New windows were part of a renovation at the Vernie Snow Aquatic Center in Kingfisher.

KINGFISHER, Okla. Vernie Snow Aquatic Center recently received a facelift to the tune of nearly $2 million with a city-approved upgrade.

The renovation included a new pool pack, a dehumidification system, bay windows, a party room for private events and cosmetic changes throughout the indoor pool facility,Brandon Friesen, city of Kingfisher recreation director, said.

The biggest part of that was the pool pack, Friesen said. It controls heat and air in the building, as well as provides heating for the pool in the winter months. The dehumidification system helps reduce the smell of chlorine in the air around the pool. There was a little remodeling for the dressing rooms, and we got spray insulation throughout. The major addition was the party room.

Leslie Alvarez, assistant managerof the center, said private parties and open swim parties are available to be booked throughout the year, and the room gives guests a chance to set up more formal parties. Food isnt sold on site, so guests can bring in pizzas, picnic baskets, birthday cakes, sodasand more to facilitate parties.

Vernie Snow Aquatic Center in Kingfisher recently received a facelift to the tune of nearly $2 million after the city approved funds for an upgrade.

Id estimate that 75 to 80 percent of the private parties are booked by people not from Kingfisher proper, Friesen said. The smaller communities and rural areas around the town use the facility a lot.

The center boats a T-shaped pool with 25-yard lap lanes, diving boards, a slide area and a beach-style entry on one of the sections. The entire facility is indoors, making year-round swimming and other programming possible. Alvarez said the center hosts a youth swim team that competes in a league with Yukon, Mustang, Will Rogers, Edmond and Stroud. Water aerobics classes meet in the mornings, and a local physical therapist uses the pool for therapy sessions.

Vernie Snow Aquatic Center in Kingfisher recently received a facelift to the tune of nearly $2 million after the city approved funds for an upgrade.

Most of our lap swimmers come in the mornings, Alvarez said. We open at 7 a.m. weekdays for people who use swimming to work out, and were open seven days a week.

The center can host swim parties of various sizes, and different price packages are available. Open swim parties can be held nearly anytime, but the pool is open to the public for those events. Outside food is allowed even for those not hosting parties, but alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

Renovated locker rooms were part of the recent upgrade at the Vernie Snow Aquatic Center in Kingfisher.

Admission is $5per person, according to the Kingfisher.org website.Birthday parties and group events can be booked and schedule information can be obtained by calling the center at (405) 375-3318.

ENID, Okla. When Jacob Krumwiede first visited the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, he was impressed by what he saw. Now, since beco

In order to be a successful metal detectorist, you really have to be a history nerd. You to have an appreciation for the things that youre finding because you never really know what it is. So be careful before you just pawn something. Brian Terrell, a member ofRed Dirt Metal Detectorists

Visit EnidsMarcy Jarrett, director,andRob Houston,communications coordinator, see their jobs as getting the word out about Enid, but their focusmainlyis outside of the city limits in order to bringinvisitors to spend time and money.

Northwest Oklahomas state parks are ready for another high-traffic spring and summer, after a time of repair and remodel during the off-season.

From private tasting sessions to large group outings and catered events, Northwest Oklahoma has wineries available for everything from day trips to overnight stays.

The Leonardos Children's Museum boardhas started theprocess of its first-ever endowment fundraiser, scheduled to start in the fall. While the board has yet to decide the exact monetary goals, executive director Tracy Bittle said, I think it will be in excess of $4 million.

"Were just so fortunateto be a part of something that Paul and Joan (Allen) shared as a way to invest in our community. Bill Mayberry,David Allen Memorial Ballparks director of operations

Enid High School students are traveling millions of light years into the universe thanks to the schools recently revamped observatory. | Northwest Oklahoma public star viewing

Vernie Snow Aquatic Center recently received a facelift to the tune of nearly $2 million with a city-approved upgrade.

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Horton is a freelance writer for the Enid News & Eagle.

2020 Vision is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays in February, March and April 2020. The section is designed to feature individuals, businesses and organizations in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma that work every day for the betterment of the region and its residents.This section, which published March 15, 2020, focuses on Excursions.

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In our bathrooms today we want separate showers and freestanding baths, and the space to make that ... [+] possible. (Photo by: Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Bathroom remodels are one of the biggest projects homeowners undertake. In 2020, they will likely be near the top of the list, according to a new bathroom trends report.

Its no wonder: the bathroom is arguably the most frequently used room in the home. If it is out-of-date, not functioning properly or beginning to show signs of wear, it may be time to remodel.

It is no small undertaking; the national average cost for a full remodel of a master bathroom, which includes flooring, vanity, tub, shower and accessories is $20,000. The cost is lower for powder rooms, which consist of just a toilet and a sink and do have the storage requirements of a master bath.

Why do we remodel? The single biggest reason is because a bathroom design is outdated. A whopping 84% of their customers remodel for that reason, said a collection of the countrys top bathroom design experts, including Vicente Wolf, Alene Workman, Linda Merrill and Tip Haenisch, among about 50 others located in all parts of the country.

Bathrooms are uniquely personal spaces within the home, so homeowners and designers have big ideas for what constitutes the ideal space, says Cristina Miguelez, remodeling specialist for Fixr.

Since trends last roughly 10 to 15 years, its safe to say that bathrooms older than that that are being updated the most. Remodeling the bathroom simply to increase enjoyment has been popular for a few years now. This is different from past bathroom remodels, which were usually spurred by functional issues.

So what do homeowners willing to spend $20,000 for a new bathroom want? For one thing, they want them bigger. The day of cramped master baths is gone: 41% of homeowners want bathrooms that measure 100 to 199 square feet, while 27% want them to come in at over 200 square feet. Only 2% of homeowners are willing to settle for the 30 to 50 square feet allocated to bathrooms in the past.

