Phone and online orders are pouring into Rangoon since management announced on social media that Chinatowns lone Burmese restaurant would close at the end of the year after a 28-year run on Ninth Street.

But the thousand-layer bread and spring ginger salads may not go away for good.

While Christine Gyaw and her business partners field an uptick in orders from nostalgic customers, they have also heard from several restaurateurs who are interested in either keeping Rangoon in business or opening it as a different Burmese restaurant at 112 N. Ninth St. The restaurant opened in 1993 at 145 N. Ninth St. and moved down the block to a larger storefront in 1996.

READ MORE: Rangoon and 11 other restaurants that capture Chinatown's spirit

One potential suitor owns several non-Asian restaurants in Philadelphia, Gyaw said, and his children love the food. If she can strike a deal with him, she said, she would stay on as a partner and would teach Rangoons recipes to a new chef. Regardless of the new management, Gyaw said, the place needs remodeling, a common necessity at an older restaurant. Rangoon had offered beer and wine in the dining room, but new management could offer more profitable cocktails and a tightening of the menu.

Gyaw, 64, who fled Myanmar in 1990 with her daughter, Mya, said the rigors of the business have caught up with her and partners Jenny Louie and Chiu Sin Mee. They decided to announce the closing Oct. 26 to allow customers time to process the news.

Gyaw said the pandemic has been particularly hard on them as they schlep sacks of potatoes and other heavy ingredients from storage into the kitchen.

Their chef, as Gyaw explained, is 77 years old. The restaurant has also shed staff since reopening in May 2020 after a two-month shutdown early in the pandemic to the point that they cannot staff the formal dining room for in-person service. Rangoon did not offer delivery before the pandemic, and the owners were forced to transition their kitchen to the world of third-party platforms.

Customers showing up for pickups have been emotional, Gyaw said. One said, I almost cried when I heard about this. When I saw him, I wanted to cry, too.

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Rangoon, which brought Burmese cuisine to Philadelphia in 1993, says it will close, but there are plans to sell - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Election Day is fast approaching.

It's a thin ballot in Livingston County. Here's what Livingston County residentsneed to know for Nov. 2.

In Brighton, residents will decide who will fill four of the city's council seats.

In Howell, residents will chose a mayor and three city council members.They also will select two people to serve on the city's board of review.

Voters in Conway and Handy townships will join voters in Fowlerville in deciding ona bond millage for Fowlerville Schools. The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bondis 0.9 mill, which wouldnot increase what taxpayers are paying, according to the proposal.

An informational flyer from Fowlerville Schools says the proposed millage essentially extends thebond repayments by a year. The additional money will be used for a new elementary school building, technology for the new school,remodeling school buildings and playgrounds, according to the proposal.

In Howell, residents inPrecincts 1 and 2vote atLivingstonEducationalServiceAgency (LESA).Precinct 3votes at Howell City Hall in the second floor conference room.

In Brighton, residents in Precinct 1 vote at the Brighton Area District Library; residents in Precinct 2 vote at the Brighton Community Center and residents in Precincts 3 and 4 vote at the Brighton Education Community Center (BECC).

In Conway Township, residents will vote at Conway Township Hall and Handy Township residents will vote atWoodshire Place Banquet Facility.

Residents can find their assigned precinctby entering their address on the county's website.

A resident may register in person at their local clerk's office, up to and including Election Day with residency verification. Documents that may be accepted for residency verification (items must include the applicant's name and current address): current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document.

A person registering to vote less than 14 days before an election can vote in person with an absentee ballot at the Clerk's Office with residency verification. They also have the option to go to their voting location after registering at their local clerk's office.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Contact Kayla Daugherty at 517-552-2848 or kdaugherty@gannett.com.Follow her on Twitter @KayDaugherty92.

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The 2021 general election is Tuesday. Here is what you need to know in Livingston County - Livingston Daily

Grand Canyon's men's basketball team returns to pre-COVID normalcy in its arena Saturday night against Western New Mexico.

There will be a full house, the frenzied, electric atmosphere created by the students known as the "Havocs."

And there will likely be some tears shed before the game when a tribute video will be played to honor former player Oscar Frayer, who died March 23 in a fiery car crash in northern California, three days after he blocked three shots and scored eight points in GCU's loss to Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Frayer, who returned for his final season last year after missing the 2019-20 season, will always be remembered by his teammates and coaches and the newcomers who have heard stories about the athletic, charismatic forward.

