Published on October 29, 2014

An age-friendly park, complete with walking trails, benches, green spaces, gazebos, a tobogganing hill, and a community garden was officially opened in Clarenville today.

Kevin Curley

Ribbon cutting at the official opening of the Clarenville Age Friendly Park

Community leaders joined Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, and Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and MHA for Trinity North, to mark the completion of a project three years in the making.

The Clarenville Age-Friendly Park, located near Clarenville High School, was built with funding from the provincial and municipal levels of government, in cooperation with the Random Age-Friendly Community Board, and local community partners.

Its designed to be a space where people can just sit and chat, or participate in recreational activities.

The World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Communities Program is an international effort to address the environmental and social factors that contribute to active and healthy aging.

The program helps communities become more supportive of older people by addressing their needs across eight dimensions: the built environment, transport, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication, and community support and health services.

The Town of Clarenville has been onboard with the concept of building an age-friendly community since day one. We were committed to finding a space for the Clarenville Age-Friendly Park which suited the needs of all citizens, and with the location on Hibernia Drive, we have a space that is near to both Clarenville High School and a seniors' housing complex, and is easily accessible to all residents, added Mayor Frazer Russell.

The rest is here:
Age Friendly Park opens in Clarenville

By Priscilla Lister Special to the U-T1:04 p.m.Oct. 29, 2014

Thomas Bros. Map: Page 1310, H-2.

Before you go: Download a copy of the trail map at Chula Vistas pages on its citywide Greenbelt Trail,

chulavistaca.gov/city_services/development_services/planning_building/Planning/documents/Greenbelt_Trail_Map.pdf.

You can also download a trail map at the citys parks pages on Rohr Park,

chulavistaca.gov/city_services/community_services/public_works_operations/parks/ParksInfo/rohr.asp.

Trailhead: From Interstate 5 heading south, exit onto CA-54 East. In about 4.4 miles, exit at Briarwood Road and turn right (south) onto Briarwood. Where the road stops at Sweetwater Road, turn right (west) onto Sweetwater. Rohr Park will be on your left.

Distance/difficulty: The entire loop is 3.3 miles; very easy.

SOUTH BAY Heres an easy loop around a green golf course where the bonus is birds.

Rohr Park in Chula Vista is one of the prettiest parks in that South Bay city, complete with gazebos, playgrounds, picnic areas and even a model railroad track. The park sits next to the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course. A 3.3-mile loop trail winds around that golf course and through the park.

Read more from the original source:
Easy loop around South Bay golf course

Monroeville council is scheduled to vote Nov. 11 on whether to grant zoning changes so that a Hindu temple can expand.

After more than two hours of testimony from administrators, residents and representatives of the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, council last week voted to table action on the temples conditional use requests. Councilman Jim Johns recused himself from the vote.

Monroeville solicitor Bruce Dice said council must act on the matter within 45 days of the Oct. 14 meeting.

Councilman Rob Harvey made the motion to table the matter to take advantage of the time to analyze the information we received.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple requested conditional use approval to cut and fill nearly 25,000 cubic yards of earth near its present location on Abers Creek Road.

Officials of the temple want to construct a 13,410-square-foot, two-story building; a 1,466-square-foot addition; and a 264-square-foot connecting wing and four gazebos. The addition would contain new worship facilities, an office, meditation areas and a kitchen.

The proposed addition would be situated in the S Conservancy and R-2 single-family zoning districts. If approved, the project is expected to take five years to complete.

Tom Ayoob, attorney for the temple, said at the hearing that the municipalitys zoning ordinance allows as a conditional use a church and school, as well as major excavation. He added the municipalitys planning commission recommended approval with conditions.

Mr. Ayoob said the temple has been in its Monroeville location since 1991 and the building itself is nearly 100 years old. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was among the first Shirdi temples in the United States, according to its website.

It needs to be upgraded, Mr. Ayoob said.

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Hindu Temple in Monroeville wants to expand

The gazebo has traditionally been an architectural focal point to enhance and enliven spectacular garden settings of grand estates. Today the gazebo is embracing a more wide spread use by property owners of all sizes as well as serving as a wedding pavilion for many hotels and resorts.

A&M Victorian's cast stone gazebos feature a cast stone dome that is manufactured in six sections for ease of installation. This eliminates the need for a crane on site thus avoiding possible damage to existing grounds. A concrete foundation is required at the site per local building codes and is not included in the price of the gazebo.

A&M Victorian's cast stone gazebos are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors. The inside diameter of our gazebos is between 10 to 12 feet and the average height is 13 feet including the dome and dome band which are 25" and 12" respectively. All gazebos come with six columns which are approximately 11" in diameter. Plain or fluted columns may be used either set directly on the concrete foundation or set up on plinths. The space between the columns may be filled with a cast stone seating area or cast stone balustrades per individual preference.

