RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Recreation Department is recommending that the city pool at Community Park remain closed for 2021.

The department is also recommending completion of upgrades at the citys Kiwanis Lodge, and making improvements to Desan Park and Greenwood Farm, Recreation Director Rick Dula said during Tuesdays (Feb. 2) online City Council Service and Recreation Committee meeting.

Dula shared these recommendations -- and more -- gleaned from a series of meetings of the citys Recreation Board with Dula and Assistant Recreation Director Anthony Gimellia in recent months.

We started this exercise back in October with over 50 potential budget items and personnel moves and equipment suggestions, and weve narrowed it down to a final three recommendations we are presenting tonight, Dula said.

Dula said the city has done an admirable job of building up funds since the citys fiscal crisis of 2013, and that 2021 is the right time to spend some of our money -- the taxpayers money -- to improve our recreational leisure programs and facilities in Richmond Heights.

Speaking about the 44-year-old pool, which was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the need for costly repairs, Dula said those repairs are still needed.

We do recommend keeping it closed in 2021, he said. Our wish is to have it remain closed until a final decision can be made about the future status of any type of aquatic facility here in Richmond Heights.

Weve been patching and repairing and opening and closing it. We have the stats to show that the attendance has been very dismal the last three years that weve been open -- especially compared to other Hillcrest communities, he said.

The picture for opening the pool this year is very gloomy.

The Kiwanis Lodge

Dula noted that the city-owned lodge at Community Park, 27285 Highland Road, is turning into one of our showcase facilities because of work done there over the past couple of years.

We would like the city to consider to finally finish remodeling the (lodges) first floor, which would include a new (audio-visual) system; new flooring in the Kiwanis Hall, the smaller of the two (halls in the lodge); a new HVAC system; new energy-efficient windows and new lights in the Kiwanis Hall; four energy-efficient windows on the east wall of the Senior Hall; (and) new round tables and chairs in both halls. That would basically finish off the lodge.

The kitchen was remodeled in 2020 by the citys service department, and grants have been used to upgrade the basement for a broader range of uses, to upgrade the first floor and to add an outside ramp for better access to and from the basement.

Its getting there, Dula said of the lodge. We figure lets just do it all in 2021. Lets finish what we have to do, and if we cant get (more) grant money, lets not wait. Lets just spend the money we have in our $10 million (city budget) carry-forward and move forward.

Hiring a part-time staff person

The next recommendation from the commission is to rehire a part-time staff person, at 28 hours per week, to assist with programming, special events, rentals, marketing, deposits, program evaluations, event evaluations, surveys and handling social media work.

The commission suggests not hiring the part-timer until after the pandemic has passed and life in the Recreation Department returns to whatever the new normal is going to be.

Obviously, if were not doing activities, we dont need that (part-time) person onboard yet, but we need to position ourselves in case the pandemic is done sometime in 2021 and we can move forward with more activities, Dula said.

Desan Park

Of the third recommendation -- concentrating on Desan Park, located off Trebisky Road -- Dula said: Wed like to either remodel, renovate the restrooms/concession stand/pavilion structure, (and) complete the work on the two baseball infields, which is pretty minor. We have applied for a grant for a new playground there, and were looking at possibly repurposing the old tennis courts.

Its a wonderful space, he said of the long-closed tennis courts. Its kind of growing weeds right now, and wed like to come up with something that we can put there and make it an asset instead of a liability.

While the commission made recommendations in these three areas, it went on to list several other items on its wish list.

At Community Park, it is looking at improving the asphalt trail, something for which the city has already applied for a $150,000 share of 2021 federal Community Development Block Grant money, as distributed by Cuyahoga County.

Also discussed were options regarding the pool. Those options include repairing the current pool; adding an aquatics facility, such as a spray park, for use by children and teens, on the site of the current pool; or building a smaller pool, depending on study results.

Dula also mentioned working next year with the school district to replace the worn tennis courts with new courts, fencing and lighting. The improved courts could the be used by the schools for physical education.

At city-owned Greenwood Farm, 264 Richmond Road, Dula said the commission would like to build a permanent heated restroom, as the city has received a grant and has installed sewers running to the farm property.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Cassandra Nelson asked if tables and grills would be installed at Greenwood Farm, and Service Director Don Kerniskey said the plan for spring was to add both.

Meanwhile, Ward 1 Councilwoman Kim Thomas suggested installing a larger sign that lets people know that Greenwood Farm is a community park, as the current sign makes that statement in comparatively small letters.

Of Greenwood Farm, Dula said: Thats a wonderful piece of property sitting there screaming to be utilized and (for the city to) put some money into that. Its just a beautiful property that needs to be tweaked a little bit, put some money into it, and allow people, residents to enjoy the beautiful nature back there.

Although it did not have to do with recreation, the commission also recommended that Richmond Heights, at $60,000 to $70,000 per year, turn on all of its street lights to make the city safer and more welcoming.

The commission consists of residents Charlotte Camp, Angela Jordan, Patricia Thompson, Anna Cifranic and Mary Mehring.

Speaking in response to Dula and the commissions call for the city to spend money on upgrading its recreational facilities, Councilwoman and Committee Chair Juanita Lewis said, Well do some spending, but weve got to be careful.

Council took no action on the recommendations.

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Richmond Heights Recreation Commission recommends closing pool in 2021 - cleveland.com

Transforming mirrors, chairs, and other furnishings from dull to dramatic is quick and easy with spray foam insulation. The quirky look is trending on social media, but while this DIY project is fun and simple, its not risk-free. Several expanding spray foam products are available online and in home improvement stores. One thats especially well-suited to creating puffy projects is Great Stuff Big Gap Filler, a DuPont product designed to fill gaps in walls and around pipes to help keep outside air from seeping into a house or basement.

If youre looking to add a bit of foamy fun to household itemsand this project does create a pretty cool effectkeep reading to find out how to use it safely and how to get the best results.

RELATED: Hardware Store Decor: 9 Ways to Repurpose Tools

This polyurethane foam product is in liquid form in the can, but as soon as it comes into contact with air, it expands, similar to how canned whipped topping swells into billowy froths. Spray foam, however, becomes rigid as it cures, which makes it well-suited as an artistic medium for creating a bubbly frame around a mirror or a foamy-looking seat on a chair or stool. It takes about 15 minutes for the polyurethane foam to cure to a non-tacky state. Depending on humidity, it will harden in about an hour, and then the user can trim or carve it with a utility knife, if desired.

A nearly unpronounceable list of chemicals, including isobutene, methyl ether, and polymeric diisocyanate, should immediately alert users to the sealants potentially toxic nature. During applicationwhen the product is still in liquid formit off-gasses poisonous fumes that can lead to serious respiratory problems if inhaled. The fumes are also highly flammable, so using spray foam near a pilot light or lit cigarette can result in a dangerous flash-fire. For safety, create spray foam pieces outdoors where the fumes can disperse into the breeze. According to Great Stuffs manufacturer, once the foam is fully hardened and cured, it no longer presents a toxic fume threat, but remains flammable. Keep finished dcor items away from fireplaces, gas stoves, candles, and other open flames.

RELATED: A Home You Both Love: 12 Solutions for Your Biggest Decor Disputes

While its imperative to use this polyurethane spray foam outdoors for ventilation purposes, the cured foam will not withstand the elements. Rain and harsh UV rays will break down the foams structure, causing it to disintegrate. After the foam on the new project dries and hardens, bring your creation indoors to enjoy.

When used safely, spray foam insulation offers a creative way to update household furnishings; users can impart a foamy look on everything from vases and stools to picture frames. The foam expands to a bubbly, bumpy surface right out of the can, but when sprayed into a closed form, it will mold to the forms inner configuration, maintaining its shape once the form is stripped away.

With spray foam insulation, crafters and artisans are limited only by their creativity. They can even paint the foam after it hardensbut like many products used in the construction and remodeling trades, its essential to follow safety precautions to ensure a successfuland harmlessproject.

RELATED: 7 Instagrammers to Follow for the Best Home Decor Inspo

Read more:
Stop and Read This Before You Dress Up Furnishings with Spray Foam - BobVila.com

Study Design: A 2-stage study was conducted. In stage1, we performed nonassumptive deep-dive qualitative scoping to investigate the determinants of poor adherence in patients with asthma, and in stage 2 we developed a new questionnaire for cross-sectional surveys to obtain more accurate information about critical issues related to asthmamanagement.

Methods: Patients with asthma who were 18 years and older in the outpatient clinic of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University from November 2016 to January 2018 were investigated.

Results: In the 350 patients with asthma recruited, 32% of patients showed good adherence, whereas 68% of patients displayed poor adherence to inhaled therapy due to various reasons. Further analysis indicated that inadequate understanding of asthma treatment and control, poor self-management, financial burden, adverse reactions, and the fear of potential adverse reactions were significant independent risk factors for poor ICS inhalation adherence in patients with asthma.

Conclusions: Our research shows that many patients with asthma in western China have poor disease control and poor inhalation therapy adherence. We hope this research can alert clinicians and help them identify patients who may be experiencing uncontrolled asthma due to poor adherence to inhaled therapy, and we suggest that clinicians help those patients obtain appropriate information about asthma control and self-management.