They want a separate tub and shower. Having a bathtub is important to resale value, and a tub thats separate from the shower is considered a luxury layout. This layout requires more space than if the shower flows into the tub, and it allows for a more comfortable step-in shower stall design. It also can provide the freestanding tub that is favored by 80% of the respondents.

Storage is a big issue in any master bathroom, which explains why 62% of the experts polled prefer a floating vanity combined with a medicine cabinet. Consoles and open vanities favored in the past only garnered 11% of the votes, while the furniture style that was so stylish 15 years ago has fallen in popularity. While it provides the most storage space of any vanity type, the floating vanity has nearly as much space, but gives a cleaner, more spacious look.

Porcelain heads up the list of materials favored for the flooring, chosen it for its style possibilities and ease of maintenance.

As for the lighting, we love the classic elegance of sconces. Some things do not go out of style.

Link:
Bath Or Shower? In 2020, We Want Both - Forbes

By DEBORAH LAVERTY

GARY, Ind. (AP) Tonya Johnson cuddled close her 1-month-old daughter, McKenzie, after picking her up from her bassinet.

McKenzie fussed a little but Johnson, a first-time mom, seemed to know instinctively how to soothe her baby by giving her a pacifier while standing in the doorway of the bedroom they share at Emma's House.

"I got out of jail in December, and she was born one month later," Johnson said.

Johnson, 30, had been a heavy drug user, even using heroin, when she found out she was six months pregnant with her daughter, she said.

Thanks to a referral from Lake County Court Administrated Alcohol and Drug Service, Johnson was given the opportunity to stay at Emma's House, a transition house for women.

Now Johnson has been clean and sober since her Dec. 12 move-in date and is grateful for a second chance, including a future that promises the possibility of a place to live and a place to work.

"Everything will fall into place. I changed everything for this girl," Johnson said, holding close her baby daughter.

It is for women like Johnson that Emma's House, a remodeled home at 616 Maryland St., was opened close to two years ago, Pastor Michael Pirtle said.

Pirtle and his wife, Linda Pirtle, formed The City of Refuge Christian Church about 14 years ago, working with community partners of Northwest Indiana toward a common goal to end homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction and poverty.

About 12 women can live in Emma's House at a time, but they must stay clean and sober while there or they can be removed, Pirtle said.

During the time the women are there, volunteers help them look for permanent housing and employment.

"This is not a homeless shelter. We're a recovery home," Pirtle said.

Emma's House relies on grants and donations, and at the beginning of the year it received a State Opioid Response Grant for $1.8 million, which helps assist with funds up to four months for one woman's room and board.

"Right now we have only had one referral to take advantage of it," Pirtle said.

That referral was for Mary Carmon, 50, who was referred to Emma's House on Jan. 13.

Carmon's early years included having a dad who was in prison and a mother who was an alcoholic and had psychological problems, she said.

"I was only 2," Carmon said.

Her baby brother was adopted, but Carmon was placed in area group homes after going through the foster care system.

Carmon became a ward of the state growing up in Northwest Indiana, lived in a domestic violence situation during which she received broken ribs and a fractured ankle, battled drug and alcohol addiction and served jail time.

"I made some terrible choices," Carmon said.

Carmon is convinced that this time around she will make it with the help she is receiving at Emma's House, including time spent at the Regional Mental Health Center in East Chicago.

"I needed to find a place to get back into recovery. It's rekindled my spiritual condition and has given me an opportunity to live my life over," Carmon said.

"I've been clean and sober for four months."

Emma's House was donated to the church by former Lake County Community Corrections Officer Roderick Threatt.

The house is named after his mother, Emma.

It took about three years to remodel; funding was an issue, and the project included redoing the plumbing, electric, insulation, roof, tuckpointing, foundation, drywall and exterior work.

The majority of the cost for the $80,000 remodeling work came from donations from church parishioners, Pirtle said.

The church was started in 2006 in the Pirtles' living room in Merrillville. The church has moved several times but is currently located in Portage.

Pirtle retired in 2004 from the U.S. Marines and was doing a sit-in at the Lake County courtroom when he said he was inspired.

"When I retired I just sat in the courtroom and observed the community needs and what was going on," Pirtle said.

God just placed us in the middle of where the real need was.

__

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The City Council meetings at Government Plaza have people who consistently speak at every meeting. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

Whether it's fighting for disinvested neighborhoods, reciting a poem, sharing a bit of levity, or suggesting a better way for governing bodies to conduct their business, Marvin Muhammad, Craig Lee, Bill Weiner and Sammy Mearsare well-known citizens who exercise without fail, their right to speak during public meetings.

Well call them the Testifiers.

Craig Lee is an activists who speaks at the City Council meetings consistently. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

His strong Chicago political ties shaped his earliest activism. The generational disinvestment of African American communitiesspurs his continued efforts. He feels compelled to address the Shreveport City Council and Caddo Commission, over and over again, even though his testimonies seem to fall on deaf ears.

Lee owns and runs Creole SoulLouisiana Meat Pies but finds time during the day to carry out his civic duty.

I returned to Shreveport in 1994 as a pharmaceutical sales rep, said Lee, dressedcasually in denim, wearing his signature red, green and gold beanie as he sat at a small table in The Times newsroom to share his story.

Although Im a native of Shreveport, I have the same mindset as most of my colleagues that I grew up with. I got into the political arena in New Orleans at Xavier (University) by way of my contacts in Chicago. As a freshman, we had a lot of upperclassmen. One guy in particular went on to become president of the Cook County Commission, Todd Stroger, Jr.

Stroger and Lee graduated at the same time.

There were several guys who were a big influence and they called it the Chicago Club, Lee said. This was my first time seeing political activism. These guys were doing absentee voting for (late Chicago Mayor) Harold Washington in the mid-'80s and so it was shocking. I was aware of federal politics, but I was not aware of the local politics. So, when they helped Harold Washington win, that was thrilling to see, and it was through all of that that my political identity began to be shaped and crafted.

