SACRAMENTO, Calif. -

Across California, state agencies and departments are taking immediate actions to curb water use at their facilities in response to the drought state of emergency declared by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.

The Governor's state of emergency declaration charged the Department of General Services (DGS) with "immediately implement(ing) water use reduction plans for all state facilities." "Throughout state government, we are answering Governor Brown's call to save water wherever we can," said DGS Director Fred Klass. "DGS is leading water conservation efforts at our state-owned buildings."

Some immediate steps DGS has taken over the past few weeks include:

Drastically reduced or eliminated altogether water used in landscaping at DGS properties.

Shutting off water fountains and water features on state property, including the State Capitol grounds.

Instituting a moratorium on non-essential landscaping projects at state facilities.

Cancelling contracts for water intensive-window washing at state facilities.

Eliminating all car washes in the state garage other than those required for safety.

Issuing guidance through the Division of the State Architect to nearly 1,200 school administrators on best practices for conserving water at K-12 schools and community college campuses.

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State shutting down fountains and sprinklers to save water

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Proper products make cleaning surfaces easier

LAS VEGAS -- Countertops that charge smartphones, lighted toilet seats and beverage chillers that can be illuminated with favorite school or team colors were among some of the new and possibly useful things under the Las Vegas sun this week at the combined International Builders and Kitchen & Bath Industry shows.

Drawing high interest from conventioneers were Corian surfaces with embedded wireless power mats. Just plunk an iPhone on the counter and it starts charging. DuPont and the Power Matters Alliance also see these counters working in public spaces such as coffee shops. Look for the technology to be available to consumers later this year. The pricing is not yet set.

Night-light toilet seats from Kohler offer a subdued blue light as an option to switching on bright overheads. Designed with a seven-hour timer, the two-part light can cycle on only when needed at night. A guiding light (yes, they call it that) is in the seat hinge, and a task light is visible when the bowl lid is lifted. The list price is $75.

Wine cabinets and under-counter refrigerators using more than a dozen colors of LED lighting were unveiled by True Professional Series. Cobalt blue, lavender, ice and emerald green are among the choices. But would-be buyers will have to wait until fall before the fridges are available to consumers.

A one-piece continuous slide closet system that transforms wire shelves to clothes-hanging space was a new offerings from ClosetMaid that drew industry recognition. The TotalSlide Pro can be cut to fit space up to 12 feet long. That's a long uninterrupted slide. But the product is available to consumers only through a builder.

Free-standing tub fillers that look more sculptural than faucet-like go hand-in-hand with the stand-alone tub trend in master bathrooms. Among makers is Indianapolis-based Brizo, which showed a line in chrome, nickel, bronze and black finishes.

Urban, island views from Hollywood Hills West

While making its radiant floors thinner and hotter, Warmup has added a thermostat to help buyers use the floors more effectively as a heat source. The slim wall displays come in a variety of colors to fit in with room decor.

Concrete sinks, made from fiber and cement and then sealed, took center stage at the Native Trails booth. The sinks, which start at $435, weigh 40% less than standard concrete and have that industrial/loft vibe popular in hip urban neighborhoods.

The subdued palette includes ash, pearl and slate tones. An alternative to the double-sink, double-vanity trend in master bathrooms is a single trough sink with two drains and two faucets -- essentially a double sink. The 4-foot-long sink is priced at $1,685.

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Hot new products for the home unveiled in Las Vegas

ABINGDON, Va. Making the eatery at the Barter Theatre cozier and more restaurant-like was the goal of a month-long renovation to be completed next week.

The former quick-food Barter Cafe will reopen Feb. 14 as Bob's at Barter, which theater officials hope will be a place for people to sit down before or after a show, said Amanda Leslie Livingston, Barters director of marketing.

"It's something we feel is important to enhance the Barter experience, because it's not enough to see a show and then get in your car and leave," she said. "When you get out of the best shows, you're electrified and want to talk, and we were kind of cutting patrons short by not providing that experience."

Bob's at Barter, named after theater creator Robert Porterfield, will still offer quickly-made meals, but the menu has expanded to include more salads, hors d'oeuvres and vegetarian and vegan options, said Carrie Louthen, manager of the restaurant.

Inside, the walls have been repainted in warm white and black, and the theater paraphernalia that used to adorn the walls will be replaced by large black-and-white photo canvases of Barter shows. Pops of burgundy red -- Barter's signature color -- appear in comfortable armchairs and other accents.

"The former cafe had not been renovated in many years ... it definitely fulfilled its original intent, but we really wanted to make a place where people would linger," Livingston said. "It's more sophisticated."

A few walls have been added and the door will be moved to help redirect traffic through the space, said Christine Webb, Barters communication manager. Patrons will still order at the counter, which has also been redesigned, and, instead of getting a number on a table tent, will get an actor's head shot along with his or her biography, Webb said.

Seating has been increased, which is important because the restaurant often serves as a waiting area for Barter Stage II. Partitions will allow more dining privacy as well.

"Overall, we're really cleaning up the look and making it on par with the quality at Barter," Livingston said, adding that the new name is a perfect fit. "We wanted something more fun that stood out. If you think of your favorite restaurant, it has a name that sticks out and is unique to the place."

agibson@bristolnews.com | 276-791-5459 | Twitter: @BHC_Allie

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Barter Theatre eatery renovated, renamed

Three houses have changed hands within four months on Parc Monceau, a lake to-sea cul-de-sac of just seven homes on the South End.

