People will be able to enjoy a snack and a glass of wine in the sunshine this summer in downtown Abbotsford if all goes as planned.

Council approved a new proposal by the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association on Monday to allow patios on city sidewalks in the historic core. ADBA executive director Tina Stewart said the group has been pushing for patios in the area for a couple of years and hopes to see them set up within the next month or so.

"We want to create more foot traffic in the area and make it more appealing to the eye," said Stewart.

"It fits into the downtown vision where people are comfortable walking around and fits with the community's character."

The proposal will draw more pedestrians to the core and create a vibrant, interesting atmosphere and streetscape, she said. People will see cafs or restaurants establish little patios on sidewalks but the seating areas won't block pedestrian traffic.

Area businesses made the push for the plan after enjoying success with test run patios set up during Berry Beat Festival last year, said Stewart.

"It's a huge draw. Sitting outside is something people really enjoy," she said.

Ken Baerg, director of economic development, said the patio plan will run as a pilot project in the downtown area and, if successful, will be expanded to businesses in the rest of the city.

City staff will establish the bureaucratic particulars including an approval process and licensing agreements, Baerg said. A draft set of guidelines for the design, construction, decor, lighting, plants and pedestrian access into and around the patios has been developed.

The cost being proposed by the city for a new patio licence would be $120 upon application and a $40 fee for each subsequent year.

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Abbotsford approves patios for downtown core

Argyle Bar & Grill On Argyle Street, in the summer months there's more patio to be seen than actual sidewalk. The Argyle Bar & Grill, then, sets off this patio strip right, with both a 25-table rooftop patio and a second street-level patio out front. While you've plenty of tables to choose from, you better beware: on a hot summer's day, you might be fighting your fellow patio-goers to snag that open table. Just be sure to beat the crowds and lay your claim early. After all, it's five o'clock somewhere.1575 Argyle Street, 492-8844

Celtic Corner You have a perennially smug friend visiting from out west and you want to shove our rich history in their face so they'll finally quit it? Celtic Corner has got you covered. Not only do you get to work in a ferry trip (do they have those in Alberta? If they do they're probably not as good), but you also get to show this chucklehead the delights of our hearty cuisine, accompanied by that cheerful lilting music we know so well. A fisherman's pie, some local tunes and the sunny skies of Dartmouth will have this fictional character wishing he was a Nova Scotian boy. 69 Alderney Drive, 464-0764

Mexicali Rosa's If this isn't your favourite place to settle down in the sun with a double margarita, then I am NACHO friend! Ha! Heh!...And after that joke, you're probably happy about that. Moving on, then. With a 40-table rooftop patio, Mexi's provides the perfect pretend-tropical vacation for Haligonians. Heck, after a few of these margaritas, you won't even realize you're still in Nova Scotia. You might need a little siesta after this one. 5472 Spring Garden Road, 422-7672

The New Palace If you're lookin' for a place to cool off when you're dancing the night away, this is the spot. Shimmy from the dance floor to the patio for some fresh air. Or if you're looking to make a stop during the day, the patio's open then, too. Directly across from Citadel Hill, you can venture in after suntanning.1721 Brunswick Street, 420-0015

Pizza Delight Best known for its round-the-clock cheap drink specials and 24-hour operations, lest we forget that this new Pizza Delight location also boasts a 32-seat patio overlooking Spring Garden Road, which means watching people on one of the busiest corners in town at any time of the day. Imagine the changing tapestry, then go have a slice, grill some bread and watch it yourself. 5680 Spring Garden Road, 455-0990

Red Stag Tavern "Those who like it, like it a lot!" Why, yes. Yes, we do. The Red Stag Tavern---located in the old Keith's brewery---has an awesome rooftop patio. Serving up all Keith's has to offer, this 15-table patio is the perfect place to celebrate that Maritime pride. 1496 Lower Water Street, 422-0275

Your Father's Moustache With about 32 tables on its rooftop patio, it's great if you're looking to remove yourself from the chaos of Spring Garden Road. They also have a smoking area to save people from travelling downstairs to strike a light. Don't worry, though---it's separate from the food and drink area. 5686 Spring Garden Road, 423-6766

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Raised & rooftop patios

Chebucto Coffee Under the trellis on Chebucto, a London Fog in hand, is the perfect place to meet your neighbours and their friendly dogs. Conveniently located where multiple buses converge, within sight of a basketball court (to gently remind you of your summer resolution to try group sports), this sorely needed west end coffee shop is a little haven of calm on busy Chebucto.6430 Chebucto Road, 404-5885

The Chickenburger The sidewalk's sizzling and all you want to do is dunk an onion ring into some ice cream and eat it in the shade. We won't judge you and neither will the folks at the downtown location of The Chickenburger. Chicken Little provides for your ice cream cravings (watch for extended hours as it gets warmer) and The Chickenburger serves up burgers of the cheese, chicken and regular variety, fish 'n' chips, onion rings, et cetera. You know the drill, they know the grill. 1466 Queen Street