Am J Manag Care. 2021;27(2):In Press

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Takeaway Points

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Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling.1 It is a public health problem that causes increasing mortality and disability.2 By 2025, there will be 400 million patients with asthma in the world.3 Asthma has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients with the disease and leads to an increase in social and economic burdens.3 In recent years, the incidence of asthma in China has been rising. A national epidemiological survey from 2012 to 2015 showed that the total prevalence of asthma in China was 4.2%.4 At present, asthma prevention and control are significant challenges in China.

Inhaled drugs, the main treatment for asthma, can significantly improve asthma control.5,6 However, uncontrolled asthma is still common and a considerable burden for patients and society.7-9 An important reason for poor asthma controland, therefore, for rising costs of health careis suboptimal adherence to prescription regimens.10-13 Study findings have shown that the rate of inhaled glucocorticosteroid (ICS) adherence is less than 50% in adults.14-17 A survey based on the Australian Tasmanian cohort study reported that only 28% of patients with moderate persistent asthma and 48% of patients with severe persistent asthma were using ICS treatments regularly.15 In fact, poor patient adherence is the most frequently mentioned challenge (by 41% of physicians) in the treatment of asthma.9,18

The adherence of patients with asthma to ICS or ICS/long-acting inhaled 2 agonist (LABA) treatment depends on a number of factors that are closely related to the patients economic status, social status, and culture. Although some studies have reported risk factors or determinants of poor adherence in Chinese patients with asthma,19,20 there is very limited evidence for the determinants of adherence to inhaled asthma-control therapy across different age groups. It is still necessary to conduct in-depth research, especially to understand the reasons for poor adherence from the patientsperspective.

METHODS

Objectives

The study aimed to evaluate factors affecting adherence to ICS therapy in patients with asthma to further identify the determinants most closely associated with adherence to inhaled asthma-control therapy. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University (approval No. 2016-409).

Study Design

This study included 2 stages: Stage 1 was a structured patient interview, and stage 2 was a cross-sectional survey. In stage 1, 40 patients with inadequate asthma control were invited to participate in a 1-time face-to-face interview. We interviewed patients or their guardians within the framework of 5 categories, which were summarized based on publications and the specific characteristics of Chinese society, including therapy-related factors, patient-related factors, provider-related factors, disease-related factors, and practice- and system-related factors. Then, all the factors reported by patients in stage 1 were collected and analyzed, and the top 10 factors were incorporated into the paper questionnaire (case report form [CRF]) of stage 2 to further explore the risk factors affecting patients adherence to inhalation therapy. In stage 2,350 outpatients with asthma who were 18 years or older and who visited a respiratory or asthmatic outpatient clinic in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University were invited to participate in a face-to-face interview. Each patient was interviewed only once, and informed consent and all information collection were completed at the time of visit.

Inclusion Criteria

In each study site, outpatients who met all the following criteria were included: (1) were 18 years or older, (2) lived in the same city as the study site for at least 2 years, (3) had a history of at least 1year of diagnosed asthma based on the criteria established by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), (4) had inhaled ICS or ICS/LABA treatment in the past 6 months, and (5) were willing to sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

Outpatients who met any of the following criteria were excluded: (1) patients with active cardiac or pulmonary disease (eg, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer, severe heart disease) or other disorders (eg, HIV/AIDS), or patients undergoing therapy that, according to their physician, would interfere with the aim of the study; (2) patients with mental or neurological disorders, or those who were unable to understand and honestly answer questions due to alcohol or substance abuse, or those who refused to answer questions; and (3) patients with other conditions judged by the investigators as unsuitable for this study.

CRF Survey in Stage 2

Related factors (10 determinants explored from stage 1) affecting adherence to inhaled therapy were collected; to fill out the CRF in stage 2, each of the 350 patients was asked to choose yes or no for each of the 10 items. Then, all data were inputted into the online electronic questionnaire data capture system by the investigator(s), and the valid data were included in the statistical analysis.

Adherence Rate Assessment

The Medication Adherence Report Scale for Asthma (MARS-A) questionnaire is a self-reported measure of adherence to inhaled therapy. The MARS-A scale has 10 questions; it assesses intentional and unintentional nonadherence. Patients completed the scale based on their medication adherence over the past 4 weeks, and the investigator calculated the total score for each patient based on the scale. According to the score, asthma medication adherence status was divided into 2 levels: good adherence (45 points) and poor adherence (<45 points).

Asthma Control Assessment

The Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to assess asthma control over the past 4 weeks. A score less than or equal to 19 was considered to signify asthma that was out of control. Scores greater than 19but less than 25 were considered to signify partial control. A global score of 25 indicates complete control of asthma.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study characteristics and adherence measurement. Continuous variables were presented as the mean and SD, whereas categorical variables were presented as proportions. Variables were entered into a final model using a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify significant factors associated with asthma medication adherence status. All statistical tests were 2-sided; a P value<.05 was considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0 software (IBM).

RESULTS

Study Characteristics

As shown in Table 1, 350 participants were recruited in stage 2 of this study. Among them, 128 (36.6%) were men and 222 (63.4%) were women. The patients were aged between 18 and 84 years, with a mean (SD) age of 43.80 (15.59) years. Among the patients, 59 (16.9%) were aged 18 to 30 years, 95 (27.1%) were aged 31 to 45 years, 59 (16.9%) were aged 46 to 60 years, and 137 (39.1%) were older than 60 years. The asthma duration of the included patients ranged from 1 to 70 years, with a mean (SD) duration of 19.51 (18.82) years. Univariate logistic statistical analysis showed no significant difference in gender, age, and duration of treatment for ICS adherence in asthma patients (P>.05) (Table 2).

Status of Adherence to Inhaled Therapy

Among these 350 outpatients with asthma included in this study, some patients discontinued ICS treatment for various reasons. According to the MARS-A questionnaire scores, 238 (68%) of the 350 patients had poor adherence to inhaled therapy and 112 (32%) had good adherence. The top 10 determinants explored from stage 1 are listed in Table3, and according to the CRF survey in stage 2, 52.9% of included patients believed that their condition had been controlled or cured, so they stopped using ICS or ICS/LABA therapy; 45.7% of patients used inhaled therapy only when their asthma symptoms were worsening or asthma was in acute attack; 30.3% of patients were afraid of potential adverse reactions, which means that these patients had suspended their treatment due to concerns about possible adverse effects of ICS treatment; 25.1% of patients had poor adherence due to forgetting to use inhaled treatment; and 15.1% of patients were unable to afford medicine because of the financial burden. In addition, other factors could also affect ICS treatment adherence in patients with asthma. For example, patients forgot to replenish with new drugs after the existing inhaled drugs were used up (12.3%); patients were unclear about the reasonable dosage, frequency, and course of inhaled treatment due to insufficient communication with doctors (12.0%); patients had an adverse reaction (eg, fungal infection of the oropharynx; hoarseness and cough due to respiratory tract irritation) after using inhaled therapy (11.7%); inhalation therapy was considered ineffective by the patient and was abandoned because the effect of inhaled treatment was not fast or not significant after treatment (10.0%); and patients were reluctant to use inhalation therapy because inhalation device operation was considered cumbersome or complicated (9.7%). At the same time, our study found that some patients had multiple risk factors that affected their treatment adherence. Among the included outpatients, 68 (19.4%) reported 2 risk factors affecting their inhaled treatment adherence, 59 (16.9%) reported 3 risk factors, and 81 (23.1%) reported 4 or more risk factors.

Determinants of ICS Treatment Adherence

To further clarify the independent risk factors affecting adherence to inhaled ICS therapy for asthma, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis. As shown in Table 4, the multivariable analysis indicated that independent risk factors lowering the odds of ICS therapy adherence were patients believing that their condition had been controlled or cured (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16-0.48; P<.01), patients using inhaled therapy only when asthma symptoms were worsening or asthma was in acute attack (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.46; P<.01), patients being unable to bear the financial burden (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.17-0.75; P<.01), patients having adverse reactions after using inhaled therapy (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.81; P=.02), and the fear of potential adverse reactions (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.49-0.95; P=.04).

Determinants Across Age Groups

In the study, included outpatients were divided into groups according to age. To further investigate the most significant independent risk factor affecting ICS therapy adherence in patients of different age groups, we performed a subgroup multivariate logistic regression analysis based on age. As shown in Table 5, subgroup multivariate analysis showed that forgetting to use inhaled drugs for a variety of reasons was the most significant independent risk factor lowering the odds of inhaled therapy adherence in patients aged 31 to 45 years (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.10-0.91; P=.04). Meanwhile, insufficient communication with doctors leading to the inability to obtain adequate drug information was the most significant independent risk factor lowering the odds of inhaled therapy adherence in patients older than 60 years (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.86; P=.03). However, we did not find significant independent risk factors affecting inhaled therapy adherence in patients aged 18 to 30 years and aged 46 to 60 years (P>.05).

Determinants Across Asthma Control Status

Of the 350 outpatients with asthma included in the study, most patients had poorer disease control. According to the ACT score, 119(34%) patients had asthma that was completely out of control, 201(57.4%) patients had asthma that was partially controlled, and only 30 (8.6%) patients reported complete control of their condition. To further clarify the most significant independent risk factor for ICS therapy adherence in patients with different asthma control status, we performed a subgroup multivariate logistic regression analysis. The logistic analysis indicated that adverse reaction was the most significant independent risk factor lowering the odds of inhaled therapy adherence in patients whose asthma was completely out of control (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.58; P=.02). However, in patients who reported partially controlled or fully controlled asthma, we did not find significant independent risk factors affecting adherence to inhaled therapy (data shown in the eAppendix Table [available at ajmc.com]).