Lees Chicago connections run deep. Marc Morial, president/CEO, National Urban League, he said, was their political handler at that time.

It was a Queensboro murder, the community Lee grew up in, that was part of the reason he decided to stay in Shreveport.

It was a young man I was a big brother to in high school, Lee said. He came from a two-parent household and when I saw his photo plastered on the news, I wondered how he could become a killer? I asked the question, Why are these brothers and sisters murdering each other? There was no spirituality, no culture, no education, no economic cohesiveness.

Lee decided at that moment that he was done with corporate America and started his community activism. This May will be 25 years that hes been doing grassroots advocacy work.

Turns out, Lee has deep-rooted family connections to Shreveport. His great, great-grandfather, Phillip Moore, and Moore'sbrother, migrated from east Texas,Lee said.

They bought up 1,000 acres plus some land over where you see the municipal airport and incorporated the land and called it Moores Town. So, I have a vested interest in the transformation.

Relatives eventually sold the property to the City of Shreveport. It was incorporated and is now called Mooretown.

When you go in front of that podium, especially when you know youre not going to have the votes on an issue that is very important, theres some dejection to some degree, but I will continue to do this until I die.

Sammy Mears speaks at the City Council meetings consistently. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

Lovable and charming is how most people describe Mears, who brings a bit of levity along with his concerns. His time at the podium are the moments those in attendance look forward to and appreciate. You never know what hes going to share, but its always delightful and sometimes serious.

Mears can add "hero"to his list of accomplishments. The Shreveport Police Department recognized him recently for his quick-thinking efforts in saving his neighbors life and presented him with the Chief Appreciation Award during a February council meeting as he took center stage in the spotlight.

Easily recognized by his long hair as he sits in his regular seat on the first row of the meeting room chambers, Mears said Friday he likes to lighten things up with a little joke before he shares his concerns.

I show up to speak at the meetings because I have something to say, Mears said. One of the things Im concerned about now is that three people came to me and said theyve seen me at the City Council meetings and they wanted to know what I could do to help them out with the rooster thats running around and scaring people in the Highland area. I told them I would take care of it at the meeting. I went down there to let it be known that this rooster is out there, and it may (seriously hurt) a person or an animal or even a little child. So, it needs to be caught and taken away.

Mears enjoys church activities and also spends time reading at the Shreveport Memorial Library.

I go to the Highland Blessing Dinner because I have a good time fellowshipping with people at the table.

As to what he thinks about Shreveport, Mears said there'stoo much violence going on and it needs to stop.

Famous for his jokes, Mears shared one for The Times audience, 'What did one wall, say to the other wall?' Answer: ''Ill meet you in the corner. Thats one of the best ones Ive told, he added. He shared another one, Who takes the shortest time to get ready for a vacation, the elephant or the rooster? The next time you see Mears, ask him for the answer.

Bill Wiener attends public meetings cause he wants to make Shreveport a better place. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times )

Sculpture artist and architect Bill Wiener Jr., 83, hails from a renownedfamily of architects who in the 1930spioneered what came to be known as the International Style of architecture.

As for his sculptures, each piece is based on geometry and repetition of a variation on a theme. Weiner has enjoyed taking two-dimensional material such as steel plate, and creating three-dimensional art.

The arts, however, are not the only thing on his mind as hes taken part in local government for years and still does today, though he mentioned recently that hes growing weary because the council ignores his suggestions.

A family members involvement in the Underground Railroadinfluenced his civic engagement.

My parents were always involved in government, Wiener said. Ive done a lot of things and Ive served on national boards under both (former U.S. presidents) Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Ive had a lot of experiences that influenced me.

I come hereand I see what Shreveport is doing wrong and what theyre not doing but Im about to stop all this because they dont care, Wiener said. "Several weeks ago, I went there to tell them what to do to get ready for the coronavirus. Its always the same answers, Well get a committee to look at this but I never hear back. Since then, I wrote a letter to the mayor and told him that he must buy chemicals for the water plant because the 18-wheelers will not be runningand chemicals might not be available.

Weiner said city government is not thinking in long-range terms as to how to make the city better.

On the issue of race relations in Shreveport, Wiener said, Were one community of men, women, white, black, Hispanic, gays, and we need to look at the whole community.

Marvin Muhummad speaks at the City Council meetings consistently. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

During the day, Marvin Muhammad, 51, works at Turnkey Painting and Remodeling, a company he owns. He relocated just under a year ago to Shreveport from Dallas. Hes settling here to be near his family. Not long after, he was appointed to serve on the Caddo Parish Industrial Development Board, an engine he saidfor him to help stimulate economic development throughout the city and parish.

I was born in San Francisco but my adopted father, Odell Davis Sr., moved across the country back in the 1970s to get away form big city life and he implanted us into what was first known as Cooper Road, now known as the Martin Luther King community, Muhammad said.

There is a reason he speaks.

What we have to understand is that everything in life, our every activity, is dictated and predicated by public policy, Muhammad said of why he continues to show up and speak during public meetings. "So, if were going to be a society of laws and ordinances, then we want to be engaged so we can have some type of controlling factor over ourselves.

On the frustration level of seemingly not being able to get anything approved through the council that will benefit African American communities, Muhammad said people have to be politically astute.

We push voter registration drives and we push getting to the polls, but the political involvement in our community, stops there, Muhammad said. We have to understand that our political engagement must extend past the voting movement. We must fill the chambers of Government Plaza and we must attend school board meetings and engage these municipalities that control our lives.

As far as being frustrated, Muhammad said hes actually glad.

We as a people, believe that politics is a vehicle for us to achieve freedom and justice and true equity and equality and thats just not the case, Muhammad said.

