When friends and family roll in for the holidays, space inside the house is coveted. But year round, the lot has more value, with the potential to appreciate more than any structure, say real estate experts.

As more people move into an area, the demand for development drives up land's value, according to data analyzed by the financial education source Investopedia. Even land that can't be divided can be prized as a private retreat.

In this week's real estate gallery, we look at homes for sale sitting on an acre or more of earth.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Premiere Property Group

93.57 acres in Hillsboro

The 93.57-acre Highgrove Estate at 22380 N.W. Meier Road is listed at $6.5 million.

The two-level, Colonial-style house, built in 1988, has five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 9,658 square feet of living space.

The land includes a large pool house, carriage house with modern loft-style apartment, barn with winery-cidery capabilities, conservatory greenhouse, office building, warehouse, equipment barns, children's cottage, certified organic vineyard, orchards, gardens plus two ponds.

Premiere Property Group

93.57 acres in Hillsboro

"Do not enter property without a broker. Prequalified buyers only," say listing agents Matthew Tackett and Peter Bouman of Premiere Property Group of the property at 22380 N.W. Meier Road.

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

18.54 acres in Corbett

The Argentinian-style house, built in 1997 on 18.54 acres overlooking the Columbia River at 34931 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy., is listed at $2.5 million.

The two-level house has a great room, library, four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 5,298 square feet of living space.

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

18.54 acres in Corbett

"Grand spaces for entertaining, dramatic use of windows to allow the outdoors into every room, indoor-outdoor patios and verandas, private gardens," says listing agent Chris Suarez of Keller Williams Realty Professionals about the property at at 34931 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy.

More Realty

9.81 acres in Troutdale

The Old Portland-style house, built in 1904 on 9.81 acres at 2035 S.E. Troutdale Road, is listed at $2,250,000.

The three-level house has three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and 2,889 square feet of living space plus a barn.

More Realty

9.81 acres in Troutdale

"Make an offer," says listing agent Allen Riddle of More Realty of the property at2035 S.E. Troutdale Road. "This amazing Zone R-10 property has a great upside for a multi-home development with views of Mount Hood and nice trees and creek at the footsteps of these finished homes. This property is a must for any builder or local family farm to add to their portfolio."

Luxe Christie's International Real Estate

9.74 acres in Forest Park

The modern mansion, built in 2003 on 9.74 acres at 9912 N.W. Wind Ridge Dr., is listed at $8,650,000.

The three-level house has a two-story open living and dining area, commercial-grade kitchen, sound-proof music room, four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, four powder rooms, an indoor pool and 11,807 square feet of living space plus guest quarters.

Luxe Christie's International Real Estate

9.74 acres in Forest Park

"Architectural treasure in West Hills. Incredible modern design with stunning imported stone, wood and glass, breathtaking mountain views from every room. World class material and craftsmanship ... Perfect for entertaining, art, those wanting to live in a modern masterpiece," says listing agent Terry Sprague of Luxe Christie's International Real Estate of the property at 9912 N.W. Wind Ridge Dr.

John L. Scott Sandy

9.3 acres in Troutdale

The chateau-inspired mansion, built in 2007 on 9.31 acres at 30260 N.E. Springhill Road, is listed at $2,950,000.

The three-level house has six bedrooms, four full bathrooms, three partial bathrooms and 7,738 square feet of living space.

John L. Scott Sandy

9.3 acres in Troutdale

"Just 20 minutes to downtown Portland and five minutes from the famous Columbia River Gorge where the outdoor enthusiast will enjoy access to a myriad of hiking trails, world-class fishing," says listing agent Brian Gentry of John L. Scott Sandy of the property at at 30260 N.E. Springhill Road.

Pro Group Realty and Property Management

6.07 acres in Buxton

The 6.07-acre property at Northwest Oregon Route 47 at Northwest Nowakowski Road sold for $185,000 on Sept. 16, 2019.

The manufactured home has two bedrooms, one bathroom and 672 square feet of living space.

"Beautiful little setting surrounded by timber. Type 1 replacement approval required for building," said listing agent Linda Monte of Pro Group Realty and Property Management.

Premiere Property Group

5.81 acres in Sherwood

The contemporary country estate-style house, built on 5.81 gated acres at 10770 S.W. Tonquin Loop, is listed at $1,988,000.

The two-story custom home was designed and built by a team who created a Street of Dreams house. This home has a great room with floor-to-ceiling windows, tray ceilings, cove lighting, six bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 5,198 square feet of living space.

The original farmhouse, horse stable and corral are included in the property.

Premiere Property Group

5.81 acres in Sherwood

"Luxury and tranquility," says listing agent Lois Oliver-Miesbach of Premiere Property Group about the property at 10770 S.W. Tonquin Loop.

Where, Inc

3.4 acres in the West Hills

The midcentury modern house, designed by architect Walter Gordon and built in 1971 on 3.4 acres at 5335 S.W. Patton Road, is listed at $6,975,000.

The remodeled, two-level dwelling has floor-to-ceiling windows, four bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 8,162 square feet of living space. A veranda overlooks the pool.

Where, Inc

3.4 acres in the West Hills

"Bound by Portland's natural surroundings and panoramic vistas," say listing agents Suzann Baricevic Murphy and Lorraine Rose of Where, Incof the property at at 5335 S.W. Patton Road. "Wrapped in brick for a large part, the exterior is in sublime contrast to the tropical-inspired gardens and native forest that surround the perimeter."

RE/MAX Equity Group

2.1 acres in Forest Park

The daylight ranch-style house, built in 1937 on 2.1 acres at 10549 N.W. Skyline Blvd., is listed at $449,500.

The updated two-story house has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 1,312 square feet of living space.

RE/MAX Equity Group

2.1 acres in Forest Park

"Great layout for extended family or renting rooms. Each bedroom has a door to the exterior and a bathroom. Lots of room for RV parking," says listing agent Tom Stubbs of RE/MAX Equity Group of the property at at 10549 N.W. Skyline Blvd.

Great Western Real Estate Co.

1.09 acres in Pleasant Valley

The ranch house, built in 1950 on 1.09 acres at 5720 S.E. Jenne Road, is listed at $389,000.

The dwelling has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,496 square feet of living space.

Great Western Real Estate Co.

1.09 acres in Pleasant Valley

"One-acre lot in the city, conveniently located between Powell and Foster Road. The one-level home makes a great rental or first home. Do not disturb tenants," says listing agent Cornell Mann of Great Western Real Estate Co. of the property at 5720 S.E. Jenne Road.