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the determinants of ICS adherence among outpatients with asthma in western China from the patients perspective. Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease worldwide, and it is reported that there will be 400 million patients with asthma in the world by 2025.1,3 Uncontrolled asthma is common and represents a considerable burden to patients and society in western China,4 so it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the current state of asthma treatment and asthma control.

The GINA guideline has indicated that ICSs are currently the most effective anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of persistent asthma, although they do not actually cure asthma.6,21-26 Compared with noninhaled administration, the ICS can be delivered directly into the airways, producing higher local concentrations with a significantly lower risk of systemic adverse effects.6 Meanwhile, LABA combined with ICS will usually be more effective when a medium dose of ICS alone fails to achieve control of asthma.27-29 Therefore, for patients with asthma, adherence to inhaled therapy is very important for controlling their condition. However, uncontrolled asthma is still a common phenomenon among outpatients with asthma.9 ICS or ICS/LABA treatment adherence in patients with asthma depends on a number of factors that are closely related to the patients economic status, social status, and culture.

Nonadherence to medical advice is common in patients with asthma and is a major cause of uncontrolled asthma. Failure to adhere to medical advice is a complex social issue in western China. Exploring patients cognition and drug preference status for their asthma treatment from their perspective can help establish effective doctor-patient relationships and improve asthma treatment adherence. In this study, our results showed that most outpatients with asthma had poorer disease control, and only 8.6% of patients reported complete control of their condition. According to the MARS-A questionnaire, 68% of the patients reported poor adherence to ICS therapy due to various reasons. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the belief that their condition had been controlled or cured, using inhaled therapy only when asthma symptoms were worsening or asthma was in acute attack, financial burden, adverse reactions after using inhaled therapy, and the fear of potential adverse reactions were the significant independent risk factors associated with ICS treatment adherence. Further subgroup analysis indicated that forgetting inhalation therapy for a variety of reasons was the most significant independent risk factor associated with inhalation treatment adherence in patients aged 31 to 45years, and the inability to obtain adequate drug information due to insufficient communication with doctors was the most significant independent risk factor in patients older than 60 years. Additionally, our results indicated that an adverse reaction was the most significant independent risk factor associated with ICS therapy adherence in patients whose asthma was completely out of control. Therefore, based on our results, we recommend that clinicians should help those patients obtain appropriate information about asthma control and self-management, and should instruct those patients not to stop ICS or ICS/LABA irregularly. Meanwhile, effective replacement treatment is necessary and important for patients with adverse reactions after inhaled therapy. If clinicians understand the risk factors affecting asthma treatment adherence from the patients perspective, they can use patient-centered communication skills to improve patients adherence to asthma treatment and improve their asthma control.

Limitations

This study had some weaknesses. First, only 350 outpatients with asthma from one tier-3 hospital in western China were recruited in this research. This is not enough to ascertain the exact extent of nonadherence to inhaled treatment in the whole population of patients with asthma. Secondly, asthma is a complex disease with many therapeutic medicines,1,30-32 including ICS,21 leukotriene modifiers,33,34 LABA,35,36 theophylline,37,38 rapid-acting inhaled 2 agonists, and so on.6 Our study focused only on the current status of ICS or ICS/LABA in asthma control and did not further explore the role of other drugs in asthma control. When considering these limitations, the results of this research should be interpreted carefully.

CONCLUSIONS

This studys findings indicate that there are multiple independent risk factors that influence ICS therapy adherence in patients with asthma, including inadequate understanding of asthma treatment and control, poor self-management, financial burden, adverse reactions, and the fear of potential adverse reactions. Thus, we hope this research can alert clinicians and help them identify patients who may be experiencing uncontrolled asthma due to poor adherence to ICS therapy. We suggest that clinicians should help those patients obtain appropriate information about asthma control and self-management. For patients with adverse reactions after ICS therapy, effective replacement treatment is strongly recommended.

Author Affiliations: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University (JW, CZ, QW, WS, WF, XY, QZ, XX, SL, ML), Xian, Shaanxi, China.

Source of Funding: This study was supported by AstraZeneca China (study code: ESR-16-12138).

Author Disclosures: The authors report no relationship or financial interest with any entity that would pose a conflict of interest with the subject matter of this article.

Authorship Information: Concept and design (JW, CZ, QW, WS, XX, SL, ML); acquisition of data (CZ, QW, WS, WF, XY, QZ); analysis and interpretation of data (JW, QW, WS, WF, XY, QZ); drafting of the manuscript (JW, CZ, ML); critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content (JW, WF, XY, QZ); statistical analysis (CZ, QW, WS, WF, QZ, XX, SL, ML); provision of patients or study materials (JW, QW, WS, WF, XY, QZ, XX, SL); obtaining funding (ML); administrative, technical, or logistic support (CZ, XX, SL); and supervision (ML).

Address Correspondence to: Manxiang Li, PhD, MD, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, No. 277, West Yanta Rd, Xian, Shaanxi, 710061, China.

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21. Juniper EF, Kline PA, Vanzieleghem MA, Ramsdale EH, OByrne PM, Hargreave FE. Effect of long-term treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) on airway hyperresponsiveness and clinical asthma in nonsteroid-dependent asthmatics. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990;142(4):832-836. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/142.4.832

22. Jeffery PK, Godfrey RW, Adelroth E, Nelson F, Rogers A, Johansson SA. Effects of treatment on airway inflammation and thickening of basement membrane reticular collagen in asthma. a quantitative light and electron microscopic study. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992;145(4, pt 1):890-899. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/145.4_Pt_1.890

23. Waalkens HJ, Van Essen-Zandvliet EE, Hughes MD, et al; The Dutch CNSLD Study Group. Cessation of long-term treatment with inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) in children with asthma results in deterioration. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993;148(5):1252-1257. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/148.5.1252

24. Pauwels RA, Lfdahl CG, Postma DS, et al; Formoterol and Corticosteroids Establishing Therapy (FACET) International Study Group. Effect of inhaled formoterol and budesonide on exacerbations of asthma. N Engl J Med. 1997;337(20):1405-1411. doi:10.1056/NEJM199711133372001

25. Szefler S, Weiss S, Tonascia J, et al; Childhood Asthma Management Program Research Group. Long-term effects of budesonide or nedocromil in children with asthma. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(15):1054-1063. doi:10.1056/NEJM200010123431501

26. Perera BJ. Successful withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma. Respirology. 2005;10(3):385-388. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1843.2005.00708.x

27. Lazarus SC, Boushey HA, Fahy JV, et al; Asthma Clinical Research Network for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Long-acting beta2-agonist monotherapy vs continued therapy with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with persistent asthma: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001;285(20):2583-2593. doi:10.1001/jama.285.20.2583

28. Lemanske RF Jr, Sorkness CA, Mauger EA, et al. Inhaled corticosteroid reduction and elimination in patients with persistent asthma receiving salmeterol: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001;285(20):2594-2603. doi:10.1001/jama.285.20.2594

29. Gibson PG, Powell H, Ducharme FM. Differential effects of maintenance long-acting beta-agonist and inhaled corticosteroid on asthma control and asthma exacerbations. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119(2):344-350. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.10.043

30. Levy ML, Fletcher M, Price DB, Hausen T, Halbert RJ, Yawn BP. International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) Guidelines: diagnosis of respiratory diseases in primary care. Prim Care Respir J. 2006;15(1):20-34. doi:10.1016/j.pcrj.2005.10.004

31. Pelaia G, Vatrella A, Maselli R. The potential of biologics for the treatment of asthma. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2012;11(12):958-972. doi:10.1038/nrd3792

32. Papi A, Brightling C, Pedersen SE, Reddel HK. Asthma. Lancet. 2018;391(10122):783-800. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33311-1

33. Barnes NC, Miller CJ. Effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy on the risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with mild to moderate asthma: an integrated analysis of zafirlukast trials. Thorax. 2000;55(6):478-483. doi:10.1136/thorax.55.6.478

34. Dicpinigaitis PV, Dobkin JB, Reichel J. Antitussive effect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast in subjects with cough-variant asthma. J Asthma. 2002;39(4):291-297. doi:10.1081/jas-120002285

35. Kesten S, Chapman KR, Broder I, et al. A three-month comparison of twice daily inhaled formoterol versus four times daily inhaled albuterol in the management of stable asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991;144(3, pt 1):622-625. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/144.3_Pt_1.622

36. Wenzel SE, Lumry W, Manning M, et al. Efficacy, safety, and effects on quality of life of salmeterol versus albuterol in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1998;80(6):463-470. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63068-2

37. Evans DJ, Taylor DA, Zetterstrom O, Chung KF, OConnor BJ, Barnes PJ. A comparison of low-dose inhaled budesonide plus theophylline and high-dose inhaled budesonide for moderate asthma. N Engl J Med. 1997;337(20):1412-1418. doi:10.1056/NEJM199711133372002

38. Ukena D, Harnest U, Sakalauskas R, et al. Comparison of addition of theophylline to inhaled steroid with doubling of the dose of inhaled steroid in asthma. Eur Respir J. 1997;10(12):2754-2760. doi:10.1183/09031936.97.10122754

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Determinants of ICS Therapy Adherence in Patients With Asthma - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Finished Basement

If youre planning to finish your basement, you will want to cover up the concrete floor with a material that is more attractive and comfortable. Here are some important things to know and some flooring materials to consider.

