MATTOON (JG-TC) -- Construction work is continuing on a 5,200-square-foot Wellness Wing addition to the west side of the Mattoon Area Family YMCA building.

YMCA Executive Director Tony Sparks said last week that contractors have started working on the foundation for the two new fitness rooms and are scheduled to begin setting up the steel frames for the addition soon. The addition is set to be completed this spring

Sparks said the approximately 3,000-square-foot room will be used to accommodate large groups in the YMCA's fitness programs. He said the smaller 2,000-square-foot room will be dedicated for use by senior citizens and those who are beginners to exercising regularly.

The YMCA anticipates that there will be opportunities to offer community health programs in the smaller fitness room in partnership with the Sarah Bush Lincoln Center for Healthy Living, Sparks said. Fast walks and other exercise are great defenses against heart disease, he added.

Sparks said the YMCA administration and board found that there is still a need for more space to serve growing membership and program enrollment following the December 2011 completion of its expansion and renovation project.

"We view this an an extension of the project we did three years ago," Sparks said.

Opening the two new fitness rooms will enable the YMCA to repurpose the existingBlue Fitness Studio this spring for permanent use by youth programs, Sparks said. The youth programs have been shuttling back and forth between various rooms in recent years, he said.

Sparks said the YMCA's current expansion and renovation project,budgeted at just under $800,000, also has included enlarging the stretching area in the Wellness Center by 60 percent and upgrading the electrical system there to accommodate new cardio equipment.

Contact Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6861.

The rest is here:
Construction of YMCA addition underway

Portsmouth, NH (PRWEB) December 18, 2014

New England based Ocean Properties, Ltd. (OPL) has broken ground on the development of a brand-new Residence Inn in Bangor, Maine. The new 124-room, five story hotel is located on 45 Dutton Street in Bangor. The location will also feature a 150-seat restaurant called Timber Kitchen and Bar. The new hotel is located near the highway, casino, and waterfront concerts and is directly next to the Cross Insurance Center, which will make it a very busy and popular property.

Ocean Properties, Ltd. has a long standing history in Bangor and the state of Maine, where Tom Walsh started his company over 50 years ago. In the succeeding years, the Walsh family has developed and expanded its origins in Maine, operating several hotels with over 1,400 guestrooms in the state as well as golf courses, marinas, and whale watching tours. In addition to the Bangor Residence Inn, OPL is currently building an 86-room Residence Inn in Bath, Maine, currently scheduled to open in the fall of 2015.

Even after tremendous success throughout North America, the heart of the Walsh family belongs to Maine, where it all started, said Peter Connell, an Ocean Properties, Ltd. Executive. OPL is dedicated to creating more jobs in Maine. For this particular project in Bangor, OPL has already committed to using over 15 Maine-based companies for the development, design and construction of the project.

One of the most exciting features of the project is Timber Kitchen & Bar, a full service 150-seat restaurant, bar and lounge named to honor Bangors rich history in the lumber industry. With its own entrance and street presence, Timber will offer both indoor and outdoor patio seating, a handcrafted bar and lounge area with a large communal table, a chefs table overlooking a wood burning oven and private rooms for parties and small gatherings.

The new restaurant will offer a loose-tie atmosphere encouraging guests to relax and unwind after a long day of either work or play. The dcor will couple both texture and warmth from various timber species mixed with softer design elements for an overall inviting and energizing dining experience.

Residence Inn Bangor will be an all-suite hotel for long and short term stays. The first floor will house the hotels lobby and reception, common areas and conference rooms. The hotel will also feature a large hearth room with buffet area, indoor pool and spa, fitness room, outdoor patio, meeting room, business center and guest laundry.

