ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -

One of the fastest growing communities in St. Johns County has been faced with thieves.Construction crews in Nocatee have reported burglars to the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office and the crooks are breaking into homes that are under construction and stealing what they can.

The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office told News4Jax Tuesday that the constant construction in Nocatee is making it a target for thieves.

"You don't have the neighborhood watch, you don't have the people looking out for other people and you also have some of these homes being left unlocked, being left in different stages of completion, and so you have valuables there," said St. Johns Countys Kevin Kelshaw.

News4Jax found four different home construction sites in the Nocatee area that have been burglarized.On Park Lake Drive, a built-in oven, cooktop, kitchen cabinets and two microwaves were stolen from a home under construction.

On Magnolia Creek Walk, burglars stole a washer and dryer and thieves struck twice on Hiller Lane, stealing $4,000 worth of lath metal, a metal wiring used in home construction.

"Metal lath is not traceable, there's not a serial number or anything like that on it," said contractor Daniel Wilkinson."There's no way to identify it. It's like a package of shingles that you would buy for a roof. There's no identification other than each individual piece and it's very easy to sell."

Wilkinson said thieves often turn around and sell the lath metal to other contractors for half the price and with little to no evidence to go off of.

"We urge people to keep that in mind when you are locking up a house, securing a house, keep it locked, keep it secured and don't give a bad guy an opportunity to steal from you," said Kelshaw.

"Its very tough to make it, so anything you battle against, especially a thief, is hard to deal with and makes you angry," said Wilkinson.

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Appliances, metal stolen from home construction sites

Provided by Networx.com

Getting ready to remodel your home involves a great deal of planning deciding how best to use the space, clarifying your budget, designing the project, and (the fun part!) choosing colors and materials. In the midst of all these preparations, remember to give adequate attention to revamping your electrical system. Planning and installing electric wiring and equipment is a complex business. It must be carefully done to protect the safety of both the building and its occupants. The National Electric Code has set the standard for electrical safety in the US for over a century, helping to shape state and local building codes. When you are planning to remodel, work with a licensed electrical contractor who is expert in all the ins and outs of the NEC.

What is the NEC?

The NEC (National Electric Code) is a list of standards governing the safe installation of electrical wiring and other equipment in the United States. Since its first appearance in 1897, updates of the NEC have been published every three years. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the NEC as part of its comprehensive fire codes. While the National Electric Code is not an actual law itself, but rather a collection of guidelines intended to safeguard against burns, shocks, and electrocution, it is legally binding. Whats more, many state and local jurisdictions have passed laws requiring that the NEC be followed in electrical installations for both new construction and remodels.

Pro electrician

The NEC specifically states that it is not intended to be used as an instruction manual. And when printed out, the complete text of the Code runs to some 1000 pages in length. What this means in practical terms is that in-depth study of the NEC is necessary to understand how to implement its requirements. Apprentice electricians are required to demonstrate a thorough theoretical and practical familiarity with the NEC in order to obtain their license. A licensed professional electrician in your area is the best person to implement the requirements and ensure that your home remodel is up to current local code. In addition to his or her expertise, a pro electrician has the knowledge to come up with ideas that will save you money and hassle.

Keeping up with the NEC

The 2014 edition of the National Electric Code contains some important new changes to reflect recent advances in technology. For example, the volt threshold was increased from 600 to 1000 in order to safely accommodate new sources of electricity such as photo-voltaic and wind generation systems. Areas where GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit interrupters, which protect against electric shocks, burns, and electrocution) are required have been extended to include residential dishwasher branch circuits and 125 volt single phase 15 and 20 ampere receptacles in apartment or condo laundry rooms. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are now required in home kitchens to protect against fires caused by electrical leakage from damaged wiring.