"In five short months, we'll be commemorating, the 1965 Voting Rights Act signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. Since that time, it has been amended on a major scale at least five times. Once in 1970, again in 1975, 1982, 1992 and 2006. Why is it that we as black people in Americaand have contributed so much to America, we have to have a Voting Rights Act, when we have the 14th and 15th Amendment of the (U.S.) Constitution and we are U.S. citizens? Something is wrong with that picture.''

After slavery, black people walked away with nothing but determination and the shirt on their back. Black women, he said because of negative historical factors, lost trust that black men could protect them.

Theres a longstanding gap between black women and black men, so the black man has a lot of work to do to regain the trust, the love and the admiration, of the black woman, Muhammad said. When the sisters have the lovethey need from us and we have the admiration from the sisters, then we can accomplish whatever we so desire. When we achieve that, we can build our communities up.

As for race relations, Muhammad said an honest dialogue with no shouting or screaming is needed.

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Residents gathered at Immanuel Lutheran Church on March 5, 2020, for a presentation on the district's upcoming bond proposal.(Photo: Jeremy Ervin / Times Herald)

ST. CLAIR -Shannon Karas and her father-in-law Bill Karas took seats in the gym of Immanuel Lutheran Church on Thursday night. They had come for a presentation on East China School District's bond proposal, lead by Superintendent Suzanne Cybulla.

Bill Karas came to ask a question. He wanted to make sure the school had a maintenance plan in place to upkeep the proposed renovations. Cybulla assured him a plan was in place.

"I just want to make sure they can maintain the buildings, I'm happy to pay my fair share for my grandkids," he said. "I'm sure there's things in there I don't like, or think they don't need, but everyone's going to have their own pet peeves.

"If they can maintain it, this will probably be the first tax I vote yes on."

Voters will decide on a $112.9 million bond proposal from the East China School District Tuesday. If approved, officials said the funds will be spent on wide-sweeping technology, facilities and security upgrades.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

Shannon Karas said she's enthusiastic about the bond program, but was a little skeptical at first. She has a first and third grader in the district. Her kids went to Pine River Elementary, which she described as a great school.

"I actually went to the other schools and saw they're the same way they were 20 years ago when I graduated from St. Clair," she said. "It needs to happen, I didn't realize how far behind we were."

The presentation on Thursday was the last in a series of public outreach events ahead of thevote on Tuesday.

Cybulla walked the room through the schools plan should the community vote to approve the 1.5 mill, $112.9 million bond proposal.

The district has faced declining enrollment in recent years, with the trend projected to continue. In response to the loss of per pupil funding, the district has sought to reduce its number of buildings while providing additional services for students, Cybulla said.

"We've been making cuts for years and years, and it's just become part of how we do business," Cybulla said.

"We have to find a sustainable place, we can't keep working how we're working."

A $148.68 million bond proposal in May 2019 and an about $50 million proposal in 2016 wererejected by voters. Voters approved proposals from the district in 1998, 2001 and 2014, according to the state treasury department.

This year'sbond plan would keep both St. Clair High School and Marine City High School separate, a departure from the singular combined middle school/high school proposed last year. Each high school would become a combined middle-school high school, hosting grades six through 12.

A wide variety of infrastructure updates are planned across the district's schools if the bond is approved by voters. Each building would get an easily locked down entry vestibule for security purposes and additional security cameras.

Athletic facilities across the district would also be updated, including renovatinglocker rooms at East China Stadium, renovatingtennis courts and baseball fields and remodeling pool areas at both 6-12 grade schools. The district's Performing Arts Center would receive updated lighting and rigging systems, if voters approve the bond.

The bond program would include a new Innovation / Early Childhood Center at the district's site at 1585 Meisner Road, East China where the district's administrative offices and Performing Arts Center currently sit.Eight STEAM classrooms, focusing on giving students space for apply engineering, science and math lessons, would be constructed, along with additional parking, among other renovations. The site would also be able to host supplemental course opportunities for students in both St. Clair and Marine City such as advanced courses.

Students from Gearing Elementary would be transferred to the current St. Clair Middle School, which would become a new elementary school, with the name to be decided.The tentative timeline for construction would roll out over four years, wrapping up in the 2024-2025 school year.

Following the presentation, Cybulla asked voters to appreciate the critical nature of the project, and that the value of the educational opportunities that could come with it.

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Jeremy Ervin covers environment, education and more.Contact him at (810) 989-6276 or jervin@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@ErvinJeremy.

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Head brewer David Chaney, left, and co-owner Brad Cristea pose behind the counter at Pedals & Pints Brewing Co. in Thousand Oaks. The bicycling-themed craft brewery will mark its grand opening on March 17.(Photo: LISA MCKINNON/THE STAR)

Theteam behind Pedals & Pints Brewing Co.in Thousand Oaksdidn't pick St. Patrick's Day as an official opening date. It picked them.

"I started brewing almost the second we got our occupancy permit," said head brewer David Chaney, laughing at the memory. "Then we counted out the days to when those first beers would be ready."

As of this writing, the brewery is scheduled to mark its official grand opening at 11 a.m.March 17.(Check the Pedals & Pintswebsite andFacebook and Instagram accounts forchanges due to evolving public-healthguidelines in the age of coronavirus.)

It will feature four brewed-on-the-premises beers on tap, along with a menu of salads and pizzas created by co-ownerBrad Cristea. Aveteran of more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, Cristea is planning a corned beef and cabbagepizza for the occasion. (Other, more permanent pizza options include The Mack, made with mac 'n' cheese sauce, and the East Coast-inspired Bacon Clam with roasted garlic cream.)

MORE: Ventura County restaurants address dining in the time of coronavirus

Pedals & Pints Brewing Co. is located at a former Red Lobster restaurant at 156 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.(Photo: LISA MCKINNON/THE STAR)

Green light bathes the rows of fermenters and bright tanksjust beyond the taproom counter, continuing the St. Patrick's Day theme. The color can be changed, Cristea said. But the team which includesco-owner Mark Clemens, a Thousand Oaks High School graduate, and director of brewery operations Josiah Blomquist, a Newbury Park native like how the hue echoes the bright green under lighting of the 10-barrel brewhouse at the back of the roughly 6,000-square-foot building.