In addition to their cast stone gazebos, A&M Victorian Decorations also carries an impressive hand carved marble gazebo as shown below. This beautiful gazebo comes with a wrought iron dome and features six spiral columns which sit on pedestals with a seating area between five of the columns. This gazebo is 15 feet in height and 12 feet in diameter and also requires a concrete foundation at the site per local building codes.

A&M Victorian's gazebos have a way of turning the most average yard into a tranquil, charming and graceful sanctuary, while the low maintenance of our cast stone or marble will provide many years of care free enjoyment of these magnificent garden structures.

Gazebo GA5 - 12 Inside Diameter - Private Residence - Coto de Caza, CA.

Gazebo GA1 10 Inside Diameter Ritz Carlton Hotel, Rancho Mirage, CA.

GA6 - 10 Inside Diameter - Private Residence, Camarillo, CA.

Visit link:
Gazebo - Cast Stone Gazebos, Garden Gazebo in cast stone ...

Reports by the Washington State Auditors Office puts blame for financial problems at Island Transit squarely at the feet of its five-member board of directors.

But the real bombshell concerns Martha Rose, the former director, who took vacation without deducting it from her vacation balance. She will receive $106,000 in a severance package, including $88,000 in unused vacation.

Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley, whos back on the board, said the vacation payout amounts to theft and hes seeking an injunction to prevent Rose from being paid.

A team from the state Auditors Office announced three official findings in the exit conference Friday morning largely attributable to lack to oversight. No misappropriation of public funds were identified, they emphasized.

Cause of the current financial crisis, which led to service cuts and layoff, was poor monitoring of finances by the the board, one report states.

The audits identified $100,000 in questionable costs associated with a federal grant including the construction of gazebos which could have financial consequences.

Noncompliance with the grant requirements may require the transit authority to return all or a portion of this money to the grantor, audit supervisor Jenny Lofton said.

The accountability audit largely focused on Rose. She received regular raises without board approval; her performance wasnt reviewed since 1996; she took vacation without deducting it; and she claimed to go on two-week conferences when flight records show she was only gone for four or five days, according to a draft audit report.

The board approved a severance agreement with Rose following an executive session Oct. 17. She will get two months salary about $18,0000 plus $88,000 for unused vacation, per her contract, said Bob Clay, chairman of the transit board and Coupeville councilman.

Clay said problems concerning Rose were the result of poor record keeping, but nothing nefarious.

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Former Island Transit chief getting $106,000 payout

Reports by the Washington State Auditors Office lays the blame for financial problems at Island Transit squarely at the feet of the five-member board.

But the real bombshell concerns Martha Rose, the former director, who took vacation without deducting it from her vacation balance, but will receive $116,000 in a severance package that included $88,000 for her unused vacation balance.

A team from the Washington State Auditors Office announced three official findings in the exit conference Friday morning largely attributable to lack of oversight. No misappropriation of public funds were identified, they emphasized.

The cause of the current financial crisis, which led to service cuts and layoffs of 21 workers, was poor monitoring of finances by the board, one report states.

The audits also identified $100,000 in questionable costs associated with a federal grant including the construction of gazebos which could have financial consequences.

Noncompliance with the grant requirements may require the transit authority to return all or a portion of this money to the grantor, Audit Supervisor Jenny Lofton said.

Rose received regular raises without board approval; her performance hasnt been reviewed since 1996; she took leave without deducting it from her leave or vacation balance; and she claimed to go on two-week conferences when flight records showed she was only gone for four or five days, according to a draft audit report.

Board members approved a severance agreement with Rose following an executive session, Oct. 17. She received two-months salary, totaling about $18,0000, plus $88,000 for her vacation balance, per her contract, according to Bob Clay, chairman of the transit board and a Coupeville councilman.

Clay said the problems concerning Rose were the result of poor record keeping, but nothing nefarious.

I dont believe Martha stole time or anything else that didnt belong to her, he said, adding that she had much more leave on the books than would have been allowed to be paid to her under the separation agreement.

Here is the original post:
Former Island Transit chief gave herself raises, audit revealed

WICKFORD has been given a new lease of life as shoppers flock to sample its revamped market.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, met with traders at the newly-created Market Lane and re-paved High Street, at the weekend, to open the latest phase of the market.

Residents and visitors can now pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, jewellery, flowers, plants and gifts. Vickys Cafe and Jac in a Box hairdressers are also thriving since opening in permanent kiosks.

The move from the old location, behind the present site, is being made in stages, but nearly 30 stallholders will soon be displaying toys, pet supplies, shoes, bags and clothes from brightly-coloured gazebos.