"He's done a lot for this school, so it's good that they are honoring him," said forward Sean Miller-Moore, who was Frayer's roommate last season when the Antelopes made school history, becoming the first team to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Miller-Moore said Frayer's passion carried over to the kind of player he has become.

"How joyful he was, and how passionate he was," Miller-Moore said. "When he was on the court, he was always working hard. Every time I'm on the floor, I'm remembering him, no matter what."

Coach Bryce Drew, now in his second year leading the Antelopes, said that Saturday is going to be a celebration of Frayer's life.

"Honoring him with the team and what he helped accomplish," Drew said. "When I look down at his jersey (number 4), I'll have some sadness but I'llalso have a smile in my heart knowing what he's accomplished in his life."

This will be Drew's and most of the players' first full Havocs experience. They got a glimpse of the noise level during Midnight Madness, when students packed the arena. But this is now in a game situation.

Last year, with COVID-19 restrictions, GCU was grateful to have some fans spread out among cardboard cutouts. As the season wound down, more than 2,000 students were let into games, which still created a great college basketball atmosphere.

Now the noise level figures to be off the charts, especially after that full crowd couldn't be heard for a year-and-a-half. During Thursday's practice, Drew had noise piped in over the PA system at times.

"Trying to make them realize how loud they're going to have to talk during the games," Drew said.

After practice, the players got to see their new locker room that includes a lounge and massage chairs. There also is a new weight room near steps from the locker room and an expanded trainer's room.

That excited them.

Since the spring, they weren't able to shower at the arena, because of remodeling going on. They would have to go back to their dorms to shower.

Thursday's practice was attended by Bryce's father, Homer Drew, the former great Valparaiso coach, who led his small Indiana team to a first-round NCAA shocking win over Mississippi on son Drew's memorable 3-point buzzer beater in 1998. Homer said he will be attending Saturday's game.

Drew wasn't ready to say what his starting lineup will be for Western New Mexico, but said he's comfortable with a number of players.

It could be fun watching local guys, Jovan Blacksher Jr., and Holland Woods II, in the backcourt together for the first time. Blacksher was the MVP of the WAC Tournament last year. Woods transferred in from Arizona State, where he played in every game last season for the Sun Devils, who were bitten by injuries.

"We might see different starting lineups," Drew said. "There's a lot of versatility. I don't see a set starting lineup. I see lots of guys that will play first half and second half, see how it goes."

Miller-Moore, who played a key role off the bench last season, said this a close team, even with seven newcomers, including former ASU forward Taeshon Cherry.

"We all love each other," Miller-Moore said. "We're so close as a team already."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today

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Grand Canyon to pay tribute to Oscar Frayer before playing Western New Mexico on Saturday - The Arizona Republic

CHESHIRE The dense, green veil of growth that wraps the former Beechwood House on Route 8 was just hacked away. Why? After years of neglect, visitors are coming Friday.

The haircut isnt doing this grand old lady any favors.

The mansion, an early American tavern and, later, a summer refuge for New Yorks elite, sits open in places to the weather, its clapboards loose, roofline heaving, hinges sagging, doors mismatched. In the past decade, it drew squatters, not socialites.

We can never recover these lost historical structures. Unfortunately, our society doesnt appreciate the historical value of them.

Barry Emery, Cheshire historian

Out back, missing boards above two windows suggest a scowl.

Thats what strangers will find at noon Friday, when the fabled building at 12 South St., built not long after the Revolutionary War and dramatically remodeled a century later, faces a foreclosure auction.

Once again, one of Cheshires most historic buildings, and perhaps its most distressed, stands at a crossroads.

Ill be very surprised if there arent a lot of bidders there, said Carol Francesconi, a former Select Board member. She said she has gotten calls from people asking about the building. Its prime property for the town of Cheshire.

Longtime residents see past the blight. Some hope what comes next for this historic address, at the prominent corner of South Street and West Mountain Road, will enrich the towns civic life, not diminish it.

For some reason, everybody in town is connected to it and everyone cares about it, said Jill Reynolds, who runs a business, Cheshire Glassworks, next door. Everybody wants to see something good happen with it. Its the center of town its right there. Its literally the heart of the town.

Beechwood House in Cheshire, as it appeared more than a century ago.

