The restoration project in the Great Hall at Allerton Castle

First published in Harrogate & Ripon news

A MAJOR project has been launched to clean and restore the 70-foot high ceiling of a North Yorkshire stately home.

The restoration scheme in the Great Hall at Allerton Castle, between York and Knaresborough, has involved Harrogate Scaffolding Ltd installing its highest ever interior scaffold.

A team of stonemasons has been restoring the window tracery and stone ashlar blocks, after which work can begin on cleaning and restoring the wood panelling of the hammer beam ceiling and bosses, as well as the decorative stained glass windows.

Once the work at the top of the ceiling is completed, restoration will begin on the Angel Gallery, with all the work having to be completed before Easter so the castle doors can open again for visitors and wedding guests alike.

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Restoration project starts at Allerton Castle

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A builder's mission to turn a derelict former Victorian schoolhouse into his family home will be featured on Channel 4s Restoration Man.

For years the Old Schoolhouse on Braxted Park Road, Great Braxted - where workers of the neighbouring stately home schooled their children - had been unloved and unlived.

But now it is enjoying a new lease of life just 18 months after changing hands into the ownership of Jim and Bee Goody a renovation that attracted producers of the TV show, who sent presenter George Clarke to visit the project several times, while film crews were at the house more than 20 times during the revamp.

OnWednesday (January 14), Jim and Bee will be seenreliving the mammoth task as the episode featuring their new beloved home was aired to the nation.

Jim said: It was wrecked inside. We had to do everything, refurbish the whole lot; it was re-plumbed, had new electrics, was plastered and redecorated. Everything.

The Goodys, including Bees stepson Lewis, 22, have relocated from Chigwell after their 288,000 bid for the property, built in a Tudor revival style popular at the time, was accepted in September 2013, before work began in April 2014.

We didnt know what we were looking for until we found it, said Jim. I went to view the property and saw the views around it, so I text my wife a few photos of the fields around the place.

So we thought lets do it, we put in a bid three days later, and the rest is history.

The project was perhaps not as daunting to Jim, who specialises in home refurbishments, as it would have been to other property developers.

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WillWatkinson commented Old Schoolhouse on Braxted Park Road to feature on Channel 4's...

By GLENN GRIFFITH ggriffith@digitalfirstmedia.com @CNWeekly on Twitter

Paul Coons working inside the building that will become the Vischer Ferry General Store

George and Karan Donohue have joined Tom and Louise McManus and Paul and Joanne Coons to rehabilitate the building that formerly housed the Riders Crossing Tack Shop, 357 Riverview Road, Rexford. The mid-19th century structure was badly damaged by a suspicious fire Sept. 11, 2013.

Fearing what might happen if a new owner bought the empty building, Clifton Park native George Donohue called the Coons shortly after the fire. He asked the couple if they would be interested in a partnership to restore the building and return it to its place as a commercial gathering spot for the small riverside community.

The Coons have a history of restoring homes in town. They restored the home directly to the south of the shop and the home they presently live in off Moe Road. Both projects won them awards from the towns Historic Preservation Commission.

Now, they and their private restoration crew are hard at work in another cold building putting in new framing, windows, insulation, wiring, and plumbing for what will eventually be a store with two apartments. The Coons also want to make the building historically accurate but also as environmentally efficient as possible.

We try to buy as much local source wood and green products as we can, Joanne Coons said. Were going to maximize what we can within historic preservation standards.

A tour of the work site showed mid-nineteenth century beams holding up a second floor thats been framed out for a two bedroom apartment. Several stacks of pine planking sat nearby waiting to be measured and nailed into place. A propane heater valiantly tried to provide a bit of heat while the restoration crew went about its work.

These pillars are all different, Paul Coons said, brushing his hand against the buildings wooden front porch pillars. We got the lumber from an Amish saw mill. Well finish them here so they match.

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Clifton park - couples partner on restoration project

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A builder's mission to turn a derelict former Victorian schoolhouse into his family home will be featured on Channel 4s Restoration Man.

For years the Old Schoolhouse on Braxted Park Road, Great Braxted - where workers of the neighbouring stately home schooled their children - had been unloved and unlived.

But now it is enjoying a new lease of life just 18 months after changing hands into the ownership of Jim and Bee Goody a renovation that attracted producers of the TV show, who sent presenter George Clarke to visit the project several times, while film crews were at the house more than 20 times during the revamp.

OnWednesday (January 14), Jim and Bee will be seenreliving the mammoth task as the episode featuring their new beloved home was aired to the nation.

Jim said: It was wrecked inside. We had to do everything, refurbish the whole lot; it was re-plumbed, had new electrics, was plastered and redecorated. Everything.

