Q: Ive lived in my home awhile now and want to freshen up the look and feel without remodeling. What can I do with my space to make it feel new again?

A: Redecorating your home is a great way to give it a quick and easy upgrade without the cost or hassle of a remodel. As you begin to think about how you want to redesign your space, consider these cardinal interior-design rules to help you in your planning.

Create a focal point. The first question you should ask when planning your room is where the main focus will be. Where can you do something special that will draw the eye? Choose only one focal point a wall across from the entrance, for instance and do it well. Pay special attention to lighting. Add texture to a wall, a contrasting color, or a vignette of furnishings and artwork. A room without a focus is lost in space.

Hang art at eye-level. One of the most common mistakes people make when installing artwork is to hang it too high. Art looks best when it hangs where you can see it, at eye level. This means roughly two-thirds of the artwork should be below eye level and one third above. This rule might be slightly altered when hanging art over furniture like a buffet, sofa or console table; in that case, the bottom of the frame should be 4 to 8 inches above the furniture. When artwork hangs above a mantel or headboard which are often higher than the average sofa this gap should be smaller.

Use the right rug size. Too-small rugs make spaces feel small and incomplete. Rugs should be proportionate to the room. In a bigger room, where the furniture is nearer the center of the space, the rug should be big enough to fit all the furniture on it. In a smaller living room, where the furniture is closer to the walls, the rug should extend into the space under the furniture, but still leave about a foot of bare floor showing at the edges.

Let furniture breathe. Never push your upholstered seating up to the wall. No matter how small the room, there should be at least a 2-inch gap between the wall and seating. This breathing space will make the room feel more spacious. Equally important is that armoires, console tables and bookcases should never be lined up along the wall next to one another.

Light things up. Lighting is the most important design element in your home. When done well, it creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, while still providing sufficient light where needed. Lighting should come from different sources at different heights, such as wall sconces and ceiling lights. The soft light of table and floor lamps adds ambiance; you can never have too many lamps. Where possible, install dimmer switches.

Use mirrors. Mirrors are indispensable as a design tool. Because they reflect light and objects in interesting and useful ways, designers often use mirrors to correct architectural flaws, create the illusion of more space and bring light deeper into a room. If you have an awkward, dark or narrow room, or just want to maximize the view from a window, a mirror in the right spot can save the day.

Design with layers. When a room feels incomplete or wrong, our first thought is to question the bigger things like the layout, the furniture or the colors. While these are important, the answer often lies in the smaller things. In a room that feels right, you will find layers of pillows and throws, artwork, and compositions of accessories, books, lamps and flowers. Layers are like blankets they make us feel comfortable.

Mia Hannom is the owner of In Form Design, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question youd like answered by one of MBAKSs nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

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Planning to redecorate? These pro tips are designed to help - Seattle Times

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STEPHANIE PANNY / STAFF PHOTO Dallas Twp. board of supervisors discuss a plan for expanding the police station during the meeting on Tuesday.

DALLAS There are no showers in the Dallas Twp. Police Department.

Although there is a locker room, fashioned out of one of the old meeting rooms of the former Dallas Twp. Municipal Building, police Chief Doug Higgins said officers have no place to wash off the grime of a shift before going home. Hopefully, that will soon change.

Its been years since theres been any remodeling, Grant said. Well convert it into a modern, high-tech building for the police.

On Tuesday night during its regular meeting, the Dallas Twp. board of supervisors updated citizens on those plans.

Earlier that day, Grant said the board met with 15 individual contractors looking to bid on the project. Grant said the contractors each received complete plans for the renovations and updates, which were prepared by a hired architect.

The potential contractors, who also saw the police station, Grant said, will spend the next week figuring out how much the construction will cost by talking to estimators and asking the architect detail-oriented questions. The four contracts include the 1,240-square-feet addition, associated site work and additional renovations to the existing building.

Contractors have until 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, to submit their bids to the architects office, Douglas F. Trumbower & Associates, and those bids will be opened by the supervisors at a special meeting held 2 hours later. Grant said the contractors who submit the lowest bids for each of the four individual contracts will be awarded the projects after the board reviews the bids with the architect.