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

Original post:

On the market: Homes sitting on an acre or more of valuable land - OregonLive

Story by Sean McIntyre Photography by Don Denton

Old pumpkins, a trebuchet and a man with an idea. Stu Hopewell of Alair Homes is all about building custom homes as well as community.

Stus neighbourhood has long been known as the place where Nanaimo residents discard unwanted pumpkins. In the days that follow Halloween, the pumpkins proliferate along the side of the road, creating an alluring seasonal attraction, until time and November rain take their toll.

Its nice, but generally ends up as a big greasy mess, he says.

Always innovative and having a knack for practicality, Stu built a giant catapult to launch what he hopes will become an annual community tradition: The Great Pumpkin Toss. The inaugural event, undertaken in partnership with the Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society, will see a few creative and fun ways to dispose of post-Halloween pumpkins. For a modest donation, Stu will load peoples old, unwanted pumpkins into the launcher and send the sad squash soaring high through the sky and into a field behind the East Wellington Fire Hall on Jingle Pot Road.

Depending on the weight, we can usually launch them between 150 and 200 feet, he says.

Funds raised from this years event were donated to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island and the Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society, whose members built a pumpkin cannon as part of the project.

The pumpkin toss is a whole lot of fun, but its also just one of the many ways the successful businessman and long-time builder has found a way to give back to his hometown and support local charities.

Stu hopes other companies will join the event in future years, helping to raise more funds for great causes that need ongoing support.

The more participants, the bigger the event and the more dollars raised, which is our overall goal here.

Last summer, Stu was part of the Alair Homes team that had a solid finish in the citys annual Silly Boat Race. The team engineered a Jaws-themed shark boat that took a bite out of the competition and helped raise more than $100,000 for the Nanaimo Child Development Centre.

My family moved to Canada from England in the late 70s, and the CDC helped me at that point by doing some speech therapy, so theyve made a big difference in our lives, he says.

Stu gave back by serving on the CDCs board of directors, a position that showed him how much the organization helps disadvantaged and disabled kids in spite of a slim budget. Continual funding uncertainty, he says, means the CDC has a waiting list of anywhere between 300 and 400 children who need assistance at any given time.

That, to me, just doesnt make sense. If we can increase funding and decrease those waiting lists, then the kids that need help will get help much faster, he says. Just getting out in the community and giving back is important for me. Its not about dollars and cents, its about making a difference while youre here.

Engaging in more community events is part of the companys long-term strategy, he adds. Building annual traditions where residents can have fun and have an impact is a great way for him to increase the quality of life in the region that he and his family are proud to call home, he says.

Stu is in a place where he can make a difference. Back in 2011, tired of working for someone else, he decided to speak with fellow builder and friend Blair McDaniel about going into business. Within a decade, Stu had become the co-owner and chief operating officer of Alair Homes, North Americas largest custom home company. Starting out as a general labourer during summers at 14 years of age, Stu has risen to the top of his field. He now works with 60 employees out of the companys home office in downtown Nanaimo and assists hundreds of the Alair franchisees in towns and cities across North America.

We handle all of the back-end business in this office here, he says. Most builders are excellent with clients and the sub-trades, but they struggle with the paperwork like paying bills and processing their payroll. As a result, good builders have struggled to be successful.

Thats where we can help, doing the payroll, HR, accounting, payables, receivables, operations, marketing and legal.This allows our builders to handle a much higher volume than on their own.

Stus success and Alairs expansion mean he arrives at work early, usually by 6 am, to coincide with business hours on the east coast.

Its hard work, but I enjoy myself, he says. If you love what you do, its not difficult to go to work.

Making time for work and family means hes had to reconsider some of his priorities.

Once a stalwart at Vancouver Island race tracks such as Saratoga and Western Speedway, Stu has shifted gears. Once an avid racer of the pint-sized and high-powered dwarf-series race cars, family and work responsibilities have encouraged Stu to grab the keys of his family car to wheel his two teenage children around the streets of Nanaimo.

Now its really about chasing around my kids, dropping them off and picking them up, he says. Theres always a skating event, dance lesson or karate tournament.

As Alair Homes expands, Stu has been racking up some hefty frequent flyer points by visiting new locations. One week hell be in Alberta or Ontario, while the next will see him travelling to Texas or Florida. As someone who has worked in the industry since his early teens, Stu is continually fascinated by the different approaches and building techniques he encounters in different regions.

Outside of work, he shares his desire for travel with his wife and two teenage kids. The family takes frequent trips overseas as a way to broaden their horizons and remember the triviality of first-world problems.

We feel its important for us and our kids to see other parts of the world, he says.

On a trip to Africa, the family was awed by the scale of the continents wilderness and wild creatures. They also visited an orphanage run by an Australian ex-pat with no government funding. Despite the challenges and poverty, he recalls, all the children had access to clean beds and regular meals, and had smiles on their faces.

That was a life-changing trip for me, he says.

Its experiences like these, Stu adds, that remind him to be grateful for what hes achieved and aware of how we can all make our communities, be they on Vancouver Island or overseas, healthier and happier places to live.

To find out more about Alair check out their Alair Homes website.

Story courtesy of Boulevard Magazine, a Black Press Media publication

Like Boulevard Magazine on Facebook and follow them on Instagram

Originally posted here:

Building homes and community - Boundary Creek Times

For a fresh approach to bathroom decor for 2020, we delved into the top posts on Instagram.

Larissa Runkle, provided by

Photo: IStock/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

New Year, New Bathroom: 5 Fun Trends on Instagram That Will Make It Your New Favorite Room

Bathroom trends go round and roundkind of like water circling the drainbut this weeks bright and light decor ideas will have you thinking they should stick around for a while. As we head into 2020, there's a ton of fresh inspiration for new bathroom looks surfacing on social media.

As we do every week, we dug deep into trending decor ideas on Instagram, scouring hundreds (if not more) top design posts. So what did we find? Five fun trends that might just make your bathroom the new favorite room. Keep scrolling to find out what they areand as always, how you can steal the look.

A small bathroom that's big on style! And those tiles?! So dreamy. If you are working with a small space, head to the link in bio for loads more inspiration... . . Photo: @snookphotographHomeowner: @lunaslittlehouse . . #bathroom#interiors#bathroominspo#rolltopbath#bathroomvibes#styleithappy#colourmyhome#myhomevibe#rustichomedecor#diy#renovation#potd#bathroomremodel#bathroommakeover#bathroomdesign#remodelista#inmydomaine#apartmenttherapy#bathroomdecor#bathroominspo#bathroomideas#interiormilk#interior_and_living#houserenovation#styleithappy#ihavethisthingwithhome#sorealhomes#apartmenttherapy

A post shared by Real Homes (@real_homes) on Dec 14, 2019 at 1:10am PST

Theres something to be said for the recent comeback of pastels into just about every room of the houseand the bathroom is no exception. Dont believe us? Just check out this gorgeous peachy-pink tile in the home of @lunaslittlehouse, reposted by @real_homes.

