The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is likely to make its flood control room functional later this week, to manage waterlogging issues in the district during monsoon, officials said on Tuesday.

This year, we are setting up the flood control room early as Gurugram has been receiving rainfall at frequent intervals in the past few weeks. We usually take a timeline of monsoon arrival by July 1 and make it functional by then, but this year, preparations started early. At present, the negotiations for setting up the flood control room are done, and we are waiting for a final approval from senior officials, following which, it will be functional by the end of this week, said a senior official, infrastructure-II division, GMDA.

The flood control room ensures that waterlogging issues being reported by the people are resolved at the earliest, with workers and machinery available on time for smooth functioning of the stormwater system during the monsoon.

Usually, two people manage the work at suchflood control rooms, but the information about this facility is yet to be released.

The GMDA had invited tenders last month, and it set a deadline of June 1 for companies to submit proposals for the flood control room worth 69 lakh.

This year, the authority has arranged for six temporary additional suction pumps that will be used in addition to the permanent ones placed at critical points. They will also make arrangements for super sucker machines in case of heavy waterlogging during the peak monsoon.

At a few critical points, like Narsinghpur service lanes, water can be removed from the streetsonlyby using machinery,saidtheofficials.The authority plans to deploy pumping sets and diesel generator sets at these locations, so that the work is not hampered during power cuts. Places such as Golf Course Roadunderpass, Sheeba Apartments in Sector 28, and Hero Honda Chowk among others, are some of the critical locations.

In 2019, the GMDA had placed eight dewatering pump sets, four tractor-mounted suction pumps, one earthmover, two super sucker machines, and 5,000 gunny bagsat a flood control room in Sector 53. About10 people worked there 24X7, in shifts.

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GMDAs flood control room to be functional by this week - Hindustan Times

Joe Adgie / The Newnan Times-Herald

Cowetans whose homes were destroyed or are unlivable because of the tornado (or any other reason such as a fire) are exempt from paying the 8 percent hotel-motel tax but many paying for stays were not aware of it until recently.

Local groups paying for the lodging of tornado victims allege some hotel and motel operators have not been following state and local guidelines regarding tax exemptions in the wake of a disaster.

In Coweta County and the city of Newnan, there is an 8 percent hotel-motel tax charged on hotel stays but local ordinances and state law provide exemptions for hotel stays related to property that was destroyed in a disaster.

Local hotel operators were reminded of the exemption by county and city officials several weeks ago, and some have been cooperative in not charging the taxes or in granting refunds for taxes already charged.

Others have been less easy to deal with, according to local nonprofit organizations that are paying for a large number of hotel rooms for those impacted by the March 26 tornado.

In addition to the disaster exemption, local hotel-motel taxes, as well as the $5 per night state charge, can't be charged on "extended stays" of over 30 nights.

The tax is charged on the first 30 nights, but isn't allowed to be charged on nights 31 and above. The 30-night provision remains even if someone moves to a different room in the same hotel.

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's regulations, the consecutive stays in different rooms add up to the 30-day extended stay regardless of whether the right to occupy the room is granted under separate, successive contracts," as long as the customer's days of consecutive occupancy are not interrupted.

Local nonprofits have received reports of hotels making clients check out and then check back in to avoid it becoming an extended stay.

For the disaster exemption, the local ordinance language reads: "the tax imposed by this article shall not apply to: charges made for any rooms, lodgings or accommodations provided to any persons who certify that they are staying in such room, lodging or accommodate as a result of the destruction of their home or residence by fire or other casualty."

To receive the exemption, the person occupying the hotel room must certify that their home was destroyed, said Newnan City Manager Cleatus Phillips.

"I think most people were unaware and did not submit the certification," he said. Though the ordinance states "destroyed," Phillips said he thinks any home that received a "red card" listing the property as unsafe would qualify.

However, if people who should have been exempt did pay the tax, it is the responsibility of the hotel to refund them, Phillips said.

"The individuals should make the request to the hotels and that request should include the certification," he said. The hotel can then issue the tax refund, and adjust their tax remittance for the following month to show credit for the refund.