To pay for the project, set to begin in the spring and finish by the end of October, Grant said the board will add up each cost and apply for a state grant by Dec. 20 for approximately 25% of the total. It plans to pay for the rest using its own funds.

The renovation has been discussed for at least a year, Grant said, when they moved the township offices into their new building at 105 Lt. Michael Cleary Drive and the police moved into the old building. Higgins said the old municipal building was halfway to where it needed be to be a functioning station, even after the officers fixed it up, and said the board thought simply upgrading the building would be cheaper.

However, Higgins said the necessary upgrades accumulated until it was just easier to do a big renovation. Although the first set of plans didnt work, the second draft was liked by all.

The police officers had involvement in it, and so did the chief, in the proper design of the police department, Grant said.

Higgins said the expansion and renovation, which also includes a bigger evidence locker and two cells with toilets inside so the officers dont have to share with those they arrest, will both upgrade the work environment and boost the morale of the officers who work there.

Higgins said he wants this expansion to be big enough to sustain growth 25 years into the future.

As time goes by, we grow. So, you have to grow with the times. You have to grow with your community, Higgins said. We really havent done that too much in that building. Nows the time we have to do that.

Contact the Writer:

spanny@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2051

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Dallas Twp. to receive bids for police station renovation, expansion - Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

By John DeLapp, CORRESPONDENT

The city of Alvin has broken ground on a new station that will serve both fire and EMS departments.

The city of Alvin has broken ground on a new station that will serve both fire and EMS departments.

Photo: Vector_master - Fotolia

The city of Alvin has broken ground on a new station that will serve both fire and EMS departments.

The city of Alvin has broken ground on a new station that will serve both fire and EMS departments.

Planned Alvin EMS/fire station to be in strategic location

In an effort to put its fire and emergency medical services in a more strategic location, the city of Alvin has broken ground on a new station that will serve both departments.

The 29,310-square-foot building will be at the intersection of East South Street and Bellaire Boulevard and is scheduled to open next November.

The construction is estimated to cost $11.7 million, funded through certificate of obligation bonds.

The location puts the two departments near the Texas 35 Bypass and will give firefighters and emergency medical service officials quick access to all areas of the city.

Its in a good location near the 35 Bypass, which is eventually going to be part of the Grand Parkway, said Ron Schmitz, director of operations for Alvin Emergency Medical Services. South Street is also one of our major east-west thoroughfares; so its a good location as far as being on some main lanes of traffic and will give us good access around the city.

Replacing aging facilities

The new facility will replace a 50-year-old fire station and a 40-year-old EMS station. Both needed some major upgrades, Schmitz said.

The project has been several years in the making, he said. The fire department has known they need to update their station because theyre outgrowing it. (The EMS station) was remodeled about 20 years ago, but we were a volunteer service at that time. Weve done some in-house remodeling, but we are steadily outgrowing our building and it is getting some maintenance issues; so it was time for us to expand a little bit to give us some growing room. So, we decided to combine our efforts and build one facility to house both departments.

The current EMS station lacks sufficient garage space.

We have five ambulances and we only have four bays; so one has to be outside all of the time, Schmitz said. So, we are adding a bay to give us more capability. We also have an emergency management command vehicle that is too large to fit in our bay; so this will also be able to be stored inside as well.

The planned station will have other amenities that will benefit the city, Schmitz said.

Training room, more parking planned

One of the things Im excited about is that its going to include a large training room that will hold desks and seating for 100 people and if you take the desks out and just have chairs, it will hold more than 200 people, he said. That will give us a nice capability, because there really is no other large room or space that the city has like that other than our senior center and that is pretty well booked most of the time for senior events.

The room can be divided into two separate spaces and also will have an attached kitchen.

Parking will also be more than ample.

Well have over 100 parking spaces available, Schmitz said. One of the things we have seen is that stations will build nice training facilities, but if you have a big event, you cant park everyone. Our volunteer fire department is quite large one of the largest in this part of Texas so, if we have a large fire or even just a big event, its not inconceivable for them to have 50 or 60 members show up at one time.

The training room is also large enough to serve as Alvins command center during disaster operations.