Pedals & Pints is located at what served as ashort-livedRed Lobsterbetween Olive Garden and Bank of Americanear The Oaks shopping center.It features a taproom decorated with patio lights andmountain bikes andan outdoor areafurnished with wine-barrel plantersand a pass-through window counter with its own row of Park Tool-logo barstools. Theseating capacity is 240.

The kitchen is abouthalfthe size it was during Red Lobster's run from 2011to 2016. But it still has the chain's former dishwashing machine, which Cristea said is one of the nicest he's seen in a career that has included working with chef Joachim Splichal at the original Patina onMelrose Avenue.

The idea for thebrewery started fermenting about six years ago, inspired by Cristea's and Clemens' shared love of bicycling.

A mountain bike is part of the decor at Pedals & Pints Brewing Co. in Thousand Oaks. The city's second craft brewery is scheduled to celebrate its grand opening on March 17.(Photo: LISA MCKINNON/THE STAR)

"Biking and beers kind of go together. You get together with friends, go for a ride, then hit someplace after for something to eat," said Cristea. "When I get done with a ride, I have a replenishing drink. I'd rather have a beer than anything else."

After finding the location and securing the final building permits, construction of the brewery, taproom and kitchen took a comparatively short six months.

But therewere hiccups along the way. Plans for a see-through bar top embedded with bicycle parts, tools and gears engraved with the names of Kickstarter donors fell through when a mistake was made during the pouring of the epoxy. A new counter was made from wood, with chains and engraved gears visible through a much thinner layer of protective resin.

Cherrywood-topped tables are used throughout the taproom, where seating options includea play pen-style area that can be reserved for large groups.

Beers on tap for the opening will include a pale ale, an India pale ale, a stout and a lager, Chaney said. The selection will build to 12 beers, with seasonal variations.

David Chaney, head brewer at Pedals & Pints Brewing Co. in Thousand Oaks, poses with an American pale ale he made for the brewery's grand opening.(Photo: LISA MCKINNON/THE STAR)

Chaney started home brewing in 2012. He became involved with MacLeod Ale Brewing Co. in Van Nuysabout two years later, working his way up from cellar master to assistant brewer under Blomquist, then the head brewer. When Blomquist moved on in 2017, Chaney took over ashead brewer. While at MacLeod, he won silver and gold awards at the World BeerCup and San Diego International Beer Competition, respectively.

The brewing capacity at Pedals & Pints could eventually handle an off-site taproom or two, Cristea said.

For now, it is the second breweryto open in Thousand Oaks, following the debut last summer of Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.

"In terms of numbers, we're way behind compared to San Diego and compared to Ventura, even," he said. "I don't think beer is a fad or a phase. It's a part of life."

After the grand opening, hours at the brewery will be from 11 a.m. to 10p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays(156 W. Hillcrest Drive,https://www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com).

In CAMARILLO,Lalo's Family Restaurant opened March 6 at the Paseodel Sol space left vacant by the serial departures of Sushi Hiro, Yamato and Tony Roma's. The new restaurant offers sit-down service from a 14-page menu that is identical to the one in use at its sister location in Oxnard. (The family-owned restaurant chainalso operates two order-at-the-counter Lalo's Fast Food locations in Ventura.)

Breakfast dishes such as eggs Benedict ($9.95), huevos con machaca ($13.95) and waffle platters($14.95, including two eggs and a choice of three sides) are available until 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, until noon Saturdays and until 11 a.m. Sundays.

"Nuevos platillos" include "coco loco" featuring shrimp served in a coconut ($13.95), a"light" molcajete ($17.95) and fajitas de Juanita ($17.95).

Wine, beer and cocktails are available. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays(1901 E. Daily Drive, 805-586-4031, http://www.lalosfamilyrestaurant.com).

Nabor Wines LLCis moving its winemaking operations from Westlake Village to a Flynn Road business park in Camarillo.

The new facility will not be open to the public and it won't have a tasting room "even though our permit will allow it. We simply do not produce enough wine, nor does the wine we do produce hang around long enough, to service a tasting room,"co-owner and winemaker Dusty Nabor wrote in an email to The Star.

The winery's allocation mailing list and online sales are the only way to obtain its wines made from grapes grown in Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County. It also participates in tasting events that benefit local charities.

Naborproduces wines under the labels Bolt To Wines, NSO by Dusty Nabor and Dusty Nabor Wines, the latter described as the premier brand.

The move is happening in part because the winery's previous facility was repurposed, Nabor said. Other factors: Camarillo is cheaper, slightly cooler and closer to source vineyards (http://dustynaborwines.com).

In NEWBURY PARK, the combination coffee and wine bar BeanoVinowill close March 16. That's nearly two months after the original "end of January" closure date announced late last year, when theDos Vientos-neighborhood business went on the market.

A farewell post on the business' Facebook page thanked patrons for the "support, love and friendship that you have extended to us for the past six years and seven months.

"To all the kids that hang out at BeanoVino, thank you for making us a part of your growing up years. ... Looking forward to seeing you all healthy, grown up and accomplished in your own ways" (360 Via las Brisas, Suite 160, 805-375-2326).

In OXNARD, the seafood-restaurant project that started its build-out last summer as Boiling Crabhas been renamed.It will do business as Niu Seafood when it opens perhaps as soon as early next week at 2530 Saviers Road in the IslandPlaza shopping center.

At Salt Waterside Bistroat 4308 Tradewinds Drivein the Whitesails Villagecenter, the "closed until further notice"sign reported in the Feb. 29 edition of this column has been replaced by a longer, more explanatory note.

"Salt will reopen in the spring," it reads. "We are aiming for the first of April. Due to sudden staff changes and technical issues, we were forced to stop service with no notice.