"Our hotels were notified of this refund process several weeks ago," Phillips said. "If anyone has an issue with this process, they should notify us immediately."

The city manager's office can be contacted at 770-254-2358 or cphillips@cityofnewnan.org .

Coweta County sent out a letter to the 10 hotels in the unincorporated county on June 1, according to County Administrator Michael Fouts.

The letter states "it has been brought to our attention that some of the hotels in Coweta County are continuing to charge the hotel-motel excise tax for these individuals who were affected by this declared disaster," and lists the county ordinance language for the exemption.

"Coweta County hereby requests that all hotels comply with this regulation regarding exemption of the hotel-motel excise tax for these affected individuals in accordance with the code of ordinances, Fouts writes.

Hotel operators should contact Fouts at mfouts@coweta.ga.us or 770-254-2601 with questions.

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Many disaster-related hotel stays should have been tax exempt - Newnan Times-Herald

David Dennis Jr., a freelance journalist, educator and commentator based in Atlanta, Ga., has joined The Undefeated full-time as a senior writer covering music for the culture vertical of the ESPN multimedia content initiative on sports, race and culture. A frequent contributor to The Undefeated, Dennis will also write long- and short-form pieces on other topics at the intersection of race, culture and sports.

Dennis will begin his new role with The Undefeated on Monday, June 21.

With David officially joining the team, we are fast-tracking thecontinued expansion of our Culture vertical,said Raina Kelley, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, The Undefeated.David is at home within The Undefeated brand and will continue to deliver the brilliant and thought-provoking stories hes well known for. Thathes starting during Black Music Appreciation Month is an absolute bonus.

Dennis joins The Undefeated after ten years as a critically-acclaimed and award-winning writer whose work has appeared inThe Atlantic, The Washington Post,Atlantamagazine,HuffPost,Medium, and more. His articles for The Undefeated ranged widely, from a sweeping history of the Black communitys involvement insocial mediato an assessment of rapperKanye Wests career and a look at actressHalle Berrys filmography after the debacle ofCatwoman.

This year, Dennis received the 2021 American Mosaic Journalism Award for his work, including an Atlanta magazinestory Ahmaud Arbery Will Not Be Erased a reflective piece about the young Black man killed while jogging in Brunswick, Ga. Based on confidential nominations from about 150 entries, a panel of 10 journalists from top-tier media outlets NPR, NBC News, CBS News, Telemundo, The Boston Globe,The Wall Street Journal, andOxford American selected Dennis and his work for the prize.

Its been such a delight working with The Undefeated team as a freelancer for years and Im so excited to join the team full-time, added Dennis. I cant wait to tell the stories Im passionate about with writers and editors I admire so much. Im so excited for you all to see what we have in store next.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Dennis served as a visiting professor of Journalism and Social Justice at Morehouse College, the prestigious Historically Black College and University in Atlanta. He was a faculty advisor for the schools newspaper, The Maroon Tiger.

Dennis is currently working on his first book, The Movement Made Us,scheduled for publication by HarperCollins in 2022. The book tells the story of his father, civil rights activist David Dennis Sr., a CORE field secretary in the 1960s and was a member of the Freedom Riders.

A 2008 graduate of Davidson College in Charlotte, N.C., Dennis majored in English and ethnic studies. He later obtained a masters degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Chicago.

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Award-winning Writer David Dennis Jr. Joins The Undefeated as Senior Writer - ESPN Press Room

Following a completed investment of more than $200 million, Harrah's Las Vegas now features 2,542 redesigned guest rooms, a complete casino floor remodel and two new LED marquees at the north and south entrances. Guests can also enjoy a variety of hotel, dining and entertainment offerings including The Spa at Harrah's Las Vegas, PizzaCake by Buddy Valastro and Donny Osmond's first-ever solo residency. Additionally, the center-Strip resort provides convenient, direct access to CAESARS FORUM Conference Center.

To commemorate the resort's recent enhancements, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah's Las Vegas Dan Walsh ceremoniously switched on the new purple lighting on the building's exterior on Thursday, June 10.