The building plans also will help protect the station during periods of heavy rain.

Its being built in a floodplain next to Mustang Bayou, but we watched that area during Hurricane Harvey, and while the road flooded some, it was mostly passable, Schmitz said. The (new stations) location was never covered by water, but we are going to elevate the property about 4 feet.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.

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Planned Alvin EMS/fire station to be in strategic location - Chron

Aroma of freshly baked pizza is spreading on the east side of Woodstock.

Your Sisters Tomato, operator of two successful food trucks in the Woodstock area for the past four years, has set the opening for next week at a sit-down restaurant on Irving Avenue.

And Antioch Pizza, a 42-year-old company with four restaurants, plans to open two more in 2020, one of them in Woodstock.

The two restaurants will be less than a block apart.

Linda Foss, 51, who owns the two food trucks with Tammie Hinchee, said the new restaurant at 110 Irving Ave. would officially open Tuesday, Dec. 10. She describes the venture as a dream and a passion of mine.

The specialty of Your Sisters Tomato is wood-fired pizza, something Foss discovered in the early 1990s when she was playing professional basketball in Europe.

In the block to the east in the former Bohns Ace Hardware building Antioch Pizza has had a sign in the window recruiting employees for the pizzeria at 150 S. Eastwood Drive. It will be the third business to move into the building along Route 47 as it is being remodeling.

Teammates again

Theyre not really sisters, but Your Sisters Tomato owners Foss and Hinchee did play basketball together at Northern Illinois University.

This past weekend they completed the fourth year of their food truck business with an appearance at the Lighting of the Square in downtown Woodstock. Its a seasonal business, Foss said, dictated by winter road conditions.

The restaurant, which will seat about 60 people, is the first phase of their expanded business. The building has room to the north to double the size of the operation with a large bar, but Foss said she wants to have the restaurant up and running first.

Well see how this works, she said of the opening. I want to get my legs underneath me.

The menu of the sit-down eatery will expand to include salads, desserts, and childrens specialties, among other offerings. She plans to start pretty basic with the food, including freshly made dough.

Its all homemade, Foss said last week amid the still-unfinished interior. Everything pretty much is made from scratch.

The sit-down restaurant is part of the evolution of Your Sisters Tomato, which has developed without a timeline.

I wanted to do it right, Foss said. Its hard to do it that way, but its the right way to do it.

She said about 15 people who work part-time in the trucks will transition to the restaurant. That includes lots of kids Ive trained in basketball camps.

Im so excited, Foss said. The journey of it to see everyone who has supported it, believed in it, to watch it happen.

Part of a chain

In addition to its wide variety of pizzas, Antioch Pizza offers appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. Various pasta dishes also are available in house or through the catering service.

Antioch Pizza started in 1977 as the first of three Lake County restaurants. In addition to its site along Route 59, the business has opened in Lindenhurst and Fox Lake as well as Paddock Lake, Wis. The company website promotes new locations for 2020 in Woodstock and Barrington.

As a family restaurant, it does not serve alcohol.

The pizza parlor would be the third business to operate in the building that once housed the hardware store, with room on the south end for one or two more businesses.

Holzlager Brewing Co., a brewery and tasting room, occupies the space on the far north end, and Sophies Whiskey & Wine lounge is next door.

Holzlager does not serve food but frequently hosts food trucks in the parking lot out front. Sophies has a sandwich menu and serves artisanal pizza.

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Pie on the (East) Side - Woodstock Independent

Koichi IwasakiCONTRIBUTOR

The University of Nebraska at Omaha announced on Nov. 23, 2019 a second round of renovations for the Strauss Performing Arts Center will begin in the summer of 2020.

The announcement revealed the recent completion of a project was to add more than 25,000 square feet to the facility and renovat the Concert Hall, recording space, teaching studios and others. Construction fees of the first phase are covered by a blend of private and state, according to the announcement.

The announcement also said the second phase will realize planners vision for new facilities. Thanks to generous community support, the School of Music will be able to complete its visionary work. Private funds will cover the entire cost for the second phase of the construction, according to the announcement.