The latest property to sell is No. 124, which faces the lake and, like its neighbors, was developed a half-century ago by the late builder Clarence Mack.

Two limited liability companies were involved in the transactions recorded Jan. 31 at $4.975 million of the six-bedroom house built in 1962. The first company was Greenway Financial Group LLC, an entity controlled by sellers Scott and Jayne Wilson Schroeder of Ridgeway, N.J. That company had paid a recorded $4.5 million for the quarter-acre property in 2008.

On the buyers side was a Florida LLC named after the propertys address and managed by attorney and businessman Charles D. Barnett of Palm Beach Gardens, whose name is attached to dozens of business entities in state records.

Broker Lawrence Moens of Lawrence A. Moens Associates handled both sides of the sale. He declined to comment.

Built in same Palm Beach Regency style as the other homes on the street, the renovated house has a little more than 7,000 square feet of living space, inside and out.

The company that bought the house, 124 Parc Monceau LLC, was registered with the state in August. Moens listing in the local multiple listing service shows that the house went under contract in October and had been leased prior to its sale.

Other recent sales in the neighborhood: In September, 1720 S. Ocean Blvd. an oceanfront house at the opposite end of Parc Monceau sold privately for a recorded $5.35 million in a deal that saw broker Brandon Rinker of Rinker Realty acting for both sides. He represented his grandmother, longtime Palm Beacher Ruby S. Rinker, who used a revocable trust to buy the 1959 house from Jerome and Barbara Glazer.

A month later, a trust affiliated with interior decorator Luis Lapitz sold No. 115 for $4.35 million to a Florida corporation, 145 Anchor Properties of Vero Beach Inc., which has an address in England. Brandon Rinker brought the buyer for the renovated 1960 house, and Moens had the listing.

None of the three properties that sold is adjacent.

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Another house sells on Parc Monceau

A new two-story building in a historic home district of Cleveland, Tenn., is causing concern to area residents just off Bowman Avenue near Lee University.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. Eyebrows are being raised over an indoor basketball gym being built in a Cleveland neighborhood that helped launch the city's historic preservation movement.

Cleveland city officials have fielded complaints about a 4,844-square-foot, two-story building going up behind the Centenary Avenue home of Matthew and Tara Brown. The couple cleared away a 912-square-foot, 1930s-era house at 932 Oak St. to make way for their gym, which some local residents feel is too large and out of character with the neighborhood.

"Some people are upset about it, and others were simply wondering what process did he go through to get this approved," City Manager Janice Casteel said.

The Browns declined to comment.

City planner Corey Divel also said he's gotten calls about the gym.

"I think I had two phone calls when it first started going up," he said.

The Browns went through the necessary steps to build the gym, Divel said, including getting a certificate of appropriateness from Cleveland's seven-member Historic Preservation Commission. It approved the certificate in a 4-0 vote at its May 21 meeting, according to meeting minutes, with support from commissioners Joan Benjamin, Randy Wood, Charlotte Thorogood and Maryl Elliott.

Architect Douglas B. Caywood, who sits on the historic preservation commission and was the Browns' architect for the gym, was absent. Caywood declined to comment Friday about the issue.

Plans on file with the city show that the gym building is 18 feet tall to the eaves, where the roof begins. The basketball court is 50 feet wide, the same as a regulation NBA court, and has two nets. It will be 61 feet long, about two-thirds the length of the 94-foot-long regulation court. The new building will include a one-car garage and a kitchen.

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Neighbors question indoor gymnasium in historic Cleveland area

Moduleo, PVC Wood Flooring Installation - Select Classic Oak 24980
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -

Business leaders in Taft are rolling out the red carpet and their plans on improving the downtown area with a little help from a Hollywood star.

Business owner, Karen Mitchell has seen a big difference outside her window.

Theres parking, theres friendly people, lots of good variety and lots of good prices, she said.

Mitchell has operated KC Photography and Framing in downtown Taft for the last 27 years and finds success with the citys rich history.

We have a lot of the old negatives from this area, from the 1920s and so, were working with the archives to do old photos of the area for offices and collections, she said.

The Taft Chamber of Commerce is help businesses grow. Its celebrating its installation of new leaders in true Hollywood-style with actor/director, Corbin Bernsen, reflecting on the past and sharing in sight for the future.

If we can rebuild mainstream America, the rest will follow. I dont think you can start at the top and work your way back down. I think you start back at Main Street, he said.

The Chamber of Commerce is not only recapping 2013, they are also rolling out their plans for the future.

Some of the things that we talked about doing, as far as improving our business district downtown, is kind of getting the streets cleaned up and get some of the landlords to be able to help us, so we can paint the buildings and make them where theyre more attractive, said Shannon Jones, of the Taft Chamber of Commerce.

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Taft Chamber looks forward to the future

Grand Blanc Michigan Contractor Basement Remodeling and Finishing
Here is a project that we did for one of our clients. The project was started by the homeowners and we helped design, plan, and finish this space. Everyone w...

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