Just Us! Coffeehouse The flagship house at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Carlton Street has a huge bottom floor, a lovely upstairs and, most notably for our purposes, a handful of tables on the very busy street outside. Heavily trafficked by students during the school year, in the summer it becomes a beacon for java lovers, evening walkers and commuters. 5896 Spring Garden Road, 423-0856

Sawadee Tea House Down in the Granville Mall, where art students and marathon drinkers mingle, lies this lovely tea shop. It boasts a selection of leaves from all over the world, so pick your poison and snag one of the half-dozen seats out front. 1871 Granville Street, 422-4192

Second Cup Grab an Icepresso or one of the new blended fruit drinks---green apple, hello---snag a seat in the nook between the cafe and the old TD Bank, and watch it all go by. 5425 Spring Garden Road, 429-0883

The Smiling Goat This tiny sidewalk set is great for creeping gym-goers while you sip your high-end coffee. 1551 South Park Street, 446-3366

Steve-O-Reno's Cappuccino A meeting spot for students, post-yoga gossipers and underemployed musicians alike. It's a fight for a seat on the modest patio, but great for savouring iced coffee. Mmmmm.1536 Brunswick Street, 429-3034

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Booze-free patios

Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs The south side of Barrington Street is a friendly place in the summer. It's rare to stand about for any length of time without striking up a conversation, and if that's your thing, this is the place. Park it on Bearly's minimalist patio and soak up the sweet strains of local R&B, jazz and blues wafting outside from the bar (plus local comedy on Wednesdays before the ever-popular karaoke with Mimi), have a nosh (the kitchen's open to 10pm Tuesday to Sunday) admire some meticulously cared for motorcycles and drown your sorrows/toast your happiness with a drink. 1269 Barrington Street, 423-2526

Economy Shoe Shop Another classic Argyle Street joint, the Economy Shoe Shop is known for its nachos. So why not stop for a bite and quench your thirst on their patio? After those salty, spicy, cheesy mounds of goodness, you might need more than one. Like most Argyle hotspots, the view from the Shoe Shop might not be the most spectacular---hello, vacant lot---but hey, you'll probably be too busy chowin' down and drinkin' up to notice. 1663 Argyle Street, 423-8845

The Fireside Restaurant These 30 seats make some of the primest people-watching space downtown, with eyes on the Brunswick rundown, Spring Garden pass and library lawn. Drool over the passing Folklore Centre guitars and Taz Records finds in the day or marvel at the alcohol-to-heel-to-falling ratio at night. Plus: Martinis! 1500 Brunswick Street, 423-5995

Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market If you can find a more majestic south end view of the Harbour, you must live in the sky. Walk through the market and put yourself together a local spread, tote it all up the stairs and head on out to the rooftop patio for a lovely scene. It'll be open on Canada Day for the fireworks. 1209 Marginal Road, 429-6256

Hamachi Steakhouse Bar & Grill This harbourside patio has 30 seats upon which you can enjoy some late-afternoon sushi and/or a huge drink menu, featuring beer, wine, scotch, martinis and "exotic" cocktails. Or settle in for dinner---there's food that doesn't swim, too---and watch the booze cruises drift by. 1477 Lower Water Street, 422-1600

Q Smokehouse and Southern Barbecue A different sort of patio for Argyle Street---though there is a small selection of booze available, you're hanging out at Q for one thing: Meat. Watch the ladies and dudes do their various mating dances and dodge cabs all the way up and down the street while you sit, relaxed and full, the smell of hickory kissing the night goodbye. 1580 Argyle Street, 407-4006

Rogues Roost While it might be tiny---six tables---there's nothing like people-watching on a patio with a microbrew in hand. And if Spring Garden Road isn't the best spot for that, then I don't know what is. With five ales to choose from, feel free to sit and people-watch all day. After all, you really should sample them all...5435 Spring Garden Road, 492-2337