The project includes the following: Construction of an entrance on the west side of the building, which will provide a clear and inviting point of entry for performances and other large community events. Remodeling of all 27 practice rooms to improve soundproofing, which will allow students to practice without any disturbances. Adding at least one additional classroom and expanding the existing computer lab from 13 to roughly 30 stations for educational demand. Flattening the floor of a rehearsal room to increase the flexibility of the space. In addition, improving acoustics for enhancing A/V and lighting. Installing a smooth floor on the first floor to make it easy to transport delicate musical instruments.

Director of the School of Music Washington Garca said the private supports indicate UNOs strong relationship with the community.

Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D, called the gift an investment among local performing arts.

Music adds beauty and richness to our lives; in our School of Music, we are hosting some of the regions most dynamic events and, just as importantly, educating and mentoring musicians to thrive in the ever-changing world of music. Without question, this renovation will enhance the experiences of our students, performers and countless community guests, Gold said.

The announcement said organizers expect work to run from late spring 2020 through mid-year in 2021.

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More renovations coming to Strauss Performing Arts - The Gateway

When City Council voted 5-1 in August to impose a series of new regulations on strip clubs and other sexually oriented businesses, supporters predicted the ordinance could withstand any court challenge because it was modeled on bills that had already passed legal muster elsewhere.

That confidence may still prove justified, but it hasnt prevented a lawsuit that, at least for now, seems to have created a stalemate that safeguards the right to pursue happiness even in the form of a lap dance.

Filed in September by Showgirl 1, Showgirl III and Brandys Lounge, the lawsuit does indeed offer the now-familiar argument that stripping is a form of expression and is, as a result, constitutionally protected by the same First Amendment intended to safeguard free speech, religious liberty and an independent press. But the clubs attorneys offer several other objections Allen Superior Judge Jennifer DeGroote is likely to consider during a Jan. 14 hearing on dueling requests for injunctions that would allow or prohibit the ordinances enforcement.

One of the clubs tactics, in fact, is to remind DeGroote of the legal principle behind her June decision upholding a challenge of the citys pay to play law. The city, DeGroote ruled, had no authority under state law to regulate political contributions. The lawsuit makes a similar argument when it comes to city regulation of establishments that serve alcoholic beverages.

The suit also contends the local ordinance defines nudity more broadly than state law does and contends the clubs would be forced to undertake extensive and costly remodeling . . . and during that forced remodeling the plaintiffs business will be affected, either by limitations where patrons may be seated, where entertainment can be performed, by inconveniencing patrons and by the presence of dust, dirt and construction equipment and debris.

Among other things, the ordinance would establish minimum lighting standards and, according to the lawsuit, require dancing to take place on a stage that is at least 18 inches tall, that every performance be distanced from the audience by at least six feet and take place in a room that is at least 600 square feet and in the presence of the operator. Nobodys going to pay good money for a lap dancer six feet away, which is probably the intent.

Police would enforce the ordinance something the lawsuit contends would result in unconstitutional warrantless searches.

As I reported in August, council voted to regulate sexually oriented businesses after the city sent a private investigator into adult clubs and discovered several violations of the states public nudity statute. Still, despite my personal misgivings about the negative aspects of adult entertainment, the approach taken by council and the administration of Mayor Tom Henry seems a bit inconsistent.

Just for starters: On the very night council voted to regulate strip clubs it defeated a bill that would have banned so-called swingers clubs. In other words, businesses profiting from partially clothed dancers are regulated far more heavily than those profiting from actual sexual intercourse. And the Champagne Club at 2710 Nuttman Ave., which is deemed by the city to be out of compliance with zoning laws, had been given until Sept. 10 to close by Plan Commission attorney Robert Eherenman but, so far as I know, is still operating.

Then theres this: After a different proposal to regulate problems allegedly caused by sexually oriented businesses failed two years ago, council instead passed an ordinance targeting chronic problem properties of all sorts. But, according to the lawsuit, none of the plaintiffs have been notified that their businesses are commercial chronic properties. Whats more, in the event the (chronic property ordinance) is invoked, the city will work with the property owner to remediate the problem. By way of contrast, the challenged ordinance subjects plaintiffs to substantial monetary penalties, as well as the suspension and revocation of a license to engage in constitutionally protected activity.

