Theres a lot riding on approval of the $21.6 million bond referendum being presented to voters in Cresskill Public School District this week, Superintendent Michael Burke told NJ Advance Media ahead of Tuesdays special election.

The future of Cresskill schools is in the hands of voters now, he said. It really is a chance for us to start to recover from this disaster.

The Cresskill Middle/High School in Bergen County, which houses about a thousand 6th-12th graders, has been hobbled by the disastrous impact of Hurricane Ida since the storm ravaged it that fateful day in September 2021, causing damage equal to half the districts yearly operating budget. As a consequence, middle and high school students have been on a largely remote learning schedule for nearly five months students have one day of in-person learning a week at a shuttered Catholic school in town. In order to move past cleanup, into restoration and finally reopening, Burke said the district needs voter approval to obtain the upfront funding it needs to do the work.

With a successful referendum, Burke said students could be back in the building by September. If its unsuccessful, theyre not likely to return until January 2023 or beyond.

The goal here is for people to realize that for $83 dollars a yearwe can get our students back inside the building in the fall of 2022. Thats whats at stake here on Tuesday night, Burke said.

The stakes are especially high in Cresskill, but nine other school districts across the state also have big decisions to make on significant school construction proposals in special elections this Tuesday. All told, these 10 districts are requesting a total of $394.9 million, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Under the Educational Facilities and Construction and Financing Act of 2000, the state will fund at least 40% of eligible school construction costs through annual debt service aid. If voters reject any of the projects put to a vote this week, school districts will have to wait until the next special election in March before presenting a revised proposal to voters.

Purpose of referendum: The bond would fund renovation of the existing playground at Clinton Public School and related improvements, including making the playground ADA accessible, according to the district website.

Total: $985,000

Tax impact: The Hunterdon County based school district has said there will be no new net tax impact. The estimated new debt service associated with the project will actually result in a slight reduction when compared to the amount of the existing debt service that is being paid-off on current bonds.

Referendum amount: $21,663,200

Purpose of referendum: The district is seeking voter approval to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs, and upgrades at Cresskill Middle/High School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work.

Tax impact: The owner of the average assessed house in Cresskill, at $708,860, can anticipate an additional cost of $83 per year.

Referendum amount: $20,916,025

Purpose of referendum: The district is requesting funds to address deferred maintenance items at its four schools. A prioritized list of urgent projects include HVAC system upgrades, boiler replacements, window replacements and roof replacements, according to a presentation on the district website.

Impact: No impact on taxes. The Franklin Lakes Board of Education is able to offset anticipated debt service due to existing debt that will be fully paid off in 2022 and the use of capital reserves.

Purpose of referendum: The Hudson County-based school district will use funds for the construction of a new high school in order to keep pace with a rapidly growing population an 81% increase since 1990 and the resulting student enrollment growth, according to its website.

Total: $241,050,000

Tax impact: Using the average home assessed value of $526,000, the calculated tax increase to the average household for Hoboken is $490.89 or $93.33 per $100,000 of assessed value. If this referendum does pass, it means that property taxes are likely to go up approximately 6%.

Purpose of referendum: The project scope includes a new early childhood center for grades preschool through first grade, as well as the redesign of Lindenwolds high school sports fields.

Total: $33,247,000

Tax impact: The district has said that if the state continues to increase state aid funds to the Lindenwold Public Schools, it will be able to build the new building with no impact to the taxpayer.

Purpose of referendum: The district will finance repairs and improvements at both its middle and high schools, among them: installation of air conditioning in all school buildings, upgrades to existing HVAC systems, and to replacement of the roof at the middle school

Total: $13,900,000

Tax impact: District officials have said there will be no increase in taxes to residents as a result of this project because the district will be strategically using this bond referendum to replace existing debt service set to expire this year.

Purpose of referendum: Officials have said the bond will fund critical capital improvements projects to upgrade its facilities, including boiler replacement, HVAC installations, and more.

Total: $3,950,000

Tax impact: Manville homeowners will have no increase in their property taxes due to the referendum, according to the Somerset County school districts website.

Purpose of referendum: The bond would fund building repairs and renovations, tech-centered instructional spaces, safety and security upgrades, and more in the pre-K through eighth grade district.

Total: $19,903,197

Tax impact: With state aid coming in and old debt rolling off, taxes would actually decrease for the average Mendham Township homeowner by $97 annually, according to the district superintendent.

