Contra Costa Times

PLEASANTON -- A dry-cleaning business at a strip mall caught fire Wednesday, but a sprinkler system inside the building kept the blaze from spreading and causing even more damage to the surrounding stores, a battalion chief said.

One person was hospitalized after suffering smoke inhalation in the fire at Hacienda Cleaners at 5682 Stoneridge Drive, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Battalion Chief Jack Neiman-Kimel said. The blaze began around 5:47 p.m.

Fire crews saw heavy smoke coming from the business when they arrived, but the fire sprinklers inside the store were activated after clothes on the conveyor system caught fire, Neiman-Kimel said. Those sprinklers kept the fire at bay until crews were able to get inside and extinguish it, Neiman-Kimel said.

Several businesses on both sides of Hacienda Cleaners were damaged by smoke and water, Neiman-Kimel said. Officials did not provide an estimate of the monetary damages to the businesses.

It was not known immediately when the business might open again.

Contact Rick Hurd at 925-945-4789 and follow him at Twitter.com/3rdERH.

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Pleasanton: Fire sprinkler system helps contain blaze at dry cleaner

CONNEAUT Three full-sized, outdoor storage sheds built by inmates at Lake Erie Correctional Institution were donated to the Ashtabula County Habitat for Humanity during a presentation Tuesday morning.

Along with the sheds, the prison provided Habitat with three new washers and dryers, officials said.

The sheds were assembled by inmates in the rehabilitative building maintenance program. Along with the appliances, the sheds will benefit families in Ashtabula, Conneaut and Orwell, officials said.

Projects like this can aid in the rehabilitative process, State Rep. John Patterson, D-Jefferson, who attended the presentation and spoke to inmates, said in a statement. Its my hope these inmates will remember the lesson of giving to others and have their lives transformed so they can become productive members of society. If this helps jump start their lives, and they have an epiphany, a transformational moment, thats what were here for and thats what we want to do.

Prison administrators said they were happy to assist.

We know these structures and these washers and dryers will be put to good use by some very deserving families, LaECI Warden Brigham Sloan said in a statement. We thank Rep. Patterson for bringing us together with Habitat for Humanity and we intend to maintain a long-lasting and strong relationship with this great, community-focused organization.

Jeffrey Scribben, Habitat board president and director of Community Actions housing services division, was grateful for the gifts.

This is definitely going to benefit the community, he said in a statement. Owning a washer and dryer is an expense that most people we deal with cant even think about affording.

The appliances, still in their boxes, became expendable when the prison opted to contract for its laundry service, officials said.

Staff and inmates plan to build two more sheds for Habitat and also assist in the organizations next home project in Ashtabula County.

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LaECI inmates construct sheds for county Habitat

3515 SE 17th Place Remodeling Video Series II
3515 SE 17th Place Remodeling Video Series II For more information on this or any other property, or to make an offer, contact "House-flippers" of RE/MAX EDG...

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3515 SE 17th Place Remodeling Video Series II - Video

Minecraft Adventures: Remodeling! #44
Enjoy the video? Be sure to leave a like! If you found something wrong in the video that you didnt like, please tell me about it in the comments section belo...

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Minecraft Adventures: Remodeling! #44 - Video

Mass Appeal Transform your home with H R Homes Remodeling
With H R Homes Remodeling, you can make your house look brand new with a few simple changes.

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Mass Appeal Transform your home with H

The folks at Houzz conducted a survey on remodeling and relationships and uncovered some interesting stats:

"Pulling back the covers on remodeling and relationships, a new survey from Houzz reveals that while 46 percent of respondents found the remodeling and redecorating process with their significant other to be collaborative, the same amount found the experience frustrating and 12 percent admit to considering a separation or divorce mid-remodel.

Conflicting style is a major source of stress as one third of respondents do not like their significant other's design style.

76 percent shared their opinion with their significant other.

42 percent reported being stuck with items they hate but aren't allowed to get rid of yet one in five has gone ahead and removed a significant other's item without telling them. Some of the other hated items mentioned were antlers and other hunting trophies, wood paneling and old magazines.

One in five respondents have made a significant decision during the remodel process without telling their partner, from tearing down walls and picking paint colors to choosing furniture and appliances.

Four out of five survey respondents reported feeling more relaxed in their home after completing their project.

42 percent of respondents do more entertaining.

41 percent report an increase in their level of happiness with their significant other."

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Houzz survey on remodeling and relationships uncovers some interesting statistics

Published: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 4:06 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 4:06 p.m.

Several hundred customers, employees and guests gathered Friday at Sam's Club for a grand re-opening ceremony.

The occasion highlighted a six-month store remodeling project and 22 years of doing business in the community.

The 135,000-square-foot membership club outlet, which had its grand opening on Nov. 21, 1991, underwent an overhaul that included major upgrades to the fresh food and produce areas.

The store, open to the public but originally geared with "bulk" packaging toward small businesses, currently employs 216, said store manager Daniel Philipsen.

At least 26 employees of the original opening crew are still working there, according to a press release from a Sam's Club representative.

Ocala Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership President and CEO Kevin Sheilley praised the outlet, a division of Wal-Mart and named after founder Sam Walton, as a "great place" for employees and part of the retail giant which, when all local stores are considered together, is the "biggest private employer in the county."