Peachy pink tiles have been on peoples radar for the past few years, says Jim Kabel, president of Case Design/Remodeling San Jose. Many modern bathroom designs have incorporated a splash of this vintage color by pairing it with other light-colored tiles and dark-colored grout. Adding this design element will offer your bathroom a clean-lined, luxurious appeal.

Get the look: Add some peachy tile to your bathroom by shopping the stunning geometric Sol Pink Tile from Riad Tile.

Excuse me human, Im having a Me Day. (via @jaxandgin)

Visit link:
New Year, New Bathroom: 5 Fun Trends on Instagram That Will Make It Your New Favorite Room - SFGate

After the hectic years of child-rearing end and grown children move out, many empty nesters find themselves in a state of adjustment.Brian Stauffer/The New York Times

After the hectic years of child-rearing end and grown children move out, many empty-nesters find themselves in a state of adjustment.

While some rejoice in their leaner schedules and newfound quiet, others deal with loneliness and depression, often referred to as empty-nest syndrome. In either case, most empty-nesters eventually reach a point where they ask themselves: Is it time to downsize, upsize, or just renovate and configure their current home?

A recent report from Freddie Mac found that baby boomers have stayed in their homes much longer than previous generations. A 2019 report from Houzz, a home-remodeling website, found that 60% of baby boomers defined as people ages 55 to 74 planned to stay in their homes for the next 11 or more years. Older Americans tend to move into residential care communities in their mid-80s, according to data available from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For those who opt to stay in their empty nests, many decide it is a good time to do the renovations they put off in previous years. These home makeovers tend to fall into three broad categories: fixing a space to make room for a new lifestyle or hobby, sprucing up a now unused space so it can be rented out to create a new revenue stream, or renovating to make a home more comfortable for visits from adult children and their expanding families.

Taking the time to figure out how you want your empty nest to affect your lifestyle will help you figure out how to reconfigure a home, said Robin Baron, an interior designer with her own firm in Manhattan. Many of her empty-nest clients have approached her after deciding they want to entertain more, but shes had to pick apart what that means.

Do you want to have more dinner or cocktail parties? Do you want to host fund-raisers or just have several friends over for a movie night? Will you do the cooking or hire caterers? The word entertain is too broad, so you must narrow that down, then come up with the design, Baron said.

Mary Ann Gioeli, a publishing executive, said she knew immediately what she wanted to do when her son moved out. About two weeks after Ryan, now 30, left their Upper West Side apartment for the Air Force in 2014, she threw out the gross black leather couch that was in his room and repainted the formerly bright blue space a neutral white. To turn the room into a den, she bought new furniture, including a pullout couch, and moved the television from the living room.

For Gioeli, 67, this was the first step in transforming her three-bedroom apartment into a more adult space. Although she was thrilled her home had been the go-to hangout for her son and daughter, Francesca, now 32, and their friends during their adolescence, she longed to turn the large, bright apartment into a quieter space. Somewhere you can have a conversation, she said.

When her daughter left to rent her own apartment in 2016, Gioeli turned her bedroom into a proper guest room. Out went the dated furniture, in came a queen-size bed. These renovations cost a few thousand dollars and were paid for from savings, said Gioeli, who is separated from her husband.

In late 2016, she finally tackled what the family had longed to do: a complete revamp of the dated bathrooms. A tub in the master bath was removed, and a walk-in shower was installed. Double sinks and new storage spaces were added, as well as a new marble floor. The guest bathroom was also thoroughly updated, with a glass-encased shower replacing a former closet space. A home-equity loan covered the $65,000 price tag to renovate both bathrooms.

I told my kids they will always have a home to return to, said Gioeli, whose daughter boomeranged back home this year. But its been great to be able to open up my home and have friends stay over.

Brad and Karen Hacker of Cooper City, Fla., who live about 15 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale, slowly transformed their home after their two sons, Lane and Drew, now 29 and 25, moved out for good in 2014 and 2018.

Karen Hacker said their four-bedroom home needed a lot of upgrades, as renovations to their home of 26 years had largely been held off to save money for their childrens college education. But as different parts of the home started to wear down, the couple saw it as their chance to revamp it for themselves.

A citation from their homeowners association requiring them to pressure-clean the outside of the house prompted them to repaint both the exterior and interior. A broken washing machine resulted in the decluttering and reorganization of the laundry room. In 2017, when the pavers in the backyard started to sink and needed repair, the couple took a moment to reflect on whether they should tackle yet another home improvement project or just sell the house. But with most of their friends still nearby (only one close couple had moved away), they decided to stay.

Their most fun upgrade, they said, was to turn a childs bedroom into an exercise space. They first repainted the room and brought in a TV, treadmill, and free weights. Karen Hacker, 54, who formerly worked in human resources, carved out a space for her yoga mat.

Last year, the Hackers, who blog about their empty-nest life, bought a Peloton bike to replace the treadmill. Professing his competitiveness, Brad Hacker, 60, an accountant, said that he exerted himself more because he likes seeing how his performance ranks with others during his workouts but that he enjoys competing against his sons the most. The couple also installed a small infrared sauna in the room this year, so far spending about $5,000 of their savings.

Building the exercise room also turned out to be a real time saver for us, Karen Hacker said, as it eliminated having to drive to and from the gym.

Some empty-nesters decide to turn their now unused space into extra income. Hollis Giammatteo, a writer, used about $180,000 from savings to gut-renovate her daughters old basement bedroom and turn it into an Airbnb rental. Inspired by a friend who had done something similar, Giammatteo, who lives in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, said she preferred to lease the space short term because the city is a high-demand tourist and business destination and she is able to keep the unit regularly booked. She said that using an online portal had made it easy to block out specific days when friends and family planned to stay with her. She estimated she had grossed around $125,000 since her first rental in 2015.

That said, she advises those interested in turning unused space into a short-term rental to investigate local laws. You have to be willing to take on bureaucracy, Giammatteo, 71, said. Depending on the area, you may need insurance, a business license, and to pay taxes on income, she said.

Others, like Peggy Griffin of Wellesley prefer renting out an unused bedroom to long-term boarders. Griffin, an employee of the Federal Transit Administration, said she didnt want to be a hotelier and liked that she could help keep rents more affordable in the Boston area.

