27-03-2012 15:29 http://www.cleanflood.com 718 951 0047 Welcome to CleanFlood.com, your local 24-hour rapid response team for mold removal, inspection and water damage restoration. We handle any situation anytime anywhere within 30 minutes. Our services also include water damage restoration and anything having to do with flood or sewage clean-up. We are PMII-certified for residential and commercial mold inspection and remediation, and we provide free telephone consultations with no cost or obligation whatsoever. We will even visit your home -- for free -- just to fully ascertain your situation! We will restore your home or business in record time and even help you deal with your insurance company. With twenty years in the industry, CleanFlood.com has the know-how to quickly and safely have you fully recovered from any water-related disaster our experts not only repair structural damage, but can also reupholster your furniture! No job is too small or too big to handle, including small overflows, pipe ruptures, debris extraction, mold remediation, sewage clean-up, and odor removal. We also replace walls, ceiling, carpets, tiles, hardwood, and all other types of flooring. Your courteous CleanFlood.com technicians will do it all with a high degree of professionalism and craftsmanship. And don't forget that your CleanFlood.com rapid response team even includes an adjuster who will take care of all your insurance billing for you! Because we know how traumatic these situations can be, we do everything ...

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Best New York Mold Removal

WASHINGTON -- Los Angeles County, Calif., leads the nation in total county remodeling expenditures per year at $8.4 billion, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Meanwhile, regarding remodeling dollars spent per household, Nantucket County, Mass., ranks highest with a yearly average of $8,520.

"Residential remodeling is one of the housing industry's bright spots, and in some parts of the country this is more true now than ever," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman George "Geep" Moore Jr., GMB, CAPS, GMR and owner/president of Moore-Built Construction & Restoration Inc. in Elm Grove, La. "The level of remodeling activity varies by region and town, but home owners throughout the country are increasingly choosing to renovate their homes or build additions to meet their changing lifestyles."

While the average value across all counties nationwide for total remodeling expenditures per year is $66 million, the following is a breakdown of top counties by region:

West: Los Angeles County, Calif., $8.4 billion Midwest: Cook County, Ill., $4 billion Northeast: Nassau County, N.Y., $1.9 billion South: Miami-Dade County, Fla., $1.7 billion

The average amount spent on remodeling projects per household nationwide is $1,907. The top counties by region for remodeling spending per home are as follows:

"Nationally, we're forecasting a continued increase in the demand for residential repairs and improvements," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Based on our analysis of the remodeling spending numbers, we are able to identify areas of the country where our members can take advantage of this growing opportunity. The county estimates also include useful information on the local conditions that influence remodeling spending--particularly the number, age and value of owner-occupied homes."

The NAHB model uses data from the American Housing Survey--which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau--to estimate local remodeling based on home and home owner characteristics. It is then applied to the information on every county's homes and home owners that the Census Bureau released late last year from its American Community Survey.

A list of the top five counties for remodeling spending and average remodeling spending per home in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West regions is available http://www.nahb.org/topremodelingcounties. To search all counties, visit http://www.nahb.org/countydata.

For more information about remodeling, visit nahb.org/remodel.

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NAHB Identifies Top Counties for Residential Remodeling

Corsicana County Commissioners got an update Monday on the status of the Texas Historical Commissions grant offer to restore the Navarro County Courthouse.

Navarro County was at the top of this years grant request list based on a scoring method for restoration applications, said Sharon Fleming, who helps oversee the Courthouse Restoration program for the Texas Historical Commission.

Navarro County has been offered a grant of about $4.5 million to proceed with the project thats about half of what will be needed based on latest estimates.

On a practical level, youll receive a building with all new systems, Fleming said, noting that electrical, plumbing, mechanical and data systems will be brought up to modern standards as a part of the restoration.

The historical integrity of the building is maintained, she said.

Fleming and Susan Gammage, who will serve as Navarro Countys project reviewer, also said the local community will likely see some benefits from the renovation in the form of the creation of local jobs, and construction and payroll dollars spent in the local economy.

(Contractors) will be using local people as much as they can, said County Judge H.M. Davenport Jr.

Fleming said the county chooses and hires the contractor for the restoration work.

Gammage also told commissioners that after the restoration project, what she called Heritage tourists would bring new tourism dollars to the area.