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Patios for people-watching

Outdoor boulevard patios and parking will co-exist on Main Street Unionville this summer. However, about half of the existing 25 street parking spaces could be axed and merchants who want patios will be required to enter into an encroachment agreement with the town. The interim compromise, OKd by Markham council, doesnt sit well with the local councillor and some merchants on the street who say they want to see parking stay and boulevard patios gone. You cant suck and blow at the same time, Councillor Don Hamilton said at Tuesday nights council meeting. If something is dangerous, then they are all dangerous. Mr. Hamiltons comment was directed to Sharon Taylor Wood, owner of What Girls Want. Ms Taylor Wood said she was asked by about 40 merchants on the street to urge that town council not remove parking and ban boulevard patios. They are unsafe, she said of patios. Asked if she thought parking on the street is also unsafe, Ms Taylor Wood said there have been no complaints about car doors hitting pedestrians or accidents on the street. We want the street the way it is, she said. Paul Vasilovsky of The Unionville Arms expressed similar concerns to the towns general committee Monday. Removal of parking on the west side of the street will only congest the east side further, he said. Id rather see handicapped parking than patios, Mr. Vasilovsky said. However, town staff saidthere have been six reported accidents on Main Street Unionville in the last three years. About 6,000 vehicles use the main stretch of the street every day, said Paul Ingham, Markhams director of operation. Mr. Ingham said with the sidewalk measuring about one metre wide, car doors often open into pedestrians and cars are parked right up to flower barrels on the street, making it difficult for staff to maintain the flowers. Not only that, but cars parked on the boulevard can restrict sight lines for drivers turning onto the street. The compromise will improve sightlines by eliminating some parking spaces at driveway access points along the west side of the street, between Carlton Road and Station Lane. Mr. Hamilton said if the town was to remove some parking, extra spaces should be provided on the east side, behind shops or on town-owned land in close proximity to Main Street. If you can do that over the summer, youll be the biggest hero Unionville Main Street has ever had.

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Patios, parking to co-exist in Unionville for summer

All reviews are by the Daily Herald and wire services; summaries of objectionable content are provided by the Motion Picture Association of America. Have any movie questions? Email theticket@heraldextra.com.

OPENING

MAGIC MIKE Review on D3

PEOPLE LIKE US Review on D1

TED Review on D3

ALSO OPENING

TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION (1 hr., 45 min.; R for violence throughout and brief sexuality) Madea's wit-LESS protection is more like it, am I right? Anyone? Is this thing on? Eugene Levy is the latest untutored plebe to fall under the life-lesson-dispensing benefaction of filmmaker Tyler Perry's cross-dressing alter-ego. This film was not screened for critics.

CONTINUING

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (1 hr., 45 min.; R for violence throughout and brief sexuality) Fourscore and seven minutes of your time is at least fourscore and six minutes more than you ever need spend contemplating this dippy historical thriller. The special effects are decent and the acting is OK, but that's not nearly worth emancipating the cost of tickets-plus-popcorn from your bank account. [D]

BATTLESHIP (2 hrs., 11 min.; PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language) Weighed down by the general dumb-cluck-ery and stupidity of its plot and parameters, this board-game-inspired alien invasion story sinks like a stone. The special effects are decent and the acting are satisfactory, but there's just too much leaden ridiculousness. [D]

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Capsule Reviews of Films Playing at Local Theaters

Lindsay Kus Anchor/Reporter

6:12 p.m. EDT, June 27, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich

From the eye-catchingimage of President Gerald R. Ford on snow skis spray-painted off I-196, to the gang messages popping up on homes and businesses, neighbors in Grand Rapids are seeing more graffiti.

"I have seen an increase, even just driving around. No matter what it is, it is all considered vandalism," said Captain Daniel Savage with the Grand Rapids Police Department. Most of the tagging is popping up on business storefronts.

"It is very frustrating," explained Synia Jordan, owner of Samaria J's Salon located at 701 Grandville Ave SW. Her salon has been tagged twice this year. On Wednesday, young employees spent the afternoon power washing the siding where dark spray paint coated the white.

"We paint, they come back. It is not so much the cost, but the time spent cleaning. The West Grand Neighborhood Organization is one group trying to get the word out about cleaning up the vandalism.

"Something needs to be done, it is very frustrating.Businesseswant to be here because of all the graffiti," said Nola Stetekee, Director of TheWest Grand Neighborhood Organization, is backing a product made by Omega Environmental Services that specializes in graffiti removal with a spray product and deterrent.

"What it is is a combination of chemicals that are water-based and that react to heat and pressure to remove the product from the wall," said Timmy Sanders with Omega Environmental Services.

He says their product not only takes off the graffiti, but doesn't damage the brick or other surfaces by leaving behind marks.

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Graffiti Up In GR; Company Offers Clean Solutions

The city of Fort Pierce may be taking a trip into the future by taking a trip into the past.

Returning to a time when more bicycles not to mention more horses than automobiles were used for transportation in the downtown area, the city is encouraging more bicycle use by creating facilities to store and repair bikes.

And, in a high-tech innovation, the stations also will be solar-powered so riders can monitor their riding.

Earlier this month, city commissioners approved the expenditure of $20,500 from more than $225,000 in available transportation impact fees to finance the bicycle stations. Efforts to secure a $10,000 grant for the project fell through.

The city will install bike racks, long-term storage lockers, repair stations with tools and tire pumps, mobility trackers and covered parking in the City Hall parking garage and along the downtown waterfront. Facilities will be placed at the three entrances to the parking garage and to the west and south of the marina building and along a fence adjoining marina slips.