You May Need to Repair the Floor and Install a SubfloorBefore you or a contractor can install new flooring, the concrete floor may need to be fixed. Any gaps, sections that have shifted, water damage and areas that are rough or uneven will need to be addressed.

Although many flooring materials can be installed directly on top of concrete, that may not be a good idea for a finished basement, since it can cause the floor to be cold. Installing a subfloor can provide a layer of insulation to keep the floor warm.

A subfloor can also prevent moisture damage. Since a concrete slab is porous, moisture and water vapor can travel through it. That can allow mold and mildew to form under the flooring. A vapor barrier or a waterproof subfloor can prevent that.

Popular Flooring Choices for a Finished BasementCeramic tile can be installed directly on top of concrete, as long as the surface is smooth. You may want to install a subfloor, however, to avoid having a cold floor. Ceramic tile will not be damaged by moisture. Tile flooring is available in a wide range of styles and sizes.

Rubber flooring can come in tiles or sheets. It can be a good choice because rubber is easy to keep clean, durable and waterproof, and can also provide cushioning.

Vinyl flooring is another popular choice for finished basements. Its available in planks and tiles with interlocking joints that make installation easy. Vinyl planks and tiles can be manufactured to resemble wood or ceramic tile. They can be installed right on top of concrete and can resist minor water damage.

Another option is sheet vinyl. Its durable and easy to clean, but it can be difficult to cut and install. Vinyl sheet flooring should only be installed over a subfloor. If it isnt, any rough areas on the concrete floor will be visible after the vinyl flooring has been laid.

Although many types of flooring can be installed in a basement, solid hardwood and untreated laminate flooring should not be used because they can warp and buckle from exposure to moisture. Engineered wood flooring can give you the attractive look of real hardwood with the moisture-resistant benefits of laminate construction. Engineered wood flooring has a thin layer of real wood on top of other types of wood or composite board and can give your finished basement a refined appearance.

Talk to Your ContractorSelecting the right flooring for your basement remodeling project will be one of your most important decisions. Speak with your contractor about various options and discuss the pros and cons of each so you can make the right choice.

Michael Kogler,REALTORMIKE KOGLER TEAM: #1 Sales TeamLong & Foster Real Estate, Inc. | Christies International Real EstateDelaware Coastal Properties Division37156 Rehoboth Ave., Ext.Rehoboth Beach, DE. 19971Cell:(302) 236-7648Email:michael.kogler@LNF.comWeb:www.MikeKogler.comHenlopen Sales & Rentals:www.HenlopenRB.com

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How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Finished Basement - CapeGazette.com

Between Sep. 1 and Nov. 30, the median sale price of existing single-family homes in Maine increased by 22.2 percent from the same period in 2019from $225,000 to $270,000. (The median indicates that half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.)

With 2021 forecasts showing prices all over Maine continuing to increase, we took a snapshot of whats on the market around median prices in Maines Midcoast.

These listings were active at time of filing on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

5 Arrowhead Dr., Brunswick, Cumberland County. Recent median sales price: $385,500

$354,900 | 3 Beds | 1.5 Baths | 2,237 SF | 0.36 Acres

This home is located on a double lot off of Church Rd. on the west side of town. Desirables include a two-car attached garage with overhead storage, new appliances, skylights, a wood stove, a fully finished basement with half bath for additional work/play space and a deck overlooking the backyard. Well let you compare the price per square this home would be in Portland.

5 Crawford Dr., Bath, Sagadahoc County. Recent median sales price: $291,000

$279,900 | 4 Beds | 1.5 Baths | 1,809 SF | 0.39 Acres

The warmth and creativity that this home lacks in curb appeal is made up for by the bright, contemporary interior that has been updated with new appliances, granite countertops and cabinets in the kitchen and a black wood stove against a black brick wall in the living room, which will supplement the two heat pumps. A first-floor bedroom and half bathroom make a great space for guests on people who want to mostly stick to one floor.

10 Middle St., Lisbon, Androscoggin County. Recent median sales price: $215,500

$224,900 | 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,356 SF | 0.38 Acres

While the new owner will have to put those ever familiar finishing touches on this property, the circa 1900 Victorian has had extensive remodeling, including new floors and windows, updated kitchen and bathrooms and six brand new heat pumps. The third floor has potential to be finished for two more bedrooms. The seller is offering a $10,000 allowance toward the buyers choice of upgrades and improvements.

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On the Market: Single family homes for sale in Midcoast Maine - pressherald.com

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

Do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you.

Reacting to the news of Mike Conaways decision to retire from Congress, a Texas Tribune reporter wrote, His retirement is a major blow to the state's clout within the Republican conference.

Conaway leaves Washington as the ranking member and former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and had served as chair of House Ethics Committee. The same Tribune reported noted that Conaways decision was somewhat of a surprise to some delegation insiders; Conaway was on track to take GOP leadership of the House Intelligence Committee in the coming years.

But in July, Conaway said it was time to go. He leaves after winning his first election in 2005; the district was drawn up after then-Speaker of the Texas House Tom Craddick insisted on a district where Midland-Odessa would be a main population area.

His goal in representing the nearly 30 counties of District 11 was to do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you.

For years, many Conaway detractors seemed focused on the Troubled Asset ReliefProgram vote from 2008, which he said was the vote he lost the most sleep over. The CPA said in retrospect, it was one of those few, few times where I had to vote my conscience and vote my own experience and my own understanding of the circumstances versus what I was being encouraged to do from back home. He said that money spent on TARP has been earned back by and collected by the Fed.

If the TARP vote really impacted constituents faith in their representative, it was hard to tell. He never received less than 70.36 percent of the vote in a Republican primary after the 2008 vote and never less than 78.64 percent of the vote in a general election.

Conaway more recently earned distinction for his work as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee including passage of the 2018 Farm Bill -- and as the person who led the House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. Conaway said he is proud that his committee was the first to finish and that not one of our conclusions was refuted by any of that other work that was done.

There will be much to unpack from Conaways time in Washington. He said this week he is confident that San Angelo Republican August Pfluger has the ability to represent the district well.

As for the immediate future, he and Suzanne will spend time in Seacrest Beach, Florida where they have a home and then return to Midland.

He said that somehow his resume showed up down here and I'm getting offers to drive a Coca-Cola truck route or be a security guy at the mall. So, I've got a bright future.

The following is a question-and-answer between Stewart Doreen of the Midland Reporter-Telegram and Mike Conaway.

MRT: What was your welcome-to-Congress moment?

CONAWAY: Suzanne and I had flown up for the swearing-in like theyre doing right now. And we get off the plane there in D.C. and there's a young Marine lieutenant standing there a Marine poster kid. And he says, Mr. Conaway, please come with me, and my wife looks at me, and shes got these big, wide eyes. He's a handsome little guy. And so, he marches us down from the gate to the terminal, we collect our bags, and then they escort us into downtown. And she actually said, How did he know who we are? Bob Ney, at the time, was chairman of the house Admin Committee, and he had worked out an arrangement with the Department of Defense to have each new member greeted at Reagan Airport like that. And so, I guess that was probably my first thought of, Wow, I may be in the big time after all.

MRT: What will you miss about serving in Congress?

CONAWAY: I just love the job. It's multifaceted, obviously, and it's hard to pick anything most, but my team that I've been able to put in place over all these 16 years, and it's been relatively stable. I've had some great people come and go. But these young men and women -- and they are young compared to me, I'm a little codger -- they are some of the finest that our nation has produced. They're loyal, they're dedicated, they're patriotic, super intelligent. And I've had them on my personal staff, the Ethics Committee staff and then, of course, the Ag Committee staff and, I think I will miss working with them day to day the most. Sue and I have been blessed with a really good family, and we've been able to add to that family over these 16 years with some young folks that we basically in our hearts adopted his family because they're just some of the best this country's ever produced, so I'll miss them. I'll miss town-hall meetings and working with constituents, being back in the district and making the rounds. I really missed that this past year because we didn't get to do nearly as much of that as I wanted to or that I normally certainly would have done. Then, its just doing the job. It's been a terrific run, and about half of me hates to see it come to a close and half that wants to make my wife happy.

MRT: What was your favorite perk of being a congressman?

CONAWAY: For the first probably 10 years, there was a parking lot at DCA (Reagan National Airport) that members of the House, the Senate and diplomats could use. It was right there by the door. You just drive right in, park and walk into the airport. And then they began this multi-year remodeling project for DCA, and they took all that away. That was probably the perk that was the best because you could just drive right in, get out and your car would be there when you came back the next week. I guess the day-to-day thing, was just being able to go through security without having to strip down and toss all your stuff in the bucket. That's a pretty good perk as well, just being able to go anywhere on campus that you wanted to go without having to go through security.

MRT: What was the one vote that created the most sleepless nights for you?

CONAWAY: The TARP vote is the only one that comes to mind, and I voted correctly on that. The one vote that I wish I had back was the Budget Control Act of 2011. But the TARP vote probably gave me the most trouble, because you know, the folks back in West Texas during that financial meltdown really weren't affected by it all that much. And I was getting this immense pressure to vote against it. And I've been in banking for six-plus years. And I knew the system was legitimately under immense pressure. The commercial paper market was about to collapse -- there were some really bad things happening -- and I knew in my heart that the right thing to do was to vote for it, but I was getting this pressure from back home to vote against it.