Purpose of referendum: School officials have said the bond will fund the cost-effective replacement/repair of roofs and equipment, over the next four years, at all six district schools as well as other structural repairs.

Total: $17,451,501

Tax impact: Administration and board members have said this referendum will not result in a tax increase. According to a presentation given last month, net school facility taxes would actually decrease next year, even with new bonds, due to retiring debt from past facilities investments.

Purpose of referendum: School officials are presenting two proposals to voters in this district. The first proposal asks voters to authorize a capital improvement program consisting of improvements in three major areas: improved air quality, improved school security, and improved instructional space. The second proposal, which can only be approved if the first passes, would authorize the district to make renovations to the middle school gymnasium, along with various other improvements.

Total: $21,923,607

Tax impact: For the average home assessed at $241,161, the tax impact would average $11.40 per month for 20 years.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.

Continued here:
10 N.J. districts asking voters to OK $394.9M on Tuesday, including project to fund repairs from Ida - NJ.com

A glorious, inclusive past

Cobbs Creek was considered the best public golf course in America when it was built in 1916, said Chris Maguire, chairman of the Cobbs Creek Foundation.

The course was also unique for its inclusivity. It welcomed people of all races, ethnicities, and genders at a time when most golf clubs only allowed white men.

The course was home to Charlie Sifford, the first African American to win a PGA Tour event.

Sen. Hughes met Sifford, who died in 2015, through a scholarship fund he helped set up in honor of his father, who was also a golfer and president of a golf course in New Jersey.

Mr. Sifford, on his face, he was gruff and kind of ornery. But once you dug a little bit deeper, he was just a big teddy bear with that cigar that he constantly smoked. He just was a wonderful guy, Hughes said. And he talked about, quite often, about the hell that he had to go through to golf professionally.

World heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis, who became the first Black golfer to play in a PGA Tour event, also reportedly played at Cobbs Creek.

The course hosted the 1928 United States Public Links championship, two Daily News Opens on the PGA tour, as well as the United Golfers Association (UGA) Championship, which operated tournaments for Black golfers similar to those of the PGA during segregation, said Parks Department spokesperson Maita Soukup in a news release. The course was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame last year.

All the Black golfers in this region in Philadelphia, in Jersey, in Delaware, Maryland, New York they would all come down to Cobbs Creek, Hughes said. This was the place that welcomed them and made it easy for them. They didnt have to look over their shoulders, and we need to recognize this place of great historic value.

The historic golf course sits close to another one of Philadelphias recreational landmarks Laura Sims Skate House in Cobbs Creek Park, the first U.S. ice skating rink designed by an African American architect for a predominantly Black community.

A lack of city funding for maintenance, paired with chronic flooding and erosion, made the course virtually unplayable, said Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.The city has just signed a lease agreement to revamp the Cobbs Creek golf course, which has fallen into disrepair. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Weve seen the golf course as really, essentially a stranded asset, she said. Its been an asset that we havent been able to put the capital investment into that it is desperately needed for decades.

The concessionaire which ran the course for about a decade was unable to raise the revenue necessary to keep the course up, Ott Lovell said, a problem compounded by the fact that much of the course is underwater much of the time.

Plumbing issues, hydrology issues, environmental issues like invasive weeds and plants, capital issues the building, she said, referring to the historic clubhouse that burned.

Hughes last golfed at Cobbs Creek about 10 years ago.

The course was in serious decline, he said.

The course even became a nuisance to surrounding communities, Jones said.

As the golf course deteriorated, people began to complain more about fairways that allowed golf balls to go into peoples back windows, car windows, and damaged property, Jones said. The landscape deteriorated due to erosion. It was plagued with people who slept in the park.

When the course closed in 2020, Jones said, nearby residents felt mixed emotions for some, nostalgia, for others, relief.The city has just signed a lease agreement to revamp the Cobbs Creek golf course, which has fallen into disrepair. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Originally posted here:
Cobbs Creek Golf Course to be restored, reopened - WHY - WHYY

New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim said that money from a government funding anddisaster relief bill in Septemberand theBipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actis coming back to New Jersey and will be used by USACE to protect and replenish shore communities across the state.

The Jersey Shore is not just a place for tourists to visit and admire our beautiful beaches, it is an economic engine for New Jersey and home to hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents.Thats why Im doing everything I can to protect these communities,said Congressman Kim.

