HUNTLEY Melanie Hartmann now has extra motivation to finish the remaining restoration work her family started 10 years ago on a two-story house with historic roots in Huntley.

Since moving to Huntley in 2004, Hartmann and her husband have worked to save the original woodwork, picture windows and even glass bathroom door knobs belonging to their century-old home along Myrtle Avenue, near downtown Huntley.

Theyve done the overhaul in waves over the years, with about 5 percent of the restoration work left that includes the trim in the upstairs hallway and bathroom, Hartmann estimates.

Im inspired again, she said. I think Ill get the five percent done this summer.

The motivational boost came from the Huntley Historic Preservation Commission, after members awarded the Hartmanns the 2014 Pride in Preservation award this week for their restoration effort.

After spending years and investing thousands into their historic home, the Hartmanns have somewhat become local historians. They possess the abstract of title, which contains handwritten and typed notes that detail the ownership of their property.

At least six families, including the Hartmanns, have occupied the home since 1910, the records indicate. It once featured an outhouse, kitchen space for a butler and dirt basement floors. It was located on 10 acres of land, which was originally sold in 1840 for around $100.

The house had gone through piecemeal renovations until the Hartmanns started restoring features and transforming it to meet their modern needs.

A self-proclaimed lover of projects, Hartmann never realized the rich country history of Huntley until she began the restoration project.

She said her family could have lived in the many subdivisions being built in Huntley in the mid-2000s. But those new millennium homes just didnt have the same feel as their historic one.

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Family honored for restoration work

GREENWOOD The couple whose home was believed to have been struck by lightning returned home Thursday afternoon.

The fire happened Wednesday eveninginthe 2700 block of Night Hawk Road.

They were joined by a fabric restoration company Thursday. Two employees walked into the home with the homeowners and they removed a few items that were salvageable.

The couple told FOX59 their insurance company will be in town Thursday night. They arestaying at a hotel in the meantime.

I heard the hail, the lightning, the thunder, everything. It just sounded like everything broke loose, said neighbor Pat Waldo.

Waldo and another neighbor, Signe Clausing, said the home is the second one to be struck by lightning within two years. Clausing is thinking about purchasing equipment to protect her home because of it.

So yeah, maybe. Its something to consider at this point, Clausing said.

Waldo disagrees.

If it happens, well just have to handle it. Im not going to continue paying out money all the time for flood insurance, tornado insurance, earthquake insurance, all this stuff, Waldo said.

James Beavers with Joe Schmo Electrical Services said people should consider doing two important things: make sure grounding is done properly in their home and invest in surge protectors.

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Tips for protecting your home from a lightning strike

Mailboxes are not generally large receptacles. They are meant for small items like utility bills and birthday cards from Grandma. That may seem obvious to most of us, but it seems like the folks over at Restoration Hardware did not get the memo.

Thats because this week they are reaching out to their customer base by sending 17 pounds worth of catalogs. To each person.

In an interview with Apartment Therapy, the California-based companys CEO Gary Friedman said the catalogs, actually referred to as source books, are a new strategy from the luxury furniture company. In an effort to distinguish the store from other big box shops selling couches and chairs, the retailer is sending out a once-a-year installment of catalogs that detail literally all of the products that can be found in its stores. Friedman is hoping that will entice people to go to Restoration Hardware for the in-store experience, something the CEO feels distinguishes their locations from other big box shops.

Unfortunately, the catalogs have not gone over well with a lot of people. Several of them took to Twitter to complain about the weight of the source books and mock a letter that claimed the hefty group of catalogs is actually environmentally friendly.

Here is just a sampling of some of those complaints:

Despite the complaints, the strategy may work after all. With so much back pain from lifting the magazines, people will have no choice but to head to Restoration Hardware for some new, more supportive furniture.