"Look forward to a new Spring and Summer menu, lighter fare, locally sourced seafood and produce."

Salt's website has been updated to note the temporary closure. The restaurant'sphone number rings unanswered, and its Facebook and Instagram pages were last updated in December.

In VENTURA, the combination bowling alley, restaurant, bar and live-music venue Discovery Ventura isclosed until March 18 due to public-health precautions, according to an March 12 email signed by the "Disco Team."

The time period affects just one event: aMarch 14 tribute to Prince. A phone number listed in the email for calls about obtaining ticket refunds belongs to a landscape architecture firm that is not connectedto Discovery Ventura. (The correct number is given below.)

Tickets for the event were still being sold on the venue's website as of Friday afternoon.

Discovery Ventura recently shortened its operations to Friday and Saturday nights. According to a LoopNet listing, the building it occupies is on the market for $4.2 million (1888 E. Thompson Blvd., 805-856-2695,https://www.discoveryventura.com).

In downtown Ventura, the lifestyle store Iron and Resin is temporarily closed at 324 E. Main St.fora remodeling project that includes earthquake retrofitting and the creation of a backyard hangout spot with a cafe built out of three, 40-foot shipping containers. According to notices posted on the store's windows and website, it will reopen on or around May 1 (https://ironandresin.com).

A few blocks away, the extensive renovation of a building that once housed a photo studio, a shabby-chic store and an antiques shop will result in at least one new restaurant:Model Citizen.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Prospect Coffee Roasters goes to bat in Ventura (2017)

The future business will feature a full bar, according to the yellow "public notice of application to sell alcoholic beverages" noticetaped to the window at 70 S. Oak St. Applicants named on the pending licenseare brothersDerek Ulrich and Blake Ulrich,who opened Prospect Coffee Roastersnearly three years ago in downtown Ventura.

Lisa McKinnon is a staff writer for The Star. To contact her, send email to lisa.mckinnon@vcstar.com.

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Heights Jewish Center Synagogue in University Heights announced it will not be holding services or classes, beginning March 16.

All bars and restaurants in Ohio will be ordered close to at 9 p.m. March 15. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine made the announcement during a March 15 news conference. Restaurants will remain open for carry-out and delivery.

Solon City Schools will be closed beginning March 16.

The Bagel Shoppe in South Euclid will be closed for walk-in business as of March 16. The Bagel Shoppe and FreshKo catering are partnering with JSL Catering to offer curbside pickup and delivery options.

The Mandel Adult Day Center at Menorah Park in Beachwood will be closed as of March 16.

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple has closed the building until April 3.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. is closing itsbrewpub and gift shop.

Akron Symphony Orchestra's Appalachian Spring Concert will not place on March 28.

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing all North American, Middle East and Europe stores for two weeks.

Nike is closing all U.S. stores through March 27.

Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood has canceled all daily minyanim.

fire, food and drink on Shaker Square in Cleveland will close for two months.

Apple is closing its stores outside of China for two weeks and will only sell online. Apple has stores at Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere, Summit Mall in Fairlawn and Crocker Park in Westlake.

The Shaw JCC of Akron and the Schultz Campus will close from 6 p.m. March 15 through April 3, according to a March 14 email signed by John Keverkamp, Shaw JCC executive director.

MGM Northfield Park will close as of midnight March 13. As of midnight tonight, MGM Northfield Park will suspend operations and temporarily close, said MGM COO and President Bill Hornbuckle. We will do all we can to mitigate the impact on our employees and partners. We will monitor this rapidly changing situation and will keep everyone informed as decisions are made to reopen in the future.

The Solon Community Center, the Solon Senior Center, the Solon Center for the Arts and Grantwood Golf Course in Solon will be closed starting March 14. "We will re-evaluate the situation weekly," Mayor Eddy Kraus wrote in an email to residents.

The Mandel JCC in Beachwood will be closed through April 5, Michael G. Hyman, president and CEO, told the Cleveland Jewish News on March 13.

Cleveland Public Library will close at the end of the day March 13 until further notice.Allprograms,services,outreach activities,and meeting roomreservations have been canceled.Thelibrary will continue to provide brown bag meals to children Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. at Main Library and our 27 neighborhood branches. Voters can still utilize the designated branches as polling locations for the primary election March 17.

All Cuyahoga County Public Library branches are closed to the public March 14 through April 5. Telephone reference and drive-up service will be available at 11 branches, including Beachwood, Mayfield, Orange and South Euclid-Lyndhurst.Polling locations will be open March 17 for voting.

The European Wax Center in Woodmereis temporarily suspending operations while schools are closed.

The Cleveland Museum of Artwill temporarily close to the public effective March 14, with current plans to reopen on March 31.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will close to the public March 16.

The Institute for Learning In Retirement East has canceled the spring session of classes scheduled to start April14.

All City Candy in Cleveland has postponed its grand reopening event scheduled for March 21. The store will hold acustomer appreciation event at a date yet to be determined.

Destination Clevelandhas closed the Cleveland Visitors Center at 334 Euclid Ave. The organization has also postponed its Be a Tourist in Your Hometown activities scheduled for March 27 to March 29.

The Beachwood Bistro atBeachwood High School is closed until further notice.

The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Induction Week festivities are postponed.

The I-X Center has canceled the annual I-X Indoor Amusement Park,the I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama and Marketplace Events.

Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike hascanceled or postponed all non-essential meetings. Services at the synagogue March 13 and March 14 are canceled.

The Youngstown Area Jewish Federationhas canceled or postponed existing programs that include large gatherings.Limited visitation is in immediate effect for Heritage Manor and Levy Gardens.However, the Jewish Community Center building and the Early Learning Center at the Jewish Community Center will remain open.

Nighttownin Cleveland Heights will close after service March 15 likely through May 10.

Italian Language Lessonsat the Cleveland History Center in University Circle are postponed.