Im proud to have voted for legislation that is now funding the protection and replenishment of our beaches, which will help our shore towns, businesses, and families across New Jersey.

Until now, a planned beach replenishment project from the Manasquan Inlet to the Barnegat Inlet was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding.

Below is the breakdown and amount of funding coming to support New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District as a result of the disaster relief bill in September and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

Disaster Relief Supplemental:

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

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Boost for NJ beach replenishment and restoration projects - Dredging Today

"It used to be a garage," Adrin Socorro told me as he opened the large doors of El Garabato, his art studio on Calle Narvez beside the San Juan River. "Then, around the time that Matanzas was preparing for its 325th anniversary in 2018, the city historian finally approved my project and I moved in."

Inside was a warehouse-like room littered with the paraphernalia of an active workshop: plastic bottles and clusters of brushes, a multi-coloured palette, a half-finished sculpture of a cow-like animal hanging upside-down from the ceiling. Paintings were everywhere: hung on walls; propped on easels; stacked on tables. I spied dogs, chickens, flowers and nudes, all of them creatively drawn in a style that seemed to mix impressionism with the avant-garde.

"I paint from my own life and experience," Socorro explained. "I don't paint those pictures of old ladies smoking cigars that the tourists want to see."

Socorro is from Matanzas, a port city wrapped around a deep, sheltered bay 90km east of Havana, Cuba. When I revisited in December 2021 after a three-year gap, small but innovative restaurants offered homemade pasta and snack-sized tacos. The riverside walkway of Calle Narvez was a glorious artistic esplanade embellished with astonishing sculptures: an emaciated pig standing atop a red balloon; a depiction of Cuban national hero, Jos Mart, with a sword in his mouth; pink stepladders and life-sized giraffes. Within the space of 300m, I wandered from Socorro's studio-gallery past a music school, an art college and half a dozen imaginative bars and cafes.

It felt like a completely different city than the one I first travelled to in the late 1990s then a scarred, dilapidated and semi-abandoned place, left to rot during the country's economically challenging "Special Period", a decade of austerity after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, whose subsidies had made up around 30% of the Cuban GNP. Back then, foreign visitors were whisked from the airport to swanky new resorts in the nearby town of Varadero, where Cuban guests were barred from entering resorts. Calle Narvez was a neglected warehouse district. The Parque Libertad, beautifully Botoxed by 2021, was dingy and unloved. Restaurants were practically non-existent. To me, the city resembled a sunken ship, a stricken Titanic whose damaged riches were hidden by decades of neglect.

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Matanzas: The rebirth of Cuba's abandoned cultural hub - BBC News

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Utility Communication Market to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis and Forecasts by Technology (Wired and Wireless); Utility Type (Private Utility and Public Utility)", published by The Insight Partners, the global utility communication market was valued at US$ 10,730.4 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 35,138.1 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% during 20202027.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Utility Communication Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00009082/

Report Coverage

Details

Market Size Value in

US$ 10,730.4 Million in 2019

Market Size Value by

US$ 35,138.1 Million by 2027

Growth rate

CAGR of 16.3% from 2020-2027

Forecast Period

2020-2027

Base Year

2020

No. of Pages

191

No. Tables

79

No. of Charts & Figures

89

Historical data available

Yes

Segments covered

Technology; Utility Type

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA

Country scope

US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Utility Communication Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

ABB Ltd.; Ericsson; Fujitsu Ltd.; General Electric Company; Honeywell International Inc.; Omicron Electronics GMBH; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric SE; Siemens AG; and Tejas Networks Ltd. are among the key players in the global utility communication market. The leading companies focus on the expansion and diversification of their market presence, and acquisition of new customer base, thereby tapping prevailing business opportunities.

In 2020, Verizon collaborated with Honeywell to help utilities speed up and simplify the deployment of new communication-enabled, intelligent sensors and controls for the smart electric grid. Honeywell would be integrating Verizon's Managed Connectivity LTE solutions into smart meters and other edge devices.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00009082/

In 2019, Tejas Networks signed an MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited for using Tejas' optical transmission, access, and data-switching products for domestic and export markets.

