CLEARWATER After being booked into the Pinellas County Jail in January, James Brown was told he could either clean up after the homeless at Pinellas Safe Harbor, the nearby county shelter, or help at the jails horticultural center.

I preferred the plants, Brown, 53, said.

What he discovered was that potting red geraniums and pulling weeds out of Egyptian papaya plants suited him. He liked it. His blood pressure, which was high, has come down. And hes mellowed somewhat.

I used to be a rough guy, Brown, who is serving a six-month sentence for marijuana possession and for having a counterfeit license plate 10 years ago, said at the center on Friday. Fooling around with these plants sort of backed me up from that.

In August, the center will have been operating for 10 years.

It started with a Pinellas Technical Education Center instructor who was given office space, access to a vacant lot, and about $6,000 of tax money a year to buy potting soil, pots, seeds and the like.

Since then, the center has evolved into a bright stretch of variegated green in the jails shadow where so many plants are sold the enterprise has become economically self-sufficient.

At the helm is the PTEC instructor who was there from the beginning Chuck Pool, a 67-year-old who sports a pith helmet as he walks around giving instructions to jail trustees in striped uniforms whose crimes are minor enough for them to be allowed outside.

I wasnt real thrilled about coming to the jail, said Pool, who worked at the PTEC on 34th Street South in St. Petersburg before his transfer. But now that Im here, I like it and I dont plan on leaving.

The inmates are my students, he said.

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Pinellas horticulture center at jail marks 10 years

Submitted Naples Squares streetscapes will be lined with numerous soaring palms interspersed with colorful flower beds, strips of green, and heavily landscaped areas that separate the sidewalks and buildings.

A landscape design by Christian Andrea of Architectural Land Design Inc. will bring a lush, park-like ambiance to Naples Square, an enclave of residences ranging from over 1,200 to just under 3,000 square feet being developed by The Ronto Group on the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Goodlette-Frank Road within a short walk of downtown Naples renowned attractions. Naples Squares walkable lifestyle will bring a sense of cohesion to downtown by connecting Fifth Avenue to Bayfront with access on 10th Street via Third Avenue South. The Naples Square residences are priced from the $500s.

Andreas design gracefully merges pavered roadways, entry water features, and fountain roundabouts with Washingtonia and Medjool Date palm trees and a mix of plantings. Oak trees will create a canopy to provide shade and further soften the building mass. Plantings that will perform well in Naples heat and humidity are also incorporated in the design, and include Clusia, Variegated Dwarf Schefflera, and Bougainvillea. Asian Jasmine, a carpetlike ground cover, will be used in the pedestrian areas. Naples Squares key intersections, crossings, and building entry features will be identified by tall palms. Building corners that are adjacent to the communitys signature roundabouts will be softened by tall, scattered height Washingtonia palms.

Whether walking or riding a bike through Naples Squares downtown environment, the visual impact and shade created by Andreas design will create a park-like feeling. The streetscapes will be lined with numerous soaring palms interspersed with colorful flower beds, strips of green, and heavily landscaped areas that separate the sidewalks and buildings. In addition to their visual appeal, the fountains at each of the roundabouts will provide a soothing level of white noise and also have a cooling effect. Taken in sum, the design will evoke feelings of comfortable familiarity and a sense of place that is rarely found when walking through typical downtown building corridors. To enhance the sense of connection even further, Andrea has incorporated lighting into the design that will contribute to the communitys dramatic after-dark tableau.

Naples Squares courtyard amenity decks will feature a resort-style heated swimming pool and spa, sun deck, pavilion bar with gas grills, and a gas fire table with seating. Andreas amenity deck landscape design incorporates green spaces, Asian Jasmine ground cover, raised-planters with date palms, and arbors with vine plantings to create a garden-like effect. Additional planters provide a colorful note of separation between the terraces of the garden level residences and the edges of the plaza. Naples Squares u-shaped residential buildings will be situated with their open ends facing one another. Andrea has taken the juxtaposition of the buildings into account and created long-range amenity deck view corridors with strong visual appeal. The tranquillity of the setting will belie Naples Squares location literally less than a five-minute walk from downtowns most popular dining, entertainment and shopping district.