A hard-hat event is planned for early next year to unveil the project to media and local executives. For more information on this project, or to be invited to the event, please contact Peter Connell at Peter.Connell(at)oceanprop(dot)com

# # #

Ocean Properties, Ltd. & Affiliates

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Ocean Properties Ltd. to Open New Residence Inn by Marriott and Timber Kitchen & Bar in Bangor, Maine

New Children's Winter Reading Club

The new Children's Winter Reading Club is for children in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Registration begins Monday, January 5, 2015 at 9:30AM in the Children's Room and is ongoing until February 25, 2015. Children will read books and fill out review cards. For books under 100 pages, children will receive one review card for each book they read. For books over 100 pages, children will receive one review card for the book plus one review card for every additional 100 pages read. Children must read age-appropriate books. Once children have completed five book review cards, they will receive at invitation to the Children's Chinese Auction on February 26, 2015. Book review cards can then be used as raffle tickets during the auction. Parents are encouraged to make sure the name of their child is legible on their cards. The more you read, the more chances you have of winning!

Children's Winter Reading Club: Children's Chinese Auction

Children in Grades K-5 who completed the requirements of the Children's Winter Reading Club will receive an invitation for themselves and a parent or adult caregiver to attend the Children's Chinese Auction on Thursday, February 26 from 6:00PM- 7:00PM. At the auction, children can use their book review cards earned during the Children's Winter Reading Club as raffle tickets to win prizes. Registration for the Winter Reading Club begins Monday, January 5 at 9:30AM in the Children's Room and ends Wednesday, February 25. Books must be read between January 5, 2015 and February 25, 2015 and must be ageappropriate. Children should be accompanied by an adult caregiver during the Chinese auction at all times. Children must be present at the auction to win a raffle from the auction. Prizes, including the amount available, will be determined by the prize donations received from outside organizations.

Winter Program Registration Begins January 5, 2015

Registration for Winter programs is scheduled to begin Monday, January 5, 2015 at 9:30AM. Registration for storytimes and special programs can be done online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Registration for book discussions and the Winter Reading Club must be done in person in the Children's Room. For more information about Children's storytimes, book discussions, and special programs, check online on Eventkeeper or in the Children's Room for our winter flyers.

Lapsit Storytime

Lapsit Storytime is a storytime for children ages 6 months-17 months and an adult caregiver. This is a 20 minute program. Sign up is for one session. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend the storytime. Each child needs his or her own Library Card to register. Please arrive promptly. If you are late, your spot may be given to someone on the waitlist for that day.

Session I (born August 2013 - July 2014):

Tuesdays at 9:45AM: January 20 - February 24, except February 17.

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News from the Children's Room

Bobby Miller Center Addition

Jim Davis, program manager with Harrison Construction, talks to Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Bobby Miller and Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority executive director Gary Minor at the addition to the Bobby Miller Center in Tuscaloosa Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. The addition will include an indoor playground, rock climbing wall and two racquetball courts. Construction is expected to be completed by the spring of 2015.

The Bobby Miller Activity Center in Taylorville will soon feature everything from a rock-climbing wall to racquetball courts to a multistory indoor playground.

On Wednesday the Tuscaloosa County Commission unanimously approved $597,000 out of its reserves to furnish an addition to the activity center. The 11,000-square-foot addition, which is under construction and set to open in March, will expand the activity center to around 50,000 square feet, making it the second largest in the county, said Gary Minor, executive director of the Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority.

The money will also be used to buy some updated workout equipment for the center and allow free aerobics classes for members. A party room will be located near an expansive indoor playground area, and the two racquetball courts will be the only public courts available in Tuscaloosa County, Minor said.

The improvements were chosen based on community input, Minor said.

If the building included only a gym, the furnishing cost would have been around $300,000 instead of close to $600,000, but Minor said he expects the new features to attract more users and more money.

Commissioner Bobby Miller, for whom the center is named, agreed.

The commission worked with PARA real well to make this happen, Miller said. I'm tickled to death.

The new amenities will mean a higher cost for users, Minor said. Although PARA has no exact figures on rate increases, rates will likely increase similar to what users pay for the Faucett Brothers Activity Center in Northport.