Utility communication is a communication network that can ensure continuous transmission of voice, data, and video through LANs and WANs. Digital transformation can be described as the use of technology to enhance company efficiency or scope. Digital technologies and social networks are increasingly being used nowadays to improve interaction between government, corporations, civil society, friends, and family. Some of the most commonly used systems are Ethernet network control and data collection, SCADA and smart grid control. The smart grid infrastructure plays a critical role in the communications business of energy & power utilities. A smart grid influences ICT to converge and enable the flow of real-time information within the power utilities; between the power utilities, suppliers, and partners; and between the power utilities, business, and domestic customers. Smart grids and their implementations rely on a robust, secure, highly ascendable and always available communication networks. Owing to the willingness to improve service efficiency, service providers will also ensure regulatory enforcement and mitigate the detrimental effect of cost-cutting problems. Thus, the utility communications network is the basis for two-way communication through the system to all the data points. It assists in tracking and managing grid equipment, measuring network output, and providing real-time information.

In terms of industrialization, there is a correlation between the energy demands of modern society, the economic realities of the utility sector, and the environmental protection standards. This combination forces a new form of a power system to be developed and introduced. The growing usage of smart grid systems in the utility communications industry is driving the global utility communication market's overall growth rate due to its widespread application in various industries, especially the energy & power industry. The contact network forms the foundation of all logical, smart factories. Hence, ensuring its safe and efficient operation is the prerequisite for the successful realization of the Industry 4.0.

Speak to Analyst: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPRE00009082/

The lockdown of various plants and factories in China affected the global supply chains and negatively impacted the manufacturing, delivery schedules, and sales of various electronic goods. The most striking effect of COVID-19 in the ICT sector was the cancelation of the Mobile World Congress scheduled to take place in Barcelona in February 2020. Companies such as Apple and Microsoft have already announced possible delays in product deliveries and slump in future sales of their products. In addition, the global travel bans imposed by countries in Europe, Asia, and North America are affecting the business collaborations and partnerships opportunities. All these factors are anticipated to affect the information and communication technology industry in a negative manner and thus act as restraining factor for the growth of various markets related to this industry in the coming months.

Smart grids facilitate quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances, and help reduce management and operational costs of utilities; this ultimately lowers power costs for consumers. Moreover, various initiatives advancing the technological landscape pertaining to the energy sector are likely to drive market growth during the forecast period. The US electrical system announced its "Grid 2030" vision in collaboration with the electric utility industry, equipment suppliers, IT operators, federal and state governments, advocacy organizations, colleges, and national laboratories. This vision encompasses the following aspects related to the power sector: generation, transmission, delivery, storage, and final use. It describes the fundamental problems and obstacles in grid modernization, followed by making recommendations for policymakers and industries to assist them in the development of the electric distribution infrastructure of future, such as utility communications. Mobile network connectivity facilitates the management and tracking of the overall power distribution system operations. It enables contact between smart meters and utilities through nodes. The mobile network connectivity also supports the introduction of smart metering systems across a vast area network. Mobile networking or cellular network technologies include communication technologies such as 3G, WiMAX, and LTE. Thus, with the increased use and demand for smart grids and mobile devices, the need for utility communication channels is also increasing.

Buy Premium Copy of Utility Communication Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2020-2027 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00009082/

Utility Communication Market: Technology

The global utility communication market, based on technology, is segmented into wired and wireless. The wired segment held the largest market share in 2019. Wired network is used to relay different types of electrical signals from one end to the other. Using T1 thread, cable modem, or by some other means, often in wired networks, an internet connection is established. Using a wired network definition, the connection is shared between multiple devices. Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication has gained confidence due to its robustness in access, efficiency, and security with the advancement in its technologies led by PRIME PLC over the past decade, and the latest development of PRIME 1.4 technology.

Browse Adjoining Reports:

Smart Utilities Software Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Deployment Type (Cloud-Based, Web-Based); Product Type (Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Smart Grid Distribution Management, Smart Grid Network Management, Grid Asset Management, Substation Automation, Billing and Customer Information System) and Geography

Metering ICs Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Function (Apparent Energy (kVA), Active Energy (kWh), RMS Energy, Reactive Energy (kVAR)); Type (Single-Channel, Multi-Channel); Application (Industrial, Smart Appliances, Smart Homes, Others) and Geography