Dense growth surrounds much of the current 12 South St. property in Cheshire, formerly known as Beechwood.

A view of the rear of the building at 12 South St. in Cheshire, the property erected in 1975 by Moses Wolcott.

A view of the original tavern erected in 1795 by Moses Wolcott on South Street in Cheshire, two years after the town's incorporation. More than 70 years later, a different owner radically transformed the building's look.

At one time, the Pittsfield-Adams street railway passed through Cheshire.

The back side of the former Beechwood House in Cheshire, which faces a foreclosure auction Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.

The late Peter J. Krutiak operated a bed and breakfast from the 12 South St. property in Cheshire.

This view of the former Beechwood House in Cheshire shows a section of the building that has been removed. The former roof line is visible in the upper center.

The former Wolcott Tavern in Cheshire, after its transformation, in 1869, by owner Felix Petitclerc.

Looking though a picture window at the rear of the house, visitors to 12 South St. in Cheshire see objects left abandoned by previous occupants.

Felix Petitclerc's monument stone, showing his date of death as 1890. After his passing, the historic Cheshire home he had preserved became known as the Beechwood House.

At one point, this sign welcomed visitors to the Beechwood property in Cheshire.

The former Beechwood House, at 12 South St. in Cheshire, is assessed by the town at $115,300, with the land worth more than the building, according to town records.

When the building was remodeled, in 1869, the new owner transformed the look of Mose Wolcott's 1795 tavern into a Second Empire-style dwelling with Mansard roof and bay windows.

Beechwood House in Cheshire, as it appeared more than a century ago.

Dense growth surrounds much of the current 12 South St. property in Cheshire, formerly known as Beechwood.

A view of the rear of the building at 12 South St. in Cheshire, the property erected in 1975 by Moses Wolcott.

A view of the original tavern erected in 1795 by Moses Wolcott on South Street in Cheshire, two years after the town's incorporation. More than 70 years later, a different owner radically transformed the building's look.

At one time, the Pittsfield-Adams street railway passed through Cheshire.

The back side of the former Beechwood House in Cheshire, which faces a foreclosure auction Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.

The late Peter J. Krutiak operated a bed and breakfast from the 12 South St. property in Cheshire.

This view of the former Beechwood House in Cheshire shows a section of the building that has been removed. The former roof line is visible in the upper center.

The former Wolcott Tavern in Cheshire, after its transformation, in 1869, by owner Felix Petitclerc.

Looking though a picture window at the rear of the house, visitors to 12 South St. in Cheshire see objects left abandoned by previous occupants.

Felix Petitclerc's monument stone, showing his date of death as 1890. After his passing, the historic Cheshire home he had preserved became known as the Beechwood House.

At one point, this sign welcomed visitors to the Beechwood property in Cheshire.

The former Beechwood House, at 12 South St. in Cheshire, is assessed by the town at $115,300, with the land worth more than the building, according to town records.

When the building was remodeled, in 1869, the new owner transformed the look of Mose Wolcott's 1795 tavern into a Second Empire-style dwelling with Mansard roof and bay windows.

Cheshire had been incorporated for just two years when Moses Wolcott built the sites original home, using timbers that are still in there, beneath years of remodeling.

A view of the original tavern erected in 1795 by Moses Wolcott on South Street in Cheshire, two years after the town's incorporation. More than 70 years later, a different owner radically transformed the building's look.

Barry Emery, a town historian, dates the home to 1795. He said Wolcott operated a tavern and, in a side building, a store. The towns farmers celebrated Thomas Jeffersons election in 1800 by sending him a 1,235-pound cheese containing curds from every local dairy.

Decades go by. Wolcott keeps at it for years, sometimes tapping others to run the tavern. In the Cheshire town history published in 1885, Wolcotts name bobs up again and again, as authors Emma L. Petitclerc and Ellen M. Raynor chronicle, in their floral prose, his rising prosperity.

Wolcott seems to have made a killing on cheese, buying up supplies from local farms for sale around the Northeast, according to Petitclerc and Raynor, gathering the golden products of the farms, tier after tier of cheese, and row after row of jars packed with sweet fall butter, which he held until the proper time to ship and sell.

Wolcotts Cheshire legacy, to the authors in 1885, seemed far away. A grist mill he built had fallen into disrepair even then, when the tract was far larger than today.

The ruins still stand, the brook laughs along its stony bed, tumbles over the white boulders as fresh and young as when it turned the wheel, now crumbling away, they wrote.

