Back in the day, when I delivered newspapers on porches, driveways and peoples mailboxes, I had no idea Id spend a life pursuing the dream of writing in those things. As I began to work myself into the mix school publications, internships with the dailies, college and, eventually, hooking on with a full-time job I had to laugh at the irony of the business.

There were war correspondents risking their lives, political beat writers battling the back-and-forth misery and hypocrisy of those serving in office, not to mention cop reporters scanning the daily police logs in search of stories throughout all those naked cities.

Back at the office, there were people selling advertising, backroom workers piecing together newspapers, plus the ink-stained pressmen risking mangled fingers in all that machinery.

All those people college-educated, lifelong technicians and trained sales people were each in pursuit of the same goal: To develop and publish a daily newspaper, which one former editor used to call, History on the run.

Those days? Gone forever.

Thats why Im on the fence about the way pro football teams might be viewing the candidacy of Ronnie Fouch, the ex-Redlands East Valley QB, whos seeking a career in the National Football League.

In the old days, guys scouted kids playing a college game, try and size them up and bring them along slowly if they got drafted and eventually made an NFL roster. Today, its a whole new game. Anyone hear of the scouting combine?

On the surface, after viewing Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Ryan Griffin III, most casual observers would say, Ronnies got no chance.

Luck and RG II are trailed by the new hot guy, Ryan Tannehill.Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State, Brock Osweiler of Arizona State and Michigan States Kirk Cousins, who threw well at the combine, are more pro-ready right now. Tannehill could go as high as eight to Miami, to be reunited with his former college coach at Texas A&M, Mike Sherman, on Joe Philbins new Dolphin coaching staff.

Among the NFL combine experts we heard from, Tannehills got some gaps in his game and could be picked higher than he should go, the same way Christian Ponder and Jake Locker went higher than most football people expected last April.

See more here:
Here’s an idea in search of a good pro QB

New Valley development usually translates to a sea of red tile roofs and cul-de-sacs, but Mesa has drawn a line in the sand against bland suburbia in one emerging part of the city.

Mesa leaders are demanding an urban approach that was typical a century ago, with front porches and neighborhood amenities close enough to encourage walking instead of driving. The anti-suburban sentiment even applies to gas stations, as officials dont want prime intersections dominated by a field of fuel pumps.

This urban push is taking place by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, where developers are reviving plans that went on hold during the recession. The latest proposal is from Pacific Proving LLC, which is preparing to build homes and some commercial development on 484 acres on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Ray roads.

Pacific Proving plans to build a downtown-like development at the communitys entrance and avoid the typical suburban design. Zoning attorney Paul Gilbert said much of the work will be done by Harvard Investments, a Canadian firm that built much of the downtown skyline in Regina, the capitol city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Mesa wants the area around Gateway to become one of the Valleys largest employment centers, with mid-rise buildings in an urban setting.

Vice Mayor Scott Somers represents the area and said he envisions something like Phoenixs Willow Historic District or the more modern Agritopia in Gilbert. He liked much of the plan but questioned whether it went far enough.

How are you going to make housing stock that is not only complementary to the airport, but doesnt have that suburban design, suburban feel, suburban sameness that weve had up until now? he said. Some of this looks pretty good but some elements of this plan still feel a little suburban to me.

He also wants the developer to look at other urban developments to see how gas stations can have a more attractive appearance.

The development will be defined by a formal street grid system with short blocks and tree-lined streets to encourage walking, zoning attorney Susan Demmitt said. All homes would be within 300 feet of a park, open space or trail. And Pacific Proving will work to blend different areas into each other by avoiding walls around shopping centers or neighborhoods.

Were really trying to encourage, in the architecture and design, things like front porches, houses closer to the street, so that you have an engaged and lively street scene, Demmitt said.

Continue reading here:
Mesa says bland suburbia not welcome by Gateway airport

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Snooki's Pregnant, Engaged to Jionni LaValle

Porches arent just stylish; theyre also green. Instead of sitting in conditioned space, buyers are encouraged to relax outside. And unlike some other energy-saving features, this one brings impressive curb appeal.

A metal roof covers the wide front porch of this charming country home. Yet it offers much more than just great style: this floor plan is designed for the busy lifestyles of families today. The large great room offers a gas log fireplace, a 10-foot ceiling, and a perfect place to entertain guests. The well-equipped kitchen boasts a raised bar, a walk-in pantry, and easy access to the neighboring dining room. In the master suite, buyers will love the tray ceiling, large walk-in closet, dual lavatories, jet tub, separate shower, and enclosed toilet. For more images, information, and the floor plan, click here.

