Restoration lifts farmhouse off threat register

9:48am Friday 12th October 2012 in News

A 17TH Century farmhouse that was renovated with the help of English Heritage grants has been removed from the organisations at-risk register.

Middridge Grange, a grade II*- listed building in Heighington, near Darlington, was identified as a building of key importance to the region by English Heritage in 1998.

After eight years of work and 750,000, which included repairs to make it watertight and improvements to the roof, doors, floors and windows, the building has been hailed as a success and removed from the at-risk register.

Owned by farmer Edward Scott, 36, and his family, Middridge Grange has a colourful history and was once the home of Colonel Anthony Byerley, who commanded a regiment known as Byerleys Bulldogs, who fought for Charles I.

It is thought Byerley may have sheltered the embattled king at Middridge during the Civil War.

Another famous guest was the Byerley Turk, the first Arab horse in Britain, from which, along with two others, all British racing bloodstock is descended.

The horse was retired to stud at Middridge, having been the military mount of Anthony Byerleys son, Robert.

Carol Pyrah, English Heritage planning director for the North- East, said: Middridge Grange farmhouse is one of the most historically important buildings in the North-East, which is why English Heritage offered 288,000 to secure its future.

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Restoration lifts farmhouse off threat register

Now is our time when salmon are returning to the watersheds of Puget Sound. Even urban streams are showing the benefit of restoration work, with fish returning to their home waters.

A chum salmon returns to Piper's Creek at Carkeek Park.

Photo by Alan Berner of The Seattle Times.

This weekend, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act at Carkeek Park, with talks at the environmental learning center on water quality.

From 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturday there will be tours of the facility, Seattle's first Gold LEED rated building, an opportunity to try your hand at water testing, and a children's activity table.

Beginning at noon Saturday, a scientific panel on water quality problems and solutions at Piper's Creek will be held until 2 p.m., with brainstorming on solutions invited from the audience.

The environmental learning center is at 950 NW Carkeek Park Road. For more information, call 206-363-4116

The 15th Annual Cedar River Salmon Journey also opens this weekend, at five sites along the lower Cedar River. More than 90 trained naturalists will be a designated observation spots along the river to answer questions every Saturday and Sunday in October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 145,000 sockeye were counted at the Ballard Locks this summer, and now is your chance to see them swimming upriver. You may even see chinook.

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Welcome home, salmon: time to get out and see returning fish

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Emeco Industries, Inc. has filed for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court here, seeking a range of remedies, including blocking Restoration Hardware from manufacturing, marketing, advertising, and selling its cheap knockoffs of Emecos iconic Navy Chair collection.

Were not going to stand by while Restoration Hardware steals our brand and trades on our reputation by selling an inferior product, said Emeco CEO Gregg Buchbinder. Its important for American companies to stand up for craftsmanship, quality and jobs. We not only want to stop Restoration Hardware but prevent others from doing similar damage to our economy.

Unlike Restoration Hardwares foreign-made knockoffs, Emecos Navy Chair is hand made by 54 craftspeople in Hanover, Pennsylvania, through a 77-step process. The company works with top designers and uses recycled waste to make high-quality, sustainable products. The Navy Chair, which is sold in 48 countries, is built to last 150 years.

The latest legal action comes as The New York Times published an article about the companys efforts to protect the world-renowned Navy Chair, which the newspaper said is at the core of Emecos business.

In the article, Once Again, Seeing Double, writer Julie Lasky quoted Buchbinder as saying: The Navy chair is what we center everything around. Its the heritage of our company. Emecos CEO later added: If I dont fight, it kills the company.

The motion, tentatively set for a hearing on Nov. 16, follows a federal lawsuit filed Oct. 1 against Restoration Hardware and its former CEO and present Creator and Curator Gary Friedman. The complaint alleges that the giant home furnishing retailer has engaged in willful and flagrant infringement of Emecos trade dress and trademark rights for its world-renowned Navy Chair by selling a series of cheap knockoffs with the near-identical Naval Chair name.

In seeking the injunction, Emeco argues that Restoration Hardwares actions will continue to cause irreparable harm to Emecos reputation unless the court intervenes. Emeco alleges that the knockoffs are a product of willful, intentional conduct that is part of Restoration Hardwares established practice of using others designs and trademarks for financial gain.

The motion points out that Restoration Hardware has been the focus of a half-dozen copying and infringement actions over the last decade, and cites a newspaper article in which the company is referred to as Replication Hardware.