See the article here:
$600K approved for improvements at Bobby Miller Activity Center in Taylorville

River Oaks is a well-known wonderland for local light peepers. Driving in from all over the city, Houstonians clog the tony neighborhood's streets during the holidays to take in glittering mansions lavished in festive finery, including impressively wrapped oak trees and Santa sleigh displays.

What the general public usually doesn't see, however, is that the seasonal splendor continues indoors, from glorious mantels to tasteful tablescapes - especially if Regina Gust is involved.

In this Sunday's Escapes section, the Houston-based seasonal and event designer takes us inside one of the River Oaks mansions where her thoughtful decorative skill is on display.

She doesn't just work in River Oaks, either. Gust dresses up about 50 homes around town every holiday season, in addition to commercial spaces; the 20-foot tree glowing in the lobby of the Lyric Centre downtown is her handiwork.

Take a spin through our slideshow to see some of Gust's luxe projects this year. You may even find something to inspire you to create your own winter wonderland in 2015.

For more information about Regina Gust, go to http://www.reginagust.com.

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Luxe holiday dcor by Houston's go-to seasonal designer

ST. PETERSBURG A small fire damaged a custodial office at Lakewood Elementary School early Wednesday, principal Cynthia Kidd said.

School will remain in session on Wednesday, she said, and there was no structural damage to the building. There was some smoke damage in the cafeteria, physical education room and music room, in addition to the custodial office, according to Kidd.

"It's perfectly sound, but it's going to take some time for that to clear out," the principal said.

The district will deliver breakfast and lunch to students Wednesday, Kidd said, and administrators notified parents of the fire in a recorded call. Kidd said the brief blaze was not suspicious and may have been electrical.

The principal said she arrived at Lakewood about 2:10 a.m., just minutes after alarms sounded. A school worker who lives near the building called her first.

Shortly before dawn Wednesday, news trucks huddled beside a side entrance to the elementary school. The sooty office was blocked off by yellow caution tape and some charred debris spilled out of the entry.

Classes were set to start at at 8:35 a.m.

Lakewood Elementary to open as usual after small fire 12/17/14 [Last modified: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 7:10am] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Lakewood Elementary to open as usual after small fire

New York, New York (PRWEB) December 16, 2014

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Carbon War Room (CWR)two leading nonprofits tackling climate change through market-based solutionsare aligning to catalyze an energy revolution that can unlock the greatest wealth-creating opportunity in modern history, the organizations announced today. RMI and CWR will together leverage the agile power of markets to combat climate change, bolster economic prosperity, and tackle other social and environmental issues created by the global dependence on fossil fuels. The organizations alliance will multiply their respective impacts by jointly accelerating demand and financing for low-carbon solutions that are technically feasible and cost effective today.

For the past five years, CWR has punched well above its weight, leveraging the creativity and convening power of fellow entrepreneurs to tackle climate challenge. By marrying Rocky Mountain Institutes analytical rigor and energy-system expertise with CWRs bold and agile entrepreneurial approach, together we can go further, faster," said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Carbon War Room.

The merged organization will leverage their complementary DNAmarket-based, independent, non-partisanand the distinct strengths of each to accelerate businesses, markets, and industries to a tipping point where clean energy solutions develop unstoppable momentum.

For more than 32 years, RMI had partnered with industry and business with significant successes in transforming energy use across the transportation, buildings, industrial, and electricity sectors, said Amory Lovins, RMI co-founder, chief scientist, and chairman emeritus. Now, we can capitalize on Carbon War Rooms proven ability to engage and excite corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to rally around innovative ideas and take action.

Current RMI CEO Jules Kortenhorst will lead the alliance, while current CWR president Jos Maria Figueres will chair a single, combined Board of Trustees.

RMI and CWRs first joint program, the Ten Island Challenge, launched earlier this year. It is laying the groundwork to shift Caribbean island energy systems from dependence on expensive, dirty imported diesel to economies powered by clean, efficient, and renewable sources. Already under way in six countriesAruba, Colombia, the Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Turks and Caicosthe Ten Island Challenge will also demonstrate that entire economies can adopt low-carbon solutions while boosting private investment, enhancing and diversifying the local job market, and opening greater socioeconomic development opportunities.