Following the first two renovation phases of 1,622 Valley Tower rooms in 2016 and 2018, Harrah's Las Vegas completed the redesign of all 2,542 rooms and suites in 2020, including the Mountain Tower with an additional investment of $70 million. Designed by Marnell Architecture, the refreshed guest rooms feature bold purple and blue hues that complement the cream-colored dcor, dark wood accents and contemporary fixtures. Each room offers an oversized backlit vanity station, in addition to the backlit vanity mirror in the modern bathroom. Guests can also enjoy stunning views of the city or the High Roller Observation Wheel in select rooms. To book, please visit harrahslasvegas.com.

Additional highlights of the suites include ceramic dark plank tile flooring, a separate living and dining area with a wet bar and entertainment area, an oversized soaking tub and the option for two connecting bedrooms with a king bed and two queen beds. These suites are part of the Caesars Suites program, where guests can conveniently book more than 2,000 suites and villas within Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas portfolio on one comprehensive website, caesarssuites.com.

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Harrah's Las Vegas Unveils A $200 Million Renovation, Including Enhanced Accommodations, Casino Floor And More Hospitality Net - Hospitality Net

Following the graduation of Drew Lisk and transfer of Jake Bentley, Utah's offseason at the quarterback position wasn't looking very promising.

Add in the injury and subsequent surgery to season-opening starter Cam Rising, who won't be ready until summer/fall camp, and the quarterback room was looking extremely dismal at best. Only freshman walk-on Cooper Justice remained healthy and on the roster a week after the season ended.

But then came good news as Utah signed four-star quarterback Peter Costelli, who's already on campus, as the one of the best signees in program history.

Courtesy of Peter Costelli Twitter account

Following Costelli's signing came the addition of transfers Charlie Brewer (Baylor) and Ja'Quinden Jackson (Texas), two players who instantly make Utah's quarterback room among the most talented in the conference. It's something head coach Kyle Whittingham not only acknowledges, but embraces.

Really, the quarterback room is almost a complete rebuild, Whittingham said. Cam will be ready, hopefully, by July. That should make for some interesting competition in the fall.

Ironically of the five quarterbacks including Rising only one of them has played more than one quarter since the 2019 season; and that's Brewer.

Rising has played just one full quarter of football since he was in high school in 2017. Jackson redshirted at Texas this past fall after suffering an ACL injury during his 2019 high school season in Texas. Costelli missed the 2020 high school season in California due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Justice last played as a senior in high school in 2019.

Courtesy of Ja'Quinden Jackson Twitter

That's what makes the addition of Brewer all that more important as he comes with invaluable game experience.

Were elated that we do have him. He went into the portal and we jumped on him right away. We told him what we had to offer here as far as an opportunity, Whittingham said of Brewer. Bottom line, Charlie felt good about what our plans were and the opportunity he had here. He felt like it was a good fit. Were ecstatic that hes here. Hell be the guy in spring ball that will get the majority of the reps. Well see what happens.

Brewer's career at Baylor was up-and-down, but the ups far outweighed the downs. Under former coach Matt Rhule, his junior season was something special when he threw for 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns to just interceptions. He also added 344 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

He led Baylor in a resurgent season to an 11-3 record before suffering losses to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Unfortunately, this past season didn't go as planned for Brewer. With Rhule now off to the NFL, Brewer struggled under new head coach Dave Aranda in leading the Bears to a 2-7 record. He threw for just 1,958 yards and 14 touchdowns (with eight interceptions), while adding 154 yards rushing and four scores.

As a four-year starter for Baylor, Brewer threw for 9,700 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in 44 games played. He also added 1,039 yards and 22 touchdowns as one of college football's most dynamic talents.

Nov 7, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (5) walks off the field after their football game at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State would go on to win 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports

Whittingham isn't the only person high on Brewer and the Utes. With Rising attempting to recover from shoulder surgery on his throwing arm, it's unknown if he will be the same player he was prior to the injury.

That's whycollege football analyst R.J. Young of FOX Sports has listed Brewer among his top five transfers who will make an immediate impact for this upcoming season.

