SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Local crews from WMECO and NSTAR are expected to head home Saturday after aiding with power restoration in Maine.

More than 110,000 of people had been in the dark since the Christmas week ice storm.

Were proud of the tremendous work of our employees in assisting CMP with their power restoration efforts, said Craig Hallstrom, President of WMECo and NSTAR Electric. Our crews know the importance of helping customers in need, especially around the holidays. Though many of our workers have put their own Christmas plans on hold, we know those who work at regional utility companies would do the same for us if needed.

Ice as much as an inch thick coated power lines, tree branches and roads, leaving many without power of Christmas Eve.

WMECo and NSTAR crews worked day-and-night to safely access areas where electrical systems had been damaged to make necessary replacements or repairs.

Central Maine Power says about 1,200 crews were brought in from other states to help restore power.

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WMECO & NSTAR crews are heading home

In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, traffic moves past utility crews as they prepare to work on power lines, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, in Litchfield, Maine, where many have been without electricity since Monday's ice storm. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

GARDINER, Maine - By Thursday, Bob and Katrina Johnson had grown weary of lugging around a portable generator to prevent a freezer-load of moose meat from spoiling and to keep Katrina's mother's home warm.

The Maine couple spent Christmas Eve at a family member's home without electricity. Christmas morning found them at their own home without power. And to complete their holiday, they traveled to a third darkened home to exchange gifts that afternoon.

"You have to go with the flow and adapt, and do the best you can," Katrina Johnson said Thursday, before their power was finally restored. "You learn how to deal with it. Do you like it? No, but you deal with it."

Utility officials said it could be days longer before power is restored to everyone after a weekend ice storm that turned out the lights from Michigan to Maine and into Canada.

People shivered for a seventh day as a new storm blew through the upper Midwest and Northeast, shutting down part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike after a pileup involving 35 vehicles. Ten people were taken to the hospital with injuries from the crash. Another pileup on Interstate 78 in eastern Pennsylvania involving 25 to 30 vehicles sent 25 people to hospitals.

So far, authorities blame the storm for 27 deaths -- 17 in the U.S. and 10 in Canada, including five who apparently died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Public health officials are reminding people to leave portable generators outside their homes and garages and away from any windows, reports CBS News correspondent Terrell Brown.

In Michigan, where about half a million homes and businesses lost power at the storm's peak, utilities reported that 103,000 customers remained without power Thursday evening and said it could be Saturday before all electricity is restored.

In Maine, more snow added to the misery for utility crews working long hours in eastern Maine and parts of the state's interior.

Most utility customers in Maine were expected to have their lights on by week's end, but there were some pockets where damage was so severe it could take until Wednesday.

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Snow slows restoration of power in Maine, Mich.

LITCHFIELD, Maine (AP) - Utility crews from Maine to Michigan and into Canada worked Wednesday to restore power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses left in the dark by last weekend's ice storm, and people slowly trickled out of shelters to spend Christmas Day at their finally warm homes.

But not everyone was so lucky, including Ashley Walter, who was forced to spend Christmas at a shelter in a school in Litchfield with her husband, Jacob Walter, and their month-old daughter, Leah.

The family lost power on Saturday, got it back and then lost it again Sunday. Ashley Walter and Leah stay warm at the shelter while Jacob Walter makes frequent trips home to check on their cats and water pipes.

"It's definitely kind of strange, but we're hanging in there," she said Wednesday of the challenge of being forced out of their home at Christmas. "We did our Christmas together last night. I packed little stockings and gave them to my husband, sisters and my daughter."

The frigid temperatures that cloaked a region from the Great Lakes to New England meant that ice remained on power lines and tree limbs. Officials worried that wind gusts of more than 20 mph could bring down more branches and that 2 to 6 inches of snow in places on Thursday would hamper line crews trying to get to remote spots.

"We've had two beautiful, sunny days in Maine, and the ice isn't going anyplace," Maine Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Lynette Miller said. "They're very concerned about more weight coming down on trees that are already compromised by ice."

The ice storm last weekend was one of the worst to hit during a Christmas week, and repair crews were working around the clock to restore service. States that weren't hit were sending crews to help.

Authorities blamed the storm for 17 deaths in the U.S. and 10 in Canada, many attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from emergency generators powering homes. In Michigan, police said a woman died Christmas Eve when her vehicle ran a stop light that was out of service because of the ice storm and collided with a pickup truck.

Tens of thousands of homes were still without power on Wednesday in Michigan, down from more than 500,000 at the storm's peak; in Maine, down from more than 100,000; and in Toronto, down from 300,000.

In Litchfield, Trudy Lamoreau was supervising the emergency shelter where about 25 people stayed Tuesday night. Lamoreau, who's also the town manager, said they warmed the shelter with generators until the school got power back late Tuesday night.

