland Garros title, he doesnt drop a set heading into the final, and he overcame adverse conditions and Novak Djokovics heavy hitting to come back from a break down in a rain interrupted final to close out the fourth set. The key to Nadals win? His intensity and focus when play resumed on Monday sent a clear message to Djokovic. He got the break back immediately and the Serb grew more and more frustrated with each game. Theres no doubt Rafa was the best man throughout Paris and hell leave the City of Lights with one thing hes been missing for a while: his swagger.

Maria Sharapova: A-plus. While Nadal did what he always does, Sharapova did what no one ever thought she could do: win the French Open after coming back from career-threatening shoulder surgery, a coaching change, a racket change and various tweaks to her technique. Who would have thought that Sharapova, famous for her uber-professionalism that can come across as guarded and icy, would provide the feel-good moment of the tournament? People may hate the shrieks and they may long for a more graceful game, but in Maria Sharapova, fans of womens tennis have the one thing that so many of the women lack: a hardened competitor who can will herself to win. Respect that.

Novak Djokovic: B-plus. Djokovic was nowhere near his best all tournament, yet he survived losing the first two sets to Andreas Seppi and saved four match points against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. And dont you dare think the eight-straight games he reeled off against Nadal in the final werent mental. With less than his A-game, Djokovic beat Roger Federer in straight sets and took a set off Nadal. The double faults in the final were problematic, but if anything, this tournament proved that Djokovic doesnt have to play lights out to make the final of a Slam. Thats a pretty scary thought.

Sara Errani: A-plus. Errani may have been the surprise finalist, but you cant say she didnt earn it. Much like Li Na last year, Errani had to beat some quality opponents on the way to her first Grand Slam final, including Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Angelique Kerber and Sam Stosur. While those players crumbled under the pressure and expectation, Errani was solid as a rock, and she continued that form in the final. She couldnt compete with Sharapovas power, but the Italian scrambled and scrapped as much as she could to make Sharapova earn the win. Weve become accustomed to seeing players shrink under the pressure of a Slam final. Sara Errani bucked that trend.

The Americans: C-plus. Talk about a great story that crashed and burned in a matter of 24 hours. After going 10 for 10 through the first two days of the tournament, the American women saw their numero uno, Serena Williams, suffer her first opening round loss at a Slam in ever. Two days later, John Isner, Americans Great Clay Hope, came out on the wrong side of another marathon match, effectively ending what was one of the most highly-anticipated American clay seasons in recent memory.To be fair, it was still a great tournament for Team America, with Melanie Oudin finally getting a win at a Slam, Brian Baker providing the feel-good comeback story, and Sloane Stephens and Varvara Lepchenko getting career results. But when your best prospects go out before the tournament even gets going, its hard to look at it fondly.

Sloane Stephens: A. The draw opened up for her and she did well to take advantage of it, making the fourth round without having to face any seeds, and she didnt even drop a set before losing to Sam Stosur. But lets chillax and not burden the kid with the expectation that has sunk the hopes of many an American phenom.

Brian Baker continued a remarkable comeback from injuries to push No. 12 Gilles Simon to five sets at the French Open. (Getty Images)

Brian Baker: A. Of all the anecdotes and tidbits that emerged to form The Brian Baker Story, this visual will remain my favorite: Baker loading up his bags into the trunk of his car, along with a stringing machine, to drive to a tiny challenger in Pennsylvania to start his comeback in the summer of 2011. No entourages, no federations, no help. Just a guy and his racket heading off to try to win matches.

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Report Card: Grading the French Open

12-06-2012 04:07 : Glass Doctor can handle any glass need. Its offers custom glass services such as repair & replacement windows, tub and shower doors and enclosures, entry door glass, mirrors and custom tabletops in Austin TX and surrounding communities of Austin.

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One Stop shop for your Auto Glass

12-06-2012 14:10 Part I of a recent window replacement in Orting, WA by A New Day Construction of Puyallup, WA This window replacement required the use of a nail flange

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Window Installion Part I.wmv - Video

PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire -06/12/12)- Indow Windows, an award-winning thermal window insert manufacturer, today announced that it has closed a $1.3 million Series A investment round to fund sales, marketing, and operations as part of a national expansion. The round was led by Vision Ridge Partners, a Boulder, Colorado clean tech-focused venture capital firm, with members of the Northwest Energy Angels (NWEA) investing a total of $225,000 to close out the oversubscribed round.