What not to do

TRUE STORY: I once visited a home (outside of the USA) that had recently been remodeled by its owner. With brand new flooring, fresh paint, and a lavishly updated kitchen, the place looked great. But when I asked the homeowner what he'd had done to upgrade the old electrical system, he replied, Oh, I didn't touch that ... I had my hands full enough with the decorating. This kind of attitude is not only lazy, its asking for trouble from worn-out wiring. In the United States, the National Electric Code spells out how to safely design and install electrical systems to avoid dangers to life, limb, and property. As a legally binding document, the NEC carries civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Make sure that your home remodel is in compliance, for your safety's sake.

Continued here:
The NEC and your home remodel

Four years after a Tesla employee's plane plummeted into an East Palo Alto neighborhood, destroying Lisa Jones' home and child care center, residents of Atherton and dozens of community volunteers have stepped forward to rebuild Jones' home and life.

Ms. Jones' family members barely escaped when the twin-engine Cessna slammed into their bedrooms on the morning of Feb. 17, 2010. Since then, she has struggled while others in her Beech Street neighborhood have been able to recover.

When a lawsuit that settled in July 2013 did not give her enough money to rebuild, Maryan Ackley, a longtime friend and Atherton resident, started to raise funds to rebuild her home.

Now the project, which began in November, is nearly completed. On Aug. 11, Ebcon Corporation construction workers were putting the finishing touches on the neat, beige-and-white home.

"I've known Lisa since our kids were in kindergarten together 12 years ago," Ms. Ackley said. "Our kids were friends, and we were friends. When the accident first happened, I stayed close to Lisa. When it became apparent that the settlement wouldn't be enough, I reached out to the Sacred Heart Schools community" for help.

Pacific Peninsula Group, a real-estate development firm cofounded by Ms. Ackley's husband, Stephen, became a corporate sponsor for the effort, which tapped into subcontractors who supplied in-kind donations.

Dollinger Properties executive David Dollinger put up a $125,000 matching grant, which gave impetus to the community fundraising, according to Ms. Ackley.

The nonprofit Rebuilding Together Peninsula, with which Ms. Ackley has been active for many years, agreed to get involved. Scads of local businesses and contractors also donated money, materials and time.

"It really was a labor of love for a lot of people," Ms. Ackley said.

Chalk messages on the pavement in front of Jones' home attest to that affection.

Continued here:
Volunteers rebuild plane-crash victim's home

TACOMA (AP) A sheriffs deputy found two bodies in a home in the Tacoma suburb of Frederickson Sunday, and authorities detained four people for questioning.

Pierce County sheriffs spokesman Jerry Bates says it is unclear yet how the two people died or who they were.

The four people detained were found in a vehicle associated with the house where the bodies were found.

The News Tribune reported Sunday night that a 40-year-old man had been taken into custody in what the Sheriffs Department described as the homicides of two men, 22 and 66.

The News Tribune reports that experts from the Sheriffs Department were called to examine a possible booby trap in the home. Bates later said that investigators believe that the suspicious wiring connected to an outbuilding may be part of an old marijuana grow.

The bodies were found around 8:30 a.m. Sunday by a deputy who was doing a routine address check on a sex offender.

Frederickson is about 20 miles south of Tacoma.

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Deputy finds 2 bodies in home south of Tacoma; 4 people detained

Posted: Friday, August 15, 2014 1:47 pm | Updated: 1:53 pm, Fri Aug 15, 2014.

WINDHAM - Just weeks after several families were removed from an apartment house in South Windham, the town of Windham has condemned a single-family home on Anthoine Road, citing unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Four people were living in the home at the time of the eviction.

On Aug. 5, inspectors from the Windham Code Enforcement Office investigated 30 Anthoine Road in response to a request from the Windham Police Department. According to Heather McNally, director of code enforcement, the officials found multiple code violations, including a lack of smoke detectors, egress issues, roof leaks and mold. Anthoine Road is located off Route 302 just south of the intersection of Albion and Windham Center roads.

It was also noted that construction, plumbing and wiring had been performed without obtaining permits, McNally wrote in an Aug. 6 memo. Trash is piled up to 3 feet high throughout the home and includes maggot infestations on discarded food items. There is significant structural stress due to the amount of items that are piled up throughout the home.