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Coming snow could slow power restoration efforts

SHE SPRUCED up the garage with colorful parol and boughs of holly. INQUIRER/GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines Actress Tessie Tomas inexplicably shed tears when work was done on the heirloom home she bought and started restoring in June 2011. Designed by National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio, the two-story structure stands in a bustling neighborhood somewhere in Pasay City.

To cut down on costs, Tessie took a hands-on approach. There were at least 10 workers here every day for three months, she relates. In the home stretch, I was supervising the workers every day.

Six months later, during the blessing, Tessie found herself crying again, this time from sheer exhaustion.

Like a person

I would sometimes talk to the house as if it were a person. I felt so close to it, she says.

BREAKFAST nook by the waterfalls features more antique pieces. INQUIRER/GRIG MONTEGRANDE

She took a break from show biz to devote all her creative energies to the restoration.

Since the man who designed the house was a pioneer in modern Philippine architecture, Tessie made sure not to tamper with the original design. We didnt change the tiles; we just cleaned them. Some friends thought the flooring was vinyl; actually, they are stone tiles.

She was awed by the woodwork on the stairs, doors, beamsall narra. Even if you stomp your feet on the floor or bang the doors, you wont hear a thing, she insists.

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Season of Serenity

"I bowed down to the lord. Before, I was sleeping anywhere I could but I don't have to live like that, no."

Robert Lee Turner was sleeping in the gazebo at Pointdexter Park just a few weeks ago. Now, he lives in this house on Sunrise Drive. House of Restoration operates out of the home. The group provided Christmas meals to 45 homeless people this year, but it's a year-round effort that provides meals at Jackson-area parks and bus stops.

"We took them food and Christmas bags to show them we love them," Minister Ricky Canipe. The mission serves meals three days a week and they need your help to re-fill the food pantry, but the biggest need is for a stove to cook warm meals. The mission runs on donations.

Turner says finding this place changed his life, "Three weeks ago I was in the park and it was going to be 25 degrees and these people came and took my hand and said sir you're not going to sleep out here tonight."

You can donate to the House of Restoration at 4326 Sunset Drive in Jackson or by calling Minister Ricky Canipe at 601-260-9512.

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Providing a home for the Homeless

Members of the grassroots organization Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) have been tackling the potential development of the Schedler property from various angles, with safety and planning taking the forefront. But the future of the site's most notable feature, the 1830s-style Dutch wood frame home, is drawing extra attention from the group as well as others outside of the area.

MARION BROWN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Ridgewood Council has started its discussions on future development of the Schedler property and the potential uses of the nearly 200-year-old house at the site.

Historians date the construction of the home's main section to the 1830s, though the existing kitchen wing might have predated 1825. The four separate parcels at the Schedler tract, in fact, played site to a Revolutionary battle and have yielded artifacts from that time.

Despite its seemingly historic significance, the house was not included in the discussions and the subsequent county grant application that Ridgewood filed as it was acquiring the property in 2009.

"The original discussion with the governing body was about adding to the open space inventory and a look toward active recreation at the time. It was also understood to put it into inventory because there was no money at the time," said Councilman Tom Riche, the council representative to the Open Space Committee.

Two conceptual baseball field proposals that have emerged in recent months for the Schedler site indicate no further use of the home, suggesting its demolition. That notion has raised both fear and anger among RED members, who claim its unique character and rare construction are a treasure to the town. Hoping to preserve the home, RED has been working with the Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) and the Ridgewood Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).

The BCHS has expressed interest in using the Zabriskie-Schedler home, which was last used by Florence Smith Schedler until her death in 2007. Earlier this fall, the county group pitched to the Village of Ridgewood the idea of using the vacant structure for its library and archives, including historical manuscripts, maps, deeds, wills and books, among other items.

In an October letter from the BCHS' Board of Trustees, a copy of which was obtained by The Ridgewood News, the group indicated that it would fund an overall assessment of the home and is "willing to invest additional donations in its restoration." The historical society's board also passed a resolution declaring its desire to use the house.

But, according to board trustee and local historian Peggy Norris, the village's response to the group indicated that the proposed use of the house "was incompatible with the open space easement" that currently exists on the property. The easement suggests the building should be used either for environmental education purposes or as a complement to a sports facility, such as a field house.

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Groups fighting to save Ridgewood's Schedler house

Restoration Home is a BBC television series produced by Endemol who created the BBC Restoration (TV series). The series follows owners of historic buildings as they restore them into 21st-century dream houses.[1] The show is presented by Caroline Quentin who has an interest in the history and restoration of old buildings, architectural expert Kieran Long and social historian Dr Kate Williams who will investigate the histories of the properties.[2]

A book, Restoration Home by Gavin Weightman published by BBC Publications accompanies the series.