Naples Squares landscape design will play a major role in furthering efforts to transform Goodlette-Frank Road into a corridor lined with greenways and pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. A dedicated public access linear park easement will stretch along the entire eastern edge of the Naples Square site and front Goodlette-Frank Road. The linear park will solidify Naples Squares connection with the Gordon River Greenway and with a new park the City of Naples plans to develop. At the same time, the linear park will contribute to Naples Squares grand sense of entry and reinforce the communitys lifestyle that is focused on walkability and the freedom to enjoy bicycling even while living in the heart of downtown Naples.

Naples Square offers seven one and two story, two and three bedroom plus den floor plans with open-concept living areas and open-air terraces, each ideally suited to the downtown Naples lifestyle. Designed by MHK Architecture and Planning of Naples, the light-filled floor plans feature 10 ceilings, designer kitchens, chic master bedrooms and designer flooring throughout. Controlled access covered parking is also included. Over 50 reservations have been received since the Naples Square Sales Gallery at 100 South Goodlette-Frank Road in mid-January. Ronto anticipates converting Naples Square reservations to contracts later this season. Construction is planned for 2014 and includes completion of 73 residences.

Reservations for residences at Naples Square are now being accepted. The Naples Square Sales Gallery at 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S. Visit NaplesSquare.com.

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Naples Square to feature parklike ambiance

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The Associated Press Search workers wearing red are dwarfed by the mud and debris filled landscape they were searching Thursday, March 27, 2014, where a massive mudslide struck Saturday near Darrington, Wash. The searchers shown had to use a boat to reach the area shown. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool)

By The Associated Press/AP/March 28, 2014

The landslide that destroyed a rural community in Washington state was one of the deadliest in U.S. history.

As of Friday, the official death toll from Saturdays slide in Oso stood at 17, though additional bodies have been discovered but not yet counted. Scores of people remained missing, and authorities expected to update the numbers Friday evening.

Some of the countrys other deadliest landslides:

Mar. 12, 1928: Five hundred people lost their lives when a dam in San Francisquito Canyon, Calif., collapsed. An abutment of the St. Francis Dam gave way when the ground beneath it became saturated with water from the reservoir. The abutment was built on the site of a previous landslide.

Aug. 19-20, 1969: Landslides and flooding in the wake of Hurricane Camille took the lives of 150 people in Nelson County, Va. The hurricane dumped up to 27 inches of rain in the area. Most of the deaths were the result of blunt-force injuries from trees, rocks and other debris, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

Oct. 7, 1985: The hillside shantytown of Mameyes in Puerto Rico was buried under tons of mud loosened by a 30-hour deluge from tropical storm Isabel. The mudslide claimed 129 lives.

Jan. 4-6, 1982: At least 30 people were killed in devastating mudslides in the San Francisco area. Most of the deaths occurred in Santa Cruz county, which President Ronald Reagan declared a disaster area along with Marin, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Sonoma counties.

Aug. 17, 1959: An earthquake rocked an area west of Yellowstone National Park resulting in 26 deaths. Fifty million tons of mountain slid into Madison Canyon near Hebgen Dam.

The rest is here:
Washington landslide one of nation's deadliest

(PRWEB) March 28, 2014

Cipriano Landscape Design & Custom Swimming Pools, a luxury swimming pool design & construction firm based in Northern NJ, issued a challenge to rapper Drake recently after coming across a quote made by Drake himself in a Rolling Stone profile on February 13th of this year. According to the article Drake claimed he is obsessed with residential swimming pools adding, one of my goals in life is to have the biggest residential pool on the planet.