He knows what it means to compete in a conference championship game against one of the better teams in the country, Young said. I think Utah can really start thinking of themselves as being a favorite to win the Pac-12 South, I think its going to be them and or USC. Charlie Brewer gives you a capable winner, a capable leader, a grad transfer, so you dont have to worry about whether or not hes gonna be eligible to play. Charlie Brewer is an absolutely outstanding passer of the football and hes been on an 11-win Baylor team, thats where Utah wants to go next year.

Yet according to Young, Brewer isn't the only transfer heading to Utah who could've made the list. The Utes also picked up Jackson and running backs T.J. Pleder (Oklahoma) and Chris Curry (LSU) all of whom could have an immediate impact.

With Whittingham already proclaiming that Brewer will receive a majority of the reps this spring, it can be determined that he will be offered every opportunity to seize the starting role and lead the Utes back to Pac-12 success.

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Twitter @UtahUtes_SI and Ryan Kostecka at @Ryan_Kostecka

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Work is progressing on the residential conversion and retail addition on the 90-year-old One Wall Streetin theFinancial District. Designed bySLCE Architectsand developed byMacklowe Properties, the projected $1.5 billion undertaking is poised to be the largest office-to-condominium conversion in New York City history. When complete, the 654-foot-tall property will yield a total of 566 residential units with sales handled and marketed by Compass, as well as a 44,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market and a Life Time fitness center on the lower levels.

The multi-story reinforced concrete addition atop the mid-century annex of One Wall Street has been topped out for a while and more of the faade has been steadily enclosing the outer edges of the expansion. The new panels feature sculpted Art Deco surfaces, and some of the narrow panels between the large windows are etched withthin vertical lines, emulating the look of the original fenestration.

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

Meanwhile, the mechanical hoist remains attached to the eastern elevation of the main tower. Crews enter by the intersection of Wall and New Streets, which is still covered in sidewalk scaffolding.

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

Interior scaffolding inside the White Room can be seen directly behind the tall pointed glass window. Its likely that the original mother of pearl Philippine shells that line the high ceilings are in the midst of being restored and refurbished. This upper unit is planned as a massive 13,000-square-foot triplex penthouse that would also feature rooftop access. Work should also be well underway on the restoration of the historic Red Room on the ground floor. Click here to see a previous YIMBY article showing photos of this space.

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

The glass and steel structure thats been added to the lower floors of the annex appears to be largely complete and the protective blue film has been removed since our last update back in late September. The green colored sidewalk scaffolding maintains its hold over the sidewalks along Broadway and east along Exchange Place.

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

One Wall Street. Photo by Michael Young

YIMBY last reported that One Wall Streets residences and the Whole Foods Market are both scheduled to open in 2021, possibly toward the end of the year.

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One Wall Street's Residential Conversion and Addition Continues in the Financial District - New York YIMBY

Josh Lytle, president of Family Care Ministries, shows off work in the basement of the Freedom Home in Chester. Contractors are filling in an indoor pool with rock and pouring a concrete floor. The room eventually will serve as housing for in-patient residents and up to 10 children at the Chester-based facility. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

EAST LIVEROOL The past year has been tough for the majority of non-profit organizations and charities, which found the majority of their fundraising events cancelled due to the pandemic. However, Family Care Ministries Josh Lytle said that slowly but surely things are still coming together as they continue to grow.

During a visit to the non-profits Freedom Home this past weekend, Lytle provided an update on the organizations efforts.

Not only is the documentary, Gateway To Hope: Overcoming Heroin, still reaching an audience through Amazon Prime, the pandemic has brought continued growth within the organization.

After graduating his first class of women from the Freedom Home, the five-acre, in-patient facility in Chester, Lytle said that he has started chapel services there at 6 p.m. Sundays to a standing room crowd.

Currently, the facility is hosting around 50 people in the living room area; however, the indoor pool area in the basement is being converted over to a room that eventually will host the Family Care Chapel temporarily until being moved to a freestanding building on the Freedom Homes campus.

The plan is to build a multi-purpose room on the property and then we will transform that (former pool area) to a housing area that can house women with up to 10 children, he continued. Our goal is to restore the family unit and keep children out of Children Protective Services. They also would be schooled here by a legitimate teacher.

In addition, a classroom space is being finished in a ground floor room that was a former sun porch, where Lytle said that the finishing touches (including hanging drywall and some painting) need to be completed.

