SAN JOSE -- A major storm known as an "atmospheric river" hammered the Bay Area on Thursday morning, trapping a child under a tree in Santa Cruz, collapsing a grocery-store roof in San Jose, knocking out power to thousands and delivering more than 3 inches of rain to some locations.

The storm first tore through the North Bay, where some of the higher locations had more than 4 inches of rain by mid-morning and continue to be deluged. Most areas, including Oakland, Concord, San Jose and Palo Alto, had received between 2 and 4 inches by 3 p.m.

And the storm didn't let up, with the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings in various communities throughout the day.

The brunt of the storm, the strongest in 10 hears, heading south by midmorning, downing power lines and interrupting service, and causing significant flooding throughout the Bay Area.

Flooding was seen into the late night: around 10 p.m., the ramp from northbound Highway 87 to northbound Interstate 280 in San Jose was closed, and drivers in both directions were diverted off Highway 101 in Redwood City.

The incessant rain battering took its toll on the roof of a Safeway in East San Jose, where the roof collapsed on the produce section at a store on East Capitol Expressway near Silver Creek Road just before 4 p.m. The partial collapse exposed a 50-square-foot section of the roof, prompting the San Jose Fire Department to order an evacuation of patrons and employees.

As a precaution, the department summoned its Urban Search and Rescue team, and they determined no one was trapped. One minor injury was reported, but details were not immediately available.

Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido, a department spokesman, said the collapse, which also produced a 75-foot-long crack in the roof, happened slowly enough for everyone inside to be able to leave safely.

At a flooded mobile home park in Redwood City, residents were being evacuated in the evening by firefighters with a small boat.

San Francisco's financial district took a hard hit about 8 a.m. when power was knocked out for more than 85,000 customers because to equipment failure, PG&E spokeswoman Jeff Smith said.

See original here:
Bay Area storm: Flash flood warnings, Safeway roof collapses, tree injures child, thousands without power

By Brian WoodDec. 10, 2014, 4 a.m.

Time's up for the plane trees that line Durham Street in the Bathurst CBD.

CHOP CHOP: These London plane trees on Durham Street are set for the chop as Bathurst Regional Council rethinks its tree planting program along that busy highway location. 120814ctrees1

TIMES up for the plane trees that line Durham Street in the Bathurst CBD.

And the same goes for the other trees that dot that landscape, including the exotic robinia mop tops outside the Haymarket Reserve and crepe myrtles along that avenue.

They are all set to get the axe as Bathurst Regional Council reconsiders its policy on what varieties are best suited to that busy highway gateway location bounded by Stewart and Bentinck streets.

Replacement varieties being recommended include autumn red maples and ornamental pistachios.

They are considered less invasive than the plane trees and in keeping with the citys autumn colours theme.

A report to be tabled at tonights ordinary monthly meeting of council outlines the saga that led to the tabling of this all-new street tree planting program.

This includes one London plane tree outside the car yard at the intersection of Rankin and Durham streets that has caused damage to both the road pavement and footpath. It has been the subject ofnumerous council reports after anapplication was received to have it removed.

Original post:
New tree species to be planted on Durham Street

SAN JOSE -- A major storm known as an "atmospheric river" hammered the Bay Area on Thursday morning, trapping a child under a tree in Santa Cruz, collapsing a grocery-store roof in San Jose, knocking out power to thousands and delivering more than 3 inches of rain to some locations.

The storm first tore through the North Bay, where some of the higher locations had more than 4 inches of rain by mid-morning and continue to be deluged. Most areas, including Oakland, Concord, San Jose and Palo Alto, had received between 2 and 4 inches by 3 p.m.

And the storm didn't let up, with the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings in various communities throughout the day.

The brunt of the storm, the strongest in 10 hears, heading south by midmorning, downing power lines and interrupting service, and causing significant flooding throughout the Bay Area.

Flooding was seen into the late night: around 10 p.m., the ramp from northbound Highway 87 to northbound Interstate 280 in San Jose was closed, and drivers in both directions were diverted off Highway 101 in Redwood City.

The incessant rain battering took its toll on the roof of a Safeway in East San Jose, where the roof collapsed on the produce section at a store on East Capitol Expressway near Silver Creek Road just before 4 p.m. The partial collapse exposed a 50-square-foot section of the roof, prompting the San Jose Fire Department to order an evacuation of patrons and employees.

As a precaution, the department summoned its Urban Search and Rescue team, and they determined no one was trapped. One minor injury was reported, but details were not immediately available.

Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido, a department spokesman, said the collapse, which also produced a 75-foot-long crack in the roof, happened slowly enough for everyone inside to be able to leave safely.