Inside the tavern, and a cluster of related buildings, life was good through the first half of the 1800s.

The bar room always wore a bright and cheery look as very many of those living to-day can testify, Petitclerc and Raynor wrote.

The tavern-keepers inside this landmark seemed to come and go: Alpheus Smith, of North Adams, in 1825; Nathaniel Waterman from 1827 to 1835; then Allan Tucker for several years, according to Petitclerc and Raynor. In 1844, J.B. Dean opened a store on the property.

For decades, Wolcotts sprawling property served as a kind of business incubator. It created community.

In cool days, a bright fire of hard wood logs burned upon the hearth of the open fire place, arm chairs stood all about the nicely swept room, where the morning sun lay in bars of silvery light all the wintry morning hours, Petitclerc and Raynor wrote. Where the villagers dropped in from time to time during the day to inquire of the news and to chat a while with the neighbors already seated around the bright fire.

Felix Petitclerc's monument stone, showing his date of death as 1890. After his passing, the historic Cheshire home he had preserved became known as the Beechwood House.

Dexter Angel came on in 1859 to run the tavern, followed by Nathaniel Angel in 1862 and Daniel Morey in 1864. When Morey left, the tavern closed, ending more than 70 years as a public house.

In 1866, Felix Petitclerc, likely kin to that early town historian, Emma, bought Wolcotts tavern and dramatically remodeled it, adopting the Second Empire architectural style then popular and putting on its new mansard roof and replacing small windowpanes with deep bay windows. It became his home, ending the buildings long public life but only for a spell.

He kept the bones of the house exactly the same, Emery, the current historian, said of Petitclerc. According to the 1885 town history, Petitclerc had visited the Wolcott tavern as a child of about 12 and had stayed in a front room. Petitclerc returned to make Cheshire his home, accumulating a fortune as manager of the Cheshire Glass Sand Works and helping to organize the Cheshire Water Co.

This was another old landmark preserved with generous care, but, which from this time appears in a new dress, the authors wrote of Petitclerc in 1885.

Mentions of the property abound in old newspapers at the end of the 19th century. It had become known, two decades after Petitclercs makeover, and Petitclercs death in 1890, as Beechwood. It would go on to be referred to as the Beechwood House, Beechwood Hotel and, by the middle of the 20th century, as the Beechwood Nursing Home and Beechwood Rest Home.

Columns in The Berkshire Evening Eagle and in the Pittsfield Sun regularly listed which tony out-of-towners were staying at Beechwood. New Yorkers, especially, had found Cheshire, including a notorious madam who bought Greylock Villa in town and lived there often with her employees on holiday, according to Emery.

The Beechwood property continued to change hands. The ownership chain can be hard to pin down.

In February 1893, The Eagle noted that W.J. McDonald, formerly of Dalton, was the new proprietor at Beechwood House, adding, Many of his friends from this town will avail themselves of Mr. McDonalds hospitality.

In August 1901, Joseph H. Ressler, headwaiter at the Ellis restaurant in Pittsfield, bought it.

Mr. Resslers friends will be glad to hear of his success, the Pittsfield Sun reported. A trolley now ran by the business.

He will keep the inn open the year round, The Eagle reported, catering to summer country lovers in the season, and to sleighing and trolley parties in the winter.

A January 1912 newspaper ad for a major auction at Beechwood House signaled yet another transition of some sort, listing a slew of farm animals for sale, including horses, cows, shoats, buggies, blankets, harnesses and 111 chickens. The notice said the property just had been sold by John Rofenole.

The former Wolcott Tavern in Cheshire, after its transformation, in 1869, by owner Felix Petitclerc.

Skip ahead two decades, over a global flu epidemic, world war and financial crisis. P.S. Penner moved his family down from North Adams and opened a home bakery in Beechwood in June 1932.

The building became a home for the elderly by the 1940s, newspaper coverage suggests, and operated in that way into the 1980s once again a place of public life. Members of Girl Scout Troop 155 brought Thanksgiving gifts to residents in 1958. In February 1960, residents celebrated the 95th birthday of Lura Emerson, the homes oldest resident who had run her own nursing home on North Street for 28 years.

Francesconi, the former Select Board member, remembers helping out, as a child in the 1960s, at Beechwood, where her mother worked. She carried meals to residents seven rooms upstairs, seven rooms downstairs, and four more in back. The place was well-respected, she said.

