A tornado safe room was discussed at a special Belmond-Klemme School Board meeting held October 14.

Craig Schwerdtfeger of Struxture Architects spoke first. He explained that the Federal Emergency Management Agency helps fund tornado safe rooms based on school size. He suggested that one safe room could serve both buildings. FEMAwill help pay for a basic building, but not furnishings, brick veneer, ceilings, windows, flooring or landscaping. Those items are up to the local taxpayers to fund. If windows are included in the building, special shutters are added which are closed by the teacher when a storm comes. FEMAwill pay for emergency power in the building, and he suggested a battery system rather than a generator.

Struxture has completed safe rooms in Waverly and Grundy Center, and has started applications for Iowa Falls, Clarion and Dike-New Hartford.

Superintendent Kirk Nelson said his main concern is how much the local share of construction would be, and how the district would pay for its share.

Schwerdtfeger left the room, and Ed Wineinger of Waggoner and Wineinger Architects came in to give his ideas. W&W has completed school safe rooms in Lake Mills, Mason City, and St. Ansgar and community safe rooms in Northwood, Ventura, Clear Lake and Lakeside (near Storm Lake).

Wineinger gave a more complete report to the board, outlining the rules, financing, timeline and process for building a tornado safe room. He also stated that FEMAwill only pay for the bones of a safe room. That includes basic bathrooms, a heating and cooling system, and limited electrical power. Because under new rules, FEMAwill now pay for HVAC systems, he said a battery back-up power system would be inadequate and a generator would be needed.

Wineinger said the board should file a Notice of Interest with Iowa Homeland Security right away. This is a simple form and starts the process.

Then, he said, the board will have to decide what type of structure to build -- a classroom wing, multi-purpose room, athletic facility, etc. If classrooms, how many and what size? Once that is decided, the architect can start on a design. He handed out a drawing of a project currently being planned for the school in Alta.

Wineinger was asked about building one large safe room for both schools. You cant really do that, he said. FEMAdoesnt want kids running across the parking lot in the middle of a storm. You will have to decide if you want your safe room at the high school or the elementary school, and then size it for that.

He was then asked about building two smaller rooms. That might be a possibility. I will talk to Homeland Security in Des Moines about it, he replied.

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School board talks about tornado safety

Although Smith & Wesson introduced their centerfire top-break revolvers, complete with automatic simultaneous extraction and ejection, in 1870, they were only available as bulky holster pistols for over half a decade. It wasn't until 1876 that they brought a smaller model, suitable for concealed carry, to the market.

The smaller models, however, had much wider appeal on the civilian market and, in one form or another, continued in production long after their more martial bigger siblings had been discontinued. With the last .38 caliber models shipping in 1940, these little guns had been in production for over sixty years and hundreds of thousands had found homes, making them easily the most common and affordable antique Smiths on the market today, so a quick overview of the most common variants may be helpful.

The first to show up was the .38 Single Action. The earliest variants had the complicated rack-and-pinion ejection system of the bigger .44 Russian models, complete with its long underbarrel housing, earning them the nickname Baby Russians. There were obvious differences, however.

Their smaller size dictated a five shot cylinder, chambered for the new .38 S&W cartridge. Further, as a single-action pistol intended for boot or pocket carry, they lacked the usual trigger and triggerguard arrangement of the bigger guns, having instead a spur trigger; a protruding nubbin protected by flanges integral to the bottom of the frame.

In 1878, they were joined by the similar, yet even smaller, .32 Single Action. The .32 enjoyed a couple of mechanical refinements, namely a simplified and more compact actuation system for the ejector and a rebounding hammer that kept the firing pin from resting on the primer of the cartridge, both features shared with the larger New Model Number 3 .44 revolvers that debuted the same year. In 1880, these features were added to the latest version of the .38 Single Action. LEFT: .38 Single Action 2nd Model (top), .32 Single Action (bottom)

The .32 Single Actions were discontinued in 1892, but the .38 received a conventional trigger and triggerguard in 1891 and remained in production until 1911.

Also in 1880, double-action variants of both the .32 and .38 were introduced. These are immediately distinguishable by their conventional triggerguard, with the trigger sitting about halfway forward inside the guard. The .32 Double Action remained in production until 1919, while the conventional .38 DA was discontinued in 1911.

RIGHT: .38 Double Action 2nd Model (top), .32 Double Action 4th Model (bottom)

In 1909, however, an interesting variant of the .38 Double Action was introduced, known as the Perfected Model. In addition to the topstrap-mounted latch shared with other Top Break Smiths, it had a knurled thumbpiece latch like the newer solid-frame Hand Ejector models. Because of this second latch, they were the only Top Break S&W revolvers with their sideplates on the right-hand side of the frame. The Perfected Model was discontinued in 1920.

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The Arms Room - blogspot.com

ACCENTURE, a global leader in management consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has opened its first Ideas Exchange Room in Cebu City, teaming with the University of San Carlos. The new facility supports Accentures Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship initiative, which aims to equip 700,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business.

The University of San Carlos has always been a great source of talent for the information technology and business process management industry, said Ambe Tierro, senior managing director for technology in the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea.