At a flooded mobile home park in Redwood City, residents were being evacuated in the evening by firefighters with a small boat.

San Francisco's financial district took a hard hit about 8 a.m. when power was knocked out for more than 85,000 customers because to equipment failure, PG&E spokeswoman Jeff Smith said.

See the article here:
Bay Area storm wreaks havoc

Dec. 10, 2014, 4 a.m.

TIMES up for the plane trees that line Durham Street in the Bathurst CBD.

CHOP CHOP: These London plane trees on Durham Street are set for the chop as Bathurst Regional Council rethinks its tree planting program along that busy highway location. 120814ctrees1

TIMES up for the plane trees that line Durham Street in the Bathurst CBD.

And the same goes for the other trees that dot that landscape, including the exotic robinia mop tops outside the Haymarket Reserve and crepe myrtles along that avenue.

They are all set to get the axe as Bathurst Regional Council reconsiders its policy on what varieties are best suited to that busy highway gateway location bounded by Stewart and Bentinck streets.

Replacement varieties being recommended include autumn red maples and ornamental pistachios.

They are considered less invasive than the plane trees and in keeping with the citys autumn colours theme.

A report to be tabled at tonights ordinary monthly meeting of council outlines the saga that led to the tabling of this all-new street tree planting program.

This includes one London plane tree outside the car yard at the intersection of Rankin and Durham streets that has caused damage to both the road pavement and footpath. It has been the subject ofnumerous council reports after anapplication was received to have it removed.

View original post here:
TREE CHANGE: New species to be planted on Durham Street

Six months after the Bharatiya Janata Partys sole poster boy Narendra Modi comprehensively won the April-May general elections and pulped the entire opposition to become the Indian prime minister, the opposition parties are now slowly getting back their lost voices. The opposition misery had been accentuated further in the recently concluded assembly polls in two states Maharashtra and Haryana and both the states witnessed installation of BJP governments for the first time in history. After the ongoing five-phase poll process in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, which will be concluded with announcement of results on Dec. 23, the political battlefield will shift to Delhi for the 70-seat assembly. Incidentally, BJPs main rivals in Delhi elections, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been successful in hogging medias attention after a long time. The Modi governments performance and various acts of omission and commission by BJP leaders are mainly responsible for a small but noticeable revival in political fortunes of Congress and AAP. But whether these two parties will be able to stop the BJPs juggernaut will be known only when the Delhi elections are held in February or March next year. Two specific instances in the past few days demonstrate how the BJP ceded political space to the opposition. In the first instance, the Congress party came up with a booklet lampooning the BJP government for 25 U-turns or policy reversals in past six months since the Modi government came to power one policy reversal per week on an average. Six months down the lane, the Modi model of governance stands out for three shameful characteristics U-Turn on promises, mere renaming and plagiarizing of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) programs and schemes and decisions that involve selling out public/national interests for the benefit of friendly industrial and corporate houses, says the Congress booklet titled Chhe maheene paar, U-Turn Sarkaar (Six months later, a U-Turn government). This is a brutal frontal assault by the Congress on the Modi government as it effectively says that PM Modi has no vision; that he is a mere talking wonder, a copycat and worse, a plagiarist. The Congress party got a lot of attention in print, electronic and digital media because of this major well-prepared political onslaught on the BJP government. The second instance pertains to the gutter-level politics that several ministers of PM Modi indulged in while addressing election rallies in Delhi. Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti kicked off a controversy on Dec. 1 by claiming that everyone including Muslims and Christians are sons of Ram. Jyoti, a newly-inducted minister and BJP MP from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh, said while launching the BJP election campaign in Delhi that the voters must choose between Ramzadon (those born of Ram) and haramzadon (illegitimately born). Here is the English translation of Jyotis remarks made in Hindi: Modi has given a mantra that we will neither take bribe nor let others take bribe. Now you have to decide whom to choose. Will you choose the sons of Ram or those who are illegitimate?" Jyotis remarks triggered immediate condemnation from opposition parties. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, We condemn the use of words by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. The BJP is practicing politics of division. The prime minister should answer this as she belongs to his Cabinet. Biju Janata Dal leader Jay Panda castigated Sadhvi Jyoti while Nationalist Congress Partys Majid Memon said, It does not matter what a persons religion is. Hours later the minister was forced to offer an unconditional apology in both houses of parliament. But what is even more galling is the fact that Modi did not snub his foul-mouthed minister and chose to remain silent on the controversy. However, Modi issued a warning to BJP leaders at a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi on Dec. 2 and told them not to address the nation out of turn, adding that I will not compromise on this. Giriraj Singh, another BJP leader who was recently inducted into Modis Cabinet despite his controversial remark during the general elections campaign that all those oppose Modi should better go to Pakistan, has stoked another controversy. His speech at an election rally in Delhi was couched in references to Hindu mythology wherein he targeted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal as a fake Hanuman. Singh said: Do you know Hanuman? We are all Hanuman. Hanuman told Ram that he has no identity of his own. We are all followers of Modi in this country. People wanted to know the reason for my victory in Lok Sabha. I told them it is only Narendra Modi. Singh also compared Kejriwal to Maarch, a demon in the Hindu epic Ramayana who had the ability to disguise himself. Kejriwal is that fake Hanuman, he is the demon Maarich who changes shape but will get caught one day, Singh said. In this case, the language is not abusive but what the opposition parties are objecting to is Singhs attempts to polarize voters with subtle usage of religious similes and comparisons. Haroon Yusuf, Delhis Congress leader and a former minister in Delhi government, voiced his worries on this count thus: This is what the BJP has been doing in Delhi for the past few months. They have been trying to polarize Delhi on the basis of religion; this is what they did in Trilokpuri and Bawana. This politics of religious polarization is very dangerous and spreads hatred. But Delhi wont accept this. Indian general elections 2014 witnessed politicians across the political spectrum stooping low and hitting their rivals below the belt. These elections also witnessed the BJP successfully polarizing the electorate. This trend has continued and almost become a norm. It is for the Indian voters to decide whether they would allow politicians to indulge in this kind of gutter-level politics. All political parties in India are responsible for the plummeting standards of election campaigning.