Though this plan isn't particularly large 1,891 square feet, to be exactit boasts a wraparound porch, three garage bays, an open kitchen with a snack-bar island, and much more. Buyer will love the master suite's large walk-in closet and the optional game room upstairs. For more images, information, and the floor plan, click here.

See the rest here:
Country Porches

Having a baby sure changes things.

Just ask Jersey Shores Nicole Snooki Polizzi, the hellion-turned-homebody who, after weeks of speculation and denial, finally admitted that she is expecting a bundle of joy.

No more peeing on porches. Those days are over, said Polizzi, who is in her 15th week of pregnancy.

The pint-sized, pouf-haired party girl, known for her wild reality TV antics, tells Us Weekly magazine she is a changed woman now that motherhood is around the corner.

Though shes excited now about the prospect of being parents with fianc Jionni LaValle, bliss wasnt exactly her first reaction.

Getty Images

WITH CHILD: Dad-to-be Jionni LaValle lives it up with then-immature Snooki last summer, before the pregnancy.

S--t, she said to herself at the time. Ive been drinking. I was worried. It was New Years Eve and we were in Vegas, so I did go crazy.

Viewers know that crazy is practically Polizzis middle name. Her antics include a 2010 arrest for creating a public nuisance and an all-out brawl with roommate Angelina Pivarnick over a guy.

And, of course, theres that whole peeing on the porch thing.

Read more:
Snooki’s baby talk

It's official. Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is pregnant and engaged, and the breakout star of MTV's "Jersey Shore" is vowing that her days of peeing on porches are over.

She also said she won't film any "Jersey Shore" this summer.

In an interview with Us Weekly magazine, Polizzi said: "If anything, I'll visit the shore. I'm not living in that house being pregnant. I don't want to be one of those moms who's pregnant in a club. It's disgusting."

The pint-sized 24-year-old and the unborn baby's father, 24-year-old Jionni LaValle, ended weeks of speculation by opening up to the magazine about their happy news, discussing the baby's gender, Polizzi's morning sickness and weird food cravings, and how they plan to parent.

Polizzi had been denying the pregnancy rumors for weeks, and told the magazine she didn't want to share the news before the end of her first trimester.

"I wanted to make sure the baby is OK. Things can go wrong, like a miscarriage. It was my business, and I wasn't ready to tell," she said.

Even though the baby wasn't planned, she and LaValle said they were ecstatic when they found out - and went through five pregnancy tests to be sure.

Albert Lee, the executive editor of Us, told "Good Morning America" that Polizzi noticed shortly after the new year that she could be pregnant.

"Snooki and Jionni were in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, they were partying it up, ringing in the new year, the week after that Snooki noticed she was a week late and she actually told us that she always carries a pregnancy test with her, and whenever she's late, she does a test just to make sure. She said her first thought was that she freaked out because she did go out and party quite a bit on New Year's Eve, but obviously those days are now over for her, she's done with the booze, she's done with the partying. She's fine with putting all that on the back burner while she prepares for motherhood," Lee said."

But not everyone was as happy about her impending motherhood, she revealed.

Read the rest here:
It's official: Snooki's pregnant, engaged

The Lancaster County couple accused of stealing dozens of holiday packages off of local doorsteps is now slapped with another 30 theft charges.

Both Christopher and Patricia Burnett of Manheim Township now face a total of 45 theft charges each for allegedly stealing several packages off of local properties throughout the holiday season.

Adam Frederick of Manheim Township says he and his neighbors were relieved to hear that the couple who allegedly stole several holiday packages off of local front porches last December were caught and charged.

I just went door to door thinking maybe it got delivered to the wrong house, Frederick added.

But now Frederick and his fellow victims know the truth. 40-year-old Christopher Burnett and 37-year-old Patricia Burnett of Lititz Pike were charged with 15 counts of theft in January.

Just this week, Manheim Township Police slapped the couple with another 30 theft charges each.

Im sorry that if they had fallen upon hard times and didnt have anywhere else to turn in the holiday season, Frederick told CBS 21. The rest of us work hard for what we have and I dont think should take stuff from other people.

CBS 21 News stopped by the Burnetts Manheim Township home Wednesday; no one came to the door.

Police say the couple stole upwards of $6,000 worth of items between December 9 and January 5. Some of the stolen property was recovered from the suspects home.