Energy and Utility Analytics Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type (Software and Service), By Deployment Model (On-Premise, Cloud and Hybrid), By Application (Load Forecasting, Customer Analytics, Grid Analytics, Asset Management, Smart Meter Analytics, Others), and By Verticals (Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Nuclear Power, Electricity, and Water, Others)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - by Device (Smart Meters, Communication Infrastructure, Home Area Networks (HANS), In-home Display Units); Solution (MDM, Meter Data Analytics, AMI Security Meter, Communication Infrastructure); Service (System Integration, Meter Deployment, Program Management and Consulting) and Geography

Smart Grid Sensors Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Sensor Type (Voltage and Current Sensor, Temperature Sensor, and Others), Voltage Range (Low to Medium Voltage and High Voltage), and Application (Substation Automation, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Smart Grid Distribution Network, and Others)

Metering Pumps Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - By Type (Diaphragm, Piston/Plunger, Others ); End-Use Industry (Water and Wastewater Treatment , Petrochemicals, Oil and Gas , Chemical Processing , Pharmaceuticals , Food and Beverage , Pulp and Paper , Others) and Geography

Smart Gas Meter Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Technology (Automated Meter Reading (AMR), Advanced Metering Infrastructure); Type (Smart Ultrasonic Gas Meter, Smart Diaphragm Gas Meter); Component (Hardware, Software); End User (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Geography

Digital Water Solutions Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Solution (Hardware, Software, Services); Technology (Metering and Customer Management, Network Management, Work and Asset Management, Others) and Geography

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

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If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person:Sameer JoshiE-mail: [emailprotected]Phone:+1-646-491-9876Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/utility-communication-marketMore Research:https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html

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Utility Communication Market Size Worth $35,138.1 Million, Globally, by 2027 at 16.3% CAGR - Exclusive Report by The Insight Partners - PRNewswire

Talk about a winter wonderland.

Grass Valley received between 9 inches and a foot of snow Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. The storm downed trees, knocking out power to thousands of people and shuttering the main highways into and out of western Nevada County.

If you dont have to go somewhere, dont, because most of the state routes are closed, California Highway Patrol Officer Chris West said. If you dont need to come to the area, dont.

The storm system, which started last week, yielded 100 inches of snow at North Star, Sugar Bowl, the Central Sierra Snow Lab and Palisades Tahoe. According to Meteorologist Katrina Hand, those same resorts received 2 to 3 feet in a 24-hour period.

Under a half-inch of snow could fall today in Grass Valley, with another 1 to 2 inches tonight. One to 3 inches could fall Wednesday, forecasts state.

After Wednesday, it clears up a bit, Hand said. With that, though, the temperatures will drop with highs in the 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

The snow was wet and heavy enough to threaten power throughout Sunday night, with lights flickering throughout the Glenbrook Basin.

According to PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland, 69,000 households were without power as of 2:35 p.m. Monday.

Some of the major outages in the area were in Grass Valley (20,406), Colfax (4,444), Nevada City (7,954) and Placerville (11,914).

PG&Es Sierra Division includes El Dorado, Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties. According to McFarland, 27,000 households have been affected in El Dorado County, 31,000 in Nevada County, 9,800 in Placer and 1,300 in Sierra counties.

This is an all hands on deck situation for PG&E. We are bringing in crews from other areas and working closely with first responders, including Caltrans, to gain access, McFarland said. Access is a major challenge as we are seeing lots of snow, downed trees and road closures, which can make it challenging to reach locations where we need to make repairs.

McFarland said the utility company is in the assessment phases of responding to the crisis, which includes gaining access to all the outages to see what went gone wrong and what kind of solutions are required.

Once our crews make initial contact I will be able to provide more information on estimated times of restoration, MacFarland said.We want customers to know that we are working around the clock to make assessments, make repairs and get the power back on.

MacFarland said with a storm this strong, customers should keep their eyes open for downed power lines.

If you see a line down, please assume its energized and stay away, MacFarland said. Please call 911 and PG&E so we can make the area safe.

Rebecca ONeil is a staff writer with The Union. She can be reached at roneil@theunion.com

Excerpt from:
Snowed in: Authorities advise drivers to avoid the roads and stay home, if possible - The Union

This house in Edmond, at 19200 Terra Place, is the former home of Governor Edmondson back in the sixties. It was days from being torn down when Beautiful Restoration stepped in.

Beautiful Restoration and it is a ministry to women that are in any area of brokenness, and now we minister to men and children as well, said Kaylene Balzer one of the founders of the nonprofit ministry.