After two of her triplets permanently moved out in 2013, she found tenants through Nesterly, an online home-share service that vets potential renters. Griffin, 61, said she simply cleaned out the bedroom before her first boarder moved in. She charges $1,100 a month for a bedroom with a private bath, and she plans to use the extra income to fix the roof on her 1868 four-bedroom home.

I already know repairing the roof will lead to fixing the siding and the windows, she said.

Updating a homes look, not preparing it for sale, was the goal of 71% of consumers age 50 and older who either had completed a home renovation in the past two years or were in the middle of or planning to begin a remodel in the next six months, according to a survey taken by the Schlesinger Group for Sweeten, an online renovation platform.

We see renovations ranging from updating a bathroom to include a two-person soaking tub to gut remodels that convert bedrooms into hobby rooms from art to yoga, said Jean Brownhill, Sweetens founder.

That said, experts suggest that homeowners check with a local broker before starting a large-scale renovation to see if their design will have resale value.

Mary Dell Harrington, a homeowner in Mamaroneck, N.Y., and the cofounder of the parenting website Grown & Flown, is working with an architect to update her kitchen so it can accommodate her grown children, who visit often and love to cook. Her two children, Walker Berning, 29, and Annie Berning, 24, both live in Manhattan but often come home on the weekends, cooking elaborate meals with lots of ingredients I typically dont keep on hand, she said.

But the old kitchen is too cramped. Harrington wants to knock down a wall between the kitchen and dining room and install a larger kitchen island to accommodate the crowd, which also includes her husband, Melvin Berning, 65, their two large Labrador retrievers, and a nephew who attends a nearby college. Although plans are not final, shes hoping theres room for a proper pantry.

Mary Harrington, 64, a former television marketing executive and coauthor of the book Grown & Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults, said previous renovations were stressful and daunting when she worked full time and the children were younger and still living at home.

Now Im home to deal with contractors or any emergency, so it should be easier, she said. What we aspire to is not to push our kids away as they grow older but to enter the next phase and be able to hang out with them as they become more independent.

For some empty-nesters, however, this is not an easy transition to make. Some parents have complicated emotions about watching their children move on, according to Jane Benjamin, a psychologist and clinical director at the Counseling Center in Bronxville, N.Y. Pride and joy can be also mixed with envy or regret, Benjamin said. It can also be a reckoning of aging, that things are beyond them, and that can be a vulnerable feeling.

For empty-nesters who have kept their kids bedroom as a shrine to their past (read: trophies, primary- or bright-colored walls), Benjamin suggests working in stages. Make your children take what theyd like to keep, retain a few mementos for yourself, and get rid of the rest.

Replacing the single bed with a larger one would be ideal for returning adult children with partners. Personalizing the newfound space might be a fun project and help you accept that youre in a next stage in life, she said.

Subscribe to the Globes free real estate newsletter our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design atpages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter@globehomes.

Go here to see the original:
What are you going to do with that empty nest? - Boston.com

Shower kit is a shower cubicle. Shower kits consist of all required parts and equipment which can be built and installed immediately. It comes with either one piece construction or in multiple pieces to be fitted and sealed together. A typical shower kit often comes with three pieces: the front frame and door, the wall set, and the shower base. This different pieces offer flexibility to consumers to install it as per their requirement. Shower kits are mostly made of acrylic and fiberglass material. Demand for shower kits is increasing due to its advantages. They are easy to clean, quick to install, cost effective, light in weight, have less chance of cracking, and have stylish designs and durable quality. In the coming years, Asia Pacific is anticipated to garner major share of the shower kits market.

Increasing hygiene concerns, energy conservation, and smart technologies are expected to be primary factors responsible for expansion of the shower kits market. Moreover, home remodeling is a growing trend among consumers, leading to demand for trendy & smart bathroom accessories. Also, a wide range of innovative products such as sensor based bathroom kits, and kits with sliding doors are expected to boost the shower kits market. Key drivers that have enhanced the popularity of shower kits include infrastructure construction projects and rise in spending power of the population. These scenarios are expected to result in growing adoption of smart bathrooms, thereby driving the growth of the global shower kits market during the forecast period. Increase in lifestyle standards is expected to propel the market. However, alternate options to shower kits such as open shower bathroom due to its easy access is expected to be a major factor restraining the growth of the shower kits market. Moreover, product availability from regional players is another factor which could affect the global shower kits market during the forecast period. Rise in demand for open shower bathroom is due to its quick access for everyone including a person on a wheel chair. Nevertheless, new product designs with water innovative technology such as glass drying up automatically after every shower, minimum working pressure, and better and bigger size of shower kits at cheap rates is expected to create significant opportunities for the global shower kits market.

To get glimpse of what our report offers,ask for a report brochure

The global shower kits market can be classified based on type, application, distribution channel, and region. Based on type, the market can be segmented into ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) engineering plastic, copper, and zinc alloy. In terms of application, the market can be categorized into commercial, and household. In terms of distribution channel, the market can be classified into e-commerce websites, specialty stores, and independent stores. Based on region, the global shower kits market can be divided into North America (The U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., and Italy), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, and others), Middle East & Africa, and South America.

Major players operating in the shower kits market include DreamLine, Swan, STERLING, Durastall, Ella, Dreamwerks, Aston, Steam Planet, Vigo, American Standard, MAAX, KOHLER, Aquatic, OVE Decors, Pittsburgh Corning, Lyons Industries, Delta, and Bootz Industries. All these players compete with each other with respect to their product portfolio in order to survive in the market. Top companies are therefore focusing on the concept of smart bathrooms with smart accessories. Additionally, key players are introducing innovative technologies and providing a variety of shower kits with digital and electronic taps within an economical range. Furthermore, companies are increasing their research activities to strengthen their product portfolio and presence in the global shower kits market.

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.

View original post here:
Shower Kits Market Competitive Insight, Key Drivers and Forecast 2018-2026 - Filmi Baba

December 15 21: Items compiled by Dave Humphrey from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook History Centre and Archives

1912

Mission school The contract for the Indian Industrial school at the St. Eugene Mission, is about completed and the handsome structure will very shortly be occupied by the Indian boys and girls, at present quite inadequately accommodated in the old buildings.

The views of the building, published herewith, unfortunately do not convey as clear an idea of the imposing architectural features of this new building, as at the time they were taken, building operations were not quite completed.

The dominions care of its Indian wards has always been a subject of earnest concern upon the part of those in authority, and in providing these handsome and commodious quarters for the Indian children of South East Kootenay, the department is but extending its useful work along the healthiest lines.