"This Series A investment round will allow Indow Windows to expand into strategic markets across the United States," said Indow Windows Founder and CEO Sam Pardue. "With existing manufacturing capacity and a custom IT system that allows dealers to measure windows with precision and submit and track orders seamlessly, we are ready to drive revenue and customer growth."

"We see the Indow Windows product as having tremendous potential to address a huge market," said Reuben Munger, Managing Partner of Vision Ridge. "There are one billion single pane windows in the United States and Indow Windows offers an affordable, effective, and highly appealing solution to better insulate them. The management team has made great progress positioning the company for rapid growth."

Indow Windows has set up dealers throughout Washington and Oregon and is in the process of setting up distribution in key markets throughout the United States. The company's product, a thermal window insert, is composed of a sheet of acrylic glazing edged with a patented Compression Tube, and presses into place on the inside of a window frame without requiring the installation of an interior bracket. Once installed, customers benefit from increased comfort, reduced energy bills, and quieter spaces. The inserts cost approximately 50 to 80% less than a full window replacement, offering sizeable cost savings without sacrificing performance.

"Indow Windows impressed us with their simple solution to a large customer problem of window inefficiency," said Brian Arbogast, lead investor with Northwest Energy Angels. "Beyond a great window insert product, their proprietary ordering system, which streamlines the process for everyone, is a real competitive advantage. Above all, it's a great team focused on growing their business through excellent execution."

The funding culminates a successful year for Indow Windows, which received a Top 10 Green Building Product of the Year award from Sustainable Industries Magazine. The company also won the national Energy Efficiency Category Award and came in second place for the national grand prize at the 2011 CleanTech Open. Most recently, Indow Windows was awarded a Bronze Medal in the Edison Awards innovation competition.

About Indow WindowsHeadquartered in Portland, Oregon, Indow Windows was founded in 2010 when CEO Sam Pardue wanted to find a better way to insulate the windows in his 1906 home. The result: custom-manufactured sheets of acrylic glazing edged with a patent-pending Compression Tube. The company has won numerous sustainability, energy efficiency, consumer product and clean tech awards. For more info: http://www.indowwindows.com.

About Vision RidgeVision Ridge is a Boulder-based, investment management firm, primarily focused on the clean tech / clean energy space. Founded by Reuben Munger, a former hedge fund manager from Boston, in 2008 when he led the seed funding of Bright Automotive, a project jointly developed and funded by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Alcoa, Google, JCI, and others. Since then, Vision Ridge has been an active investor in the clean tech space, having funded companies such as Proterra, Green Garage, McStain, and Indow Windows, among others. Vision Ridge partners with the next generation of clean tech companies seeking to transform the world.

About Northwest Energy AngelsNorthwest Energy Angels, founded in 2006, is the first angel investment group in North America to focus exclusively on the cleantech industry. A non-profit organization, NW Energy Angels helps create successful cleantech companies by connecting promising entrepreneurs with experienced cleantech investors. NW Energy Angel members add value to the companies they invest in and act as a bridge to institutional investors. To date, members have invested more than $6.5 million in 34 companies. For more, visit nwenergyangels.com.

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Indow Windows Completes Series A Financing

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Window World, Inc., America's largest replacement window and home remodeling company, and Good Housekeeping have announced that windows from five Window World product series have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for the fifth consecutive year. Windows from the 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 6000 series were awarded, making products from every Window World series a recipient of the Seal.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/CL23460 )

The Good Housekeeping Seal is not only a stamp of approval on the products it endorses; it is a promise to consumers that approved products are high quality and will be long-lasting. The Seal of Approval comes with a two-year limited warranty for all approved products -- a warranty that is offered by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute itself.

"Earning the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is truly an accomplishment," said Tammy Whitworth, chairman and CEO of Window World. "Being awarded the Seal five years in a row shows our dedication to providing our customers with quality replacement windows that will last a lifetime."