See original here:
Indian opposition gathering steam

There are several ways to install rain gutters on a home, but not all of them are ultimately beneficial. Improperly installed gutters can lead to wood rot as well as falling gutters, rendering what should be a beneficial addition to your home as a liability.

Its very important that rain gutters always be installed behind the drip edge to ensure proper capturing of rainwater. Installing gutters on top of roof flashing may be easier and quicker, but improperly installed rain gutters can actually do more damage than good. Rain gutters installed on top of roof flashing leave space for rainwater to splash behind the gutters onto the homes fascia. This water, protected from wind and sun, rots the fascia and eventually leads to costly home repairs. If rain gutters are properly installed behind the drip edge, the only place for water to go is down the gutter and away from your home.

Downspouts are enclosed, vertical pieces of guttering that carry water from the rain gutter to the ground. In order to keep a downspout in place, it must be secured to the side of the home with the use of straps. It is important to secure straps to the brick, not the mortar between bricks, because it creates a more secure, enduring hold. Mortar deteriorates over time causing downspouts to come loose, which can create leaks and even fall down.

Phillips installs gutters behind the drip edge, and we even place gutter hangers every 2 feet to provide sufficient support during heavy rains. Phillips also anchors downspout straps into the brick, making your overall installation more secure. In fact, Phillips even uses larger screws that exceed industry standards, all of which adds up to confidence in your rain gutters installation. This is why Phillips offers a limited lifetime warranty.

See the Phillips difference first hand by scheduling a FREE estimate today. You can call or use the estimate request form on our site.

Excerpt from:
Gutter Installation | Phillips Gutters

BlackHawk in the News:

Your rain gutter system is one of the most important protection mechanisms for your home. If not handled properly, rainwater can cause serious and expensive problems at your roof or at the ground. (Just ask any roofing contractor or foundation repair specialist)

In two words . . .

ROT & INSECTS Most home roofs have wood components that are vulnerable to both. The most vulerable components are:

Depending on the trees near your house and how clean you keep your gutters, even a properly installed guttering system and downspouts frequently allow rain to get to these components and speed the rotting process.

Even partially-clogged gutters compound the problems by allowing debris to slow the drying process, long after the rain has stopped. In addition, the bugs and insects will soon follow. Bugs and insects like dirty water and rotting wood.

These problems are often compounded or made worse when Gutter Helmet, Leaf Guard, K-Guard, Gutter Guardian, Waterfall or some other popular system is in place (see The Competition).

The BLACKHAWK System is your best defense against these problems because its a 21st century state-of-the-art product and an entirely different concept with a warranty they cant touch. See our Warranty.

Inside, outside, and under your foundation, several significant problems can be blamed on poorly designed, poorly performing, and improperly maintained gutter systems:

Visit link:
BlackHawk Gutter Defense Protection Cover: gutter helmet ...