Christ Church The third Sunday (December 15th) in Advent will be long remembered by the congregation of Christ Church, for the ecclesiastical events of the day.

On Saturday afternoon last, the Lord Bishop of New Westminster and administrator of the diocese of Kootenay, arrived from the west, accompanied by the Venerable Archdeacon Beer, of Kaslo. They were met at the station by the rector and the rectors church warden.

On Sunday morning the services for the day began with Holy Communion at 8 oclock by the rector. Matins was said at 10 oclock by the rector, the lessons being read by the lay reader and the archdeacon respectively. At this service the bishop delivered a short but very helpful address, showing the value in the spiritual life of the teaching of the Advent season as contained in the Collects for the season.

Elko On Sunday afternoon the Lord Bishop of New Westminster preceded to Elko with the Rev. J. Ross Colquhoun, to open and to dedicate to the service of God, the new church just completed.

The bishop gave a very strong address, which evidently set the people thinking, for it was being discussed very freely in the little town on the following day.

After the dedication of the church about ten people were presented by the vicar of the district for the holy rite of confirmation.

The bishop returned to Cranbrook by the delayed train on Monday.

The bishop and the archdeacon left Cranbrook for the west by Tuesdays train.

The bishop to hold a confirmation service at Creston and the archbishop will then to return to his home at Kaslo.

Electric slide An electric toboggan slide in the windows of the East Kootenay Mercantile House, is attracting a great deal of excited attention from the youngsters these days.

Mock election The Epworth League will meet on Monday evening, December 23rd, at 8 oclock. Subject: A Mock Municipal Election. An interesting and amusing evening is expected. A cordial invitation is given to all.

Champion skaters Norval Baptie and Miss Isabel Butler, world champion exhibition skaters, will be on the Arena rink on Saturday, January 4th. These ice artists are well worth seeing, and the Arena rink will doubtless be crowded for the occasion.

New constable Mr. Fred Ryckman has been appointed by the department of the interior, Indian branch, a constable for the districts of Cranbrook, Fort Steele, Wasa and Tobacco Plains. His chief duty will be to keep a sharp eye on the fire water evil.

Early issue The next issue of the Herald will appear on Tuesday afternoon, the 24th, in order that the staff may be free to enjoy the Christmas festivities on the usual day of publication, which in this instance falls on Wednesday. Advertisers please govern themselves accordingly and send in their changes by noon on Monday 23rd.

Lick and stick The question having been raised as to the placing on letters of stamps sold for raising funds for the Anti-Tuberculosis Society, postmasters are informed that the department cannot permit such stamps to be pasted on the front of letters, but that they may be pasted on the back as sealers.

Safe investment We know of no Safer Investment than a CRANBROOK ORCHARD to-day, and those of us who know the possibilities of this country should lose no time in securing one of these tracts before they are gone. This Company owns and controls over Two thousand (2,000) acres in this vicinity and they will be the means of bringing in many new settlers. We can sell you this property at low prices and on very easy terms. Beale & Elwell, Sole Agents for Cranbrook Orchards, Cranbrook, B. C.

Work to dye for PARISIAN Cleaning And Dye Works Genuine French System of Dry Cleaning, Steam Cleaning, and Shade Dyeing. Ladies Fancy Garments a specialty. Feathers, Furs, Gloves, Ladies or Mens Hats cleaned or dyed and blocked any style. Pressing and repairing neatly done at reasonable prices. Out of town work attended to promptly. J. H. SMITH, Propr Fenwick Ave., near Baker St. Phone 144 Expert Cleaner and Dyer

Municipal election As the date of the forthcoming municipal election draws nearer interest is being aroused as to prospective candidates.

So far as can be learned by a careful canvass of business, men and property owners, it appears practically assured that Mr. A. C. Bowness will be re-elected mayor by acclamation. On every hand one hears nothing but kindly words for his services during the past twelve months.

As to aldermen, it is pretty generally understood that some of the present board will not invite re-election, but there are hopes that Ald. Campbell, Cameron, Clapp and Erickson will consent to stand again.

The names of the following men are being discussed as possible candidates, Messrs. J. E. Kennedy, W. Halsall, H. A. McKowan and D. Murphy.

Scouting news Look out for the camp fire and coffee! The Veterans and Boy Scouts meet at the Methodist gym on Friday at 7.40 p.m. and march to Russells ranch at 7.45. Arrangements have been made for a huge bonfire. The Scouts will have full cooking equipment, even down to the wherewith to provide fire roasted potatoes.

Camp songs and short addresses. Have you ever been to a campfire? If so come to this for Auld Lang Syne. If not, come now and make a start. Both causes need your sympathy and your help, the one, because it is wholly and solely for the betterment both of soul and body of the youths of our city for whom nothing should be too good or too much trouble; the other, because it aims to give relief to any man or the family of any man who has served his country with the colors and has fallen on troublous and hard times.

Dont forget, Russells ranch is by the mile post opposite the power house, and bring your quarter with you.

Fires There have been three fires this week, none of them of any consequence.

The first occurred in H. Linnells house on Watt Avenue. It was a case of a chimney on fire and was quickly brought under subjection.

A day or two later an alarm came in from a house on Clark Avenue, another case of a chimney on fire, quickly subdued and very little damage done.

This afternoon there was an outbreak of fire in the house of C. M. Moore, over in Slaterville. This little blaze was due to washing hung up over the stove, catching fire and setting fire to the ceiling. Damage done only trifling.

At the auditorium A strong attraction will be provided at the Auditorium next Thursday evening, when Mrs. Annie Adams, mother of the world famous Maud Adams, with a strong company, will give a performance of The Butlers Secret.

Mrs. Adams is well supported by a good company, among them Wilfrid Lee, who has a splendid reputation as leading man with some of the best companies.

The scenic equipment of the play is very elaborate. The engagement is here for one night only, Thursday, December 26th.

Rail news J. Y. Brett, superintendent of construction for Burns and Jordan on the K.C.R., was in town on Wednesday. Mr. Brett reports that he expects to close up the present contract on the K.C.R. in time to eat his Christmas dinner in Spokane.

The company intend to go into winter quarters in the same place as last year, camp B., south of Hansons, where they expect to be able to obtain supplies by train this season, steel being laid now between there and Steele.

Elko news Thank God the deer slaughter is over for another season. The immigration from Fernie and Coal Creek this fall was enormous, and such specimens of Gods recklessness allowed to carry guns would put a crimp in a blind man. But the Elko Rod and Gun Club got ahead of them this year and had all the deer close herded down the Roosville Valley in the long grass.

