The organization that runs the Washington County Fair is focusing on far more than sheep and rabbits and cows and quilts.

The Washington County Agricultural Society is trying to lure the Taste of Minnesota and is discussing plans for a park-and-ride and a new access point off Manning Avenue.

It also recently added 23 acres to its 89-acre property in Baytown Township.

"We're going to keep our tradition, but we've opened the fairgrounds up to a lot of new things," said Dan Dolan, president of the agricultural society.

One of the biggest new things could be Taste of Minnesota 2015.

Ag society officials will be at the Baytown Township board meeting Jan. 5 to discuss the possibility. The summer festival, held for the past few years at Harriet Island in St. Paul, was forced to move to the Carver County Fairgrounds in Waconia last year because of Mississippi River flooding.

"They came to us last year, but Washington County couldn't respond quick enough," Dolan said. "We're hoping to get it this year. We have a denser population to draw from."

Taste of Minnesota organizer Linda Maddox said the festival still is exploring venue options for 2015 and hopes to make a final decision within the next few weeks.

The 275-space park-and-ride would be run by Metro Transit, which would like to start a weekday, rush-hour express bus route in the Minnesota 36 corridor to serve eastern Washington County's growing population and traffic from the new St. Croix River bridge. The route would run to downtown Minneapolis.

The area currently is served by an express route between downtown St. Paul and the St. Croix Valley Recreational Center in Stillwater, where there are 100 park-and-ride spots.

Originally posted here:
Washington County: Group sees room for growth at fair's site

Santa Rosa, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2014

SuperCloset raises the bar once again, with the 2x4 and 5x5 SuperClone Rooms. SuperCloset continues to offer indoor growers the most efficient and effective indoor hydroponic grow solutions. Pair one of the new SuperClone Rooms with the award winning SuperRooms for a truly professional, perpetual, and turnkey indoor hydroponic grow room setup.

The SuperClone Room features the most effective cloner in the world, SuperClosets SuperPonic SuperCloner 50. The SuperClone Room pairs this world class cloner with the best grow tent in the industry, Gorilla Grow Tent. This grow package is lit by a pair of Sun Blaze T-5 fixtures and hung from adjustable heavy duty light hangers. Additionally, the SuperClone Room is fitted with a Phresh carbon filter, fans, safety features, cloning stands, soil pots for mothering plants, and everything else you need to successfully get your crop started. SuperCloset has made cloning super easy with the addition of the SuperClone Room to its portfolio of super products. Clone with ease the very first, and every time, with the SuperCloneRoom from SuperCloset. Available in both 2x4 & 5x5 Setups.

About SuperCloset: SuperCloset products are perfect for the novice hobbyist through master grower as every imaginable high quality component comes with the grow boxes and hydroponics systems. Because of the excellent layout design and support material included with each system, most SuperCloset customers are up and growing within 90 minutes of receiving their product. SuperCloset takes the guesswork out of growing so their customers can focus on the fun and not the fabrication of indoor gardening systems.

Original post:
SuperCloset Continues to Innovate with New Complete Indoor Grow Room Packages, The SuperClone Rooms are the Newest ...

John Podesta, Mike Boots December 16, 2014 01:24 PM EST

Seafood fraud can happen at any point in the supply chain, undermining law-abiding fishers and misleading consumers. (Photo credit: NOAA)

Americas fisheries drive coastal economies and put food on the tables of families across the country. Unfortunately, the twin global issues of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud undermine the economic and environmental sustainability of fisheries and fish stocks.

Global losses attributable to IUU fishing are estimated at $10 billion to $23 billion annually. Pirate fishing vessels take in fish without regard to the sustainability of ocean ecosystems. Not required to file trip plans or carry transponders, the ships roam the oceans in the shadows and become vectors for human, drug, and arms trafficking. Black-market fishing distorts legal markets and displaces law-abiding fishermen, ultimately serving as a drag on the global economy. These challenges can be compounded by seafood fraud the mislabeling, misbranding, or falsification of product origins which can occur at any point in the supply chain.

Today, the federal task force on combatting IUU fishing and seafood fraud released its final recommendations to tackle these complex challenges. President Obama announced the creation of the task force at the State Departments Our Ocean conference in June, and for the last six months, under the leadership of NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan and Under Secretary of State Cathy Novelli, representatives from 14 agencies have come together to answer the Presidents call to action.

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The White House Blog | The White House

By Stan Schroeder2014-12-19 11:52:27 UTC

Candles are often used for decoration, or to make a room smell like lilacs, but can you use them for heating?

According to an IndieGogo project called Egloo, you can with the addition of terracotta pots.

Candles in the base of Egloo heat a small, inner terracotta dome to about 300 F. The inner dome warms up the outer dome, as well as the air in the space between the two domes.

The project claims its heating system can raise the temperature of the environment surrounding the Egloo by two to three degrees.

And people seem certain it will do just that. In just five days, the project has surpassed its goal of $30,000.

Egloos touting its creation as a means of heating your room for 10 cents a day.

No further explanation is given for this estimation, but it probably means you need to find some very cheap candles for example, we've found 125 candles for $15 on Amazon, making them 12 cents a piece and Egloo needs four candles to work optimally for five hours, per the project's description.

Furthermore, the project seems to be based on an idea of a do-it-yourself candle heater that's been floating around the Internet for years. Many have tried to prove or debunk it, with the consensus being that while such a heater does work, it's probably insufficient to heat anything but a very small room, with the additional hazard of combustion by-products polluting the air in your living space.

If youd like to snag an Egloo of your own, head over to Indiegogo. You can pick up the base model for $60.

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Candle heater captures the hearts of funders on Indiegogo

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