In addition to deciding how to proceed with the restoration, the county still needs to consider an alternate facility to serve as courthouse during the work, and identify which county offices may not be returning to the courthouse after the restoration work has been completed. It is likely a few offices will have new homes at an annex or other location after the proposed project.

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County hears restoration update

JENNIFER HUFFMAN Napa Valley Register | Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 7:00 pm |

More than a year and a half since the City Council approved the remodel of the former Fagianis bar in downtown Napa, owner Steve Hasty has started construction on the historic structure.

Were back to work, Hasty said Monday. Were going to push hard to try to open in July.

Hasty is remodeling the building and adding a third story to the structure, formerly home to Fagianis Cocktail lounge. Fagianis operated as a bar at 813 Main St. from the 1940s until the mid-70s. It closed soon after its co-owner, Anita Andrews, was found dead inside.

In September, Hasty announced that AvroKO, a New York restaurant design firm, had signed a lease to convert the long-defunct tavern into an eatery.

Hasty estimated that he will spend $800,000 to $1 million on the remodel, including the seismic upgrade. AvroKO is responsible for the build-out of the restaurant, he said.

They will spend probably what I have put into it and then some, Hasty said.

This past week, construction workers removed the old tan tile from above the first floor to reveal the framework of the building.

To Hastys delight, there is enough framework left to be able to accurately recreate the old clerestory row of windows along the ceiling of the first floor.

I was very happy with what was left, Hasty said. I can replicate the old windows back to 1909 when it was originally built.

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Restoration of the former Fagiani’s bar underway

Published on Mar 27, 2012

A file picture taken on March 20, 2012 shows a statue of Britain's Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace in central London during a photocall to showcase a 12 million GBP (14.4m euros/19m USD) restoration of the historic palace. Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana and the future abode of her son Prince William and his wife Catherine, reopened to the public on Monday after two years of renovation. -- PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (AFP) - Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana and the future abode of her son Prince William and his wife Catherine, reopened to the public on Monday after two years of renovation.

Officials said new exhibitions, including a display of the late Princess Diana's dresses, had seen ticket sales far exceed those expected on opening day at the 407-year-old red-brick palace.

'We're expecting a thousand visitors a day, but today we had that many just in the first two hours,' a spokesman for Historic Royal Palaces, the charity which manages the building, told AFP.

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Princess Diana's home Kensington Palace reopens to public

MIAMI SPRINGS, Fla., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --City of Miami Springs and Curtiss Mansion, Inc. announce a "Sneak Preview" of the restored historic South Florida home of famed aviator, inventor and visionary Glenn Hammond Curtiss originally built in 1925. Curtiss, the "Father of Naval Aviation," moved to South Florida from Hammondsport, New York during the land boom of the 1920s. From 1920-1930, Curtiss developed the cities of Miami Springs, Hialeah and Opa-locka, Florida before his death in the 1930 at age 52. Before his untimely passing, Curtiss made a significant impact in the South Florida landscape. His vision of creating three different geographic areas among the cities allowed him to partner with James Bright creating landmarks such as Hialeah Race Track. On Sunday, April 1st, 2012 the community will have the opportunity to gain a "Sneak Preview" of Curtiss' home, now a center for education, preservation and inspiration.

The legendary Curtiss Mansion, damaged by multiple fires, has taken thirteen years of perseverance and a true community effort to rebuild to its original grandeur. Curtiss Mansion, Inc. (CMI), a Florida not-for-profit organization, was established to take the leadership role in restoring the home. "I fell in love with the story of Glenn H. Curtiss, and felt it was my duty to be involved in its restoration and share the stories of all unsung heroes," says JoEllen Morgan, President of CMI. "We are also excited by our partnership with Captain Barrington Irving's STEM academy to be located at the Mansion in Miami Springs."

"The City of Miami Springs is proud to partner with CMI; they have done an outstanding job in the restoration of the Mansion," says Mayor Zavier Garcia. "Our community can only benefit from restoring this national treasure by our Founder and we want to share it with the world," says City Manager Ron Gorland.

The "Sneak Preview" of the Glenn Curtiss Mansion located at 500 Deer Run in Miami Springs is scheduled Sunday, April 1st, 2012 from 1 p.m.-5:00 p.m. The focus of the event is to share the mission of the restored Curtiss Mansion as a center for education and a venue of historic significance and beauty. Be one of the first in the country to tour the home of Glenn H. Curtiss and enjoy afternoon music, food and the outdoors with your family, friends and neighbors.