Al Dunlap, 76, and his wife, Judy, were the first customers to enter the store following the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. Al Dunlap thanked the Sam's Club staff for years of service with a wide array of well-displayed products from food to office products.

"I've been coming here for about 10 years. They run a first-class organization," said Dunlap, 76, a West Point graduate, former CEO of several companies and local philanthropist.

Philipsen discussed some highlights of existing and new offering at the store.

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Sam's Club celebrates remodeling, 22 years in Ocala

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Remodeling a home can be an emotionally stressful experience, putting strain on even the strongest couples. Pulling back the covers on remodeling and relationships, a new survey from Houzz (www.houzz.com), the worlds leading platform for home remodeling and design, reveals that while 46 percent of respondents found the remodeling and redecorating process with their significant other to be collaborative, the same amount found the experience frustrating and 12 percent admit to considering a separation or divorce mid-remodel. In the end, theres no place like a remodeled home, with the vast majority of couples (84 percent) spending more time at home after their remodel.

Conflicting style is a major source of stress as one third of respondents do not like their significant others design style. Theyre not shy about telling their partner, either with 76 percent sharing their opinion with their significant other. But honesty doesnt help get rid of some of their partners favorite items. Forty-two percent of respondents reported being stuck with items they hate but arent allowed to get rid of yet one in five has gone ahead and removed a significant others item without telling them. Forget knickknacks, the most common item creating clashes is old furniture, followed closely by posters and artwork. Some of the other hated items mentioned were antlers and other hunting trophies, wood paneling and old magazines.

While the majority of respondents describe their process as collaborative, when couples cant agree, some partners move ahead on their own. One in five respondents have made a significant decision during the remodel process without telling their partner, from tearing down walls and picking paint colors to choosing furniture and appliances.

Despite the stress of remodeling, home really is where the heart is. Four out of five survey respondents reported feeling more relaxed in their home after completing their project. In addition, 42 percent of respondents do more entertaining and 41 percent report an increase in their level of happiness with their significant other.

"Remodeling can be a stressful time for couples, but our community tells us Houzz serves as a de facto marriage counselor, helping them fall in love all over again, only this time with their homes," said Liza Hausman, VP of Community. "Were providing tools that make the experience collaborative, fun and a whole lot less painful."

Here are a few tips for keeping the peace and even strengthening a relationship during the remodeling and decorating process:

The Remodeling & Relationships Survey is an online survey of Houzz users conducted July 2013. n=1322

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality. For more information, visit http://www.houzz.com

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Remodeling Causes Relationship Woes: 12 Percent of Couples Admit to Considering Separation or Divorce Mid-Remodel

Primetime #39;s Gangsta Bu II vs Plumber Kevin
Biz #39;s South Invades the North No Limit Raceway.

By: missed1two

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Primetime's Gangsta Bu II vs Plumber Kevin - Video

Woodbridge, VA (PRWEB) July 31, 2013

One of the worst nightmares that homeowners have is that their plumbing will become damaged in the middle of the night. They walk downstairs into the basement and discover that there is an inch of water on the floor. They flush the toilet and water begins to leak from around the base. They go to turn on the sprinkler system overnight and they find the yard has been flooded. These are the types of problems that can cause serious issues for the home if they are not fixed right away, but it is not always easy to find a plumber after hours. A Virginia plumber with years of experience handling these situations is 4FastPlumber.

4FastPlumber is a family owned company that has decades of experience in plumbing repairs and new installation. Their philosophy has always been that quality work and fair pricing help to build long-term relationships, and they place an emphasis on customer service. This Virginia plumber understands that the reputation of the company can make or break the business. Customers report nothing but good experiences with this Virginia plumber, as evidenced by their stellar reviews at Angies List.

Even late at night, homeowners can rest assured that they are getting quality work for their money. The staff at 4FastPlumber is exceptionally professional, and they get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, something that is even more important during an emergency call at midnight. When the call is placed, one of the service trucks will be dispatched right away, and the work will begin as soon as the truck arrives. The company is fully bonded and insured for all of their work, and they never subcontract the work to another company.

When there is emergency work that needs to be taken care of, homeowners need to call a plumber who is qualified and professional. To meet this need, 4FastPlumber is now proud to be able to offer their services 24/7 to homeowners who need their help. Homeowners will be tempted to call the first company they can find that will come to the site, but unless that plumber is 4FastPlumber, the quality of the work is up in the air. Sometimes the homeowner will call with an issue that does not need to be dealt with right away, and 4FastPlumber may advise the homeowner to avoid using the water and to call back during normal working hours in order to save the homeowner money on the cost of the repairs. When the call is a true emergency, 4FastPlumber gets a truck dispatched faster than almost every other Virginia plumber does.

The plumbing system is the most important system of the home, as it has the potential to cause serious damage to the structure of the home and serious illness to the people living there if the system becomes compromised. Homeowners need to have their plumbing repaired as soon as possible, which can sometimes mean making an emergency call late at night to a Virginia plumber. Homeowners who call 4FastPlumber will speak to a company who specializes in repair services and they will get the work done in the most efficient way possible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit http://www.4fastplumber.com or call (703) 491-6475.

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4FastPlumber Announces 24 Hour On Demand Emergency Services