It is our privilege to work with the university to help further develop the skills of our youth.

Tierro said the Accenture Ideas Exchange Room promotes productivity and collaboration among students and faculty members of the College of Engineering at the university. In addition to making physical improvements to the Ideas Exchange Room and upgrading computer equipment, Accenture will conduct training to enrich students educational experience.

The addition of the Cebu location brings to five the number of Ideas Exchange Rooms Accenture has opened in the Philippines. The other facilities are located at the University of the Philippines Diliman; Polytechnic University of the Philippines; University of Makati; and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. (PR)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 31, 2014.

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Accenture opens facility in USC

Growth in residency has created a need for Uintah Care Center to take out parts of their lawn and build an addition onto the building. The addition has allowed Uintah Care Center to have the room to remodel as well, creating a recreational area in an already existing room.

Wayne Dunbar, Uintah Care Center Administrator, said the remodel was needed because the new clientele coming into the care center.

The baby boomers are coming in and the baby boomers like to be in a nicer setting when they come in for a short stay rather than mixing them with the rest of the population, Dunbar said.

The new addition has 14 private suites which were designed to be more like a hotel room with a bed, refrigerator, table for a computer, private shower and television, as well as a lift chair to help the resident get up and down.

It's all the comforts of home, Dunbar said. Then they have a dining room they can come down and eat or even in their room.

The baby boomer clientele not only has a new dining room but also a living room area where they can visit with family and friends, complete with a fireplace. The new area also has a vast room which can be closed off with dividers to make three rooms, depending on the need for the day's activity.

On the other side of the building there used to be a day care but the day care but the day care business wasn't any good anymore after 2000, because there was no federal funding, so it became like a multipurpose room, Dunbar said. We want it to be a living space now so we created this space (the open hall) to replace the old space. We have about 3,000 square feet here, a kitchenette for activities.

Commissioner Darlene Burns was present Wednesday afternoon for the open house, showing the public as well as residents the new portions of the building, which was contracted using an award winning design.

This is such a nice facility for our county to have, Burns said. One thing that is good for our county is it is paid for.

Burns said it is great to have a Care Center locally so people can stay close to home instead of leaving the area for assisted living.

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Uintah Care Center adds new suites, accommodations

Terry Farrell

Record Staff

One of the longest-running fundraising traditions in the area happens Sunday at the Sid Williams Theatre, with the 39th edition of the CVCDA Telethon.

But what exactly is the CVCDA?

The Comox Valley Child Development Association is an all-in-one centre for all things related to childhood development.

From the Infant Development Program and The Autism Program, to occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language pathology, to pre-natal support, and even support for grandmothers involved in childcare, the CVCDA really does have it all, in regards to the development of children. And best of all, the costs are covered.

There is no cost for the services here, it is all funded by the provincial government, said CVCDA executive director Joanne Schroeder. There can be additional costs, for equipment, or respite services...but there are always options and we always work so that costs are not a barrier.

A relationship between a family and the CVCDA starts with Kim Griffiths, the associations family resource consultant generally the first contact a parent has with the CVCDA.

Once a family gets referred here, I go out and meet with them, and determine whether theres a service that is appropriate for them if there is some type of program we offer that is beneficial to the family, said Griffiths.

Chances are, the CVCDA has the tools and people - to help.

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Comox Valley Child Development Association: One stop for child development needs

More Room By Design LLC | Room Addition Contractor in McLean VA
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By: STEVEN CLEARLY

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UC San Francisco is preparing a second Ebola-specific isolation room and seeking additional volunteers to treat potential patients following the designation Friday of UC medical centers as the state's priority hospitals to treat Ebola cases.

The second isolation room designed for a patient with the deadly disease is being constructed at UCSF's Mount Zion facility, where one isolation room was already set up that can handle the extra precautions needed with an Ebola patient, said Dr. Josh Adler, chief medical officer at UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

There have been no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola in San Francisco, but hospitals in The City and throughout the U.S. have been preparing for that scenario.

In addition to San Francisco, the California Department of Public Health on Friday identified UC medical centers in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles and San Diego as those positioned to accept patients with Ebola.

"Hospitals in California are much better prepared now than several weeks ago to provide the necessary screening and care for Ebola patients," Adler said. "That doesn't mean we're ultimately where we need to get to, but we're in a much better place than several weeks back."

The Mount Zion hospital has seven isolation rooms, but two will ultimately be designated and equipped to handle a patient with Ebola. They will also be attached to anterooms, where health care workers can put on and remove personal protective equipment.

More than 70 doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and laboratory scientists at UCSF have volunteered to care for a confirmed or suspected Ebola patient, though the hospital is seeking at least an additional 30 volunteers.

UCSF's entire Ebola preparation effort is expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars, though an exact figure has not been determined, said Adler.

As of Saturday, there have been more than 10,000 Ebola cases and nearly 5,000 deaths in West Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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UCSF adding isolation room, staff for possible Ebola cases

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 28, 2014

Travelers going through Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. now have a new dining option available to them. Concessions International (CI), one of the leading food and beverage concessionaires in the U.S., opened an American Tap Room location at Reagan National Airport at Terminal C, near Gate 36 on Wed. Oct. 23. The new restaurant is a joint venture between Concessions International and MBC Concessions, an Atlanta-based ACDBE partner airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise. CI will also open Taylor Gourmet in Terminal B/C at Reagan National this winter.