Western Reserve Historical Society will close all public venues March 14 through April 5.

Great Lakes Science Center is closed for the foreseeable future.

All Bikur Cholim events are canceled until further notice and no visitors are allowed in Bikur Cholim houses.

The Cleveland International Hall of Fameis postponing April 21 induction ceremony of May Chen, Margaret Lynch, Valarie McCall, Ramesh Shah, Berj Shakarian and Joe Valencic.

All JFSA YouthAbility activities are canceled through March 31.

All public programming at the Beachwood Community Center is suspended through end-of-day March 19.

The Jewish Education Center offices will be closed until March 23.

Mandel JDS and Gross Schechter Day School students are required to refrain from attending Kids Club at Mandel JCC while their schools are closed.

All in-person Kol HaLev gatherings are suspended until after March 17.

All in-person religious school classes at Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson are canceled until after Passover, April 16.

Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournaments in Cleveland have been canceled.

Ohio High School Athletic Association has postponed all remaining winter tournaments.

The Cleveland International Film Festival set for March 25 to April 5 has been canceled.

The City Club of Cleveland will reschedule remaining forums in March. Those with tickets to a rescheduled forum will be contacted with further information. Starting March 12, forums moved to an online format with the first being on the topic of COVID-19 and the local and statewide response to this unique public health threat. On March 13, the regional high school debate championship will still be hosted with a limited audience of close friends and family members of the debaters. Others may livestream the event at cityclub.org or on the radio at 90.3 WCPN at 12:30 p.m.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has canceled the men's and women's basketball tournaments, and all spring championships in every sport.

Shaker Heights Public Library has suspended all library programs and public meeting room use through April 30.

The University HeightsArchitecture Review Board meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 12 has been canceled.All agenda items will be moved to the next meeting, which is now scheduled for April 9.

The Cleveland Institute of Music has canceled all public events and performances through April 6.Decisions about performances scheduled between April 7 and April 20 will be made in the coming weeks.

All indoor locations at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo are closed.

All Cleveland Metroparks and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo upcoming programs and events are canceled until at least March 31.

Cleveland Metroparks outdoor locations will remain open including 18 park reservations, eight golf coursesand the outdoor portion of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has cancelled all train rides from March 13 to April 12.

Playhouse Square has postponed all performances.

All schools will close end of day March 16 through April 3.

Shaker Heights schools: all school-sponsored, after-school, large-group events and daytime school assemblies are canceled, as well as field trips through March 21.

Solon schools have canceled all non-essential indoor large group activities and gatherings as well as all student field trips.

Orange Schools have canceled classes Friday,March 13. Teachers will use this day to prepare online and alternative content and coordinate instructional resources students will need to complete at-home assignments should the need arise. After-school eventsMarch 13 are still on at this point.

Ashland University in Ashland will move to an online format starting March 18.

Baldwin Wallace University in Berea will move to an online format through at least April 13.

Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green will move to an online format starting March 23.

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland will move to an online format through at least April 6.

The University of Cincinnati students will complete classes remotely until April 13.

Cleveland State University in Cleveland has extended spring break until March 23. Classes will resume in an online format through at least April 10 with the intent to resume on-campus classes April 13.

Cuyahoga Community Collegein Cleveland has postponed face-to-face classes until March 23.Fitness centers and pools are closed until April 1.

John Carroll University in University Heights will move to an online format through at least April 13.

Kent State University in Kent will move to an online format through at least April 11.

Lorain County Community College in Elyria will resume in-person classes March 25 after spring break.

Miami University in Oxford will complete the semester online. For students who depart campus by March 27 and do not return, there will "an appropriate" refund of room and board.

Oberlin College in Oberlin will begin spring break March 18 and make a decision about moving to an online format by March 25.

The Ohio State University in Columbus will move to an online format through at least March 30.

Ohio University in Athens will move to an online format through at least March 30.

University of Akron in Akron will move to an online format March 30 when students get back from spring break.

University of Toledo in Toledo will move to an online format through at least March 30. All events with expected attendance of 100 or more are canceled. Domestic and international travel is suspended for the rest of the fiscal year.

Ursuline Collegein Pepper Pike hassuspended face-to-face instruction on campus until March 30.

Walsh University in North Canton will move to an online format through at least March 27.

Friday, March 13

The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood events: Regular Kabbalat Shabbat service without hakafa will be streamed; Shira Chadasha will be rescheduled; Souper Oneg; TGIS and visit from Temple Israel teens

Bnai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike events postponed: Mind-full Shabbat dinner and speaker; Kinder Shabbat

Spring carnival at Dorothy Lewis Elementary School in Solon is rescheduled for May 15

The Cleveland Institute of MusicPreparatory Chamber Music Master Class

The Cleveland Orchestra concerts

Saturday, March 14

WRHS Genealogical Committee Workshop Opening the Door to Family Historyat the Cleveland History Center in University Circle

BBYO Spring Kickoff: ONRave

Beachwood City Schools The Wizard of Oz production

The Temple-Tifereth Israel events: Torah study will be streamed; Shabbaton; Judaism, Reform and Modern America; All In, New Donor Event

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood events: Torah Study at 9:15 a.m. will be streamed via Zoom, email Diane Lavin (dianelavin60@gmail.com) for the link; Library minyan

Bnai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike events postponed: Starbucks, Bread and Torah; religious school activities

Solon High School SAT testing

Solon Middle School OMEA choral competition

The Cleveland Institute of MusicSuzuki Recital

The Cleveland Orchestra concerts

Sunday, March 15

Temple Beth Shalom Religious School

Wolf Religious School: Park Sunday School

Beachwood City Schools Bison Feast + Fest

Beachwood City Schools Senior Spaghetti Dinner for the Class of 2020 and their parents

Purim Hoopla with jHUB & PJ Library at the Solon Recreation Center

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Closings, cancellations and more in Northeast Ohio due to coronavirus - Cleveland Jewish News

Laurie and Craig Stahlecker have formed a company to take over the hotel and are preparing to hold a soft opening on Wednesday, Feb. 19, with a regular opening date the following day. The Crookston Inn closed on Dec. 29, after previous owners Todd and Nicole Jacobson experienced difficulties repaying loans for remodeling and property taxes. Laurie Stahlecker was the general manager of the hotel before it closed.