Family Care Ministries also is looking at adding a mens center and community event center in East Liverpool and are looking at a variety of potential locations.

Lytle explained, We actually grew more in the last year under COVID. People are seeing the results of our approach and are backing it. I have very high standards, and I want people to know if they are entrusting me with their loved ones that they will be well taken care of.

Unlike many high dollar facilities, Family Care Ministries doesnt charge for any of its services nor is it funded through insurance companies or grants.

The only thing impacted by COVID negatively has been the organizations jail ministry, which has been brought to a virtual standstill by the pandemic. We have been in the jail ministry for 12 years, but COVID shut that down; however, our one-on-one ministry has continued to grow.

Family Care Ministries doesnt just deal with addictions but all around mental health.

Lytle hopes to teach that life is worth fighting for.

Everyone not just addicts has mental health issues. People are anxious, because they dont know what is going on due to the pandemic especially teenagers, he added.

Family Care Ministries is a 501(c)3, meaning all donations either monetary or in-kind are tax deductible. Those wishing to help out can visit http://www.seeinglivestransformed.com, where they can give an one-time or monthly gift to the non-profit.

The faith-based approach is just different, Lytle concluded. I believe that the success is that faith in Christ, as everyone wants to be loved and not rejected.

For more information, call (330) 368-0725 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays for information.

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EL-based non-profit sees growth through pandemic - The Review

Last month, West Concord High School now home to the West Concord Historical Society Museum & Community Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1902, the school's architect, Fremont D. Orff, designed several other Minnesota buildings on the National Register including courthouses in Waseca and Renville counties, and the Carnegie Library in Little Falls.

RELATED: Court records show troubling past of Wabasha County administrator applicant

"We were told both sides of your building were designed by noted architects, so that helps a little in the favor of us being eligible," said Colleen Hayne, president of the West Concord Historical Society.

Hayne said she attended school in the building. A room that is now a replica of the Flame Room, which was the dining room at the local hotel, was her first-grade classroom.

A room is devoted to high-school memorabilia in the West Concord Museum. The West Concord School building built in 1902 has been listed on the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

The building was added onto twice. The first time was in 1914 when the state insisted the school offer industrial arts and home economics in order to be certified as a high school, Hayne said. That addition was built on the south side of the original building. Then, in 1935 the Works Progress Administration offered a grant to add to the building's north side.

The WPA addition, completed in 1936, included a library, a gymnasium with a theater stage, and a gathering room for the high school students. The WPA addition came with skylights that helped light the rooms during the day.

Hayne said the historical society, which was formed in 1994 shortly after buying the old building for $1 when it was being abandoned as a school, hired Blue Planet Museum Consultants of Rochester in 2018 to conduct an assessment as to whether the building would be eligible to be on the register. After a six-month study, the answer was yes. The historical society used a second grant to have Blue Planet complete an application for the National Register.

While the famous architect was one positive step, Blue Planet told the historical society that the clincher was that the school had been the lone edifice for education in the city for 56 years.

Large skylights are featured in an activity room in the 1936 addition to the West Concord school. The West Concord Historical Society was recently able to get the West Concord School building listed on the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

"From 1902 to 1958, this complex was the only school for West Concord kids," Hayne said. "It was everything to the community the way schools used to be. It was grade school, high school -- the whole ball of wax."

Since 1992, West Concord students are part of the Triton Schools, a combination district with Claremont, Dodge Center and West Concord, and attend school in Dodge Center.

The West Concord Historical Society has put new life in the old building, keeping several displays in old classrooms. In addition to the Flame Room, there is a dedicated Veterans Room, the Heritage Room with items from life in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Fashion Room with ladies clothing from the early 1900s, the groovy '50s and '60s room, and a Classroom that features old desks and the implements of learning through the years.

The West Concord School building built in 1902, left, and it's addition built in 1936 have recently been added to the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

From a more practical standpoint, getting on the register allows the historical society to apply for large renovation grants through the Minnesota State Historical Society funding program.

"If we need $100,000, it's the only way we can accomplish that," she said.