Vicky Patmore, who runs Vickys Cafe, said: I might have had more room in the old market, but its a lot more pleasant working in the new kiosk.

My regular customers have stuck with me and Im getting more passing trade.

The remaining stalls are set to be in place within the next fewweeks.

Mr Turner said the 700,000 High Street revamp is just the start of major changes to come for Wickford.

He said: We can clearly see the new direction the market is taking now. It looks fantastic, and its going to get even better.

We have spent ten years getting this together for Wickford, and everything is finally coming together.

Read the original:
Wickford market opens up its latest phase

WICKFORD has been given a new lease of life as shoppers flock to sample its revamped market.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, met with traders at the newly-created Market Lane and re-paved High Street, at the weekend, to open the latest phase of the market.

Residents and visitors can now pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, jewellery, flowers, plants and gifts. Vickys Cafe and Jac in a Box hairdressers are also thriving since opening in permanent kiosks.

The move from the old location, behind the present site, is being made in stages, but nearly 30 stallholders will soon be displaying toys, pet supplies, shoes, bags and clothes from brightly-coloured gazebos.

Vicky Patmore, who runs Vickys Cafe, said: I might have had more room in the old market, but its a lot more pleasant working in the new kiosk.

My regular customers have stuck with me and Im getting more passing trade.

The remaining stalls are set to be in place within the next fewweeks.

Mr Turner said the 700,000 High Street revamp is just the start of major changes to come for Wickford.

He said: We can clearly see the new direction the market is taking now. It looks fantastic, and its going to get even better.

We have spent ten years getting this together for Wickford, and everything is finally coming together.

See the rest here:
Town market opens up its latest phase

Bill Ryan/The Gazette

Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill addresses the Think-A-Thon, an Oct. 11 brainstorming event for a more vibrant and walkable Route 1, sponsored by the Center for Synergy at UMDs College of Arts and Humaninties, at the College Park Community Center.

College Park residents and students at the citys University of Maryland gathered Saturday to brainstorm a more pedestrian-friendly U.S. Route 1 with music-filled gazebos, tree lined-sidewalks and a grocery store.

The Think-A-Thon meeting at the College Park Community Center yielded outlines, sketches, lists and a lot of notes as about 60 people among them university staff and elected officials sat down to find creative solutions to the challenges of Route 1.

In their discussions, attendees tried to address challenges such as too much traffic and a lack of independently-owned businesses, and tried to reimagine Route 1 as a space with more aesthetically-pleasing architecture, spaces for people to linger, art and music.

The event, organized by the Center for Synergy at the universitys college of Arts & Humanities, is modeled on previous Think-A-Thons held in Baltimore.

The core idea is how to use the strategies and theories of the arts and humanities to address cultural and social problems, said Sheri Parks, director of the Center for Synergy. When you talk about arts and culture, its a very easy way to enter dangerous spaces.

Parks said organizers framed the discussion early on by asking attendees to consider the roles of arts and culture in the redesign of Route 1. Once the different stakeholders began the discussion, she said they brought up other issues crime, family life, business development and food but the conversation focused on solutions rather than problems.

Route 1 needs to focus more on pedestrians...the streetscape. Trees would be nice, said Liesl Koch of College Park. Maybe if we started calling Route 1 Baltimore Avenue maybe it would create a momentum of its own.

Koch said the reason for her suggestion is the word avenue implies a more walkable space rather than a cut-through for motorists.

Original post:
College Park residents, UMD students reimagine Route 1 -- Gazette.Net

By Sharnie Kim October 19, 2014, 2:27 pm

Hundreds of Torres Strait Islanders have converged on Thursday Island for the biggest event on the region's sporting calendar.

The Zenadth Kes or Torres Strait Cup draws teams from several island communities each year, with some players arriving on dinghies to take part.

Seven men and three women teams have been battling through the ferocious heat of the day and into the night at the Ken Brown Memorial Oval since Friday.

Each tackle threw up plumes of dust and the relentless wind buffeted the the palm trees along the waterfront and gazebos around the field, where fans took shelter.

The fierce contest has seen local councillors pit their strength and skill against current and former NRL players including Timana Tahu and Travis Waddell.

So far two players have been taken from the field by ambulance suffering ankle and neck injuries.

But every match has ended with both sides forming a circle, interlocking arms, cheering for their opponent and celebrating unity and islander culture.

James Livok Ronson, 26, has travelled from Sydney to play for the Badu Island side Kulpiyam.

"It's good to see all the islands come in as one and this is our culture so this is what we do, we come here for football and have big family gatherings. It's just a privilege. Makes you feel good to be a Torres Strait Islander," he said.

Read more here:
Torres Strait islanders battle it out in annual league cup on Thursday Island