After recently building a custom spa for rap royalty Rev Run for the HGTV show 'Rev Runs Renovations, premiering on HGTV tonight @ 9:00 pm EST, owner Chris Cipriano has set his eyes on Drake as his next challenge. We are ready to go. If Drake wants the largest residential swimming pool on the planet we are ready to build it for himthe question is, is he ready. stated Chris, the sky is the limit when it comes to custom swimming pool design and size is one aspect but being an artist I am interested in hearing what Drakes vision for this pool would be. Would he want a room underneath the pool with a glass ceiling? A grotto three times the size of Heffs? I am very interested to hear his creative vision and hope he is ready to make it a reality.

Building in custom pools built for musicians is no new venture for Cipriano as his firm completed a custom inground pool built in the shape of a Stradivarius Violin last year in Bedford NY. The technology incorporated would impress even Drake. Controlled completely wirelessly from an iPhone, all glass tile, a Riverflow jet system to kayak or swim against, Nearly six thousand fiber optic lights and acrylic panels so that swimmers can look through and see an adjacent custom koi pond.

Cipriano has brought his challenge to social channels in order to allow Drakes loyal fans to chime in. A Twitter profile and registered hashtag will allow fans to get involved. Any fan who would like to add their thoughts on what they think Drakes dream pool would or should look like is encouraged to join the conversation and Chris has said that if Drake builds the record-setting pool and uses a fans tweeted idea as inspiration, he would fly that fan out for the photo shoot of the finished project. Make sure to follow @drakesdreampool and like Cipriano Custom Swimming Pools on Facebook to join the conversation! Tweet your design ideas using the hashtag #drakesdreampool!

The ball is in Drakes court now. Will he make history yet again by building the largest residential pool on record? We will have to wait and see his response but dont underestimate your power in thisif you have a crazy idea that Drake ends up loving you could make history as well.

Celebrating 25 years in business, 14-time international award winner Cipriano Landscape Design distinguishes themselves from all other swimming pool & landscaping companies with their extensive design and construction experience. As a recognized national leader in custom residential & commercial landscaping, masonry, swimming pools and water features, the Mahwah NJ firm has been offering complete estate transformations since 2001. With a design office headed by Certified NJ Landscape Architect William Moore, the Cipriano team has won 75 awards of excellence since 2006 and in 2013 was named by Pool And Spa News to their "Top 50 Pool Builders list.

Visit http://www.njcustomswimmingpools.com

CONTACT: Matt Staudt Anchor Social matt(at)anchorsocial(dot)com (855) 424-6326

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NJ Custom Pool Firm Eyes Rapper Drake For Record Pool Build

Sue Efron had very specific ideas for her new Palm Beach home and gardens. She chose West Indies-style architecture and she wanted a tropical landscape, using natives where possible, to complement the look of the house.

Sue had a clear vision of what she wanted regarding design, color and texture, said Keith Williams of Nievera Williams Design, whom she chose two years ago to handle the project.

In her collaboration with Williams, Efron also stressed water conservation wherever possible, so he installed an underground drip irrigation.

To save even more water, Williams restricted turf grass to the back yard, where larger spaces were planned for kids and the family dog. In the front, he relied on ground covers but very interesting ground covers. Williams designed patterns using succulents and gravel made from crushed coquina stone.

The succulents will creep and grow over time, said Williams. Throughout most of the garden, we wanted plants to do their own thing.

That strategy was part of Williams goal of creating a relatively low-maintenance garden.

In summer, we come in once and cut back everything that needs it, he said, referring mainly to hedges along the perimeter of the property and the Zoysia lawn. He used diamond Zoysia, a hybrid developed at Texas A&M University for putting greens.

It does require special maintenance, he said. In summer, we level it to the roots and add sand to get this carpet effect.

Having lived in England for several years, Efron had developed an appreciation for follies in the landscape, those often-whimsical structures that provide a focal point amid the greenery. Adapting her request for its tropical location, Williams designed a pool cabana in an orchid house style, complete with slat roof.