One might wish the Supreme Court had not made Patrick Henrys out of pole dancers, and whether this issue is worth the thousands of taxpayer dollars it will cost to litigate will be a matter of legitimate debate. The city, for its part, has told the clubs it does not plan to enforce the ordinance before Jan. 28. But if the citys only swingers club and some strip joints are violating laws already on the books, why cant we start there no matter what DeGroote and any appeals court(s) ultimately decide?

This column is the commentary of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The News-Sentinel. Email Kevin Leininger at kleininger@news-sentinel.com or call him at 461-8355.

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KEVIN LEININGER: Lawsuit has new strip-club bill in limbo, but why not enforce laws already on the books? - News Sentinel

In 1959, the Ferraro family had recently moved into the Vine neighborhood and just sat down to dinner when nextdoor neighbor Fred Appledoorn, previous co-owner of V & A Bootery, walked in without knocking.

To everyones surprise, Fred strolled around the dinner table, pausing to touch each of the Ferraro children on the head. Before leaving, he said one thing to parents Lance and Charlotte: Nice family.

With that unusual blessing, the Ferraros, six children and two parents, were welcomed into the neighborhood. Vine then was a natural paradise for the active Ferraro children who roamed the streets, sandlots and woods, and as they grew older, the many local businesses, especially on South Westnedge and Vine. Over the years, the Ferraros, one of the oldest remaining families in the neighborhood, have witnessed the many changes, from childhood paradise to blight and drug houses, then back to a vibrant renewal and entry of new families.

Recently, On the Ground sat down with father Lance (Lancelotto Angelo, as he was christened), 98, a well-known local photographer and former city commissioner, son Marc, former Vine Neighborhood Association board member, and daughter Sharon, Kalamazoos official City Historic Preservationist, all of whom still live in Vine, just blocks apart. Four other Ferraro children, Lance Jr. Laura, Kate, and Gina Chimner, have moved out of the neighborhood. The Ferraros shared memories of people, places and events in Lances living room, drawing on family and neighborhood lore.

Of Fred Appledoorn, the Ferraros remember a quiet, upright man with a big heart.

He was a soldier in the Spanish American war, says Lance. Best guy in the neighborhood. He always visited people who were just moving in.

He kept an eye on the neighborhood, agrees Marc, who now lives around the corner from the Oak Street home where he was raised and in which his father still lives. He wasnt social all the time. Hed come out on the porch when we were playing in the front yard. I remember this figure of a pleasant person.

The Ferraros, who had moved to their Oak Street house from the Stuart neighborhood, werent strangers to Vine. Lances mother lived close by on Axtell. They were and are a creative clan, valuing art, community and authenticity. Charlotte, wife and mother, who passed away in 2015, was the first in her Battle Creek family to earn a college degree. She was an elementary art teacher in Battle Creek and Portage, but also a gifted seamstress and supporter of the performing arts. Four of the Ferraro children were heavily involved in Kalamazoo Community Youth Theater and Junior Civic.

Charlotte was also skilled with tools as she had grown up with a carpenter, tool and die maker father who had no sons and so taught his daughters his skills. Charlotte built her husbands dark room. She could make anything, says Sharon.

Lance was one of the founders of the Barn Theater, the man behind the camera, but not in the picture, he says. From the late 1940s to the early 1960s, he was the official photographer of the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. He developed photos in an old backstage dressing room. I like the theater stuff.

Members of the Ferraro family have lived in Vine since 1959. Here the Vine Ferraros sit on Lance's front porch.

He also served as the President of Professional Photographers of Michigan for a couple of terms, and was a longtime freelance photographer for the Detroit Free Press and Kalamazoo Gazette.

Taking care of the community runs in the family. Lance served terms on the City Commission, and also was on the first Vine Neighborhood Association Board in 1980?. Son Marc followed in his footsteps.

The name Ferraro itself means blacksmith in Italian, fitting because the Ferraros are skilled makers of things, but maybe even more importantly skilled caretakers.