The District Justices office tells us that all 45 theft charges are misdemeanors. The couple is expected to be arraigned next month.

Read more:
Couple who stole Christmas packages off porches face more charges

Frank McGee (second from left) assisted team members as they drilled in reinforcements

The smell and sound of sawdust and power tools greets those visiting a Fishers of Men worksite.

For the last four years, the Sunday school class from P.G. Baptist Church has made it their mission to help those in need by constructing wheelchair ramps and porches for the disabled and elderly.

Since January of this year, the group has completed eight different projects.

Weve built six ramps and two porches, said group leader Tommy Hendley. We work at least one day a week on projects.

The Fishers of Men Sunday school class has an ever-growing list of projects, so, because of this, schedules are made out in advance.

We usually have lists made up three weeks out, Hendley stated. We try to do these projects on a need basis. If someone is really sick or having a hard time getting in and out, we try to help them first.

Building a handicap ramp has become a usual thing for the group of men.

We can build a ramp in a day, said Hendley. Sometimes people have the money to buy the materials, sometimes the housing coalition helps and then some of the projects we pay for ourselves.

Just last week, the group used their own funds to build a $700 handicap ramp for an individual in McDowell.

The rest is here:
Fishers of Men taking on projects to benefit community

Residents of the Bishops Landing subdivision off Route 139 can see the tombstones from their back porches.

From some of the townhouses in the complex, the cemetery cant be more than 40 or 50 feet away.

So when bacterial contamination started to show up in the developments wells, people started to, as one town official put it, put two and two together.

The implication is gruesome, but state and local officials wont say directly that the cemetery is responsible for the contamination.

But whats certain is that the water in the wells is no good, and Bishops Landing residents will be footing the bill for the fix.

The 23-unit complex had been using a four-well water system for more than 20 years that was never registered with the state, a Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said last week.

The system is too close to, in addition to the graveyard, Route 139 and the paved access road to the cemetery all sources of potential groundwater contamination, officials say.

Health Agent Sandra Gabriel said she got a call from state Department of Environmental Protection in July of 2010 saying that E.coli bacteria had been found in the water.

There have been quite a number (of tests) with total coliform bacteria in the water, said Ed Coletta of the DEP.

Gabriel went to the development to advise residents to boil water before drinking it. She said the Board of Health has been working closely with the neighbors.

More:
Are cemetery bodies polluting Stoughton wells?

BUILDING PERMITS

Boulder

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Feb. 20 and Feb. 26, 2012. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2012-00017; 2015 Bluebell Ave.; $150,612.38; Judith Volc; Pine Construction Co.; Second story addition of 804 square feet (conditioned), significant remodel on main level plus main level addition at location of demolished existing attached garage, and new attached garage. 364 square feet in decks and porches.

PMT2012-00432; 2119 Mapleton Ave.; $140,000; Judy and Eli Godec; Remodel of master bedroom and addition of 57 square feet on second floor of existing single-family detached home. Remodel of main floor kitchen and breakfast area and half bath. Repair of foundation, increase of basement ceiling height and basement finish.

PMT2012-00675; 3326 Loyola Court; $11,450; Allison McComiskey; Napp Landscape Service Inc.; Replacement of existing front yard deck with 302-square-foot deck, approximately 74 inches above grade.

PMT2012-00355; 800 Arapahoe Ave.; $185,000; Historic Boulder; Permeation grouting along sides and below foundation walls, installation of mechanical ties at cracks in masonry walls including repair or replacement of missing brick, and redirection of roof drainage and surface water to include back filling and site grading; all as detailed on landmark alteration certificate application dated Dec. 30, 2012. Owner/contractor.

PMT2012-00640; 3185 Endicott Drive; Eric Koehler and Holly Burton; Lookout -- The Renovation Company; Basement finish of 465 square feet to create a family room (with egress), storage closet, finished storage area (wall must be less than 7 inches apart), full bathroom and mechanical room.

PMT2011-04046; 2210 Howard Place; $18,473.85; John and Susan Fontaine; Renew Construction LLC; Addition of 183-square-foot greenhouse at rear of single-family residence. Scope of work includes associated electrical and mechanical.

PMT2012-00723; 4120 S. Hampton Circle; $40,424.03; John and Laurel Hickman; Hickman Construction Inc.; Partial basement finish of 491 square feet including a rec. room and full bath.

Read more here:
Boulder building permits: March 5, 2012