Voting for it was the right policy way to go, but it was one of those few, few times where I had to vote my conscience and vote my own experience and my own understanding of the circumstances versus what I was being encouraged to do from back home. I remember the first time we voted on it, I voted against it. And we all came home for a couple of days, and I got ticker-tape parades and people patting me on the back and all this kind of stuff. But I knew in my heart of hearts, that when it came back up, we would have changed it and fixed to the point where I was going to vote for it, so I was really torn that whole weekend back home. Everybody was bragging on me and all this kind of good stuff. But that's the one that gave me the most trouble from a Do what everybody's telling you to do or Did you do what you know is right. And in my heart, I know what I did was right. All that money that was spent on TARP has been earned back by and collected by the Fed. So net, it's been positive, but there are still a lot of folks who disagree with my analysis, most of whom didn't really have any deep understanding of banking, they just didn't want the federal government intruding like that. And I understand that, but, but like I said, I've been in banking long enough to know, this was a real deal and that I needed to support it.

MRT: Any regrets about what didn't get accomplished?

CONAWAY: Well, yeah, we didnt balance the budget the entire time I was there and no balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. There are lots of things out there that people talk about doing to our Constitution, but a balanced budget amendment is head and shoulders above anything else you could ever do. You made a brief reference to the increase in debt while I was there and the numbers speak for themselves, and I was a part of all those zillion decisions that got us to this point, but not being able to have better fiscal discipline to the system -- and that's just shared responsibility, no single member is going to be able to fix that deal. I mentioned that one vote that I do regret -- the Budget Control Act of 2011. (Former Republican Speaker of the House John) Boehner sold us the idea that this special committee could come up with enough cuts to mandatory spending to make it work and that it would be so terrible to institute sequestration, that we wouldn't do it that it would be the sword of Damocles that would make us get there, that would make us address mandatory spending, which is where the bulk of the problem lies. And it didn't work. The special committees ideas didn't pass, and so sequestration kicked in, and it did immense harm to the Department of Defense over those years and still has. Thats the one bill I've voted for that I wish I hadnt. It's interesting, most of the folks who cling to sequestration and budget caps and other things out that were around in 2011 voted against that bill. And it now they cling to it like the Holy Grail.

MRT: What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing during your time in Washington?

CONAWAY: To do the work in D.C., and it takes 217 friends -- plus the speaker has to be one of those friends -- and the 60 over in the Senate, the president and that kind of stuff. Getting stuff done in D.C. is a tall order, but back home, the work that has been done by my constituent service team in the six offices that we have, every day somebody's life in the district was made just a little less difficult by the great work my team was doing -- whether it's income taxes, IRS, Social Security or VA or INS or need a passport immediately, all those kind of things that people have to have happen, my guys just were exemplary at it. I'm most proud of that body of work that contributed in no small part -- to me getting to 75 and 80 percent of the vote every time. It was just the great work my team back home was doing. The work they've done over the past 16 years is what I'm proud of the most.

Legislatively, it would be of course the Farm Bill of 2018 as the biggest deal that I got to get done, but there was a crop insurance issue that I led the fight on in 2015, getting cotton back under the Farm Bill the way it should have been, that happened before the 2018 Farm Bill. I'm proud of the report that we got done on the Intelligence Committee on the Russia investigation. It doesnt get a lot of play these days, but if you go back and look at it, not one conclusion was refuted by any of the other folks out there. Yeah, I was a little worried about it when we did our first and it came out pretty darn quickly. In comparison, Mueller had unlimited money and 40-plus investigators, and the Senate's just now finishing up their work, so I was a little concerned that they might find something that we didn't or find something that we should have found that we didnt. And not one of our conclusions was refuted by any of that other work that was done. So, I'm really proud of what we get done on the on the Russia investigation report.

MRT: One of the defining characteristics of your time representing District 11 is that it would have been impossible for someone to state where you were from inside District 11 based on your representation in Washington. In fact, it can be argued that you had a greater impact on the agriculturally dependent parts of the district than Midland-Odessa. Describe what it meant for you to represent the entire region like District 11.

CONAWAY: Part of it is, I made a pact with myself that I would do two public events in every county in the district every year where people would have public access to me. And back when I had Mentone and Orla, we would go out there twice a year. There would be all 67 votes out there. We just made sure I went to every county, because you could look at the district, and if you're just a pure politician, say, OK, I need to spend all my time in Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, maybe Brownwood, and maybe Hood County or maybe Granbury. And I can ignore the rest of those folks, because they quite frankly can't sway the deal. The other thing that did I didn't want anybody to say is the only time Conaway ever shows up around here is when he's asking for the vote. That happens a lot. A lot about my colleagues they'll show up a month out from the primary, a month out from the general and that is the first time they had been back to that place in two years. I never wanted anybody to be able to say that. In my view, it was just part of doing the job. And then when I became chairman of Ag, I watched other Ag leaders be very parochial. I felt like as chairman of Ag, I represented all of it, not just cotton in West Texas, but all of it. And so, I worked really hard to make sure that I was going places I needed to go.

MRT: It was said that this district was created for Midland-Odessa, that the representative would be from Midland-Odessa. Did that create any pressure in any way for you?

CONAWAY: I didn't feel any. The pressure I felt would have happened no matter what and that was to do a good job. Do a job worthy of people's trust in you and worthy of that regardless whether a person lived in Midland-Odessa or Brownwood or wherever it was, but I didnt sense anything. There were some comments that (the district) was drawn for Mike Conaway, but that was just serendipitous. You know, Id just run in that special (election) to replace Larry Combest at exact same time the redistricting part was going on, and I just happened to be at the right spot at the right time. But you're right -- (Tom) Craddick said openly there will not be a new map unless there is a district that Midland-Odessa can be competitive in -- not that win it, but competitive. I benefited from that, but I had to be at the right spot at the right time.

MRT: Has conservatism changed from 2004 to today?

CONAWAY: I think so. It was more fiscal conservative in 2004-05 when I first got there. I remember we would agonize over $100 million here and there, and now, they're throwing $460 billion at this $2,000 check thing with hardly any analysis at all. And it's gonna go to folks who are totally, totally unaffected by COVID. And they're going to get four grand to the family. That would have never happened with Tom Delay out there. We simply would never have done that kind of a shotgun approach. He would have tailored it to the folks who lost their jobs and that are legitimately impacted by what's going on. Theres not a federal employee who has missed a paycheck, but those making less than ($75,000) are going to get a $2,000 bonus, and I'm not sure if that makes sense. Because it doesnt. The life issues are probably the most defining between conservative and not. That line is sharper today than it has been. I think we're more polarized now than we were when I first got there. Maybe it's just because, we know more about partial-birth abortions today than we did in 2004, at least I do. And all the heinous things that goes on around late-term abortion that some of my colleagues vehemently defend the violence in the womb. And so, yeah, I think it's different. It's morphed into a less, fiscally conservative than it was in 2005.

MRT: Which is made it more difficult to effectively represent District 11, cable news, talk radio or social media?

CONAWAY: Social media, hands down. You know, talk radio and cable news, they have a bit of a governor on them. I mean, you can't publish in your newspaper, something you know to be untrue or something that you've gotten that you have not tried to find the truth on. Well, social media has no governor, no filter and no restraint on it whatsoever. And so, you get these crazy conspiracy theories that pop up out of nowhere, and you start asking Wheres that come from and they say social media. Well, who is the knucklehead sitting in his mother's basement that pitched that conspiracy idea and does he have any credentials at all? I think social media is tougher. We are better today at finding those who are using divisive tools than ever, and I think social media is the most divisive tool we have.

MRT: What is the impact of Donald Trump on the Republican Party?

CONAWAY: Well, obviously, from the votes he got its positive because he got more votes than any Republican ever got and he's also broadened the tent. Like I said were probably not as fiscally concerned as we previously had been. You know it was disappointing that he really didn't want to take up Medicare or any of the big financial drivers that the leadership is going to have to come out of the White House to actually fix the mandatory spending problems that we have. And he didn't seem to be as concerned about that as Republican leaders in the past have been. I think hes had impact that will make it easier to spend money we don't have than maybe under previous presidents.

MRT: Why is August Pfluger the right person to lead District 11 into the future?

CONAWAY: Well, one, he out-worked anybody else in the field. I didn't endorse anybody, but I offered to help everyone of them, and August took me up on it. And he would say, Hey, who do I need to talk to in this county or this town and I gave him a list of names and would have given anybody a list of names. And I'd go back by there and somebody was like Hey, I just talked to August Pfluger or Hey, Im about to talk to August Pfluger. So, he outworked everybody else in the race by head and shoulders. And it showed because he won without a runoff. That work ethic that he demonstrated there looked similar to the work ethic that I tried to put in for 16 years, making the rounds and doing the job that was supposed to get done. Second off, he's a super smart guy. Hes got a good background in the military. And that's becoming less representative in Congress. So, it's good that to have a veteran -- I'm a veteran, he's a career veteran its good to have that perspective in Congress as well. And he's just good people a good, decent God-fearing man with a terrific family. And so, I've got really, really high hopes and expectations for him to surpass whatever it is I might have been able to do in these 16 years during his term.