Link:
Want to Shop at Restoration Hardware? Here Are 17 Pounds of Catalogs

Arkansas State University recently received two grants totalling nearly $1 million from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to be used as part of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home project in Dyess and the renovation of the V.C. Kays House on the Jonesboro campus.

ANCRC awarded the university $200,000 for work on the Kays House and $750,000 to rebuild the Dyess Theatre for use as a visitor orientation and welcome center at the Cash Boyhood Home.

Ruth Hawkins, executive director of the Arkansas Heritage Sites program, applied for the grants, which are awarded annually to state agencies.

The V.C. Kays residence, one of the older structures on campus, was home to the university's first president and his wife, Bertie. Previous private donations have made way for cosmetic improvements, but this grant will allow for an extensive restoration that includes waterproofing basement walls, installing a drainage system and cleaning and repairing the tile roof, among other tasks.

Chancellor Tim Hudson said restoring the historic structure has been a project he's been involved in since arriving at the university.

"Along with our system president, Chuck Welch, and listening to faculty leaders, we worked together to turn the planned demolition of the home into a lasting part of our legacy," Hudson said in a news release.

Jeff Hankins, vice president for strategic communications and economic development, told Arkansas Business in an email that ideas for the V.C. Kays residence are still being discussed and no final decisions have been made.

"We have some opportunities related to our Arkansas heritage studies program, and we're considering ideas such as information displays for campus visitors," he said.

The Dyess Theatre begins phase two of the master plan for the Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash project, which is led by the Arkansas Heritage Sites at Arkansas State University. Work to rebuild the theatre has already started.

More:Click here to view the Dyess Colony master plan (PDF).

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Arkansas State Gets Grants for Dyess Colony, V.C. Kays Home

Slashing (or thinning) trees is all part of ecosystem restoration.

image credit: Photo submitted

More than a dozen government agencies and organizations are working together to restore ecosystems in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Using a combination of selective thinning and controlled burning, the Cariboo Chilcotin Ecosystem Restoration Steering Committee (CCERSC) have been working together since 2008.

Prescribed burning is used by the Wildfire Management Branchs Fire Centre as a way to do some training, says the Fraser Basin Council.

This shared cost strategy makes ecosystem restoration less costly, resulting in more sites being restored.

The CCERSC works to restore habitat in 100 Mile, Williams Lake, Quesnel and surrounding areas.

Wildfire is part of the natural cycle for ecosystems in B.C.s interior and helps the divisions between the ecosystems remain productive.

For example, wildfires ensure that grasslands and open forests forests made up of large trees with open area in between remain a mix of the different plant species for the animals who rely on them.

Without fire maintaining the grasslands, small trees begin to take over and eventually fill in the grass or open forest area, creating a densely-treed forest.

Continued here:
Collaborative approach to ecosystem restoration

Rogers, MN (PRWEB) May 22, 2014

Lake Restoration, a lake and pond weed control company located in Rogers, MN, today introduced new pricing for their Mizzen Algaecide and Sapphire Bay Blue Pond Dye. The new pricing will allow home and business owners to keep ahead of the scum levels and add a pleasing blue color to their pond, lake or water feature while getting a better value.

A Gallon of Mizzen covers approximately half an acre for $29.90. It is also available with special bulk pricing as low as $23.95 per gallon. Mizzen is a copper based algaecide that attacks filamentous and planktonic algae on contact. The algae will die within hours of being treated. With summer fast approaching, algal blooms can occur as frequently as every 10-14 days. By keeping a copper based algaecide on hand, you will be able to keep your scum levels under control and help prevent toxic algae from forming.

Sapphire Bay Blue Pond Dye adds a natural looking color to ponds and fountains and may be applied monthly for year-long beauty. Each gallon covers one acre and is available with special pricing at $19.95 each gallon. Aquatic dyes are non-toxic and may be used in ponds that are used for swimming or that contain fish. Application is as easy as pouring the dye into the water. Within a few hours, the dye will quickly spread throughout the pond, lake, or water feature.