The introduction titles to the program were filmed at Bank Hall which was a building featured in the 2003 BBC Restoration (TV series).

The first building to feature is St Thomas Becket Church, Pensford in Somerset, which is on the heritage critical list. A flood in 1968 led to the church's deconsecration and it has been declared redundant. The owners saw it in 2007 and bought the listed church with plans to convert it into a three-bedroom house. As the church is transformed, its past is revealed.[3]

The second building is Nutbourne Common Pumping Station, Nutbourne, Horsham, West Sussex, which closed in the 1970s. The building is a ruin which contains all its old mechanisms and machinery. The owners aim to turn the concrete carcass into a carbon efficient home. Research by Kieran Long and Dr Kate Williams reveals the history of property.[4][5]

The third building, Stoke Hall in Derbyshire, a 30-room Georgian country house suffered from a leaking roof and widespread rot. The hall's 250-year-old dcor was at risk of being destroyed. The restoration reveals the history of the house, with architectural and social connections to influential people. Research reveals that the hall's architect designed Chatsworth House.[6]

The fourth building, Stanwick Hall in Stanwick, Northamptonshire, was in poor condition and on the Buildings at Risk Register. Years of neglect have left fungus growing on walls running wet with damp and timbers so rotten that one good storm might bring down the roof. Evidence is uncovered showing the hall was built as a result of a financial scandal of the early 18th century.[7]

The fifth building, Calverton Manor in Calverton, Buckinghamshire, is a mixture of different architectural styles, with parts thought to date from the 14th century. It is connected to a legend involving a rich widow, the local butcher, pots of gold and murder. As the building's architectural and historical secrets are revealed, the owners are faced with woodworm problems in the buildings main structure.[8]

The sixth building Big House in Landshipping, Pembrokeshire. Now a carcass, it was once a building of grandeur and influence. Historical and architectural research reveals it was built on the proceeds of the coal industry. The owner bought the property 10 years ago for restoration.[9]

Airing in 2012 Series Two featured six more buildings and their journeys as they are restored by their owners. The introduction piece to camera was filmed at Houghton House

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Restoration Home (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Welcome Mat: The latest and greatest for your home

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Creating a white winter wonderland in your home to celebrate the holiday season can add a sparkle to this festive time of year.

Creating a white winter wonderland in your home to celebrate the holiday season can add a sparkle to this festive time of year.

The most important prep step? Plan ahead.

The most important prep step? Plan ahead.

When it comes to staying organized over the holidays, being realistic instead of holding yourself to some fictional standard goes a long way toward staying sane during December.

When it comes to staying organized over the holidays, being realistic instead of holding yourself to some fictional standard goes a long way toward staying sane during December.

Whether youre attending a holiday party, wedding, business event or other celebration, you can sometimes find yourself in an awkward situation and wishing Miss Manners were by your side.

Whether youre attending a holiday party, wedding, business event or other celebration, you can sometimes find yourself in an awkward situation and wishing Miss Manners were by your side.

With November rapidly galloping towards a close, the nights are starting to get very, very chilly in many corners of the US. In some regions, frost is already on the ground.

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Home & Garden

December 20, 2013 12:00 AM

NEW BEDFORD WHALE and the New Bedford Port Society are embarking on a multi-million dollar project to fully restore the Seamen's Bethel and the Mariner's Home, making both handicap accessible, spokesmen for both organizations said Thursday.

The plan calls for an enclosed, two-story, glass structure at the back of the Mariner's Home that will join it with the Salt Box Room at the Seamen's Bethel, according to Joe Booth, the architect, and Peter Haley, manager of the Port Society.

An elevator will be added to the rear of the Mariner's Home and a second-floor walkway will provide handicap access for the first time to the sanctuary of the Bethel, the architect said.

Currently, neither building is accessible to people with physical disabilities.

The entire first floor of the Mariner's Home will be converted into a local fishermen's museum with offices on the second and third floors. Haley has his office on the first floor, but the top two floors are currently vacant.

Details of the museum remain to be worked out, according to WHALE and the Port Society.

The Salt Box Room at the back of the Seamen's Bethel will be converted into an educational, multi-purpose room that could be rented for events and lectures, Booth said.

There will be new heating, and for the first time air conditioning in both buildings, Haley said. The Salt Box Room refers to a storage room aboard fishing vessels.

WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area League) is launching a local capital fundraising campaign, effective immediately, said Teri Bernert, its executive director. It will also be applying for state and federal grants and historic tax credits by April 30 of next year.

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Seamen's Bethel, Mariner's Home in line for multi-million dollar restoration