MRT: What advice have you offered him about being the representative of an entire district?

CONAWAY: Well, that was it. That's it. The folks in Mason County, all 5,000 or 6,000 deserve your attention as much as the folks in Tom Green County. And they need to be able to see and talk to you and have the access as those in counties where you get most of your votes. Make sure you're making the rounds. And then, if I was on the phone with you right now -- based on my last walking off that floor Monday night after my final vote -- would be to just savor every single moment. Because nobody gets to go forever.

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Do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you. - Midland Reporter-Telegram

Never before has your home's style and functionality felt more important than in 2020. We've all become a lot more acquainted with our living spaces thanks to the pandemic, and many have undertaken remodeling projects as a result.

What will we be seeing more of in the new year? Zillow has put together a list of the top home trends for 2021, and on it you'll find everything from "Zoom rooms" to vacation-like amenities to a fancier place to cultivate that sourdough starter.

Intergenerational livingYoung adults and grandparents alike have found themselves moving back in with family for financial and health reasons, so new construction is progressing with that in mind.

According to Generations United, about one in six Americans currently live in multigenerational households, and this year, the share of young people moving back home reached all-time highs.

Katie Detwiler, chief experience officer at Pennsylvania home builder Berks Homes, says there are more requests than ever for a finished basement with a full bathroom, as well as bedroom additions.

Gourmet kitchensIf we've not all become successful amateur cooks this year, then at least we tried and learned what does and doesn't work in our current kitchens.

A previous Zillow survey finds 41 percent of people value a well-equipped kitchen more than before as a result of social distancing recommendations, and more people want the space to show off their new culinary skills in the next year.

"We've seen an increase in requests for gourmet kitchens," says Detwiler. "This includes bigger cabinets and island additions so homeowners have the space they need to cook their gourmet meals."

"Zoom rooms"Think of it as a home office: upgraded. A Zillow survey found that Americans working from home say they would consider a move for a dedicated office space, if they were to continue working remotely at least occasionally.

As of November, the number of listings mentioned "home office" or "Zoom room" increased by 48.5 percent compared to the same time last year. Berks Homes also says requests for an at-home study in lieu of existing living space more than doubled this year.

"Homecation" amenitiesWith lots of time and nowhere to go, homeowners are coming up with creative solutions to create vacation vibes right at home. "Pool" was the top Zillow keyword search term in 2020; "waterfront" and "dock" also landed in the top 10.

Additionally, homeowners may be looking for big and small ways to create a luxury experience at home, from upgrading to a spa-like bathtub or relaxing rain shower. Zillow research found listings that mentioned a free-standing tub typically sold for 5.5 percent more than expected, while the listing keyword "spa-inspired" contributed to a 1.8 percent price premium.

The rise of remote work will also allow more homeowners to turn their favorite vacation destination into their hometown. Page views of for-sale listings in areas typically considered vacation destinations such as Key West, the Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod are up nearly 50 percent compared to last year.

Backyard oasisA Zillow survey from the Harris Poll found that 41 percent of people say they value a large outdoor space more as a result of social distancing recommendations.

Homes mentioning "fire pit" in the listing sold for 2.8 percent more than similar homes, and "outdoor kitchen" sold for 4.5 percent more. Smart sprinkler systems and outdoor lighting are other features that add a contemporary flare to a backyard but also help your home sell up to 15 days faster than expected.

Smart and safe techIt's more vital than ever that our homes stay as germ-free as possible, and smart home technology has saved the day with products like touchless appliances, self-cleaning toilets, and bidets. And while a lot of these products are niche right now, Zillow predicts they will evolve to become the standard in home design.

"Our tech-driven appliances, solid surfaces, and smart fixtures have come to the rescue," says Kerrie Kelly, Zillow home design expert and founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. "Features like voice-activated faucets, robotic vacuums, and electronic assistant-controlled lights have updated the traditional tasks of cooking and cleaning by incorporating thoughtful innovation into home products."

Smart home technology is becoming increasingly appealing to buyers. A Zillow analysis found that listings mentioning a smart light in their description sold seven days faster than expected, and listings mentioning a smart thermostat sold six days faster.

Pet-friendly livingThe flexibility of remote work gave many people the opportunity to be home all day, and in turn, made it easier to add a new best friend to their family. According to a Nielsen survey, 20 percent of respondents in July said they adopted one or more dogs or cats between March and June, up from less than 5 percent over the same time last year.

A 2020 Zillow analysis found for-sale listings mentioning a pet shower or dog wash in their listing description sold for 5.1 percent more than similar homes, while listings mentioning a fenced backyard in their description sold 6.8 days faster than expected.

More new constructionTraffic for new construction homes has increased significantly on Zillow, up 82 percent in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter a year ago, signaling an increasing number of shoppers interested in personalizing their home's features and living in a new, clean space.

A 2020 Zillow survey found more than a quarter of buyers who bought a new construction home did so to customize home features, while 37 percent chose new construction because everything in the home was new and never used.

More:
Home and design experts look ahead to what will be trendy in Dallas for 2021 - CultureMap Dallas

By Jon Mark Beilue| Amarillo Globe-News

In less than nine months, in time for the Fall 2021 semester, West Texas A&M Universitys contribution to downtown Amarillo will be in full swing. A No Vacancy sign might as well hang from the door of the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center at Eighth Avenue and Tyler Street.

We will be full, said WT President Dr. Walter Wendler. For all practical purposes, we will be full to the top. There will be no more unused space. There will be hundreds of students and faculty in and out of that building all day long.

Construction and remodeling have begun on the final of three major pieces to occupy the Amarillo Center WTs School of Nursing. When completed by summer 2021, junior and senior nursing students will be in classes and labs on the second floor, first floor and basement of the building that was formerly the Commerce Building.

We are obviously looking forward to relocating there, said Dr. J. Dirk Nelson, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With the build-out and renovation, we will have 25,000 square feet dedicated to the bachelor of science nursing curriculum.

That renovation will include a new skills lab, simulation lab, assessment lab, debriefing room, seminar room and classrooms in addition to office space for 20 to 25. Students, faculty and staff also will benefit by being closer to the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and Amarillos two largest hospitals Northwest Texas Healthcare System and BSA Health System.

Our nursing faculty is second to none, and it will be nice for them to be in a facility like this, Wendler said.

Over the past five years, graduating WT nursing students have a 96.56 percent passing rate on the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), the test for entry-level nurses. The national average is 86.41 percent.

Our passing rate for the test is among the highest in the state of Texas, Wendler said. You cant do much better than 96 percent. You tell people youre doing better than that and they think youre lying.

Most of the nursing faculty is in Old Main on campus, but by the fall semester, they will be entirely out of there and relocated either in the Amarillo Center or the Bivins Learning Nursing Center on campus. The Bivins Center will continue to provide classes in pre-nursing for freshmen and sophomores.

The nursing program will join two departments within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences that have been there since the Amarillo Center opened in March 2019 the Department of Communication Disorders and the Center for Learning Disabilities.

Previously, Communications Disorders was located in the Virgil Henson Activities Center above the swimming pool.

Not ideal, said department chair Dr. Brenda Cross.

The relocation to downtown Amarillo may have positively impacted the WT Speech and Hearing Clinic, a major part of the department, more than any other group.

Moving the clinic was probably the biggest consideration we had to make, Cross said. So many of our clients are from Amarillo, so driving to Canyon did not seem like a big deal. But many physicians were not referring their patients to us because of the drive.

The WT Speech and Hearing Clinic is an outpatient clinic for speech, language and swallowing therapies where services are provided by graduate student clinicians who are supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Moving downtown has definitely opened us up as a referral source for local physicians, Cross said. Our client population in the last 1 years has more than tripled. Weve always seen the rural area patients, but weve definitely picked up a larger percentage of Amarillo patients.

Like nursing, pre-communication disorder students go through a second admission prior to their junior year based on grade point average and application. In past, upper-level students transitioned to classes from Old Main to the Activities Center to the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.

We were all over the place for classes, Cross said, so to be able to stay in one building, to have the clinic adjacent to all of our classes, has been seamless.

The other group the Center for Learning Disabilities actually had the shortest move. They were located in the former Chase Tower, less than a block away, but a little move means a lot.

Its been a wonderful opportunity, and one of the greatest differences is the clinic space we have now, said Dr. Michelle Simmons, director of the center and the Lanna Hatton Professor of Learning Disabilities.

The Center for Learning Disabilities focuses on three areas: working with parents and families for those in the home with a learning disability, providing student workshops, and assisting teachers with strategies to help those students to better cope and learn.

We have improved accessibility and a better useability of space, Simmons said. Its a welcoming and beautiful presence for what we do, which is to support and increase opportunities for students with learning disabilities, specifically with reading and attention disorders.

There are other entities in the Amarillo Center, including graduate programs in social work and psychology, and the Small Business Development Center. But the three largest departments will be together. Not only will several hundred be in one building daily to add to downtown commerce, but theres an expected synergy from all together.

We feel a little isolated being the only full-time program here, but having another complete program here from the same college in the building will bring a sense of a more WT feeling, Cross said. We can collaborate in clinics and class. It will make it feel like more of an extension of the main campus instead of out here feeling like its an island sometimes.

Editor's note: This column originally appeared on the WT website.