We are happy to offer Mizzen and Sapphire Bay in a variety of sizes while offering a special gallon rate, says Mary Jo Furman, Retail Sales Supervisor at Lake Restoration. We want consumers to be able to keep their ponds beautiful all season long with minimal effort. For those that may have a small backyard pond or water feature, Mizzen and Sapphire Bay are available in pints, quarts and half gallon sizes. Mizzen and Sapphire Bay are both manufactured by Lake Restoration, Inc. in Rogers, MN.

In addition to the bulk pricing, home owners can work with the Lake Restoration experts to custom a complete pond kit that will enhance the overall health and appearance of their pond. Both Mizzen algaecide and Sapphire Bay are included in the PONDRestore Ultra kit, a complete pond kit that controls floating and submerged weeds, eliminates algae, reduces phosphorus and restores your ponds health.

Lake Restoration has a wide variety of aquatic herbicides, algaecides, and pond dyes offered through their website http://www.LakeRestoration.com.

About Lake Restoration Lake Restoration, located in Rogers, MN, has been restoring the beauty of lakes and ponds since 1977. Every year thousands of satisfied customers use Lake Restoration products to keep their ponds and other water features in pristine condition. Lake Restoration offers a complete line of exclusive, simple, do-it-yourself solutions to treat a variety of pond weed maladies. To learn more about controlling pond and lake weeds and products and services use to accomplish this, visit http://www.LakeRestoration.com.

Original post:
Lake Restoration Introduces New Pricing on Algaecide and Pond Dye

Published: Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 18:08 PM.

It was in August 2011 when Steve Novak found his wooden love.

The New Bern resident was in nearby Beaufort when a friend told him, You really ought to go into the Maritime Museum now; its free. Look around.

He did, and among the shad boats, models and Blackbeard memorabilia, he came upon something really remarkable: a 1958 Barbour Boats Silver Clipper, a shining, streamlined, wooden runabout.

I thought, Gosh, this is gorgeous! Novak recalls.

Although he had never owned a boat before, Novak went home and plied his Google skills looking for an original Barbour for sale.

He finally located one, newly restored by Will Stahlgren of Heritage Wooden Boat Services in northern Maryland. He showed the images to his sea-faring neighbor who told him, Gosh, thats a good-looking boat, and heres some questions to ask them.

So I did, Novak says, and the long story short, I bought the boat.

Its named the Zingo. Thats not his choice, however: the monicker was painted on by Stahlgren, who said he named it in honor of a game he and his grandfather used to play.

It is a gorgeous boat, a 16-foot, 7-inch meticulously restored 1960 Barbour Silver Clipper Deluxe mounted by a 1962 Mercury 70 horsepower outboard engine.

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Barbour Boat returns home

Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 1:06 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:30 p.m.

The U.S. House approved a water projects bill Tuesday that includes authorization for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system to protect Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm surge.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said the Houses overwhelming support for the Water Resources Development Act signals smooth passage by the Senate in a vote expected later this week.

The House vote today is a great sign of overwhelming bipartisan support for our bill to provide significant coastal restoration, hurricane and flood protection, reforms to the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), accelerated projects, and, of course, jobs, Vitter said in a news release. Its easily one of the most important bills for Louisiana well pass this year, and were finally on the home stretch.

Clearing the House was a relief for local officials because the project was previously omitted in an earlier version of the House water resources bill.

Vitter is the lead Senate Republican negotiator for the bill, which authorizes but does not pay for billions of dollars of water-related projects nationwide.

The vote was 412-4. All Louisiana representatives voted in favor, including Houma-Thibodaux area representatives Steve Scalise, R-Metairie; and Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge. Both have joined Vitter and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in pushing for Morganzas authorization in the bill.

Today is a huge step forward in making sure our communities are protected from future storm surge like hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Cassidy said in a news release. Secure ports, well-maintained harbors and adequate infrastructure means more trade, which means more jobs.