According to Windhams assessors database, Eugene and Ruth Bellanceau have owned 30 Anthoine Road, a 2-acre property valued at $240,200, since 1981. The property contains a 1,196-square-foot, one-story ranch home built in 1980, and a 3,200-square-foot garage.

The Bellanceaus could not be reached for comment, and the town would not release any information on where the family is residing.

According to Town Manager Tony Plante, officials condemned the building on Aug. 6. Plante said that the home contained discarded food, insect larvae, excrement and black mold, as well.

This was an instance where emergency responders were called to the house for an incident and when they arrived they discovered the situation, some degree of hoarding and other unsanitary conditions, Plante said. They alerted code enforcement and we got social services involved and we made the decision to order the building vacated because of the unsanitary conditions.

According to McNally, the building conditions also violate the states plumbing, building and energy codes.

The structure has been determined to be uninhabitable until such time as all life safety, building and electrical code violations have been brought into compliance and an occupancy permit has been obtained from the town, McNally wrote, in a letter to the Bellanceaus.

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Another home deemed unfit

Part of the general trend towards connected "smart" homes and the Smart City, WallyHome is a system of sensors designed to protect your home against water hazards and the structural consequences of damp.

Every time there is a water leak at a home in the United States, it costs the occupants on average $6,965 (5,190). This is the figure quoted by Seattle, USA-based SNUPI Technologies, which has just come up with Wally, a detection system designed to spot water leaks or any major changes in humidity levels or temperature at your home. Rather similar to the Phone Alert Fire system developed by Alcatel, the Wally system works on the basis of embedded sensors plus wireless technology, which will trigger an alert whenever a problem arises. The main argument for purchasing and installing this type of system is that it will alert the occupant fast, enabling him/her to react in time to reduce the impact of any incident or even prevent it happening. In addition to forestalling any actual water or damp damage however, in the longer term home owners who install WallyHome may be able to benefit from lower insurance premiums.

The complete kit comprises a base station and six sensors. It is relatively easy to install and seems a worthwhile investment, especially for second home owners who are not always in residence. Having created a user account and downloaded the mobile app on to your smartphone, you simply place the sensors close to your various household appliances or in hazard-prone spaces, name them according to their location in the house, and then activate the sensors with your phone. From then on, if one of the water detecting zones of the sensor one on the horizontal part of the sensor and another on the vertical detects moisture, this information will be transmitted to the base station via WiFi and the user will immediately receive an alert on his/her smartphone. Apart from detecting water leaks, the sensors also measure humidity levels and note variations in temperature, displaying this information in real time, remotely and at a glance. The product is easy to use, and boasts a long active life.

One key aspect which differentiates this very first SNUPI Technologies product from other alert systems is that it is free of the constraints of battery life. WallyHome arose from a research project run by the University of Washington called Sensor Nodes Utilizing Powerline Infrastructure, whose abbreviation, SNUPI, became the name of the company. The engineers set out in search of an alternative to the high power consuming WiFi and Bluetooth connections and found the answer in the electrical wiring in the walls of the home, which they use as a huge antenna network. As soon as the sensors are placed close to the basic household wiring network, they require very little power to communicate with the base station and the system will then run for an estimated period of ten years. There is also potential to exploit the SNUPI technology used for the humidity sensors in a similar way for other connected, smart home systems. If the Wally system becomes more widespread, the data gathered could also be aggregated and used to develop generalised models as part of the Smart City movement.

More here:
Smart homes stay dry thanks to a low-energy sensor system

Electrical Safety First and Shelter are calling on the Government to change the law after a joint report revealed dangerous wiring is putting the lives of private renters at risk.

The report, Home Improvement: Tackling Poor Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector, reveals homes in the private rented sector are worse than in any other.

In Reading, more than a quarter of households are private renters.

The report says current regulations are not fit for purpose because there is no legal requirement for landlords to ensure the electrics are safe before renting out a property or to check the wiring and any electrical appliances they have provided on a regular basis.

Every year 70 people die from electrical accidents and 350,000 people are seriously injured.