We love it, Efron said.

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Tropical gardens echo West Indies-style home

Pahrump Town Board members dove head-first into the issue of providing year-round swimming for local residents this week.

On Tuesday, board members heard a presentation from local resident Rachael Roberts.

As of late, there has been expressed community interest in having a year-round swim facility.

Last year Roberts began her campaign by assisting the town in obtaining research and possible cost projections for the board to review and consider.

She told the board that her efforts have revealed many benefits if the consideration is adopted.

With upgrading our town pool to a year-round aquatics center, we will foster the development of new programs and help facilitate greater access to the existing facility by promoting and developing program methodologies for maximum utilization of the pool facility. We could also expand our aquatic industry resources, relationships and affinity partnerships, she noted.

Roberts also said she believes that the population of Pahrump is more than enough to justify her proposal.

Pahrump is pushing 40,000 and I think Nye County is pushing about 43,000 or so. That leaves us roughly with 20 percent under the age of 18 which is about 8,000. Twenty-five percent of our population is over the age of 65. We definitely have a very large and happy population spanning all of our age groups, Roberts said.

Though board members listened patiently to Roberts presentation, the costs associated with the project seemed to be pricier than what board and staff anticipated.

At 42 feet wide and 81 feet long, the pool holds roughly 210,000 gallons of water.

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Board hears year-round swimming proposal

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Julie Sartain | March 25, 2014

Inside the magical world of 3D printing.

3D printers are the hottest new technology on the IT landscape. Everyone users and vendors alike wants a piece of the pie and, with 3D systems now printing candy and food, they could get their wish; that is, an actual, edible piece of pie.

Why are 3D printers so popular? Because they are the 21st century version of Star Trek's replicators and they can, literally, print (or replicate) anything from a piece of pumpkin pie to a full-blown multi-story house.

Wohlers Associates, a consulting firm in Fort Collins, Colo., has identified more than 50 additive manufacturing and 3D printing companies. A report from 3ders.org lists more than 230 printers and printer kits starting at $199 and ranging all the way up to $330,000 or more. On this list, the average 3D printer price is $2,346; not much more than a high-end color laser printer and certainly not out of reach for most users.

Origins and technologies

The most common 3D printer technologies, thus far, are fused deposition modeling (aka fused filament fabrication), stereolithography, digital light processing, selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, selective laser melting, selective heat sintering, laminated object manufacturing, and polyjet 3D printing.

There are other, similar technologies available and many more on the horizon as independent entrepreneurs and Kickstarter candidates continue to research, design, and develop new ways to create three dimensional objects from pools of plastic, polymer resins, powdered products, sand, glass, food substances, and liquid metals such as stainless steel, cobalt chromium, titanium, aluminum, and nickel, silver, and gold alloys.

In a nutshell, 3D printers are simplified versions of rapid prototyping machines, which have been around since the early 1980s, only smaller, cheaper, and less complicated. However, as the pool of inventors expands, the lines between rapid prototyping and 3D printing are becoming more and more blurred. The smaller, cheaper 3D machines are using more varieties of materials and some of the larger rapid prototyping machines are getting smaller and costing less. For example, Michigan Technological University has just unveiled a new, open-source 3D metal printer that sells for only $1,500. And Makerbot's Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer (which sells for $2,899) can print a functioning, mechanical, 3D-printed hand called the Robohand. Makerbot also sells a mini version of this same printer for $1,375.

How it works The process of each 3D technology (also called additive manufacturing) is fairly similar. Objects are designed with a CAD-like software program, then sliced into extremely thin layers (like slicing a loaf of bread). The machines then spray, squeeze, or dribble the material onto a base, one layer at a time, fusing these together with heat until the object is formed. Some machines extrude a filament of plastic materials through a nozzle and build the objects on a platform from the bottom up. Some build the objects in a tray of powder or liquid and the platform lowers as each layer is applied, building from the top down.

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What is 3D printing?

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