Isaac Garcia,a kindergarten student, left and Madison Cote, right listen to a recording as they follow along in a book in the Reading Oasis at Blake Academy in Lakeland.

LAKELAND | Blake Academy students now have 1,200 more reasons to get excited about reading.

They came in the form of new books courtesy of Scholastic and the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland in a Reading Oasis room next to the school's media center, the first in Polk County.

"It's a relaxing, learning atmosphere," said Sybille Oldham, principal at Blake Academy, a kindergarten through eighth grade magnet school. "We are trying to give the babies every chance we can. They are our future."

The room includes several bean bag chairs, a carpet showing a tree of books, a module bench with bookshelves built in to a bench, bookshelves and a listening center with CD players, headphones and audio books in addition to the new books.

The school won the room as part of a statewide competition on Facebook, where the two schools with the most likes on their Reading oasis Facebook page got $10,000 half from Scholastic and half from the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland to create the room.

Blake placed second with more than 5,000 likes in the contest that ended in January.

"To be selected is unbelievable. They did an outstanding job. They were the only school in Polk that even applied," said Dennis Harrison, Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Club's Division 15, which includes Polk and Hardee counties.

The room is open to the community, Oldham said, and is typically open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Teachers can also bring their classes to the room, which is in half of the school's computer lab, for a reading day.

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Students Learn in the Reading Oasis Room at Blake Adademy

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) May 31, 2014

American Tap Room, located at The Shops at Willow Lawn, played host on Thursday, May 29th to Governor Terry McAuliffe, Mayor Dwight C. Jones and other Richmond community leaders, as the Governors Table was officially christened. The gathering included leaders from area universities, city council members and Richmond business leaders who were all on hand as the photo portrait of Virginias latest Governor was unveiled.

In addition to the Governor and Mayor, guests in attendance included:

Also in attendance were various board members and leaders from Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University and Norfolk State University.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception following the unveiling in which signature American Tap Room menu items were passed for all to enjoy with a variety of beverage choices including local Richmond and Virginia Craft Beers, Wines and Spirits.

We were pleased to have the Governor join us for this special event, said Warren Thompson, Founder and President of Thompson Hospitality, parent company of the American Tap Room brand. Having gone to school in the area and been involved with the community for decades, Richmond is a special place for me and my entire family. It is a pleasure to be a part of the dynamic growth of the Richmond community and an honor to be able to play host to the Governor with this event.

About American Tap Room

The American Tap Room opened in Richmond at The Shops at Willow Lawn in November of 2013. Featuring local craft beers, classic comfort cuisine and an extensive patio space, the restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

The American Tap Room is 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 American Tap Room, Thompson Hospitality owns and operates a variety of branded restaurant concepts including Be Right Burger (brb), Austin Grill and Tequila Bar and Willie Ts Lobster Shack.

The Address for American Tap Room is: 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, St. 840 Richmond, VA 23230

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Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe Christens Governors Table at Richmonds American Tap Room

SAN LEANDRO -- When Kaiser Permanente opens its new hospital on Tuesday, visitors will find a six-story building filled with work by local artists, natural-light-filled rooms and the latest medical technology.

The nonprofit health care provider is shutting down its Hayward hospital, which did not meet new state seismic safety standards, and moving its inpatient care and emergency room to a campus west of Interstate 880 near Marina Boulevard that at one time housed a grocery distribution center.

"We strove for a relaxing, comforting setting, with a site that is convenient and accessible," said Kaiser official Tom Hanenburg.

The new 435,900-square-foot hospital is designed to accommodate more patients later if needed. The top floor is vacant, and the 216-bed hospital has the capacity for 264.

All patient rooms are private, with pullout guest beds for family members. Patients are no longer just separated by a curtain in the emergency room, which has 40 individual treatment rooms.

Rooms throughout the building are larger than in the existing Hayward hospital and can accommodate several pieces of equipment and workers at the same time. Built-in automatic lifts help people in and out of beds to reduce worker injuries and increase patient safety.

Dr. Robert Greenberg showed off some of the hospital's tech features on Thursday. At the patient entrance near the emergency room, visitors can find directions to the department they're looking for on an interactive touch screen. In addition to a map, the screen has a QR code that gives them access to directions they can carry on their smartphones.

"It's technology that is patient-friendly," said Greenberg, the physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente Southern Alameda County.

When patients are checked in, they are given keyboards that control large, flat panels. They can choose their meals, check messages, see what tests they will be getting, access health information and view TV shows or movies.

"This has more stations than I get on my TV at home," Greenberg said.