Emeco says Restoration Hardware has in effect conceded a likelihood of consumer confusion over the chairs by removing the words Naval Chair from its website, and then, after the lawsuit was filed, apparently ceasing sales of the products. Nevertheless, Emeco argues that the injunction is necessary because Restoration Hardware already distributed millions of catalogs featuring the infringing products and continues to display the chairs on its website. And without an injunction, there is nothing to stop it from resuming its unlawful conduct at any moment, the motion says.

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Emeco Files for a Preliminary Injunction Against Restoration Hardware

BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Healthy House Institute (http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com) wants to ensure that everyone's home is a clean, safe place, not just a habitation. With that in mind, the institute is making available four of its popular books as no obligation, free downloads to website visitors. These books provide a strong foundation for making home a safe, clean, sustainable place.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121010/PH89721LOGO )

The following Healthy House Institute books are available immediately:

Many homes today provide a refuge for hidden dangers and problems: dust, mold, allergens, bad air, bad water and wasted energy. The Healthy House Institute offers solutions for identifying and reducing these dangers. Home allergens and poor indoor air quality represent one of the biggest problems, particularly in fall and winter, when air becomes trapped within the home. Tainted water is another serious concern, and the institute offers suggestions for treatment and filtering methods when drinking water becomes too heavy or laden with minerals or other contaminants.

As part of its mission, the Healthy House Institute promotes green living and sustainable energy practices. These practices include energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation, lighting and appliances. With a moderate up-front investment, energy efficiency quickly pays for itself. Green living includes making product choices that reduce one's carbon footprint and create fewer, or no, toxic waste materials.

"People spend 65 percent of their time in their homes," said Healthy House Institute President Allen P. Rathey. "The health and safety of indoor environments, especially homes, cannot be overstated. Our vision of a healthy home is one that positively impacts every facet of society, including public health to environmental stewardship. From new home construction to remodeling and restoration, the Healthy House Institute provides resources and guidance for each stage in a home's life cycle."

The Healthy House Institute offers articles, blogs and links that touch on every aspect of healthy living spaces. The library of information is conveniently organized by category and type, while a search box offers quick sorting by keyword. Users can receive updates regarding new content of interest via RSS feeds.

About the Healthy House Institute

The Healthy House Institute provides information to consumers as part of its mission to make home a healthier, more ecologically friendly place. The institute endeavors to be the most complete educational resource on healthy home environments. The institute's website brings together information on topics including air and water quality, home building, remodeling, furnishings, ventilation, cleaning, health and safety, and energy efficiency.

Contact:

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The Healthy House Institute (HHI) Provides a Wealth of Information to Encourage Safer, Healthier Home Environments

York Minster restoration project gets under way to improve visitor access and facilities

8:12am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Julie Hayes, Business editor

Work has started on improvements to York Minster as part of a landmark project.

Building restoration specialists William Anelay have started work on refurbishing the piazza surrounding the south transept and the undercroft below the Minster.

Working with architects Arroll & Snell and project managers Gardiner & Theobald, William Anelay, which has been based in York since 1747, has been appointed to carry out the construction works to improve access for all.

The work is expected to be complete by spring next year in preparation for the opening of the Minster Revealed project, a five-year scheme supported by a 10.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The York Minster Revealed project includes the largest conservation and restoration project of its kind in the UK, and is set to transform the visitor experience with new underground, interactive chambers, and a world-class stained-glass gallery, The Orb.

The Minster will remain open throughout the works and visitors will be able to enter the cathedral through the West Door while pedestrian access past the south transept will be maintained at all times.

The piazza area, which is currently laid out on different levels with stone steps and a temporary ramp, will be excavated with the foundations being levelled off. It will be replaced with sandstone and limestone and the area approaching the Minster Gates will be relaid with new sandstone flags.

The undercroft area below the Minster has been home to a museum for many years and the access will be improved with two passenger lifts, and a series of ramps and walkways.

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Minster restoration project gets under way to improve visitor access and facilities

From 1999 - 2002, decorations for special events accounted for an estimated 1,100 reported home structure fires per year, the majority involving candles, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Halloween is no exception to these statistics, as open flame fires increase by 50 percent around the Halloween holiday due to increased use of candles.

PuroClean,known as The Paramedics of Property Damage, is a property damage fire restoration company that offers emergency clean up, restoration, and repair services including smoke and fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, flood water removal, and mold and mildew removal. Rick Gutridge, owner of Puroclean Water, Fire, and Mold experts serving Central Ohio, says, We experience an increased number of fire mitigation calls beginning in September. The source of many of these fires is typically attributed to seasonal decorations.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

PuroClean, known as The Paramedics of Property Damage, is a professional mitigation company specializing in property remediation after a home or commercial structure has been damaged by fire and smoke. Rick Gutridge, owner of Puroclean Water, Fire, and Mold experts serving Central Ohio, says, We experience an increased number of fire mitigation calls beginning in September. The source of many of these fires is typically attributed to seasonal decorations.