The Goodys, including Bees stepson Lewis, 22, have relocated from Chigwell after their 288,000 bid for the property, built in a Tudor revival style popular at the time, was accepted in September 2013, before work began in April 2014.

We didnt know what we were looking for until we found it, said Jim. I went to view the property and saw the views around it, so I text my wife a few photos of the fields around the place.

So we thought lets do it, we put in a bid three days later, and the rest is history.

The project was perhaps not as daunting to Jim, who specialises in home refurbishments, as it would have been to other property developers.

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WillWatkinson published Old Schoolhouse on Braxted Park Road to feature on Channel 4's...

By Marina WilliamsJan. 13, 2015, 9 a.m.

An 1880s Victorian house in the Macedon Ranges becomes the 'ideal home' for two keen renovators.

A Victorian house in the Macedon Ranges is lovingly restored. Photo: LIZ FLEMING.

A rundown Victorian property in the Macedon Ranges has been given a new lease of life thanks to the deft touch of a retired Melbourne couple.

Situated well off the main highway and nestled on a high spot on the southern side of the ranges, the historic house had good bones. But it had been untouched for decades by the previous - and original - owners when these keen renovators took it on as their latest project.

The oldest house we have fully renovated was from the1820s in Tasmania - now you can't get much earlier than that, says one half of the couple, who are a renovating powerhouse after having restored multiple homes in Victoria and Tasmania.

Family photos and artworks adorn the walls of the original hallway. Photo: LIZ FLEMING.

Family photos and artworks adorn the walls of the original hallway. Photo: LIZ FLEMING.

An original archway, door frames and lead light windows were in good order. Photo: LIZ FLEMING.

A wall of windows transitions the old to the new in the Macedon Ranges farmhouse. Photo: LIZ FLEMING.

Excerpt from:
Heritage home renewed on Macedon Ranges: photos

Renie Clark, right, and Sally Walling, left, look over one of the teddy bears that Clark knits at her home in the Cala Springs Mobile Home Park on Northeast 14th Street in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. Clark crafts dolls and teddy bears and gives them to people in assisted living facilities, at the domestic violence shelter and other locations.

Renie Clark views her doll restoring efforts not as a hobby but as a ministry. The dolls are given to residents of local health care facilities and women at the domestic violence shelter.

The concept is reinforced by Howard Speights, activities director at Ocala Avante Nursing Home, one of the recipients of Clark's talents.

Those dolls do something for my residents like nothing else I ever have seen, Speights said. These are long-term residents who can't step outside of their rooms to socialize. The dolls take them back to their childhood, it opens them up and brings broads smiles to their faces. It brings my residents a whole lot of joy. They hold their dolls with a real sense of ownership as if they were their most treasured possession. The dolls then become a focal point for our staff to relate to those who before had very little conversation at all.

The Cala Springs home Clark shares with her husband, Harold, is a doll paradise. A tiny clothesline hangs above the washer and dryer to hold the clothes she makes and repairs on her state-of-the-art sewing machine, a gift from Harold.

I wore out two others, Clark said of the sewing machine.

One bedroom is devoted to brightly colored materials, yarn and other items essential for repairs. Dolls in various stages of completion are displayed throughout the home.

When asked how her husband co-exists with the large number of dolls, Clark grinned and said, I'm very happy when I am sewing and a little cranky when I am not; he wants me happy.

The value of using dolls to reach nursing home residents was further explained by David Huckabee, who provides area residents with programs, education and support services from the Central and North Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

No matter whom you are, what your age is, what your limitations may be, everyone wants a purpose, Huckabee said. A purpose in life can enhance the quality of life. The restored dolls being donated can serve as a reminder of when these resident women may have cared for their children, and may be a way for them to offer attention and nurture to something else.

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Woman's doll restoration efforts are a ministry to others

The new year is here, and the Starr Family Home State Historic Site has a slate of activities lined up for families to enjoy.

After years of restoration work, people arent used to us being active at the site. So, people are getting used to us doing stuff (again), Site Manager Barbara Judkins said Thursday during the County Historical Commission meeting.

In addition to doing a lot of research at the site, she said, the staff has scheduled a year full of activities to engage the community.

On Saturday, the site will conduct a free workshop titled How to Care for and Store Old Photographs. Discussion will center around preservation and a brief history of photography. The session also will include a show-and-tell segment with suggestions, resources and examples of what not to do.

Its from 9 to 12, and free, said Judkins. Well have it again in June.

On Thursday, families are invited to come out for a special star gazing party, featuring professional astronomers with the Astronomical Society of East Texas from Tyler.