For more information and detailed directions to the venue and parking, visit http://www.curtissmansion.org.

CONTACT:

Lily Saborit Contact Number: (305) 710-1219 Email: tpgmami@aol.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

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Historic Florida Estate of Inventor, Developer and 'Father of Naval Aviation' Glenn H. Curtiss Restored After Thirteen ...

When designing a home, we must take every detail into consideration from large the furnishings down to the small things like wastebaskets. Think of it: you spend $50K, $60K or $100K on your new bathroom and you've invested in granite tile installed by the finest tile expert in the city will you be using a cheap $10 plastic wastebasket, or will you want something that matches the look and style you've spent time and money achieving?

Whether it's for a bathroom, home office or bedroom the wastebasket is usually right out in the open. After all, they are functional items that are used all the time and it makes sense to have them right at hand when needed. There are some astonishingly beautiful wastebaskets available that will live up to the most luxurious surroundings. Here are eight that caught my eye:

Smokador Executive Wastebasket by Knoll: The Smokador Wastebasket comes from Knoll, one of the icons of mid-century modern furniture manufacturers. The simple rectangle wastebasket comes in a matte black oxide coated satin brass that is pre-plated and lacquered for a rust-proof finish, making it a great choice for a sleek bathroom as well as an office. $218

Newbury Wastebasket from Restoration Hardware: The Newbury wastebasket is a luxuriously glamorous piece made of zinc and stainless steel with a hand-polished finish. Finish options include polished chrome or nickel, or a satin nickel. $99

Raffia Square Wastebasket from Waterworks: The Raffia wastebasket has the perfect combination of modern sleekness with the warm texture of a natural raffia exterior. Made by Waterworks, one of the most luxe bathroom brands in the marketplace, this small wastebasket would work not only in bathroom settings, but also home offices or bedrooms. $120

The Etoile Round Waste Can: The Etoile Round Waste Can is one of the most luxurious products in the field. The gorgeous design, which features a lid operated by a pedal, is European inspired and classic. The piece is cast brass and is nickel plated. It is a substantial size and weight and will stay put when operated hands-free. $3,154

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Luxury Garbage Cans?

Penn will once again be represented at the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphias Preservation Achievement Awards Luncheon.

The George A. Weiss Pavilion will be receiving the Grand Jury Award on May 8, along with 16 other restored historic buildings in the Philadelphia area. The restoration and construction of the Music Building also won the award in 2010.

The Preservation Achievement Awards are given out every year to projects that demonstrate the best practices in historical preservation in the Philadelphia area, said Ben Leech, the Alliances advocacy director.

The Weiss Pavilion took home the award for Penn because it demonstrated the importance of really studying a buildings history, Leech said.

During the restoration, the architects realized that the level of the street adjacent to the building had been raised years ago, according to University Architect David Hollenberg. They then discovered that the structures foundation was lower to the ground than they thought, allowing for additional space at the bottom of the building.

After determining the base was still stable and the extra room could be incorporated into the design of the restoration, the architects built a new level using the extra space, Hollenberg said.

Hollenberg oversaw the restoration project in collaboration with Crawford Architects.

For Penn, this award is very gratifying, added Hollenberg, who has also been teaching at the School of Design for 24 years in the Historic Preservation Department.

Its wonderful to have one of the leading preservation organizations in the United States recognize the quality of your work, he said. It validates the care and respect that Penn takes with its historic buildings.

This year will be the award luncheons 19th year, where 600 like-minded people can get together and celebrate Philadelphia architecture, Leech said.

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Weiss Pavillion to receive award for restoration by preservation group

by JIM "PAPPY" MOORE Associated Press

Rick restores old things and makes them look the way they once did. People bring him items which are typically anywhere from forty to one hundred and forty years old. The items almost always hold some personal value to the owner which goes far beyond the actual dollar value of the item.

In a typical episode, Rick and his crew may repair and restore several items, and we see parts of each story. Someone has a toy riding horse made in the 1960s. She wants it restored for her brother, who rode it as a child. Rick makes certain it looks and performs like it did the day her brother tore open a Christmas present fifty years ago and found his new riding horse.