When Kaylene, her husband Bryan and her best friend Lisa Clark first saw the mansion, even in its worst state, they knew it was for them.

The mansion had been gutted it had been scheduled for demolition. When they got our letter, they were ten days out from demolition, said Balzer.

The nonprofit group was able to obtain the property and began the restoration process. They all had grand ideas of how the property should look for Christmas.

It was always our desire to have beautiful lights in the trees, said Balzer.

But where would the moneycome fromfor this grand project? Enter Ed James.

They were from Nashville, they had moved to Oklahoma during the height of covid, because Nashville hadkindashut down, said Balzer.

Ed was an event designer, so he did backdrops for a lot of the acts that traveled, like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, said Balzer.

And after a 4-hour meeting with the team and seeing the mansion, an unexpected offer was made.

He said I have two warehouses full of Christmas lights, that I havent used, theyre all brand new, and I just feel impressed to donate them to Beautiful Restoration, said Balzer.

The lights on Terra place in Edmond are now a huge attraction.

The entire property is decorated with chandelier lighting, which is in the trees, said Balzer.

The Christmas lights will be on displaythroughJanuary seventh, everyone is welcome to drivethroughand see this beautiful Christmas display.

Visit link:
Nonprofit Restores Former Governor's Home In Edmond - news9.com KWTV

A 443-acre tidal wetland habitat restoration project in Oregons Tillamook Bay designed to reduce flooding and improve salmon habitat also brought a host of other socioeconomic benefits to the community, a new report from Oregon State University researchers shows.

Since the $11.2 million project was completed in 2017, the restoration has led to water quality improvements; flood mitigation; salmon habitat improvements; increased carbon storage; added recreation opportunities; and increased home values, the researchers found.

This study provides strong evidence that ecosystem restoration is beneficial to communities as well as the environment, said Steven Dundas, the reports co-author and an environmental and resource economist in Oregon State Universitys College of Agricultural Sciences and the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station in Newport. The positive impact on housing values near the restored site alone likely justifies the investment in this project.

The reports lead author is Graham Shaw, who recently completed his masters degree in marine resource management at OSU. The Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Restoration Center, two of the partners in the restoration project, commissioned the economic impact report.

The primary aim of the wetlands restoration was to reduce severe and disruptive flooding in the city of Tillamook and on U.S. Highway 101 as well as improve habitat for salmon, some species of which are considered threatened or endangered. NOAA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were the primary funders of the project.

The goal of the new report was to better understand the breadth of economic benefits a tidal restoration project might produce, said Lauren Senkyr, a biologist with the NOAA Restoration Center.

This kind of information helps us to be able to talk about the community benefits of restoration projects, Senkyr said. Projects like this have ripple effects. Not only do they help the fish, they also help people.

A concurrent NOAA economic impact analysis showed that during the four years the restoration work was underway, the project supported 108 jobs and $14.6 million in total economic output for the state of Oregon.

Shaw worked with Dundas to identify and quantify additional socioeconomic benefits of the project. They reviewed data from before and after the restoration, made comparisons to spot changes and conducted an analysis of the housing market to identify changes to home values near the restoration area.

Homes within three-quarters of a mile of the restoration site increased in value by 10%, or an average of $19,000, compared to homes further away. Modeling estimates the total benefit of the project on housing values to be approximately $19.1 million.

Reductions in flooding on Highway 101 in Tillamooks business corridor may lead to reductions in costs associated with travel delays of up to $7,200 per flood event.

The number of juvenile chinook salmon and staghorn sculpin using the affected wetlands has increased since the restoration was completed.

Sediment from the Wilson and Trask Rivers is likely to be trapped in the restoration area, improving water quality in Tillamook Bay and potentially reducing the frequency or need for dredging. That latter impact could save anywhere from $1,500 to $8,000 per year.

The restored wetlands may store as much as 27,000 tons of carbon, at a value of up to $736,000 based on current social costs of carbon.

The publicly accessible restoration site offers increased opportunities for recreation, including walking, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching and educational activities. Activities such as kayaking and wildlife viewing have an estimated value of $60 to as much $471 per person per day.

The restoration project created a large area for increased recreation that wasnt there before, Shaw said. It wasnt accessible for people in the community the way it is now.