And the museum does need funding. Hayne said they'd like to replace the roof, there are walls where the plaster and paint are peeling, there are outer walls that need tuckpointing, and the plumbing could stand to be replaced.

Old class photos line the hallways of the West Concord Museum February 15, 2021. The school building that houses the museum was added to the National Registry of historic places. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

When the museum was first started in the 1990s, "there were a lot of volunteers," Hayne said, "who transformed the school into a museum."

Today, she said, the museum needs volunteers as well as funding to help renovate the building. Fortunately, working at the museum is a job she can highly recommend.

"Everybody who works here loves it, so that's a good thing," Hayne said.

Dodge County entries in the National Register

Dodge County has 11 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Five are in Kasson, two each in Mantorville and West Concord, one in Wasioja, and one in Canisteo Township.

Ole Carlson House: Located 8 miles south of Kasson in Canisteo Township. The historic farmhouse was finished in 1882.

Eureka Hotel: 101 Third Ave. SW, Kasson. The hotel was built along the tracks of the railroad that runs through Kasson in 1894.

Kasson Municipal Building: 12 W. Main St., Kasson. Built in 1917 and designed by Purcell & Elmslie in the Prairie School design.

Kasson Water Tower: Located in the 100 block of Fourth Avenue Northwest. The water tower has a limestone base and has been unaltered since its early days.

Kasson Public School: 101 Third Ave. NW, Kasson. Served as Kasson's only school, kindergarten through grade 12, from 1918 to 1954.

Jacob Leuthold Jr. House: 108 Second Ave. NW. Designed by Minnesota architects Frederick G. Kees and Serenus Colburn in 1905.

Mantorville and Red Wing Stage Road-Mantorville Section: Located near Fifth Street Northeast in Mantorville. Running for about 600 feet northeast from Fifth Street, the stagecoach road was built in 1855.

Mantorville Historic District: Located in downtown Mantorville. Including 24 properties, the historic district was built from 1854 to 1918 and includes the 1857 Hubbell House hotel, the Dodge County Courthouse, the Mantorville Opera House and more.

Wasioja Historic District: Located throughout Wasioja. The district's historic buildings include the Wasioja Baptist Church, Minnesota Seminary, Wasioja Township School, the Civil War recruiting station, and the Andrew Doig House.

Perry Nelson House: Located about 6 miles east of West Concord on Dodge County Road 22/560th Street. The Italianate farmhouse dates to 1870.

West Concord High School: 600 W. First St., West Concord. The town's only school from 1902-1958, the building was designed by Fremont D. Orff with a WPA addition completed in 1936.

Colleen Hayne looks for her class photo in the West Concord Museum February 15, 2021. The West Concord School building built in 1902 has been added to the National Registry of historic places. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

Colleen Hayne, president of the West Concord Historical Society, climbs down the one of the stairways in the West Concord Museum February 15, 2021. The West Concord School building built in 1902 has been added to the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

A police cap is a small piece if the historic memorabilia in the West Concord Museum. The West Concord School building that houses the museum has been added to the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

Colleen Hayne, president of the West Concord Historical Society, looks at one of the rooms in need of repair in the West Concord Museum, February 15, 2021. The West Concord School building built in 1902 has been added to the National Registry of historic places. February 15, 2021. (Ken Klotzbach / kklotzbach@postbulletin.com)

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Home Design

Spearheaded by Lisa Tharp Design, the clever makeover plays on the owner's love for literature.

A product of designer Lisa Tharps collaboration with the Rug Company, the cushy wool-and-silk rug with an oversize fern pattern adds to the nature vibe of the subterranean reading space. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Seeing how Concord was once the stomping ground for such celebrated writers as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott, it only makes sense that Lisa Tharp Designs multi-room rehab of a 5,000-square-foot Arts and Craftsstyle house there began in the library.

The homeowners three children were getting older, and while she wished for a more adult, refined look for her residence, she didnt want to sacrifice comfort. This home was to be a sanctuary for the family, principal Lisa Tharp says, a place where they could relax and unwind and enjoy good books and cozy fires and shared meals. Maximizing natural light was also important to the client throughout the project, which was completed in phases over a few years.