Rick is helped by his son, Tyler, an affable if occasionally unfocused high school student. Other key crew members include: Rick's brother, Ron; a friend of Kyle's named Brettley; a cantankerous fellow named Kowboy; a worker named Kyle; and a lady who works in the office, Wendy. She was added to the cast most recently as what I like to call "the Danielle Addition." The History Channel's hit reality show American Pickers saw that their female member, Danielle, developed a following, so Pawn Stars recently added an interesting, attractive, charismatic female member to their staff. On American Restoration, Wendy has fulfilled that role for Rick and his crew.

American Restoration works with museums to repair and restore iconic items from days gone by. The quality of the original workmanship for such properties is usually far beyond what we normally see in today's world. The wood is solid wood with beautiful grain. It is not veneer. There are no plastic components. The metal used is thick and substantial. These are the things that Rick restores to the vitality they once showed.

Children's toys are a favorite, and I have seen a number of them I recognize from my childhood in the 1950s and 1960s. These include little red wagons, mechanical riding horses, and three wheel vehicles that were designed to look like a rocket ship.

Vending machines from the 1950s and 1960s are also big items. Think of how different those early vending machines were from what we see now. Imagine a refurbished Coke or Pepsi dispenser, the kind where bottles, not cans, were dispensed. Those heavy glass bottles full of cola would slide down into their slot, and we would grab one and pull it out. To my personal knowledge, there has never been a better cola out of a machine than those little Coca Colas that were six ounces and in slightly green glass. Pulling one of those out of a machine and drinking it straight down without stopping is one of my fond memories of those times.

American Restoration does a wonderful job of showing us old treasures made new again, and takes us on a little trip down memory lane every week.

2012, Jim Pappy Moore, All Rights Reserved.

Jim Pappy Moore is a native son of East Texas who still makes the piney woods his home. oaktreefm58@juno.com

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American Restoration - Reviving America's Home Built Treasures

by Michelle Ye Hee Lee - Mar. 24, 2012 10:46 PM The Republic | azcentral.com

It was a summer afternoon in 2010 when Randie Wareham looked up at Schultz Peak from her home near the base of the mountain where a fire that torched more than 15,000 acres had recently been extinguished.

What she saw struck her with terror: an avalanche of mud flowing down the mountainside north of Flagstaff. As it rumbled into her neighborhood, it brought with it a destructive stew of ash, tree stumps, wood chunks, fences -- anything that stood in its way. Then, a flash flood wiped away everything in her home except a few photo frames placed on the highest shelves.

Wareham and her family survived the flood that decimated their home. But they never moved back. And with fire season drawing near, she can't help but think about the unwitting risks Arizonans face in areas where the potential for catastrophic fire and subsequent flooding are a constant source of danger.

"We're going to be OK, we're going to move on," said Wareham, whose family recently moved into a Flagstaff rental home. "But we just think about our friends and their children. We just want them to be safe. ... I think about them all the time, especially when the season comes and it starts flooding again."

The past two fire seasons devastated parts of the state after low humidity and heavy winds created tinderbox conditions that fanned flames through Arizona's forests and wildlands, some bordering sizable communities.

Last year alone, more than 20,000 residents were displaced as homes, cabins and businesses were evacuated in the paths of five separate fires of more than 10,000 acres apiece. Among the most damaging in the past two years were:

Last year's record-setting Wallow Fire, the state's largest ever on record, which burned 538,049 acres near Springerville and Eagar in eastern Arizona. To stabilize the burn area, a massive reforestation and rehabilitation process costing $29 million took place after the fire and through last fall, said Pamela Baltimore, public-affairs officer for Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

A second monster blaze in 2011, the Horseshoe Two Fire, was the state's fourth-largest ever, burning 222,954 acres near the New Mexico border in southeastern Arizona. About 5,000 acres have been reseeded, many areas have been mulched, and officials continue to rebuild about 350 miles of burned fences, said Ruben Morales, fire-management officer at the Douglas Ranger District.

The Monument Fire scorched 30,526 acres south of Sierra Vista, consuming 57 homes before its containment. Mulching and aerial seeding was completed on the most severely burned 1,502 acres within two months of the fire being extinguished, said Marylee Peterson, Coronado National Forest information officer. The goal: to prevent flooding and dangerous erosion along the eastern flanks of the Huachuca Mountains.

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Arizona forest-restoration afoot after tough 2 years