Do you know of a student, faculty member, project, an alumnus or any other story idea for WT: The Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle? If so, email Jon Mark Beilue atjbeilue@wtamu.edu.

View original post here:
Beilue: Soon to be more crowded; renovation to fill Amarillo Center for WT nursing - Amarillo.com

Added on October 22, 2020Jen Ezpeletanewsletter , Redondo Beach

Missing the Computer Guy

Dear ER:

Tom Serafin was our go-to computer guy over the last 20-plus years. He would come by to fix, back up, add or delete a program on our computers, laptop tablets and iPads, and even fix our printers (The Computer Guy, ER Oct. 15, 2020). What a personal loss. Along with his computer genius we enjoyed his friendship and great conversations. We will truly miss this Gentle Giant!.

Jackey Flaherty

Hermosa Beach

Dear ER:

Tom was one of my breakfast buds when the Mermaid was still a thing . We had a bet every year if the Vikings had a better year I paid for breakfast. If the Giants came out on top he would pony up. He was a kind fellow, always asking questions. Sorry to hear this news.

Lance Keller

ERNews post

Tom came to my aid many times over many years. He was always happy and friendly and had an interesting take on what was in the news or the latest in sports. I shall miss him terribly.Put at end of letters

Kathy

This is a hell of a loss. One of the most unique, generous, friendly and sociable guys I have ever met. He has been my familys go to guy on every computer issue for well over a decade, and we enjoyed every time we saw him or spoke to him.

George Kaufman

Clarification: Chaz Flemmings

In response to an October 8 Easy Reader profile on Manhattan Beach City Council candidate Chaz Flemmings, Flemmings, has issued the following clarification of issues addressed in the article:

I never met with Black Lives Matter protesters/organizers in May or June.

Im not a member of Black Lives Matter. I connected on social media, Twitter, with multiple Mira Costa High School students after the June 2 Peaceful Protest. Joe Franklin and other candidates were in attendance at this event. I had no participation nor did I organize the event on June 2. I did attend the event as a resident. This event caused several businesses to be boarded up in which I offered my services to help facilitate a helping hand for our local businesses prior to the event. ER

Harbor the homeless,but not in the harbor

Dear ER:

I would like to voice my opposition to building temporary homeless shelters in King Harbor at Seaside Lagoon or Moonstone Park (Mole B). As a lifelong resident of the South Bay and business owner with multiple locations throughout the South Bay, I have seen first hand the homeless crisis that has plagued our city. We should all step up to help people in need. That is why I have partnered with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), which takes a different approach to this crisis by building affordable housing, and also focusing on mental health, job training and ending the cycle of homlessnes. That being said: Redondo Beach is not equipped to handle the in-depth, additional services needed to truly help. I fear the city will approve funding, build temporary housing, then leave it to the police (who have zero power due to State legislation) to handle the issues that will arise. At one of my business locations in the marina, we have had numerous homelessness issues, including: 1.Individuals made a make-shift shelter on our roof, with drugs inside the shelter. 2. An individual was found in our back storage area. When asked to leave the man became physically aggressive towards one of our employees. No one should have to go to work and fear for their safety. 3. A local charity decided (with good intentions) to feed the homeless in our parking lot. This turned into an unmitigated disaster, with public urination, trash, and individuals taking over our tables.

A homeless shelter in Seaside Lagoon opens up the possibility of dangerous substances (needles, etc.) being dropped in the sand, putting residents, especially children in danger when the Lagoon opens in the spring. Plan on doubling the cost of the Seaside Lagoon location, because the city will be forced to remove the shelter in just a few months due to either the Beach Life Festival (based on Covid-19) or public use of Seaside Lagoon in spring.

A homeless shelter in the area probably does not serve the citys goal of improving the harbor area.

A temporary, makeshift pallet shelter run by the city is going to be a disaster. The city should rather partner with an accredited organization to handle this crisis. In addition, the report from City Attorney Michael Webb clearly focuses on only the financials of the project. It seems to read, We can get this money, lets do it and figure out how its going to work later. Again, a recipe for disaster.

Chris Bredesen

Redondo Beach

Deconstructing desal

Dear ER:

I would like to respond to my West Basin Municipal Water District 3 opponent Doug Solomons comment about why I supported conducting an EIR for the proposed desalination plant in El Segundo, but voted against it because of politics. First, the EIR provided information we needed to make a decision. Second, I represent the people in my district, I hear their voices, I listen to their opinions. Desalination makes sense for certain places, but at this time I dont feel this is the correct path for West Basin to explore. We have other options to look at like the brackish water project in the South Bay that is much more environmentally friendly and I believe will be less expensive. It is also what the people I represent want.

Carol Kwan

West Basin Water

District 3 trustee

Manhattan Beach

Challengers challenged

Dear ER:

In the Beach Cities Health District election, its disappointing to see little emphasis is placed on the proposed, massive Healthy Living Campus. Questions about it went unanswered during the candidates forum, even by the two challengers. Neighbors are outraged by the three incumbents supporting the proposed $500 million Prospect Ave. construction project. Its partially funded by investors. When investors get their return, there isnt much left for the taxpayer. Meanwhile, the project can be scrapped, and funding can be obtained to retrofit existing buildings. The two challengers in this campaign must step up and tell us what theyre going to do to change the course of this project. Will they support remodeling existing buildings? If they dont have more to say, they will not get the support they need to win an election.

Dean Francois

Hermosa Beach

A stand up Joe

Dear ER:

People know I stand up for what I believe is right. We need Joe Franklin on the Manhattan Beach City Council. I have known Joe for over 20 years. When I was principal of Pacific School 1986-2007, he was the one dad I could count on Monday through Friday for any job, large or small to help run my expanding school. From President of the School Site Council to Chief Morning Greeter in the drop-off zone, he was there, with a smile on his face, handling any situation, from the stressed parent to crying child. And he never lost his cool. Joe is honest, smart, hard-working, a logical thinker. He will work tirelessly to make Manhattan Beach the kind of town you will continue to be proud of. With a strong, fully funded police department, local control of our fire department, strong schools with a firm partnership, and great support for COVID recovery of residents and small businesses. You have trusted me with your children and on MBUSD committees. Trust me now and vote for Joe.

Christine A. Norvell

Manhattan Beach

Basement dwellers

Dear ER:

Can we please fire Congressional Representative Ted Lieu and State Assemblyman Al Maratuchi this November. What has Lieu ever done except vote for higher taxes and against veterans, even though he claims to be one. He should be given a dishonorable discharge. Both are cowards for not coming out of the basement for a real debate with their opponents. Give us some hope and change this year. Vote for James Bradley for Congress and Arthur Schaper for State Assembly.

Gary Mlynek

Redondo Beach

Age equality

Dear ER:

The Manhattan Beach City Council has seven candidates for three open seats. If all seven candidates were equal in all other ways, representation by the five current council members all being between 55 and 66 should be addressed. One in five Manhattan Beach residents is between 18 and 35. But its fairly obvious the seven candidates are definitely not equal in other ways. Phoebe Lyons has greatly elevated this campaign discussion at every opportunity in her topical campaign videos, in her weekly Virtual Chats. and particularly in the candidates forums where she consistently displays clear focused thinking and straightforward effortless communication.

Lyons youthful energy, her studied yet open-minded approach to fact-based problem solving, her focus on listening to voices historically unrepresented, and her deep commitment to brightening the long term future of her hometown clearly make Phoebe a uniquely qualified candidate. By giving just one of three available votes to Phoebe Lyons, voters will be effecting a significant positive change to our public decision making process while at the same time broadening the makeup of our City Council. (You may even consider voting only for Phoebe in this race to greatly diminish chances that mere incumbency and/or simple name recognition will again rule our election.)

Lisa Scalia

Manhattan Beach

Peer Lyon-ized

Dear ER:

I wholeheartedly support Phoebe Lyons for Manhattan Beach City Council. So much, in fact, that Ill cast only one vote, in support of her, though there are three open seats. Lyons and I grew up here together. We were raised to be civically minded, informed women. I never thought our childhood friendship would transform into a team on the (virtual) campaign trail, but Im glad it did. In recent months, Manhattan Beach youth have been vocal about their wants for our community. Theyve been listened to by Council, but have they been heard? Ive watched leaders in our community fumble in attempts to get the young people involved for years. Well, here we are. Fifty-plus-year-olds cannot and will not properly represent the younger demographics of our town one in six of us.)

Lyons knows what its like to grow up here. She is not a transplant who decided to spend her adult life here. She is a product of our MBUSD schools, a point of pride for our city. As a recent college grad, Phoebe is still in the mode of studying and researching, a skill shell bring to Council. Phoebe will not use emotion as a metric, but rather analyze data to reach meaningful conclusions. Diversity of experience is key on Council. Its time to look to the future, Manhattan Beach. Lets vote for a fresh voice. Vote Phoebe Lyons on November 3.