Well yes and no, said Stahlecker, when asked if she owns the hotel. Im the owner of the business inside, the bank owns the building. I am pretty much managing it for a year, and then Ill go from there.

That bank is United Valley Bank in Grand Forks, from which Stahlecker is leasing the hotel with an option to buy.

Stahlecker said her new business is not affected by debts that dragged down the hotel in its previous incarnation.

That is a former owner issue, not mine, she said.

Angel Weasner, city finance director for Crookston, said the city is attempting to collect nearly $130,000 from previous owner Todd Jacobson, who took out loans through the city via a federal intermediary revolving loan program to pay for remodeling, as well as property taxes.

We have a personal guarantee, and so through legal channels, were calling the note, Weasner said.

The new business owner said she is not worried about competition from Crookstons three other hotels, the Golf Terrace Motel, AmericInn and Cobblestone Hotel and Suites.

I think I'll be fine, she said. Were a little bit different. I mean we have the event center.

Mike Jacobson, who said he is not related to the previous Crookston Inn owner Todd Jacobson, owns the AmericInn hotel in Crookston. He said his hotel is running at 46% occupancy for the month, even with the Crookston Inn closed. The occupancy rate needs to be in the mid-fifties to break even, he said.

When you have a $20,000-a-month payment, and you're only bringing in $30,000 or $40,000 and you got to pay bills and taxes and everything else, you just can't make it happen, Jacobson said.

Stahlecker, for her part, said she is glad to be reopening and has brought back about 25 Crookston Inn employees. She noted a number of cosmetic improvements have been done at the hotel in preparation for reopening, including new paint and some room updates.

Its got our own touch and feel to it, she said.

The hotel has 74 rooms and the event center can accommodate up to 400 people.

Stahlecker said she has events such as weddings lined up and is preparing to host a Darts and Divas event Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22. The event, a womens dart tournament, should bring more than 30 people to the hotel and event center.

The Crookston Inn also has a new menu and point-of-sale technology that allows a server to accept credit cards at a guests table.

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Crookston Inn and Convention Center to reopen - Grand Forks Herald

The Sterling Heights Public Library is preparing to undergo renovations over the next several months.

Black markings are visible on pillars outside the librarys entrance. According to city officials, the markings will be covered up once the weather breaks and painting can be done.

Photo by Deb Jacques

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STERLING HEIGHTS A new chapter of change is underway as the Sterling Heights Public Library begins a remodeling process. But library staff members are warning that not all of it will be quiet.

The city officials recently announced that a season of library renovations would be kicking off soon. Sterling Heights Purchasing and Facilities Maintenance Manager Jared Beaudoin said in an emailed statement that the decision to renovate stemmed from the citys 2017 Facilities Conditions Assessment. He said the city conducted a workflow study so that renovating work spaces would ensure efficiencies.

In 2018, the Sterling Heights City Council agreed to issue capital improvement bonds for the renovations, Beaudoin explained. He said the funding covers new furniture, building finishes, HVAC replacement and upgrades, electrical work, plumbing, security, and the fire alarm and IT systems.

The estimated cost for these renovations at the public library is $4.1 million, Beaudoin said. These are the first library renovations in 20 years. The last renovations in 1999 added more than 8,200 square feet to the facility.

Jason Groth, the librarys public relations and programs coordinator, said the renovation work will include new lighting, furniture and carpeting, as well as fresh paint.

He said a new glass-enclosed teen room on the first floor will be a place where young people may study and socialize. More study rooms and a makerspace room for craftwork and tech-related projects will be added.

Based on patron feedback, many residents want to boost the librarys role as a community space, Groth said. The renovations are working toward that end.

Groth assured patrons that the library building will generally stay open throughout the renovation period, though at times sections will be closed off while workers get the construction done. For instance, at times, the programming center will be blocked off, but affected library programs will temporarily take place at the new Community Center building across the street, he explained.

Groth assured residents that all normal library materials may still be checked out. In cases where the materials would normally be in a walled-off area, a librarian may access them, he explained.

Groth said he believes that the librarys core renovations could last roughly from March until November, though he emphasized that the timeline is not firm.

We also do not know which sections will be closed first, he said.

Groth warned that patrons might have to bear with noise and other inconveniences during the period, and he hopes that people will pardon any dust that occurs.

We hope our construction crew will minimize such nuisances, but we cant guarantee that theyll be eliminated, he said.

Learn more about the Sterling Heights Public Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road in Sterling Heights, by visiting shpl.net or by calling (586) 446-2665.

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Sterling Heights library turns page on building construction - C&G Newspapers

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A CHEF-QUALITY KITCHEN

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

"If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesn't necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000," says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. DIY PAINTING

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home's sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

"A good paint job is not easy," says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. "It is all in the prep work, and most people don't want to do the prep work." Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. AN EXPANDED MASTER SUITE

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? "If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal," Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes don't mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, "Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom."

4. PLUSH WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

"In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated."

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A SWIMMING POOL

It doesn't matter if it's infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don't want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesn't add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If you're thinking resale, it's not worth it you'll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if you'll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A RENOVATION IS WORTH THE COST

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. "If you're going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off," Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. "Talk to a professional so you aren't making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years," Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your home's current value and its likely value after the improvements.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kwood@nerdwallet.com

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: Find out how much your home is really worth

http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-how-much-home-worth

NerdWallet: Tips for first-time home buyers

http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-tips-first-time-home-buyers

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5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - ABC News