Theyre very excited about it, Judkins said, adding that she delivered 1,200 fliers to Marshall Independent School District to attract students and their families to the event.

She said all families in the community are invited to come for a night of fun and education.

It really doesnt have a lot to do with our historical message, but stargazing is historical, Judkins said. We just thought itd be a nice (event) for families something free and educational for families so its really more about doing a service to the community.

The stargazing party will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

Excerpt from:
Starr Home announces slate of activities, stargazing event

Tribune Media announced plans Thursday to redevelop Times Mirror Square, home of the Los Angeles Times, and a separate vacant printing plant in nearby Costa Mesa.

The Chicago-based media company is seeking partners for both California properties, including a mixed-use project for Times Mirror Square in downtown Los Angeles. The property sits on a multiacre site next to City Hall.

"The Times Mirror Square master plan promises to deliver a compelling urban project that includes the restoration of important buildings and the construction of complementary new buildings around a new metro rail station directly connected to four of the region's major rail lines," Murray McQueen, president of Tribune Real Estate, said in a statement. "We look forward to identifying the best development partner to help us achieve the immense potential of this site and bridge two of Downtown LA's most dynamic districts."

Tribune Media spun off its newspaper business in August and began trading last month on the New York Stock Exchange. As part of the spinoff, Tribune Media retained a real estate portfolio that includes 80 assets, 8 million square feet of space and 1,200 acres of land. The real estate portfolio brings in about $50 million annually in revenue, most of which comes from rent paid by Tribune Publishing newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Times continues to occupy parts of Times Mirror Square.

Tribune Real Estate is also pursuing a partner to oversee development of the 21-acre site in Costa Mesa, which had served as printing plant and distribution facility for the Los Angeles Times. Features include a functional rail spur and a helicopter pad.

"The site has been a well-known part of the Costa Mesa landscape for over 40 years," McQueen said. "Costa Mesa is developing a strong identity as a cultural hub of Orange County and we are excited to be developing the site during this next chapter of civic vibrancy."

A brokerage house will be hired "in the near term" to assist Tribune Real Estate in finding development partners for the projects, the company said.

Tribune Real Estate unveiled broad plans last month to redevelop Tribune Tower in Chicago, potentially tripling the building's space with residential, retail and hotel components. The landmark 34-story neo-Gothic building on Michigan Avenue, which houses the Chicago Tribune and other tenants, has 737,000 square feet of space, but is zoned for up to 2.4 million square feet of space.

Tribune Media said its real estate holdings are valued at $650 million, but the company sees significant upside in optimizing the portfolio, with an estimated market value of $1 billion.

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Tribune Media to redevelop home of Los Angeles Times

Jupiter, Florida (PRWEB) January 08, 2015

Cyclo Industries, a leading global automotive brand for over 50 years, announced today the launch of Clear View, an at home solution to repair and prevent damages caused by environmental elements to glass windscreens.

With groundbreaking technology and industry-first innovation, Clear View is a proprietary blend of polymers that works together to polish and protect damaged glass surfaces.

In our international markets, there are a growing number of people looking for an easy at home solution to repair windscreens, said Mike McGlynn, Director of Research & Development. We created a product that not only repairs, but also protects against any future damages too.

Clear View offers an innovative solution to the marketplace, eliminating the need to replace scratched or etched windscreens. With the launch of Clear View, the consumer now has a more affordable and accessible option to not only fix a damaged windscreen, but also to protect it against more damage.

Cyclo Industries delivers high performance products in the automotive, heavy duty / fleet, industrial, agricultural and marine services. Cyclo Industries features such brands as Rain Dance, Tanners Preserve, Rally, and No. 7. For more information about Cyclo Industries and the new Clear View product, please visit http://www.cyclo.com

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Cyclo Industries Introduces the Next Evolution in Glass Restoration, Clear View, an at Home Solution to Repair and ...

(Toledo News Now) - The extreme cold could be destroying your home, putting you on the hook to fix thousands of dollars in damage.

Many local companies are working overtime to fixed pipes that burst. The weather is keeping crews at Quest Restoration busy.

Clients around this time often have to deal with burst pipes, which inevitably leads to the water thawing, flooding your home with several inches of standing water.

Quest Restoration employees say this tends to happen when people try to save money on their heating bill, turning it down when they leave the house.

Crews are expecting even more trouble when the next big batch of snow hits.

One thing you can do to protect yourself is to clear the snow from around your house so when it melts, it won't seep into your basement.

Crews also urge everyone to have a good insurance policy.

The Red Cross of Northwest Ohio has some tips to prevent frozen pipes here.

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Restoration crews seeing rise of burst pipes from winter weather