If you live in Vine and own an old home, you know Sharon and the passion with which she approaches preservation. Sharon considers the family stewards of the neighborhood. Weve got houses that date back as far as 1850. By and large, the housing stock is more sturdy than what you can buy today thats new.New Vine residents choose the neighborhood for its quirks and its character.

Theyre not the first owner and theyre not going to be the last owner, says Sharon, but if they chose a historical district, they are going to pass their home on to someone who is like-minded.

Random memories, some Vine, some not

Blanched Celery: A Kalamazoo delicacy

Many know that Kalamazoo was once known as Celery City, surrounded by wet flats, including what is now South Westnedge Park, the old Dairy Queen on South Westnedge that is now a drive-thru Taco Bobs, and the site of Maple Street Magnet School. But some may not know that blanched celery was an area specialty.

People used to stop at the train station on their way to Chicago or Detroit and buy blanched celery, says Marc. They put boxes around to grow it and it was creamy white, a delicacy.

Vine orphanage for girls

On the east side of South Westnedge, the Ferraros recall, sat an orphanage for girls, where Ye Olde Laundromat now stands. The orphanage was demolished in 1971.

They had a huge, well-built swing set that Sharon envied when she was 7. I didnt understand what it meant to be an orphan, says Sharon. But I loved swings. I didnt think it was fair.

Paper routes

Marc and his sister, Kate, had paper routes for the Kalamazoo Gazette. With two other neighborhood friends, the four would join forces and deliver 625 papers to doorsteps a day. It was almost a Leave it to Beaver neighborhood, Marc says.

Central Bakery, now home to Satellite Records

A popular meeting place in the neighborhood was Central Bakery on South Westnedge. In the back, there was a horseshoe counter, remembers Marc. In the morning, gentlemen would be in there smoking their cigarettes and drinking their coffee. Then high school students would flood the place. The men would come back at night for social club, which was open until 7.

Sharon remembers coming in for lunch. I remember feeling so grown up sitting there with a cup of coffee and a roll, she says. Back then, with the metabolism of a hummingbird, I would order a Pershing doughnut, cheese Danish, a cookie and a carton of chocolate milk. That was lunch.

Laura, Sharon and Lance Jr. Ferraro pose near the family's popular Oak Street porch.

Mushroom steaks

Once when exploring in the gully, the wooded area behind Long and Short streets and the old Dalton house, (which they called the Gilmore Woods), the Ferraros and friends found a mushroom as big as a large pizza. They came home to fetch the wagon. When they returned with their prize, Lance called WKZO At Your Service, an old radio show you could phone in an ask other listeners for advice. After describing the mushroom, a woman called back and said is was safe to eat.

We had mushroom steaks for a while, he says.

Grim years: neighborhood watches and drug activity

In the late 1960s, Oak Street became the hippy neighborhood, Sharon says. Near where ODuffys is now, was a head shop with its bongs, tie dyes and incense, and a waterbed store, a leather store, a used bookstore, and then Souk Sampler, a vintage clothing store.

As the '60s passed into the '70s and then the '80s, more and more drugs began to infiltrate Vine. Once a rich childhood paradise, that environment waned during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when a recession and the rise of the crack epidemic began to take its toll on urban neighborhoods. Sharon remembers McCourtie and Burr Oak as a hub of drug activity.

Lance helped organize a march against drugs.

Society changed, says Lance, who also helped start a Neighborhood Watch. Out of those watch meetings grew the idea for a neighborhood association, which Lance helped form and then became the first VNA director in the 1908s..

In the late 1970s, the city was debating the future of Vine, considering whether to let it fall into decay and then replace the housing stock, says Lance.

Then people said, We have to get together and preserve it. We dont want it to fall apart, says Sharon. A historical house lover since she was young, Sharon had returned to Western Michigan University for a degree in history. Her father was then serving on the city commission and he was approached. We are creating a new historic district and we want your daughter to run it.

Heart of the Vine

Vines Central Corners, the main commercial area on Vine and South Westnedge that the VNA owns and rents out to local businesses, was recently renamed in a voting contest as Heart of the Vine. Not many may have known it as Central Corners and how many beyond the neighborhood will know its new name is yet hard to tell. But the choice by residents says a lot about their beloved center.