The bill contains several provisions that directly benefit Louisiana, including:

Authorization for Morganza-to-the-Gulf.

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Morganza 'finally in the home stretch'

GUAGUA -- Franz Dominic Layug, son of Presidential Merit Awardee for Ecclesiastical Art Willy Layug, recently finished a year-long art restoration and conservation course at the prestigious Lorenzo de' Medici School (LdM) in Florence, Italy.

The young Layug is the first Kapampangan and arguably the only Filipino artist to finish a professional course in art restoration the said school. LdM specializes in the arts, such as studio art, fine arts, liberal arts, and language studies.

Layug flew to Italy last year to get actual working knowledge on art restoration from the best instructors and art restorers in Europe. He said that the knowledge would greatly help him in restoring local art treasures in Pampanga and the country.

Layug took up fresco and sculpture restoration subjects under the famed Italian art restorer Lorenzo Casamenti. Casamenti is the head of the Department for Restoration at the prestigious Lorenzo de' Medici Art Institute of Florence and a master of "more than 800 church restorations across Italy as well as Brazil, Argentina and Chile".

Like his father, the younger Layug is a sculptor with a penchant for religious and contemporary art subjects. He was encouraged by his father to take up restoration course in Italy as real and professional restorers not readily available in the country.

"We have a rich treasure trove of art, mostly religious art. Most people are oblivious on the proper care and restoration of religious art and even old buildings and churches. I hope to help in some way in the need to restore these artistic treasures," Layug said.

Layug finished his course along with foreign students from all across Europe. Layug is set to come home this week to work on an initial restoration project.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on May 20, 2014.

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First ever Kapampangan finishes art restoration course in Italian school

May 7, 2014: Steve Rodgers stands outside his thrift store as he discusses his support for a plan to widen U.S. 431 through historic Eufaula, Ala.AP

EUFAULA, Ala. Travelers heading through southeast Alabama to Florida Panhandle beaches have a four-lane road the entire way except for a half-mile stretch in Eufaula. That section, gracefully lined by Southern mansions and giant oaks, narrows to two lanes.

Now the town finds itself in a battle of Southern charm vs. traffic congestion as the state makes plans to widen U.S. 431 and remove some trees.

City officials and historic preservationists say it would strike a huge blow to the city's heritage -- and heritage-related tourism that helps drive the economy in town of 13,000 situated on the Chattahoochee River.

"It is one of the most photographed streetscapes around. It is an iconic image for Alabama," said Mike Bunn, executive director of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission.

State Transportation Director John Cooper said Alabama has spent $150 million to complete the last four-lane stretches of U.S. 431 from Interstate 85 to the Florida line. The half-mile stretch through Eufaula's historic district is the only part of the 137-mile highway that remains two lanes.

"From a transportation standpoint we have spent too much on this corridor and this corridor is too important to the state, particularly the southeast corner of the state, not to pursue trying to eliminate this bottleneck," Cooper said in an interview.

U.S. 431 carries lots of trucks and tourists, particularly from the Atlanta area. As they approach Eufaula, the four-lane highway divides into two single lanes separated by medians 30 to 50 feet wide. The medians are filled with crepe myrtles, azaleas and giant live oaks that create a canopy with the huge oaks in front of mansions from the 1800s. Those mansions anchor a historic district with nearly 700 buildings.

The historic homes were filmed for the 2002 movie "Sweet Home Alabama" to serve as Reese Witherspoon's hometown. The street is also the busiest two-lane stretch of road in Alabama, averaging 21,000 vehicles a day, Cooper said.

Mayor Jack Tibbs said traffic does back up on busy weekends for beach tourism, but the town uses police officers to keep the vehicles moving. He said the tourism created by the historic district is too valuable to the town to risk running four lanes of traffic through it and destroying its beauty. "It is our calling card," he said.

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'BAMA ROAD RAGE'Sweet Home Alabama' town fights traffic plan