Electrical Safety First and Shelters report concludes the easiest and most efficient way to protect tenants is to introduce mandatory five-yearly checks, by a competent person, of the electrical wiring and appliances.

Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First, said: This change in law would be very easy to implement as the primary legislation already exists and our research shows that the majority of MPs would support a change in law.

Electrical inspections by a competent person can cost as little as 100, which is less than 2 a month or 6p a day over a five year period.

Another concern is the significant imbalance of power in the private rented sector. Nearly 6,000 people in the South East were evicted or served notice in the last year because they complained about a problem in their home and nearly one in 10 have not challenged their landlord because they fear this could happen to them.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: As our shortage of affordable properties pushes home-ownership further out of reach, more of us are facing the prospect of settling down and bringing up a family in a rented home.

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Electrical faults 'putting private tenants at risk'

CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. Its a story weve been following for weeks. A mobile home has been blocking a portion of a Cleveland County road. It was a headache for residents, even causing one womans home health care to stop service.

The mobile home was abandoned on their road. It was falling apart.

The neighbors tried for months to get help, eventually calling KFOR.

Weve been working with Cleveland County officials for weeks now regarding the issue. The sheriffs office repeatedly told us there was nothing they could do, but then the county commissioner for that district and a company out of Enid stepped in to help residents take their road back.

The company which stepped up to help is ECO Alliance, out of Enid.

Charles Dague, one of the residents, watched as the mobile home was demolished.

He said, He had it smashed down in not very long, down to the ground.

Dorian Williams heard the sounds of the crews at work.

She said, Its gone. I went down there. Its fantastic.

For Dorian, who is battling cancer in her liver, her lungs and her intestines, this means her home health care can now reach her.

Read more:
Mobile home blocking neighborhood road now cleared

By M.E. Jones, Correspondent

SHIRLEY -- James Thibault's account of what happened when he retired as wiring inspector with expectations to keep the job town officials instead gave to his former assistant could be a cautionary tale or a story about the end of a small-town era.

Or both.

Thibault was a newcomer when he built a house in town in 1975. At 20, he was doing well professionally, he said. Norman Albert and "Hack" Noyes were selectmen then and Ray Gagnon was the wiring inspector.

When Gagnon went into business for himself a few years later, he reached out to Thibault, a fellow electrician. Was he interested in the job?

Thibault accepted the part-time position in 1979.

"I asked to have Ray assist me," Thibault recalled in a recent interview at Lambert's True Value Hardware Store in the village, which he has owned and operated since 1983.

The two worked together until Gagnon retired four years ago, Thibault said. Then, he looked for an assistant, or alternate wiring inspector. "I reached out to Mark" Prokowiew, with the selectmen's blessing. "There was no issue," he said.

Nor have there been problems with selectmen since and only one formal complaint during his 35-year tenure, Thibault said.

Citing a protocol he initiated and selectmen endorsed that requires a licensed electrician to do wiring in homes or businesses, he said a resident renovating his home objected to the rule and complained to the board because he wanted to do it himself.

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Retired wiring inspector decries appointment

206 BATHURST ST., TORONTO

ASKING PRICE $750,000

SELLING PRICE $855,000

TAXES $3,319 (2014)

DAYS ON THE MARKET Three

LISTING AGENT Lucais Shepherd, Right at Home Realty Inc.

The Action: This semi-detached house fronts onto Bathurst Street, which suited a large group of buyers, from large families to entrepreneurs. As a result, offers came from nearly every visitor, but the most tempting proposal came from one doling out a $105,000 premium.

What They Got: This century-old house is set up on a 17-by 84-foot corner lot with two living spaces updated with new oak parquet floors, wiring and roof, plus a basement with one of three bathrooms.

There are 10-foot ceilings on the main floor, where there is one bedroom, the living and dining areas and a kitchen with access to a southwest-facing deck, garden and private driveway.

The second floor could double as a three-bedroom suite with a second kitchen.

Continued here:
This Bathurst Street home drew bids from almost every viewer