Thats what it is, says Marc. Heart of the Vine.

I loved that we were close to downtown, Lance says. The kids could walk down to the library and the museum. It was a good neighborhood for kids.

None of the most recent Ferarro generation has yet to move their own families into Vine, but it could still happen.Marcs twin 9-year-olds are growing up during a Vine resurgencemore families moving in, rehabilitation of Davis Park, new businesses, and El Sol, an elementary school. Their neighborhood is more akin to the Vine the Ferraros were raised in, though the circumference the twins can roam is smaller. Still, theyre growing up in a neighborhood with traditionsthe annual VNA meeting at ODuffys, Fourth of July Parade, National Night Out at Davis Street Parkand a safe space to play.

What Im seeing now when I drive around in the summer and evening is kids on bikes and roller skates and playing games in their yard, says Marc. I havent seen that since I was growing up in the '70s.

Right now, Marc allows his twins to play on Axtell where they live and sometimes to go down the street to Davis or Pioneer Street Park. But he can envision a time when he will send them for an errand at Midtown Fresh Market like his parents sent him over to the old A & P on Michigan Avenue.

Im seeing a slow rise in owner occupancy, says Sharon. Weve always had around 80 percent rental, but I think that number (of homeowners) is going to go up in the next census.

Creating the Historical District in Vine has been positive, despite the expense of remodeling to conform to the requirements that some people complain about. Its preserved housing and it hasnt gentrified the neighborhood, says Sharon. Its made a difference in the character.

As Lance, Mark and Sharon posed for a photo on the porch where Lance spends so much of his time that he was featured in a former Google maps satellite photograph, Lance reminisced about the many portraits he has taken over the years of people, some famous, some not, including John F. Kennedy on the steps of City Hall.

While On the Ground Photographer Taylor Scamehorn focused her camera, Lance was inspired to repeat what he used to say to loosen up his own subjects.

Smile, dammit, smile, he sang.

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Neighborhood legacy: The Ferraro family has been growing in the Vine for over 60 years - south west michigan

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One stock to keep an eye on is Thor Industries (THO). THO is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 11.10. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 14.61. Over the last 12 months, THO's Forward P/E has been as high as 11.68 and as low as 6.69, with a median of 9.28.

Another valuation metric that we should highlight is THO's P/B ratio of 1.71. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 2.52. Over the past year, THO's P/B has been as high as 1.97 and as low as 1.12, with a median of 1.59.

Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. THO has a P/S ratio of 0.45. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.33.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that THO has a P/CF ratio of 12.45. This data point considers a firm's operating cash flow and is frequently used to find companies that are undervalued when considering their solid cash outlook. THO's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 16.73. Within the past 12 months, THO's P/CF has been as high as 14.34 and as low as 6.30, with a median of 10.67.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Thor Industries is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, THO feels like a great value stock at the moment.

Thor Industries, Inc. (THO): Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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Global Carpet Back Coatings Market: Summary

Carpet back coatings is primarily a backing process and is an important production step which is done to improve and enhance the stability of various textile floor coatings including rugs and carpets. Backing of floor coatings has advantages such as soundproofing, stepping elasticity and heat insulation. There are various types of coatings used for textile floor covering which include pre-coatings, foam coatings, textile back coatings, heavy coatings, reinforcement and back finish among others. Various methods used for backing carpets include secondary backing, embossed gel foam backing and felt backing.

Gel foam backings are the most accepted carpet back coatings as they possess excellent mechanical quality, good water resistance and have a non-slippery effect. A gelling agent along with a vulcanization agent coupled with ammonium acetate gel foam is used as secondary backing. Tufted carpets are pre coated after tufting, primarily to anchor the needled piled loops in the carrier layer of the carpet permanently. The pre coating material consists of a variety of components, which include x-SBR latex (dispersion that contains a copolymer, which is obtained from styrene, butadiene and carbonic acid), fillers, water, and additives, which include thickeners, anti foam, foam stabilizers etc. The pre coatings can be applied to carpets and other textile floor coatings by two processes, one which include slop padding and the doctor blade technique.