We felt sorry for the sports that came from Cranbrook and bought their supplies in town, but they got some, everyone of them. There are some fine people in Cranbrook and mighty strange too when we, come to think about it, all the best are moving down to Elko.

Jaffray news The school children of Jaffray had a very enjoyable Christmas entertainment on a large scale last night. A huge Christmas tree had been provided from which each child received a useful present. The entertainment was held in the school room and the children after the distribution of the presents enjoyed themselves immensely with various popular games. The children are only sorry that the season does not come every day.

Bull River news The people of the new town of Bull River will have a Christmas tree and festival on Monday, December 23rd.

Continue reading here:
It happened this week in Cranbrook - Kimberley Bulletin

home & garden By HomeAdvisor , Brand Partner Dec 18, 2019 2:13 pm CT {{ replyButtonLabel }} Reply Home services are a much-needed gift for all of your loved ones. (Shutterstock)

Everything is bigger in Texas, and that often includes your list of home chores. Help lighten your loved one's load this season by gifting them home services. A handyman gift certificate is easy to buy, and always appreciated.

You can make the gift happen easily with HomeAdvisor's instant pricing and payment solution.

Here's what you do:

5 Creative Home Service Gifts to Give This Season

You have a reputation for being a solid gift-giver. Up the ante by buying one of these much-needed services for every person in your life.

HomeAdvisor is a Patch promotional partner.

This post is sponsored and contributed by a Patch Brand Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.

Visit link:
Give Texas Homeowners Handyman Gift Certificates This Holiday - Patch.com

New Statistical Research for Maid Service Software market 2019 displays the latest industry insights with future trends and analysis of the products and services, enabling you to deeply penetrate the Maid Service Software market with high profitability.

The New Maid Service Software Market 2019: Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2019 2027 report offers an in-depth Study of all Latest Advancement in the Maid Service Software Industry. The Maid Service Software report offers the plus points as well as weaknesses of the established market players. It analyses numerous features of the global Maid Service Software market such as demand, drivers, challenges, and options. The report appraises the influence of these aspects on each market region during the estimated time. It presents the value chain analysis together with vendor list and highlights the present market situation between consumer and supplier.

Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/247827

Major players operating in the Global Maid Service Software market include: WorkWave, Housecall Pro, Razorync, Workforce, ZenMaid, Kickserv, Launch27, Verizon Connect Work, Jobber, ScheduFlow, eMaint, BookedIN, GorillaDesk, Loc8, Repsly, MaidEasy, ServiceCEO, FieldAware among others

The report covers a forecast and an analysis of the Maid Service Software market on a global and regional level. The study provides historical data till 2018 along with a forecast from 2019 to 2027 based on revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints of the Maid Service Software market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the Maid Service Software market on a global level.

In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view of the Maid Service Software market, we have included a competitive landscape and an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the market. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein all the segments are bench marked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.

Maid Service Software Market Detailed Insights Covers:

Global Maid Service Software Market 2019 Industry research report provides an In-Depth analysis that includes an executive summary, definition, and scope of the market. The Maid Service Software Industry is segmented on the basis of product, location and region. The segmentation is intended to give the readers a detailed understanding of the market and the essential factors comprising it. This allows giving a better description of the drivers, restraints, threats, and opportunities.

Regional Outlook: Regional analysis is another important part of the report which is segregated into different sections. One section of the report is entirely dedicated for regional consumption analysis whereas another for regional production analysis. It includes North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.

Ask for the Few Pages from the Report: Download Pages

On the basis of Product: This report displays the sales volume(K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, so on.

On the basis on the End users/Applications: This report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (K Units), market share and growth rate of Maid Service Software for each application, including Application 1, Application 2, so on.

The years considered to estimate the Size of Maid Service Software Market are as follows:-History Year: 2014-2019Base Year: 2019Estimated Year: 2020Forecast Year: 2020 to 2027

Get Report Customization with Data Requirement or Year Changes @ https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/speakanalyst/247827

This post was originally published on Market Research Sheets

Read more:
Maid Service Software Global Market Status, By Players, Types, Applications And Forecast To 2027 - Market Research Sheets

If you want to learn about a Seattle neighborhood, browse the shelves of its independent bookstores. Local bookstores succeed when they place the interests and aspirations of their neighbors over the fads and excesses of national bestseller lists. And every time we buy books from a neighborhood bookseller, we change the bookstore a little bit, too we shape it to more closely reflect ourselves.

So what better way to understand what 2019 has meant for Seattle than to ask local bookstores for their neighborhood bestsellers the books that havent necessarily dominated national or even Seattle-area bestseller lists, but which have captured the attention of their customers, their booksellers.

For dramatic evidence of how a bookstore reflects its neighborhood, look no further than Secret Garden Books. Suzanne Perry, the stores event manager, says this year has continued the sea change in the demographic shift of our Ballard neighborhood. As Ballard has gotten younger, Perry says, our sci-fi/fantasy section doubled in volume this year. The star of this newly enhanced section is Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James. Perry says key staff members fell in love with the fantasy novel, which is heavily influenced by African history. Its continued to sell briskly through being shortlisted for a National Book Award in the fall, and were sure it will continue to lead the way during holiday shopping, Perry says.

Just across the Ballard Locks, Georgiana Blomberg, owner of Magnolias Bookstore, says a local birder has charmed the neighborhood. Molly Hashimoto is a Seattle author who has visited our store several times and is beloved by our customers, Blomberg says.HerBirds of the Westwas one of our top-selling books this year. Its an artists guide to the illustration of birds, with her own woodcuts and watercolors throughout.

North Fremonts Book Larder, the most delightfully food-obsessed bookstore in Seattle, is known for its slate of cooking classes and its walls of gorgeous cookbooks. But store manager Mira Courage says one of their favorite books of 2019 has more than just great recipes and pretty pictures though it has those, too, featuring dishes from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Syria and India. Courage calls Recipes for Refuge: Culinary Journeys to America a spectacular compilation of recipes and stories from local immigrants and refugees. Better still, Courage says, proceeds from book sales support Refugee Womens Alliance, a Seattle-area nonprofit that provides refugees and immigrants services such as ESL classes, vocational training and housing.

At Adas Technical Books, the science-minded bookstore, caf and meeting space on Capitol Hill, customers cant stop talking about Sandworm by Andy Greenberg. Manager John Sepulveda calls this nonfiction account of technological threats an engrossing page-turner that reads like a fictional thriller, which reminds readers of the importance of internet-security literacy for everyone in the 21st century.