Anecdotally, the project so far is meeting its intended goals of improving salmon habit and reducing flooding. Since the restoration project was completed, Tillamook has only experienced two minor, five-year flooding events, and in both cases, the flooding was less severe than previous floods.

In both cases, the amount of flooding was 9 inches less than previous floods. It took two to three hours longer for the city to flood and the floodwaters receded two to three hours sooner than it would have previously, said Kristi Foster, executive director of the Tillamook Estuary Partnership.

More study is needed to better understand the impacts of the restoration project over time, the researchers said. They also suggest engaging in socioeconomic analysis work early in a project, rather than waiting until the project is complete.

There were some challenges associated with trying to study the socioeconomic changes after the fact, Dundas said. Starting earlier in the process would allow researchers to collect more before-and-after data and better understand peoples perceptions about the value of a project in advance.

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Benefits of wetlands restoration extend far beyond the scope of project - Coos Bay World

JOHNSTOWN, Pa (WTAJ) Officials gathered Tuesday to discuss the progress on the Clara Barton house restoration project, which is located on Main Street.

Clara Barton is an American nurse who founded the American Red Cross. Shes recognized for having significant historical ties to Johnstown, delivering supplies and medical equipment days after the 1889 flood. It helped the citizens get a bit of relief after the disaster.

The Main Street building is claimed to serve as the headquarters of Barton following the flood. The restoration project is being led by the Vision Together 2025 capture team members.

The project for the 145-year-old is part of the project to upgrade Main street. The team is almost done with phase one of the restoration project, which stabilizes the home. By that, it means installing a new roof, gutter, and window repairs.

However, the team now faces the problem of raising $10,000 to help complete the phase one renovations. They initiated a campaign to raise $50,000 to match the states $50,000 grant. Treasurer of the Clara Barton Home and Garden organization Bob Eyer said the team is looking to raise the $10,000 by the end of the year.

Once they complete phase one funding, they will begin phase two. Eyer said that phase two is dedicated to the homes interior parts.

The goal is to have the house become a museum also a place where tourists can stay. Eyer has the vision that this restoration will make Johnstown a destination city for its history.

We believe this will be a national destination site, and were going to attract visitors from all over the country, Eyer said. Theyll be wanting to come here and know about the history of Johnstown and live in the building where Clara Barton used as her headquarter in the 1889 flood.

According to Eyer, phase two of the project costs around $500,000. Bartons birthday is on Christmas Day.

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More here:
Clara Barton house restoration making progress ahead of her 200th birthday - WTAJ - http://www.wearecentralpa.com

Weve been seeing our homes in a new light since the pandemic started.

Though this year we werent always cooped up inside our four walls, we continued to find projects to work on around the house. They ranged from minor redecorating to major repairs put on hold during the uncertainties of the previous year.

Here are our top eight stories from this year on how to save money on home improvement projects.

1. Organize Your Home Without Overspending

Keeping your home tidy doesnt require a trip to the Container Store to spend hundreds on various organizational tools.

2. Know Which Home Repairs You Need to Address Immediately

It may be financially convenient to put off certain repairs around the house, but ignoring some issues can cause major problems and increase the costs.

3. Keep Up With Routine Home Maintenance

One way to avoid expensive home repairs is to adhere to a schedule of regular maintenance projects. Letting little issues go untreated can lead to a much more serious and more costly problem to address later.

4. Know When to Hire a Pro

Taking on home projects on your own doesnt always save you money. If you take on something you cant handle, you could wind up making a costly mistake thats more expensive than hiring a professional from the start.

This article breaks down what types of home projects are safe to DIY and which you should leave to the experts.

5. Learn How to Hire the Best Contractor

Hiring a professional contractor for a home improvement project can be a significant financial investment. You want to know youre hiring the right person for the job.

6. Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

Making your bathroom feel like a sanctuary is important especially when youre spending so much time at home. But bathroom remodels can be expensive.

7. Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space for $100

Big landscaping projects can cost big bucks. But that doesnt mean there arent ways to revamp your outdoor space for less.

8. Spend Less at Restoration Hardware

Love the goods at Restoration Hardware but could do without the high prices?

Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website that empowers millions of readers nationwide to make smart decisions with their money through actionable and inspirational advice, and resources about how to make, save and manage money.

Read more:
What We Learned in 2021 to Save on Home Improvements - Yakima Herald-Republic