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Kaiser to open San Leandro hospital

Alpharetta remodeling |house remodeling | room addition, alpharetta
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Pedestrian Struck And Killed On U.S. 13 in D.E. Pedestrian Struck And Killed On U.S. 13 in D.E.

Updated: Friday, May 30 2014 11:07 PM EDT2014-05-31 03:07:29 GMT

SkyFOX is heading to the scene where a female pedestrian was struck and killed on US Route 13 in New Castle, Delaware.

SkyFOX is heading to the scene where a female pedestrian was struck and killed on US Route 13 in New Castle, Delaware.

Updated: Friday, May 30 2014 10:38 PM EDT2014-05-31 02:38:32 GMT

Philadelphia Beer Week kicks off and bubbles-up!Celebrations of the "wonderful amber refreshment" are being held throughout the city and suburbs.

Philadelphia Beer Week kicks off and bubbles-up!Celebrations of the "wonderful amber refreshment" are being held throughout the city and suburbs.

Updated: Friday, May 30 2014 10:21 PM EDT2014-05-31 02:21:40 GMT

The woman seen on video being followed, stalked then grabbed by a man she says then tried to sexually assault her is speaking out. She wants toremain anonymous. "He grabbed me from behind. He held a metal thing up to my head,"recalls the victim.She details the horrifying moment when the suspect pulled her into an opening between two homes in her Mayfair neighborhood and assaulted her. A neighbor's home security camera captured it."The farthest he got was he did pull down my pants but by that ...

The woman seen on video being followed, stalked then grabbed by a man she says then tried to sexually assault her is speaking out. She wants toremain anonymous. "He grabbed me from behind. He held a metal thing up to my head,"recalls the victim.She details the horrifying moment when the suspect pulled her into an opening between two homes in her Mayfair neighborhood and assaulted her. A neighbor's home security camera captured it."The farthest he got was he did pull down my pants but by that ...

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Family Duped By Contractor Finally Gets Good News

DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. -

Fox 29 showed you the heartbreaking story of a Delaware County family who was left broke after an unlicensed contractor took their money and never finished the job.

Last summer, the Brooks family paid a man $26,000, which was their entire savings to build a new 3-room addition on their Nether Providence Township home.

It turns out, the contractor wasn't licensed, wasnt permitted to do the job, and what was built had to be torn down.

"We got taken, and basically all I did was cry," said Janet Brooks.

However, hours after our story aired on Fox 29, the right person happened to be watching.

"They gave us the news that they were going to come out here with no money out of our pocket. They were going to fix this. We don't have to do anything," said Janet.

Reynolds Construction of King of Prussia just happened to be building a multi-million dollar expansion at Nether Providence Elementary School, just 3 blocks away from the Brooks home.

"It's good to breathe again," said Paul Brooks.

"So, many people in this township have come forward and offer to help us. I am so overwhelmed with it," said Janet.

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Getting Results: Delaware County Family Receives Donation From Local Contractor

DIY Family room addition ideas
DIY Family room addition ideas.

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Former Stanhope man killed in crash on Route 206 in Sandyston Former Stanhope man killed in crash on Route 206 in Sandyston

Updated: Thursday, May 29 2014 11:13 AM EDT2014-05-29 15:13:24 GMT

SANDYSTON A Stanhope man was killed early Wednesday morning when another driver swerved to avoid a deer and hit his vehicle head-on, state police said.

Updated: Wednesday, May 28 2014 11:06 PM EDT2014-05-29 03:06:58 GMT

NEWTON Its a night meant to curb recent high school graduates from partying by illicit means, but unless the next two fundraisers are a hit Newton High Schools Project Graduation may face some serious cutbacks.

NEWTON Its a night meant to curb recent high school graduates from partying by illicit means, but unless the next two fundraisers are a hit Newton High Schools Project Graduation may face some serious cutbacks.

Updated: Thursday, May 29 2014 10:15 AM EDT2014-05-29 14:15:19 GMT

NEWTON With more than a months worth of questions and a change of government just a month away, the Town Council on Wednesday voted down the creation of a special improvement district aimed at helping Spring Street.

Updated: Thursday, May 29 2014 12:09 AM EDT2014-05-29 04:09:08 GMT

MONTAGUE The Board of Education is reviewing plans for a $3.26 million addition and renovation to the Montague Elementary School on Route 206 to make room for the seventh and eighth grades.

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Montague looking at scaled-down plans for school expansion

With a growing number of officers and impending new leadership, the Santa Fe Police Department also is seeing expansion of its southwest-side headquarters.

Deputy Chief John Schaerfl said state money funded the $1.1 million project for the department, which he said has long been in need of more space.

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Cops get more elbow room at city police HQ