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Global Carpet Back Coatings Market: Drivers and Restraints

The primary driver for the carpet back coating market is the need for carpets in households and workspaces. This is owing to the high disposable income of the people, changing lifestyle of the consumers especially in the Asia Pacific region. Carpets are increasingly used for decorating and enhancing the feel of a room whether in houses or in offices. The growing construction industry coupled with growing remodeling activities is anticipated to boost the market for carpet back coatings. Competition from hard floor coatings and the harmful effects observed during the manufacturing of carpet back coatings may restrict the carpet back coating market. Manufacturers of carpet back coatings are investing in a number of research and development projects to improve the quality of the various carpet back coatings as well as improving the quality of carpets. Research is also being carried out in order to find eco friendly alternatives especially for modern customer needs.

Global Carpet Back Coatings Market: Regional Evaluation

The major markets for carpet back coatings include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The North American region is the largest market for carpet back coatings owing to the increase in the demand for carpets. This is due to home renovations in the region coupled with improvements in the retail market segment. The demand for carpet back coatings is sluggish in Europe due to the economic crises that took place in the region. Most of the demand for carpet back coatings and carpets comes from various refurbishment projects in the European region. However, the market in Europe for carpet back coatings is expected to rise at a slow pace during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is expected to have maximum demand for carpet back coatings due to the high disposable income of consumers along with increasing investments for various commercial projects and high demand from major countries like Japan, India, China, Korea and Indonesia.

Global Carpet Back Coatings Market: Key Players

The key companies profiled for the company back coating market include ChinaFlooring Holding Company Limited, Duochem, Amtico International, Ceramica Cleopatra Group and Balta Industries among others.

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Carpet Back Coatings Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth In Upcoming Year - Techi Labs

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. With the 40th anniversary year of its USA business now coming to a close, Kalaty Rug Corp. is seizing the opportunity to send a new message in the new year. The company is unveiling two new catalogs one of which marks a first for the company and is re-launching its website.

One catalog is a 400-page tome spotlighting the companys current line of top-shelf heirloom-quality rug collections, spanning traditional to transitional to modern styles, as well as featuring Kalatys three high-end decorative accent pillow collections and its designer-friendly custom-color rug program.

The second catalog represents Kalatys inaugural dedicated catalog for its newer, K-Two program, which comprises mid-tier and mass retail-focused products at more affordable price points. The offering encompasses 15 collections available in a range of design genres, weaves and constructions.

Both catalogs will roll out to customers next month, and print copies will be available for distribution at: Atlanta International Gift, Home & Area Rug Market Jan. 14-21 in Kalatys showroom space, 4-G-14 in Building 1 of the AmericasMart; and Las Vegas Market from Jan. 26-30 in its showroom in B-455 of the World Market Center.

Earlier this year, Kalaty began to oversee a vast website remodeling project. The results are now in, and Kalatys online presence has been retooled to include several new tools and tech features aimed at enhanced user-friendliness. As part of that effort, the company has also updated and added tools to its popular Kalaty app.

Not only is our newly updated Kalaty.com faster but visitors to our website will now find it easier to navigate with such new tools as the ability to click on any rug in the line and be able to see it in a variety of room settings, said Ariel Kalaty, a company spokesperson. And, in addition to updating our website, we have make major updates to our Kalaty app, one of our customers most popular and most often-utilized marketing and business tools.

Available for both Apple and Android devices, the app allows Kalaty dealers to explore the companys rug collections, access and check orders, make payments, track and check shipments, and communicate with the company.

Kalaty celebrated its 40th anniversary in the U.S. with several key milestones:

Not only did our return to High Point help us commemorate this important anniversary year but it also helped us send a strong message to existing and potential customers confirming our commitment to serving them at this all-important market, said Ramin Kalaty, company president. And, at the fall High Point market, Kalaty chose to present more new product than it has ever shown previously at High Point in order to further showcase the depth and breadth of our product line.

Cecile B. Corral is a senior editor with Home Textiles Today and is editor of luxury textiles supplement POSH. She also covers the area rug category for Furniture Today and Home Accents Today.

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Kalaty caps 40th anniversary with two new catalogs - Home Accents Today