Terry Tazioli, the publicist at University Book Store, says A Pilgrimage to Eternity by Seattle journalist Timothy Egan is one of our best sellers, and its a personal favorite of mine from 2019. In Pilgrimage, Egan documents his quest for religious faith as he walks an ancient pilgrims route that spans Europe, from Canterbury to Rome. Tazioli praises Egan for his enthusiasm, his mastery of history and his beautifully told stories. Its rare to find a memoir about religion capturing popular attention, but just about every time I wander the floor, I see someone with the book in hand, reading, Tazioli says. Warms the bookstore heart!

Our list veers from the sacred at University Book Store to the profane at Georgetowns Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery. Store manager Larry Reid says Bad Gateway, by Beacon Hill cartoonist Simon Hanselmann, is the shops bestselling title of the year. Reid has high praise for the wildly dysfunctional outcasts in Hanselmanns latest volume from the series featuring Megg and Mogg. Bad Gatewaymaintains the dark humor of previous installments while adding thinly fictionalized and revealing autobiographical elements, Reid says. Hanselmann has always been popular with Fantagraphics discerning customer base. But over the summer, Reid says, Hanselmann was the subject of a solo exhibition at Bellevue Art Museum, which greatly enhanced his profile.

And in Seattles newest bookstore, West Seattles Paper Boat Booksellers, co-owner Eric Judy says Matt Krachts satirical birding book, Field Guide to the Dumb Birds of North America, has been a surprise hit. Its a book that multiple times brought strangers together, Judy says. More than once, there were strangers congregating in a circle and laughing out loud together as they read it. Thats the sort of thing I really like to see in our store.

This is the thread that connects every one of these disparate neighborhood bestsellers: community. Reading gets a bad rap as a lonely way to spend time, but booksellers understand no great book is enjoyed alone. The books that made the biggest impression with Seattle readers this year are the ones that brought us together.

If youre a Seattle Public Library patron, odds are you checked out a copy of Michelle Obamas memoir, Becoming, this year. The former first ladys autobiography tops SPLs most-loaned lists for the majority of their 26 branches in 2019, followed closely by Delia Owenss debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing.

Broken out by location, SPLs most-loaned adult titles are similar everywhere. Seattle readers were intrigued by the low-tech promise of Cal Newports Digital Minimalism and the uplifting message of Educated, Tara Westovers account of leaving a survivalist community in search of enlightenment.

But look closely and a few neighborhood bestsellers will arise. Why, for instance, did Stephanie Lands memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mothers Will to Survive appeal more to readers in Beacon Hill than at any other branch? Hard to say perhaps a local book club drove the loans, or maybe one passionate librarian kept shoving the book into patrons hands.

The city is full of literary microclimates. South Park loved Mark Mansons Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, which failed to crack other neighborhoods top-10 lists. Green Lake was particularly infatuated with Yuval Hararis brilliant anthropological study Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, and the tiny NewHolly branch loaned more copies of Thi Buis moving comic-book immigration memoir, The Best We Could Do, than libraries twice its size.

The juvenile most-loaned lists are much less homogenous. While Dav Pilkeys Dog Man series, Raina Telgemeier and Mo Willems are popular all over the city, kids at the Central Library in particular were eager to check out The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food. Queen Annes kids made the Guinness Book of World Records 2020 a chart-topper. And Fremonts children demonstrated remarkably good taste by checking out Andrea Beatys marvelous ode to scientific adventure, Ada Twist, Scientist, more than any other neighborhood. Still, the kids of Fremont dont have universally great taste: They were also the only neighborhood to elevate Jim Davis comic-strip collection, Garfield at Large, to their most-loaned list.

_____

Secret Garden Books:2214 N.W. Market St., Seattle;206-789-5006; secretgardenbooks.com

Magnolias Bookstore:3206 W. McGraw St., Seattle;206-283-1062;magnoliasbookstore.com

Book Larder:4252 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle;206-397-4271; booklarder.com

Adas Technical Books:425 15th Ave. E., Seattle;206-322-1058; adasbooks.com

University Book Store:4326 University Way, Seattle;206-634-3400; ubookstore.com

Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery:1201 S. Vale St., Seattle;206-557-4910; fantagraphics.com

Paper Boat Booksellers: 6040 California Ave., Seattle;206-743-8283; paperboatbooksellers.com

More here:
Niche picks: A handful of Seattle neighborhood bookstores name their bestselling titles of 2019 - Seattle Times

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand When a big earthquake strikes, the publics attention immediately goes to the physically injured, the dead, or to collapsed buildings. But something else also starts: the toll on mental health.

Traumatic stress rises in the aftermath of a disaster, researchers say. One study examining survivors of 10 disasters found that one-third of them suffered a post-disaster diagnosis with post-traumatic stress disorder being the most prevalent (20%), followed by major depression (16%) and alcohol use disorder (9%).

Worsening mental health has been documented in a number of recent disasters, including the aftermath of the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake in 1994 and the magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2011.

Deteriorating mental health can sometimes be obscured by the phases of a disaster. Immediately after a disaster, researchers have documented that there can be a community emotional high as people enter into a heroic rescue mode, followed by a honeymoon period where a community bonds and there is unrealistic hope that everything can return to normal quickly. But then there can be a long phase downward, and it can be accompanied by stress, exhaustion and fatigue.

The disillusionment phase is a stark contrast to the honeymoon phase, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says. As optimism turns to discouragement and stress continues to take a toll, negative reactions, such as physical exhaustion or substance use, may begin to surface.

Experts say its important that officials recognize the looming public mental health crisis before a disaster strikes. After the Feb. 22, 2011, Christchurch earthquake, some say mental health services fell short and people suffered. Others say they got good care, and in subsequent years, public health officials embarked on an innovative public mental health campaign called All Right? that sought to improve the communitys mental health a tactic that came back to prominence after shootings at mosques this year led to the deaths of 51 people, New Zealands worst mass killing in its modern history.

Here are lessons officials in New Zealand learned:

Understanding the emotional trauma from the quake can take time

After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, there was a widespread worsening of mental health, experts say, with the worst effects found closest to the strongest shaking. Children showed greater signs of post-traumatic stress. Even medical students reported their own mental health deteriorating.

More brain-calming drugs a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines that includes Xanax and Valium were dispensed after the earthquake. Researchers found increasing rates of mood and anxiety disorders in the two years after the earthquake.

A 2016 review of studies of 76,000 victims of earthquakes calculated that roughly 1 in 4 survivors experienced PTSD making earthquakes more likely to cause PTSD than floods or strokes.