To help reduce the risk of fire and prepare homeowners if a Halloween fire were to ignite, Gutridge provides local property owners with the following tips:

If property is damaged by a fire, it is important to call a fire restoration professional immediately. Gutridge said the faster the response, the greater the chance of saving property and possessions.

PuroClean is a property damage fire restoration company that offers emergency clean up, restoration, and repair services including smoke and fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, flood water removal, and mold and mildew removal. PuroClean has earned the trust of property owners, insurance professionals and home service providers throughout the United States and Canada since 2001. Backed by a comprehensive network of 300 franchise offices and a national training and business support center, each PuroClean office responds promptly to property emergencies, demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and compassion. PuroClean certified technicians are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures throughout the remediation process while operating under a strict code of ethics. In addition to serving the needs of property owners, PuroClean offers hundreds of continuing education classes each year to insurance professionals and property service providers nationwide. In 2011, PuroClean trained over 10,089 insurance professionals nationwide, helping them earn their continuing education credits.

For more information on PuroClean, please contact Rick Gutridge at 614-309-5739 or visit columbusrestorationservices.com .

Rick Gutridge PuroClean Water, Fire, and Mold Experts 614-309-5739 Email Information

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Local Expert PUROCLEAN Warn Residents, Business Owners of the Risks of Halloween Fires

MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) - A Mid-South woman claims the construction company hired to repair her fire damaged home left the job incomplete after she and her insurance company paid them thousands of dollars.

Dorothy Stuckey has had a challenging year.

In January, her home caught on fire due to an electrical problem. More recently, she lost her job.

But it is what happened between then and now that prompted her to call the Action News 5 Investigators.

Dorothy Stuckey says she paid Northcross Restoration Company more than $100,000 in insurance money to restore her fired damaged home. But she says owner Charles Northcross sent her a sub contractor that turned her rehab into a nightmare.

"It took them a whole month to gut my house out and they still didn't gut it all the way out," said Stuckey.

Stuckey says builders painted over fire damaged and rotted wood. She said they replaced expensive fixtures with cheap ones.

"If you see how they left my back door, my back door is not secure," she said. "When you hit the stairwell at the top it will start smelling like something is burning."

Stuckey's ceiling is sagging from what she says is shabby roof repairs and there are structural concerns.

Excerpt from:
House fire victim claims restoration company didn't finish project

SOURCE: PuroSystems, Inc.

Property Damage Restoration Expert Says Changing Seasons Can Mean an Increased Risk for Home Fires

TAMARAC, FL--(Marketwire - Oct 4, 2012) - Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shines a spotlight on the importance of fire prevention with their annual Fire Prevention Week, celebrated this year from October 7-13.October's selection for this campaign is no accident. Days are getting shorter and cooler, holiday decorating plans are ramping up, and indoor entertainments are on the rise.All of these seasonal changes can increase the chance of a house fire, according to PuroClean property damage restoration specialists.

"The change in seasons brings a change in our daily routines," said Steve Leger, executive vice president of operations for PuroClean. "We use more lights and we turn them on earlier in the day. We set up decorations for Halloween or Thanksgiving or the winter holidays. We cook big family dinners and entertain friends. We burn candles. We use portable heaters to stay cozy. All of these changes can increase the risk of a house fire."

Leger offers the following tips and facts about fire prevention for three common causes of house fires related to these seasonal changes, based on information provided at http://www.nfpa.org.

Electrical Fires The Facts: Between 2005 and 2009, firefighters in the U.S. responded to an average of 43,900 fires each year involving electrical systems and appliances. Watch for warning signs like discolored or warm wall outlets or flickering or dimming lights that could signal electrical problems that could result in a fire. If a homeowner suspects an electrical problem, he or she should contact a licensed electrician to investigate immediately.

Kitchen and Cooking Fires The Facts: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen, and most kitchen fires involve the stovetop. Leger reminds home cooks never to leave the house with foods simmering on the stovetop and to keep flammable materials -- and children -- away from heat sources. Keep a lid handy to smother small grease fires, and then turn off the stovetop. For an oven fire, turn off the oven and leave the door closed. If more than a small, contained fire breaks out, leave the house, close the door behind you and call 9-1-1 or the fire department.