To be awarded the sought-after Seal of Approval, products must undergo rigorous examination by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. All claims made in a product's advertising, packaging and other informational or promotional materials must be proven factual to earn the Seal. Currently, Window World is one of only three companies nationwide that offer windows backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

For more information about Window World or the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, please visit http://www.WindowWorld.com or http://www.GoodHousekeeping.com.

About Window World, Inc.:

Window World, Inc., headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America's largest replacement window company with stores and offices in more than 200 cities nationwide. Founded in 1995 and led by CEO Tammy Whitworth, the company consistently delivers value to homeowners by combining quality windows, siding and doors with excellent service at low prices. An ENERGY STAR retail partner, Window World sells and installs more than one million high-quality residential replacement windows annually and its products have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval four years in a row. Through a brand and design partnership with Kathy Ireland, the company offers an assortment of windows, siding and door collections exclusively by kathy ireland Home by Window World. Additionally, through its charitable foundation Window World Cares, the Window World family provides funding for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and supports commendable community causes such as the Veterans Airlift Command. In 2010, Window World Cares was named New Corporate Partner of the Year by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For more information about Window World, visit http://www.WindowWorld.com or call 1-800-NEXT-WINDOW.

CONTACTS:Todd Woods Window World, Inc. Phone: 336-667-2100 E-mail: twoods@WindowWorld.com

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Window World windows earn Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for fifth consecutive year

Naples City Council is expected to consider a $120,000 contract to design a new heating, ventilation and cooling system for city hall during its regular meeting today.

Council's approval would appropriate $110,605 from the general fund contingency toward the contract with Matern Professional Engineering, Inc. of Maitland Fla, north of Orlando.

The need for a new air conditioning system first came up Monday at a meeting addressing the city's annual capital improvement plan program. The entire system will cost about $620,000 to design and build, staff estimated.

The existing system has slowly failed to cool the more than 35-year-old building where some offices bake in 85 degree heat in the summer months.

At Monday's meeting, Community Services Director Dave Lykins said the city has tried to repair the system over the years but a total replacement is now necessary.

Councilman Gary Price wants to discuss an investment with such a high price tag on a building built in the 1970s.

"We don't know what the state of the building is," he said, adding that he hopes it has as many years left in it as a new air conditioner would.

"It's a large number to be confronted with," he said of the price. "I don't think staff did anything wrong. ... I think it's prudent to get some professionals in there to tell us what's wrong and what we're fixing."

Downtown apartment decision

Council is expected to decide whether or not to allow a downtown architect to add a small apartment onto the side of an existing gallery and office space.

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Naples council to consider $120,000 contract for new city hall AC system

CHESTER, Pa., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --After an abnormally warm winter and spring, many homeowners have already begun sweating the inevitable increase in their electricity usage that arrives along with warm summer weather. In addition to the longer days and more frequent thunderstorms most regions experience every summer, the Farmer's Almanac is predicting record high temperatures across the country in 2012. The combination of those factors can wreak havoc on a home during summer months, and Power Home Remodeling Group, the nation's fourth largest home remodeling company, offers homeowners tips for protecting both their homes and their wallets by saving energy this summer.

"So many homeowners dread their high energy bills during the summer months without realizing there are a multitude of common sense solutions that can help increase their home's energy efficiency," says Matt Hess, Power's VP of Operations-Installations. "The beauty of these steps is that they are not only extremely simple to implement, but they also defeat the negative effect heat can have on a home and a wallet."

Power offers the following tips to make your home more energy efficient during the hot summer days and nights:

In addition to these tips, energy and savings-conscious homeowners can conduct a home energy assessment through a do-it-yourself energy review or by hiring a licensed company. By seeking out air leaks and inspecting insulation, lighting and heating/cooling systems, homeowners can easily target the energy-sucking culprits around their homes and determine solutions.

About Power Home Remodeling Group

Family-owned since 1992, Power Home Remodeling Group is the nation's fourth largest home remodeling company with more than 1,200 employees and $135 million in sales. Headquartered in Chester, Pa., Power provides energy-saving and environmentally friendly exterior remodeling solutions to residents on the East Coast, including Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC. An Inc. 5000 company, Power has served more than 50,000 homeowners and is recognized as a home improvement leader by its "Dealer of the Year" award from Window and Door Magazine and the 2011 "Top Workplace" from The Philadelphia Inquirer. For more information please visit PowerHRG.com, or follow the company on Twitter @PowerHRG and Facebook at facebook.com/PowerHRG.