This was mainly because earthquakes were often much more devastating and destructive, and often happened unexpectedly without warning, the authors wrote.

When aftershocks wont quit, cake and kindness helps.

Part of what made the Christchurch earthquake difficult to recover from psychologically was the unusual length of the aftershock sequence.

Imagine you had a terrible earthquake, and in every 30 minutes, or hour, or two hours or five hours, you get a little shake that reminds you of how terrible that first shake was, said Sara McBride, a top public information officer for the emergency response effort in New Zealand. It happens all day and night theres no respite and you dont know if the next shake is going to be worse than the last.

Even officials were prone to distress. One solution? Constantly feed people cake, McBride said, who brought out slices after aftershocks turned her subordinates quiet, pale and upset. Little small moments of compassion and comfort, like really good cake, make a surprising difference.

A public mental health approach is essential

Experts say health officials worldwide should pay attention to Christchurchs mental health issues as a warning for what could come if a disaster strikes their region.

They should absolutely be concerned, said Dr. Ben Beaglehole, a psychiatrist who co-wrote many studies on Christchurchs mental health issues following the quakes.

For all its problems, Christchurchs mental health issues were partly alleviated, Beaglehole said, by the regions concerted campaign to improve mental health, and its near-universal rate of earthquake insurance among homeowners.

If you can do things in the post-disaster environment to make people feel secure and safe enough, with a sense of purpose and belonging, and a future pathway, then I think the adverse effects are going to be minimal, Beaglehole said. But if people continue to feel scared and unsafe and uncertain, thats when people are going to struggle.

Officials realized the focus on rebuilding the city must be about healthy people, not healthy buildings. A survey found that more than 75% of those surveyed said their home was damaged, and nearly 2 out of 3 grieved for the lost Christchurch. Among people who described what they felt when their efforts to hold things together failed, men talked about becoming angry; women described despair, depression and anxiety.

We will never, ever manage to actually deal with the fallout from a large-scale event one consultation at a time. No system in the world could possibly provide that, said Evon Currie, general manager of community and population health for the Canterbury District Health Board.

So public health officials conjured a public outreach campaign known as All Right? emphasizing that it was OK, and actually quite acceptable, to be concerned about ones mental health, and to move people out of thinking about issues beyond their control to a new mind-set where they are empowered.

Officials credit this public health approach with helping the community deal with the stresses of the quake. A poll of greater Christchurch residents found that the percentage of respondents saying their quality of life was good rose from 73% in 2013 to 81% by 2018.

A majority of studies found negative mental health effects resulting from the Christchurch earthquakes, Beaglehole said. One study of hundreds of Christchurch-born adults found a greater rate of mental health disorder among those who endured the quake than those who had moved away before the shaking began.

Earthquake survivors who suffered the most showed clear increases in mental health risk, that study showed.

In addition, Beaglehole said, those already receiving specialist mental health services before the big earthquake saw the severity of their mental health worsen considerably for a number of years.

Disasters can trigger an acute mental health crisis

Some people believe the earthquake triggered a spell of mental illness.

Eddy Snook took a deep interest in quakes when the Christchurch earthquake sequence began in the months before the deadliest tremor occurred.

It was a natural fit for him. He was an electrical engineer and loved to figure out how things worked. He drove out to the Canterbury Plains on the weekend and plotted fault lines.

But soon, life became difficult. Sam, his childhood best friend, died from cystic fibrosis. Then the February quake hit, and he was shaken. The quake seemed to coincide with major changes in mood and outlook, according to his father, John.

Snook demanded answers about whether the building he worked in was safe.

He became quite obsessed with it, his father said. It became almost a bit too consuming for him.

He soon quit his job and headed to London. But problems worsened; he stopped eating, and his friends called his parents to fetch him. He received medical help, but in hindsight it wasnt working.

In 2014, he took his life.

There are still tears every day, his father said.

His father said Snook didnt have the right medical help. We didnt anticipate what was going to happen. I think the help that he had wasnt really appropriate for his needs. The medical attention he received didnt address his problems, was confusing and not really caring, his father thought.

It takes work to stay mentally in check

Christchurchs 2011 earthquake forever changed Laylita Bonnie Singhs life.

When the shaking started, something hard smashed into her skull as the unretrofitted brick building she worked in as a tattoo artist apprentice and receptionist came tumbling down.

The blow broke two of her neck vertebrae and six in the middle of her back compression fractures from being slammed on the head, she said. She probably fractured her skull.

Her co-worker and friend didnt make it.

Unlike Singh, who was trying to grab her phone, Matti McEachen, 25, a fellow tattoo apprentice, had raced to the exit and got to the doorway and then disappeared as the walls began to fall.

Singh was able to crawl out of the rubble, digging herself out. She had to learn how to walk over again; she suffered from survivors guilt. The pain persisted; the fatigue constant; the back and neck pain, excruciating.

In spite of all that, Singh held on to a dream of becoming her own tattoo artist.

She now co-owns the areas only female-owned tattoo shop, Maid of Ink, in Christchurchs neighboring port community of Lyttelton, after becoming a master tattoo artist under the tutelage of her former female colleagues and then starting a business with them. Her tattoo skills have blossomed she can draw life-like portraits on calves using a technique called stippling; a single tattoo of angel-like wings on a back can be made of millions of dots.

It was my driving force in getting well and carrying on, Singh said.

She has been able to buy a home and raise her daughter as a single mom after she and her husband divorced. She says she makes enough to get by sometimes business is very OK, other times, slim.

But the earthquakes imprint lasts.

She hoped shed recover significantly from her head injury in a year. Then a couple of years. Then four years. While shes gotten much better, there are persisting effects. Sometimes, the back pain is so bad she cant work.

I get so tired. I get fatigued. Its constant, she says. Shell have to watch herself. Oh, if I do that and exert myself, Ive got a week that Ive got to pay for that, she said.

I just dont think anyone understands how head injuries affect you until theyve had one. Because its so invisible, Singh said. Having a head injury felt like living in a fog, where nothing was clear. Everything was exhausting.

It takes work to stay mentally in check.

Meditation helps, as does yoga. Regular exercise is a must when she can do it; its so important to do the things that make her feel good. She dances, she sings. Writing three things shes grateful for every day.

Anything that uplifts you is the key, she says. Im not saying I dont get depressed I do. Its something that comes with trauma. It affects you for life. So I imagine Im going to have to do this for the rest of my life. But I know the tools. As long as Ive got my tools, Im OK.

PHOTOS (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): NEWZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE

Read more:
When the Big One hits, emotional scars will last for years. Just ask New Zealand quake survivors - Herald-Mail Media