The free facilities will include solar-powered monitoring stations where bicyclists can scan registered radio-frequency identification tags attached to their bicycle wheels. Bicyclists can get the tags from the city's Planning Department and log on to a website to view their travel statistics, including distance traveled, calories burned, pounds of carbon dioxide emissions reduced and gallons of gas saved.

Earlier this year, the city installed a similar facility at the Police Athletic League Park on 21st Street.

By encouraging bicycle traffic, city officials hope to reduce the automobile traffic and parking problems in the downtown area on Saturday mornings during the weekly downtown farmers market.

The new bicycle facilities also are expected to complement the city's transportation alternatives in conjunction with a potential Amtrak passenger station proposed in the downtown area.

With the move to more bicycle traffic, a remaining issue will be assuring those who bicycle to and from the facilities that they can do so safely. That's an issue that will have to be carefully monitored if the new additions to downtown are to be successful.

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Editorial: City of Fort Pierce takes a step into the future with installation of bicycle stations downtown

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Huntington Bank has originated more than $1.5 billion in loans to businesses around Michigan in the first year of a four-year, $2 billion program, the banks Michigan leaders announced today. The loans have aided more than 2,500 Michigan businesses.

The early results of Huntingtons lending initiative and our partnership with the state are exceeding all expectations, said Mike Fezzey, president of Huntingtons Southeast Michigan region. Businesses around the state are encouraged by the availability of credit and the economic growth taking place here.

Huntingtons lending program is part of an $8 billion public-private initiative, announced in June 2011 by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder as part of the states Pure Michigan Business Connect Program.

Huntington is committed to helping the state economy move forward, said Jim Dunlap, president of Huntingtons West Michigan region and regional and commercial banking director. We are pleased by the positive momentum we are seeing throughout Michigan.

We are delighted to partner alongside Gov. Snyder as we continue to invest in Michigan, Dunlap said. We look forward to continuing to support sustained economic growth in the state.

Examples of Michigan businesses, which have obtained loans through the program include:

Earlier this year, Huntington announced a partnership with Meijer that will increase the number of Huntington branches in the state to over 200a 65 percent increase. It will also add up to 500 jobs.

Huntington has also rolled out a $100 million affordable housing program aimed at helping Michigan residents. And last year, it opened a new branch in downtown Grand Rapids, two branches in downtown Detroit and one in Pontiac.

For more information on accessing lending through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Program, business leaders can call 1-888-509-1017, Monday-Friday from 7:30-6:30 p.m. and Sat. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit http://www.MichiganAdvantage.org/business-connect.

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Huntington Originates More Than $1.5 Billion in Loans to over 2,500 Michigan Businesses in One Year

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commissions new environmentally sustainable headquarters building at 525 Golden Gate Avenue, designed in joint venture by KMD Architects and Stevens Architects, provides a poster-child of sustainability innovation for urban office buildings, and reflects the mission of the PUC as a provider and manager of water and energy for San Francisco. All told, 525 Golden Gate in comparison to similarly-sized office buildings features 50% less of a carbon footprint, uses 32% less energy, and consumes 60% less water.

The 13-level, 277,511 gross-square-foot, $190 million SFPUC headquarters building is one of the greenest urban office buildings of its kind, bringing together in a modern, contextually-designed office tower some of the most innovative new technologies at the forefront of building design.

What better organization than a major municipal power and water agency to create one of the most advanced buildings in green design in the U.S., said David Hobstetter, Principal of KMD.

Our intent from the beginning was to create the most energy-efficient office building developed in an urban setting in the United States to date, said Ryan Stevens, KMDs Director of Design (not related to Stevens Architects). Many of these features are uncommon in buildings today, but will be commonplace in years to come.

Given the SFPUCs objective to create a physical demonstration of resource-conservation and sustainability, KMD set out to design a sleek, memorable structure that also responded to functional components inside and outside this next-step advancement of green design.

Among the SFPUC headquarters design and performance attributes are:

-- Design.

The buildings architecture tells two stories in response to the buildings mission and to its surroundings: On the south side, the design reflects an intent to complement the surrounding historic Civic Center setting including San Francisco City Hall and the Beaux-Arts character; on the north side which faces a more commercial office district, 525 Golden Gate has an elegant, modern design of a distinctive Class-A office highrise that responds to the natural forces at play, including the curved shape of the faade that focuses wind into the wind-turbine tower.

The KMD/Stevens team took a number of innovative turns in the design evolution of the building, including the wind-turbine tower. With the increased interest in incorporating wind-technology, the design team changed what had been a set of stacked conference rooms to become the housing for wind-turbines and also modified that north-side of the building to heighten the wind-turbine generation.

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San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headquarters Designed by KMD Architects & Stevens Architects Opens as Poster ...