Working with the local Reston, VA Thompson Hospitality, owner of American Tap Room and Be Right Burger (brb), CI also recently opened a brb at Dulles International Airport last month. The brb location is at Concourse C, Gate 18. The two restaurant openings mark the first Washington, D.C. airport locations for CI and the first airport locations for Thompson Hospitality.

American Tap Room offers travelers a finer dining experience, for those moments when you have more time to relax waiting for a flight, says Donata Russell Major, CIs Chief Executive Officer. Be Right Burger and American Tap Room are two different concepts that are both great additions to the Washington, D.C. airports.

American Tap Room is American regional cuisine at its classic, pub-inspired best. Guests can also enjoy some twists on the classics with taste-inspired ideas like the Dirty Caesar Salad featuring red onions, cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, hot sauce, parmesan and croutons, or the Greek Turkey Burger with hummus, tzatziki and a tomato-cucumber kalamata olive salad. And of course, all of the menu items go nicely with the many cold beer options available.

We are excited to introduce travelers passing through Reagan National Airport to our American Tap Room concept, stated Warren Thompson, President and Chairman of Thompson Hospitality. Restaurant guests now expect great tasting food no matter where they are, and that includes the airport. American Tap Room offers sophisticated food and premium beverages for the more discerning traveler.

This is Concessions Internationals 5th and 6th restaurant openings this year with plans to open six more in 2014.

About Concessions International, LLC Atlanta-based Concessions International, LLC, founded in 1978, is a dynamic food and beverage concessionaire with operations in eight airports. The company's portfolio includes franchised, licensed and proprietary concepts, including casual dining, quick service, snack, deli and bar and grill. The company is a franchisee of major national brands including Fresh To Order, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. CI operates Pemberton Caf at the World of Coca Cola, and Paschal's Restaurant in the historic Castleberry district of downtown Atlanta. Visit http://www.cintl.com for more information.

About Thompson Hospitality The American Tap Room and brb (Be Right Burger) brands are owned by Reston, Virginia-based Thompson Hospitality. Warren Thompson, a longtime foodservice industry veteran, founded Thompson Hospitality over two decades ago. The company operates a variety of contract services across a range of sites including universities, entertainment venues, hospitals and corporate offices. In addition to brb and American Tap Room, Thompson Hospitality owns and operates a variety of branded restaurant concepts including Austin Grill and Tequila Bar and Willie Ts Lobster Shack.

Media Contact: Ellen Hartman; (678) 399-3335

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Concessions International Brings American Tap Room to Washington, D.C. Airport; Restaurant Now Open at Reagan National ...

A small fire in the Stark Hall residence tower on the Denton campus of Texas Womans University caused an evacuation Sunday night, according to a news release issued by the university.

The small fire occurred in the basement laundry room and sent smoke through several floors of the building.

The sprinkler system in the laundry room extinguished the fire within minutes, according to the news release. There were no injuries reported and no damage to the structure other than the laundry room.

In addition, one resident was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for a nonrelated medical condition.

The TWU Department of Public Safety received an automated fire alarm from Stark Hall and an emergency call from a resident assistant in the building at about 10:15 p.m., the release said. The Denton Fire Department was called at that time. The first TWU officer arriving on the scene saw students leaving the building and found smoke coming from the laundry room.

Residents were allowed to return to Stark Hall at about 11:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Denton Fire Department.

2400 block of South Interstate 35E Denton police are on the hunt for a suspect who was carrying weapons during a domestic disturbance, reports state.

Officers were dispatched to the scene, but the suspect had already fled. He left before the victim was able to call 911.

Reports state that the suspect is the victims husband from whom she is currently separated.

The husband is reported to have exhibited two weapons and stated that he made them to use on the woman and her boyfriend.

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Blotter: Fire prompts evacuation of TWU residence hall

photos/Susan Joy Clark

Wilson Elementary School in Lodi second-grade teacher Jacqueline Serek with one of the many murals she created at the school. Wilson School in Lodi's multi-purpose room has a mural with tropical fish paintings.

An octopus graces the wall at the school.

Wilson Elementary School in Lodi is brightening up its walls to create a positive atmosphere for students.

Second-grade teacher Jacqueline Serek has volunteered many hours to create bright and cheerful murals in several areas in the school.

Serek has a background in art, earning a B.A. in fine art in addition to her B.A. in elementary education.

On one wall of the school, Serek created two trees. One of the tree's branches resembles the contours of the brain, making a "brain tree." Its neighboring tree is a "child tree," made up of abstract children with their arms outstretched to form twig-like projections.

The second-grade teacher also transformed an old corkboard in another hallway.

Principal Christie Vanderhook explained how the corkboard was getting old and dry and buckling in the middle.

Serek peeled off the cork layer and painted on the remaining board with bright colors, flowers and an uplifting saying, transforming the old corkboard into a permanent sign.

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Wilson School in Lodi teacher makes walls into works of art