Private-sector organizations like RMI and CWR have the independence and flexibility to convene the right players in the right markets, Figueres said. The real barrier is slow adoption rates, not inadequate technologies or lack of opportunities. The alliance can expand pockets of innovation and rapidly bring them to scale.

In addition to joint efforts in the Caribbean, RMI and CWR are also jointly working to mobilize impact in the following sectors:

Renewable, Distributed Electricity: Bringing clean, competitive distributed renewable energy solutions such as rooftop solar to scale through the development and implementation of markets that unleash untapped value for utilities, solar companies, technology providers, and customers

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Rocky Mountain Institute and Carbon War Room Merge in Strategic Alliance

HAMILTON, Ohio -- The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office said Monday the fire that killed three children in Hamilton started in the living room of their rental home Friday.

Investigators stopped short of saying what caused the blaze at 135 Franklin St., according to state fire marshal spokesperson Lindsey Burnworth. But she said there was a Christmas tree, heaters and electric outlets in the room.

Burnworth said it was too soon for investigations to determine what sparked the fire that killedAlex Flores-Ortiz, 7, and his sisters,SiclaliFlores-Ortiz, 10, andYeseniaFlores-Ortiz, 12.

RELATED:'Tragedy after tragedy:' Fire Marshal starts investigation in Hamilton fire that killed 3 children

Flores-Ortiz family members had earlier said Crystal Flores, the children's mother,believed the tree fell over in the living room and started the fire.

Trevor Snider, a Hamilton Fire Department investigator assisting in the case, said investigators found three battery-powered smoke detectors in the house.

"There was one on each floor," he said. "And, in addition, there was one on the first floor. Both were quite heavily damaged. One was actually missing to the point we could not check if it was operational or if it had a battery in it. The one on the second floor did have a battery and there was one in the basement with a battery."

Ismael"Michael" Flores-Ortiz, the children's father, remained at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Ismael's sister told the Journal News on Monday that her brother suffered severe burns when he ran into the fire and tried to save his children trapped in their bedroom. He is improving, she said.

Crystal Flores and the couple's 2-year-old Anthony were treated and released from Fort Hamilton Hospital. A 9-year-old escaped the fire without injury.

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Fire Marshal: Deadly fire started in living room

Norma Tiefel pauses for a moment as she steps up from the pool deck into her outdoor loggia, leading a visitor on a tour of her extensively renovated home, Pelican Hall, which was built in 1937 in the Estate Section. With her are husband Bill and their architect, Jeffery Smith.

Surveying the poolside pavilion, she explains that the loggia was much smaller when the former owners added it nearly 30 years ago.

I said to Jeff, We dont have a big enough loggia. Triple it, she recalls. Do you remember that, Jeff?

Do I remember? responds Smith, his wry smile indicating that indeed he does.

The loggia, today, is expansive, large enough for a sitting area, a dining table and a bar facing the new pool.

Enlarging the loggia was just one detail in a complex, three-year renovation and expansion project that was honored Friday by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. During a luncheon at The Breakers, the Tiefels accepted the annual Robert I. Ballinger Award, which recognizes historically sensitive renovation projects at large estates.

Back in the loggia, Bill Tiefel directs his guests attention to the wall behind the bar. On it is displayed a slatted bamboo screen from the 1920s, painted with an Asian scene. Bill presses a button, and to his obvious delight, the screen raises to reveal a flat-screen television.

His wife explains that she was glad to have found a suitable spot for the antique screen, which she had acquired years before the couple bought Pelican Hall in 2008; the matching screen is in the cabana bath directly opposite the bar.

If you own it, use it, she says. I want things around me that are meaningful.

Decorating philosophy explained

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Reimagining Pelican Hall

Vestavia Room Addition Contractor | Home Remodel | Birmingham, Hoover, Pelham, Trussville, AL
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