November 26, 2014 Updated Nov 26, 2014 at 3:05 PM CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Governor Quinn announced more than $39.3 million in investments for construction projects Wednesday in central Illinois counties.

The road, college and airport projects in Cass, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell and Woodford Counties are part of the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program.

Projects will be led by the Illinois Department of Transportation unless otherwise noted.

Cass County Selected deck expansion joints on U.S. 67/100 will be replaced for $737,570 by Freesen, a Division of United Contractors Midwest, Inc. of Springfield, the lowest of four bidders.

Livingston County The apron and connecting taxiway will be rehabilitated at Pontiac Municipal Airport for $340,959 by H.J. Eppel & Co., Inc. of Pontiac, the lower of two bidders. The IDOT Division of Aeronautics will manage the project, which includes federal, state and local funding.

Logan County Interstate 55 will receive 14.9 miles of pavement patching, resurfacing, mainline, shoulders and ramps, pavement markings, guardrail improvement, minor drainage items and collateral work for $31,899,598 by R.A. Cullinan & Son of Tremont.

Macon County Bridge deck replacement will be done on the structures carrying Business U.S. 51 over Lake Decatur in Decatur, as well as earthwork, storm sewer, highway lighting, temporary pavement, curb, gutter and pavement marking for $4,025,000 by Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn, the lowest of five bidders.

McLean County Interstate 39 will receive 4.5 miles of pavement patching from Sixmile Creek southwest of Hudson to Woodford County Line for $609,860 by Kinney Contractors, Inc. of Raymond, the lowest of three bidders.

Morgan County Tree removal and aggregate surface course will be done at various locations near the Illinois Route 104 Illinois River Bridge at Meredosia for $80,819 by Freesen, a Division of United Contractors Midwest, Inc. of Springfield, the lowest of five bidders.

See the article here:
$39.3m in central Illinois construction investments announced

Your Resource for Gutter Installation in San Antonio

If your home or business requires the repair or installation services of your roof or your gutters, Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing is the right choice for you. We are the #1 resource for gutters in San Antonio, furnishing high quality, long-lasting roofing and seamless gutters to the San Antonio Metro and Hill Country area.

At Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing, we take great pride in providing efficient work that is done right the first time. We are pleased to offer you a variety of gutter and roofing services, including:

In addition to gutter installation, San Antonio customers of Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing can benefit from our expert roofing services. We are Select Master Shingle Applicators of CertainTeed products, and are a Preferred Contractor for Owens Corning. We also install GAF, Tamco, or any other brand you may request.

Whether or not you require replacement of gutters, San Antonio homes and businesses can be protected from leaks and rotten fascia board during rainy seasons by taking advantage of our roof repair and roof replacement services. Our gutter and roofing services include:

We have over 40 years of combined experience, and are pleased to offer free estimates. Feel free to check us out on Angie's List, where we earned the Super Service Award in 2012 and 2013 ? and the Better Business Bureau, where we have been given an A Rating for our outstanding delivery of roofing and seamless gutters to San Antonio.

Original post:
Your Resource for Gutter Installation in San Antonio

City notes By THEODORE J. STATON Wednesday November 19, 2014 11:22 AM

The city has long recognized the disconnect between the worsening condition of our critical but aging infrastructure networks and how much maintenance work has been implemented through our capital improvement program (CIP).

This has not gone unnoticed by residents. Results of the 2013 community survey reaffirmed high levels of satisfaction with police, fire and EMS services, leaf collection and snow removal but highlighted a noticeable decline in satisfaction with the condition of roads and sidewalks.

In part, this is why in 2013 the city engineer developed a plan to address the backlog of work within an achievable timeframe. The result is a 10-year CIP planning process, with a price tag of $113 million for its first 10 years.

With the needs mapped out and a price tag identified, the CIP was studied at length by a subcommittee of the Citizen Financial Review Task Force as part of its charge from Upper Arlington City Council.

The resulting recommendations of the task force led to the city's recent and successful ballot request for an increase in the income tax rate to 2.5 percent, with 100 percent of the funds generated dedicated to the CIP.

With this important funding mechanism in place and set to take effect Jan. 1, 2015, the city is proceeding as planned with the projects slated for next year.

Tremont Road, Phase 1

The work scheduled in 2015 runs from Fishinger Road south to Ridgeview Road. The project is guided by the Tremont Streetscape study, which was developed by consultant MKSK last winter.

It offered ideas for the reconstruction of Tremont that would facilitate pedestrian accessibility, traffic safety and improve the aesthetics of the Tremont corridor.

View original post here:
Upper Arlington's infrastructure planning for 2015 taking shape