Mageline Taylor

Manhattan Beach

Inside support

Dear ER:

As a current councilmember who has worked closely with Steve Napolitano and Richard Montgomery, I wholeheartedly support both candidates. I also support Grettel Fournell to take my seat on the Council. Napolitano and Montgomery have shown incredible leadership in our current crisis and their experience has been invaluable. This is the time to embrace consistency on our Council. As much as this pandemic has been difficult for our residents, it is hard to explain how difficult it has been to run a city through this time. The competing interests of businesses and residents, public health and the economy, has created division in our community. We need to keep a steady hand in the running of the City. Richard and Steve know how to do this. They will keep us safe, healthy, and economically as prosperous as we can possibly be. They know our budget inside and out, they understand the difficult position City staff is in providing the needed services to our community, and they know how to keep our businesses running. I also encourage a vote for Grettel Fournell. I have known Grettel for many years and she is smart, thoughtful and a consensus builder. When I was first elected in 2017, we were a smooth-running Council getting things done by listening to all of our residents not just those who voted for us. We did this with consensus, honesty and integrity. We need to elect someone who will help with the consensus and compromise that is vitally needed in a good councilmember. Grettel is that person.

Nancy Hersman

Manhattan Beach

Bring back Burton

Dear ER:

As a Manhattan Beach resident for almost 40 years, I treasure the family oriented character and small town feel of our community. I recently retired, after 20-plus years, as an environmental engineer with the Metropolitan Water District. Thus, I have knowledge of both environmental and drinking water issues. Both these parts of my background are why I support Mark Burton for Manhattan Beach City Council. He supports the needs and interests of residents over those of special interests (or his own interests) and he is concerned about the environment.

Burton walks the walk, he doesnt just talk the talk. During his prior term as City Council member (and before and since) he has actively championed residents issues, such as banning short-term rentals, supporting our first responders, and supporting our schools. He has always conducted himself in a transparent, fiscally prudent manner. Environmentally, he has opposed the West Basin MWD desalination plant (an environmentally hazardous and fiscally wasteful project), supported stormwater capture measures and helped enact ordinances banning smoking and plastic bags. In addition to his term as City Council member, Burton has had an exemplary record of public service as an LA City Attorney and of supporting our community through participation in the Rotary Club, Roundhouse Aquarium, Historical Society, El Camino College Foundation and many other local organizations. Burton is a good listener and a problem solver. He is kind, patient, thoughtful, conscious of residents needs and respecting opposing views. We need Burton back on Council.

Paul Beswick

Manhattan Beach

Trust the trustee

Dear ER:

Karen Komatinsky and Bill Fournell have served as Manhattan Beach Unified School District trustees for many years and they are the reason that MBUSD has received so many accolades. Komatinsky is running for Beach Cities Health District Member Board of Directors. IHe is termed out on the Manhattan School Board). Komatinsky stated that being a board trustee was like leading a corporation with an $83 million budget and 800 employees. The difference is her shareholders are her neighbors. Komatinsky has previous professional experience as VP for an Executive Search firm, HR Business Leader for Pfizer and is currently running 1 firm focusing on strategic planning and human resources. Komatinsky is the most qualified for the Beach Cities Health District Member Board of Directors, because of her experience on the MBUSD Board of Trustees, professional experience in the business world and her dedication to schools. I have loved Manhattan Beach ever since I came to California in 1960 to pursue my career as an aeronautical engineer. I love the beach, The Strand, ocean, climate, people and especially the school system. MBUSD has received many accolades that we should all be proud of because of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees. The residents honor the First Responders (Police, Firefighters and Healthcare Professionals), but how do we honor the dedicated trustees who are professionals (MBAs, attorneys and business leaders) who donate their time to lead MBUSD?

Robert Bush

Manhattan Bush

Fresh perspectives

Dear ER:

The recent BCHD candidate debate, hosted by Easy Reader and HermosaOne.com, gave Beach Cities residents a clear view of the similarities and differences between the candidates. All candidates agree that BCHD is an asset to the community. All candidates support BCHDs wide ranging volunteer program and the programs and services donated to the school districts. Challengers Karen Komatinsky and Martha Koo differentiate themselves from the three incumbents by offering a fresh perspective on BCHDs potential. They believe BCHD has not done an adequate job in reaching out to the communities and would like to see robust efforts towards community engagement. In addition, both expressed commitment to ensuring the prudent use of tax dollars, detailed evaluation of programs and services to show cost effectiveness and clear health impact to the community. They echo residents concerts about whether a Healthy Living Campus is appropriate for the community at this time. This fresh perspective is how I would like to see BCHD proceed into the future. In light of this, I give my full support to Karen Komatinsky and Martha Koo.

Sheila W. Lamb

Redondo Beach

Balance board

Dear ER:

Bring balance to the Beach Cities Head District Board of directors. Vote for Karen Komatinsky and Dr. Martha Koo. For far too long we have had a BCHD board that is out of touch with the needs of the community and we saw this clearly in the candidate forum last week. One incumbent has served 25 years and doesnt know if the 40 programs they pay for are even cost effective. Another claims the immune systems of volunteers are improved with these programs, without any proof. The third claims vast business experience, but hasnt been effective in even getting cost control mechanisms in place or even a line item budget. Its time for change and to bring back balance to BCHD. Vote for Karen Komatinsky and Dr. Martha Koo.

Wayne Craig

Redondo Beach

Powell to the people

Dear ER:

There are a number of well qualified candidates for Manhattan Beach City Council. You should vote for candidates who have the utmost integrity and character, a proven record of community volunteer service, and diverse life experience with fresh ideas to improve our community. I dont endorse or vote for candidates simply because they are an incumbent, or for those who have numerous campaign signs illegally on city property and vacant lots, or candidates beholden to big-money special interests or endorsed by old school power brokers, or who run numerous slick ads with the usual rhetoric and empty promises. As a former two-term Manhattan Beach Mayor, I urge everyone to do their due diligence and research the candidates and ballot propositions. After careful consideration, Ive endorsed Mark Burton, Grettel Fournell and Steve Napolitano (alphabetical order). Also, lifelong resident and political newcomer Phoebe Lyons merits your consideration.

Wayne Powell

Manhattan Beach

Dear ER:

Here are my three pledges to the residents of Manhattan Beach. First, if elected to Council, I pledge the City will not be paying reparations in the Bruces Beach matter. As a former City Attorney, I know our State Constitution, statutes and government code prohibit the deeding of taxpayer owned land and the paying of taxpayer money in this matter. Its illegal. Yes, what a prior Council did over a 100 years ago was shameful but that does not reflect who we are today as a community. However, we should change the plaque at Bruces Beach to accurately reflect the full history of the Bruce family. Second, if elected, I pledge the City will protect and preserve the residential character of our community by continuing our ban on short term rentals and asserting appropriate local control. Local control of zoning and land use is rightfully the purview of our Council, not the State legislature or the Coastal Commission. Third, if elected to Council, I pledge that the City will oppose and stop the billion dollar boondoggle desalination project. It is our South Bay bullet train. Its a waste of money and it will only increase our water rates significantly.

The next Council needs strong leadership with common sense judgment. Thats what I did on Council and thats what I will do if elected. As a former Councilmember and City Attorney, I believe that I am the best qualified to face the challenges ahead. Experience matters, now more than ever.

Mark Burton

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Letters to the Editor 10-22-2020 - Easy Reader

ON THE JOB with Buck Bros.

Posted on 17 October 2020 by Tesha Christensen

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Longtime Buck Brothers employees Scott Vetsch (left) and Buzzy Napoly return to install new windows at a home where they built a garage previously. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Tracy Kruse didnt start out to be one of the few women in construction, but it is a role she has enjoyed. The daughter of a high school shop teacher, Kruse was looking for work after college and ended up building movie sets in the Twin Cities.After a few years traveling and juggling family commitments, she told her Seward neighbor, Joe Buck, that she was interested in a change. He offered her a job on his crew.This year, Kruse and fellow long-time employee, Jason Manthey, are taking over from Joe and his brother Bob.Our company was started in 1983 by Bob and Joe Buck, with the goal of concentrating on remodeling urban core homes and respecting the historic design and detail of these homes, observed Kruse. We will continue our commitment to providing high-quality service to our community. She added, We have worked on older, single-family homes for over 35 years, and understand the challenges that these homes present. Over the years, weve handpicked a project team that can work with homeowners to design the space, anticipate the issues that older homes present and manage the construction of the project.Read on for more from Kruse.

Scott Vetsch installs new windows on the upper level of a Minneapolis home.

How has COVID-19 changed how you operate?COVID-19 has changed many aspects of how we run our jobs. One thing we have always been proud of is running a tight schedule. With lead times on materials becoming longer and longer, it has created some challenges. We require our staff and subs to wear masks and gloves as possible while on the job site. We have created washing stations on the job sites. We are not having more than one trade at the job site at a time, which has also increased the length of our projects. Social distancing can be a challenge in construction as many tasks take more than one person, for example installing windows. While working in homes, we isolate ourselves as much as possible with plastic barriers. At the end of each workday, we sanitize any areas that the homeowner may come in contact with, handrails etc.What trends do you see right now?Families are looking for more liveable space in their homes with many people staying home. We have seen an increase in basement remodels and additions.How do you seek to be environmentally friendly in your business practices?

Jason Manthey and Tracy Kruse are the new owners of Buck Brothers.

Weve always been proponents of energy-efficient design and construction, and our projects have won awards from Minnesota GreenStar. We have extensive experience at providing clients with creative options for building projects that conserve energy and promote efficiency.What sets your business apart?Our extensive experience has enabled us to build a team of designers, field staff, and sub-contractors who provide the quality service and high value that our clients demand. Homeowners need to trust the tradespeople who work on their projects to provide quality and stay on schedule and on budget.

Read more from the original source:
ON THE JOB with Buck Bros. - Monitorsaintpaul