Decorative painter Pauline Curtiss, of Lincoln-based Patina, added texture to the librarys ceiling by hand-stenciling it with a leaf motif reminiscent of William Morriss Arts and Crafts textile designs. / Photo by Michael J. Lee

With that in mind, Tharp and her team kicked off the revamp by replacing the slatted wood blinds in the combined library and living room with Roman shades to let in sunshine and reveal views of the propertys pretty gardensbest seen from the new 12-foot-long window seat. A cool marble fireplace surround sourced from Vermont and handsome midcentury accents such as the floor lamp and the travertine coffee table balance out the rooms dominant pink tones, which the client adores. The idea of going pink in a library was a little bit unusualbut I thought that would be the perfect counterpoint to all of the dark, heavy wood, Tharp says.

Down the hall, the kitchen facelift also focused on capturing natural lightout went the brooding tiled range wall and in came tall windows. A custom Edwardian-style hood now extends down from the ceiling, echoing the curves of the Urban Electric Co. light illuminating the existing island. Because the homeowner wanted three counter stools to nest under the island, Tharp and her team designed padded leatherette seats with a narrow profile to fit the space constraints. Theres more seating in the adjoining playroom cum breakfast room. With the addition of a Jean Prouv table and a banquette, plus a desk built by craftsman Norton DeAmorim, it has become a multifunctional space for both meals and study sessions.

To brighten the kitchen, the team painted all of the existing wood cabinetry and hid the refrigerator and the freezer in a paneled armoire. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Midcentury furniture offsets the soft, spring-green palette and classic floral prints in the new breakfast room. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

But while the breakfast room is decidedly in the familys domain, the transformation of the primary suites floor plan created a sanctuary just for Mom. Tharp replaced the small windows facing the bed with a wall of French doors that open onto the balcony with views of the grounds. The rooms French feelalso exemplified by the Renoir etching hung above the tufted headboardis intentional, Tharp says. We were taking inspiration from a beautiful suite somewhere in Paris, she explains. Theres a bit of escapism, taking your mind away to a place thats beautiful and inspiring. (The City of Lights is another iconic literary hubcoincidence?)

The reconfiguration of the suite opened up the space, while the installation of an interior window helped brighten the formerly cave-like primary bathroom and the new dressing room. And, oh the luxe details: custom cabinetry, Moroccan-esque glass and gilt wall tile from Ann Sacks, and shadowbox mirrors lined with pink lacquer over the vanity. This is a client who just wanted her house to feel happy, Tharp says. There are these little fun moments throughout where its like, Lets not be so seriousthat is a testament to who she is.

A lounging spot in the owners bedroom features a folding chinoiserie screen by Gracie. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Six circa-1800s sketches of Concord landmarksincluding Walden Pond and Louisa May Alcotts Orchard Housecomprise a gallery wall in the primary bedroom. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Mirrored tile and custom cabinetry lighten the formerly cave-like primary bath. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

The dressing room boasts a collage by Henry Botkin and a charcoal drawing by Tharps daughter, Fia. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

It was a big leap from imagination to reality, Tharp says of the meditation room and the bookshelf that Carpenter & MacNeille built to enclose it. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Luxe silk covers the walls, the ceiling, and the bookshelves in the reading nook, outfitted with a queen-size bed. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Its no wonder, then, that the primary bath is now one of the homeowners most-loved places in the house, competing for the top spot with Tharps masterstroke: a cushy hideaway for reading and meditation in the basement, occupying a windowless space that once stored a drum set. Inspired by mossy forests, Tharp worked with contractors at Carpenter & MacNeille to fashion a daybed nook entered via an oval cutout in one wall. When you are in there, you feel utterly cocooned and protected in this total quiet, Tharp says. Especially during the current pandemic, We are craving a connection to what really matters: people we love, nature, rest, peace, she adds. Spaces that not only bring people close and rejuvenate them, but even inspire meditative thoughts. Those spaces nourish our souls.

Truly soul-nourishing is a cloistered inner sanctum next to the daybed nook offering velvet poufs and a mirrored ceiling and walls, creating the illusion that the glow from the 12 flameless candles suspended from the ceiling goes on forever (a nod to Japanese artist Yayoi Kusamas Infinity Mirror Roomsand to the floating tapers of the Great Hall in the Harry Potter series).