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Beat the Heat in Your Home with Tips from Power Home Remodeling Group™

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The office that oversees the seismic safety of California's public schools can't show that it has approved all building plan changes, heightening the risk that some schools don't meet standards and are unsafe, according to a state auditor's report.

The Division of the State Architect is required to ensure that all school building plans meet earthquake safety standards. But a review by the California State Auditor's office found that changes in plans frequently aren't approved and that the regulatory office lacks processes to track the alterations.

The report urges regulators to improve their handling of school "change documents" to lessen the possibility of contractors erecting an unsafe building. The report states:

Regulations require that the school districts design professionals submit plan changes to the division for review and approval before undertaking related construction.

However, several holes in the plan change process create a situation where the division cannot demonstrate that it has approved all plan changes before the start of related construction, risking construction that does not meet building standards and that may be unsafe.

In fact, the divisions Project Certification Guide states that there have been many instances where the field change process was not followed and change orders did not receive division approval, yet construction was completed.

In a letter to the auditor, Fred Klass, director of the Department of General Services, pledged that new rules would be implemented by the end of the year that would assure "all relevant plan changes are received, reviewed, approved and documented by the division." The general services department is the parent body of the state architect's office.

California law requires the state architect's office to enforce the Field Act seismic regulations for schools that were enacted nearly 80 years ago. The law is considered a gold standard of construction, and it requires oversight from state regulators to ensure professional engineering and quality control from the early design phase to the first day of classes.

The Field Act grants these regulators "the police power of the state" over the construction of public schools.

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Seismic regulator must improve building plan oversight

Brookfield Office Properties Inc., encouraged by low vacancy rates in Torontos financial district, said it plans to begin construction on a second office tower of the citys Bay Adelaide Centre.

Brookfield announced professional services firm Deloitte as the anchor tenant, committing to lease about 43 per cent of the 980,000 square feet of space in the planned 44-storey building.

The new Bay Adelaide Centre East will be adjacent to the existing Bay Adelaide Centre building, which was completed in 2009 and is now 95 per cent leased.

Strong fundamentals and low vacancy in Torontos financial core signify the markets willingness to support new office development, said Jan Sucharda, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian operations of Brookfield Office Properties Inc.

The move to build another large office tower adds more sizzle to Torontos scorching real estate scene. The downtown is already crowded with condominiums recently completed or under construction, along with a number of new high-end hotels.

Deals are also flying. Across the street from the site of the new Bay Adelaide Centre, the landmark Scotia Plaza tower sold for $1.27-billion in May and marked the highest price ever paid for a Canadian office building.

All the action has some observers worried the market could be overheating. But Brookfield says it has done its research. Spokesman Andrew Willis noted that in Toronto there are roughly 20 financial services, accounting and law firms with leases that will expire in the next few years, making them suitable tenants for the new tower. And if enough of them want to move, Brookfields property at Bay and Adelaide has room for a third, 600,000 square foot tower. The real estate developer is currently seeking a lead tenant for that building.

For nearly two decades, Toronto saw very little new supply of skyscrapers. But with borrowing costs low and the Canadian economy stable relative to other major economies, development money is piling in. Vacancy rates in the citys historic towers are practically negligible, and a number of recently constructed towers have filled up shortly after their construction.

Anchor tenant Deloitte will consolidate its employees from across five different office towers into 17 floors of the new building. Deloitte has committed to a 15-year lease of 420,000 square feet. Construction is expected to be complete in 2015 or early 2016. That will be just after the Royal Bank of Canadas new 30-storey, 930,000-square-foot Canadian headquarters in Toronto will be finished.

Other cities are booming as well. On the east side of Calgarys downtown, H&R Real Estate Investment Trust built the 58-storey Bow, and cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton and Ottawa all have strong office markets with low vacancy rates. The office sector has gotten so hot that Dundee REIT, a venerable real estate company, is planning to shed its industrial properties to focus solely on office buildings.

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Brookfield set to build second office tower at Toronto’s Bay Adelaide Centre