Candle Fires The Facts: On average, U.S. fire departments receive a report of a fire started by a candle every 40 minutes. More than one-third of these fires start in the bedroom and more than half start when candles are left to burn too close to flammable objects. One sure way to avoid fire hazards from candles is to use today's flameless candles, according to Leger.But, if only the "real thing" will do, then practice good "candle sense". Don't leave candles burning when you go to bed or to sleep. Use sturdy holders and blow the candle out before it burns down to the holder. And keep candles and matches away from children.

"Lots of great fact sheets and safety tips are available on the NFPA website and related sites that can help educate you and your family about fire danger in the home," said Leger. "In addition to preventing fires, it's important to have a plan in place to ensure that everyone can escape your home if fire does break out. We encourage all homeowners to take the time to evaluate their home for fire dangers, create and practice a fire escape plan, and then settle in for a warm, cozy and safe season with their families."

If property is damaged by a fire during the fall and winter seasons, or any time, it is important to call a restoration professional immediately. On call 24 hours a day, even on holidays, Leger says the faster the response to a property damaged by fire and smoke, the greater the chance of saving property and possessions and minimizing claims.

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PuroClean Offers Tips for Fire Prevention in the Home

NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country stars Willie Nelson, Dierks Bentley, the Civil Wars and Rosanne Cash join forces this week in a fund-raising concert for the restoration of the boyhood home of late legend Johnny Cash.

Cash's humble home in the tiny town of Dyess, Arkansas, was acquired in 2011 by Arkansas State University, which is spearheading the drive to repair and furnish the 1930s era house where the "Ring of Fire" singer grew up with his six brothers and sisters.

"It's been a long process," Cash's song-writer daughter, Rosanne, told Reuters, referring to purchasing the home and getting the restoration underway. "There are a lot of Johnny Cash projects out there, but this is the one that captured my heart."

Cash, an icon of country music whose hits spanned more than 50 years, died in 2003 at age 71.

Bentley, 36, who has had eight number one hits including " "Home," and "5-1-5-0," said he wanted to take part in Friday's fundraiser out of respect for the veteran performers who have paved the way for his new generation of singers.

"I don't know anyone who doesn't love Johnny Cash," Bentley told Reuters. "It's pretty cool to be part of that show."

"To have the chance to be part of a unique festival always excites me, especially when you are raising money for a great cause and it's tied to a guy that this town (Nashville) really respects a lot," Bentley added.

Cash's family moved to rural Dyess in 1936 because they were given 20 acres of land under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal plan to boost agriculture.

Arkansas State University is working to save the Cash house, and other historic buildings in Dyess, as heritage sites and to develop them as tourist destinations.

An initial fundraiser in 2011 raised $300,000 for the Cash home, and Bill Carter, who is producing Friday's Johnny Cash Music Festival event, hopes it will bring in another $200,000.

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Country stars raising funds to restore Johnny Cash boyhood home

Majestic Theatre

Boutique property developer 1919 Global Sdn Bhd is set to restore several historical buildings in the UNESCO-listed George Town within the next two years, reported The Business Times.

"Over the next 24 months, we are looking to restore 17 shophouses and a cinema in the UNESCO-listed core zone here," said building owner Jonathan Foo.

The company has recently finished the RM2 million restoration of the 83-year-old Loke Thye Kee building.

In addition, 1919 is targeting to renovate five heritage shophouses in Jalan Penang, a row of 12 shophouses along Jalan Phee Choon, and the former Majestic Theatre(pictured).

According to the company's website, the heritage shophouses are a "unique cluster of five two-storey heritage shop houses, offering high profile commercial shopfronts on the first floor and a collection of boutique homestay suites on the second floor."

Meanwhile, the row of 12 two-storey shophouses is presently dubbed the 'Phee Choon Place'. Upon completion of the renovation, the shophouses will accommodate a number of entertainment and commercial businesses on the ground floor; while the upper floor will feature luxury homestay units.

On the Majestic Theatre, Foo noted that 1919 Global will focus on maintaining the building's heritage attributes and will restore it into a commercial establishment. The building, which was originally built by the late Khoo Sian Ewe, is known among the Chinese as the 'Shanghai Sound Movie Theatre'.

"Currently in the submission phase and once restored, the Majestic Theatre promises to be the prestigious venue for any commercial or corporate venture," noted Foo.

"As a company owning properties in the UNESCO heritage area, we share the same goals as others in wanting to bring back life into George Town's inner city but we need to balance this with projects which are economically viable and businesses which are sustainable."

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Restoration of heritage buildings in George Town