And how exactly do you access this secret retreat? Pull on the spine of the homeowners favorite bookPride and Prejudice by Jane Austenand the bookcase door swings open, of course. Its an engineering feat ripped from the pages of a Sherlock Holmes mysteryand a fitting metaphor for the renovation as a whole. This was creative freedom you dont get on every project, Tharp says, also noting that designing an all-pink room was a first for her firm. We were very grateful to have that trust from the client.

Thanks to the mirrored walls reflecting hanging candles and the moss-green floor pillows, the 25-square-foot secret room feels like a magical woodland forest, Tharp says. / Photo by Read McKendree/JBSA

Contractor/MillworkerCarpenter & MacNeille

Interior Architecture/DesignLisa Tharp Design

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Check Out the Secret Room in This Renovated Concord Home - Boston magazine

I started the Cut em or Keep em & Prediction series earlier this week, having already taken a look at whether or not the Green Bay Packers should cut or keep Devin Funchess, Dean Lowry, and Christian Kirksey.

Well, on Friday, Green Bay made some actual cuts by moving on from Kirksey and Rick Wagner. This created over $10 million in cap space and leaves the Packers still about $11.4 million over the projected salary capwhich at this point is still an estimate.

But in addition to getting under the cap, the Packers also need room for any free-agent additions, in-season spending, the practice squad, as well as the draft class. Meaning there are likely more cuts to follow.

So before GM Brian Gutekunst makes any other moves, Ill try to finish this series. Up next is Preston Smith.

2021 Cap Hit: $16,000,000

Admittedly, this is difficult to justify given Preston Smiths performance in 2020, and the monster cap hit the comes with him being on the roster this season. However, if the Green Bay Packers were to hang on to him, it would be with the hope that he would regain some of his 2019 form.

That season, Smith tallied 12 sacks, good for the eighth-most in the NFL, along with 62 pressures, which were tied for the 15th most among edge rushers. That type of production paired with ZaDarius Smith, who was named a second-team All-Pro and is coming off a 12.5 sack season, along with Rashan Gary, who was the 15th most efficient edge rusher in the NFL in terms of pressuring the quarterback, would create a dominant force upfront.

And, of course, we cant forget Pro Bowler Kenny Clark, who has developed into one of the better interior defensive linemen in the game. In 2019 we saw The Smiths wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, and last season it was ZaDarius and Gary, but we havent seen all three firing on all cylinders at the same time yet.

After the season Smith had, this is certainly a risky move given his cap situation, but if it paid off, Green Bays pass rush would benefit greatly.

2021 Cap Savings: $8,000,000

As I mentioned above, Smiths production fell off a cliff last season. He recorded just four sacks and 29 pressuresa far cry from his 2019 season. On top of that, in the pass-rushing efficiency metric referenced above from Pro Football Focus ($), Smith ranked 99th out of 121 eligible edge rushers.

There were flashes here and there, but his overall impact was greatly decreased. And it wasnt just as a pass rusher either; in the run game, he struggled to set the edge, and opposing offenses often ran directly at him because of this.

Even in an offseason where the salary cap wasnt shrinking, a $16 million cap hit for Smiths 2020 production would be a tough pill to swallow. So this year, it hurts even more. With the emergence of Rashan Gary, the Packers could move on from Smith and still have a potent one-two punch at the edge position.

With Smith, the Green Bay Packers could look to restructure his deal, creating more cap space in 2021. But the issue with doing that is with only one additional year left on Smiths deal after this season, his cap hit in 2022 would increase, as would his dead cap hit. Meaning, if Smith struggles again, moving on from him a year from now becomes even more difficult as hes owed even more money than what he currently is.

This is certainly an option, but its a risky one, given his recent performance. A $16 million cap hit is just way too much to take on, especially with ZaDarius Smith and Rashan Gary already as options on the roster. Green Bay will cut Preston Smith in lieu of the $8 million in cap savings.

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Green Bay Packers Cut em or Keep em & Prediction: Preston Smith - Dairyland Express