A tag sale at Beechwood in November 1982 augured a change: The place was selling out all its furnishings, including linens, blankets and dishes.

That was a few years before the late Peter J. Krutiak, whose estate owns the property today, and which faces Fridays foreclosure auction, bought the property.

Peoples Choice Home Loan says the estate breached conditions of the $136,500 mortgage it gave Krutiak in February 2002. He had been the sole owner since September 1993, when it was transferred to him at no cost by a co-owner, Linda D. Krutiak. Land records show that Peter Krutiak used some proceeds of the 2002 mortgage to pay off a 1993 loan from the Adams Co-Operative Bank.

As of the last fiscal year, the estates property was valued at $115,300, with the land worth more than the building, according to town records.

Krutiak came to own not only Beechwood, but other Cheshire tracts, including, just to the south, the old Cheshire Inn, which also had been built by Capt. Daniel Brown around 1795. Krutiak bought the Cheshire Inn for $77,000 in 1986 from Cyril H. Conrod and Mildred M. McCoy.

Twenty-seven years later, in March 2013, Krutiak stood outside the Cheshire Inn watching workers level it. A raccoon living on the third floor was seen scrambling down an outside wall, evicted by the wreckers. Townspeople, like Diane Hitter, had tried to save the inn; repairs, though, were pegged at over $1 million.

The town had taken the property in 2011 for failure to pay taxes; it shelled out about $45,000 to demolish the inn. Krutiak expressed regret at the loss.

I love old buildings but this one has just been too far gone for a decade, Krutiak told a reporter at the time.

Krutiak died of esophageal cancer in 2019, and his estate left the house and land to siblings, including Maryann Ogden, of Cheshire, who declined to speak about the familys handling of the property.

A year after the Cheshire Inn went down, Krutiak brought forward a plan to sell the Beechwood property two doors to the north to Dollar General. At town meetings, people fretted about traffic, safety and the sites changing character. It wasnt the first intrusion of chain-store commerce on a historic property. Ten years before, Dunkin Donuts had proposed leveling the Cheshire Inn for a store, also with Krutiak as the prospective seller. Neither deal went ahead.

Steps leading to Fridays foreclosure auction began Feb. 6, 2019, with a filing by the lender, Peoples Home Choice Loan.

Even those who prize historic properties believe Beechwoods long run is near an end. Emery walked the outside of the building a month ago and doesnt think it can be saved. That pains him.

Looking though a picture window at the rear of the house, visitors to 12 South St. in Cheshire see objects left abandoned by previous occupants.

We can never recover these lost historical structures, he said. Unfortunately, our society doesnt appreciate the historical value of them.

For years, Francesconi hoped for a better outcome for her mothers former workplace at 12 South St.

Its a sad situation because that house at one time was a beautiful place, she said. They just let it fall into disrepair. Its ready to fall down. Its going to have to be torn down. I cant see how it will be fixed.

Reynolds, the glass artist, grew up in Cheshire and remembers admiring the Beechwood, before it fell dark and silent and brush climbed its walls. Krutiak was the landlord for her shop next door, where she has been for 15 years.

He loved that place and put his heart and soul into it, she said of the mans connection to Beechwood. He did a beautiful job, but he couldnt keep up with it.

Everyone moved out and people just kind of left. Then it just deteriorated. Its just a shame it got to the state it is, Reynolds said. I wish it had a different fate.

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How Beechwood went from full of life to foreclosure. We go inside a fabled Cheshire mansion's long reign and abrupt fall - Berkshire Eagle

Kansas' premier space museum Hutchinson's Cosmosphere is getting a facelift.

Three of the 12 galleries will get new paint, new graphics and state-of-the-art sound. Butthe historical documents and spaceships will remain.

During the renovation, visitors may still visit, at a reduced rate,most of the museum, including having an up close look at theApollo 13 command module,Odyssey.The Cosmosphere's president and CEO, Jim Remar, expects the renovationto be complete by late December just before the holidays.

Were renovating some of the oldest galleries in the Cosmosphere,Remar said."Upgrades from this renovation will include better lighting, a more open layoutand a truly chronological presentation from early rocketry through the start of the space race."

The three galleries under construction are the German Gallery, the Redstone and Sputnik Gallery and the Kennedy Theater. Each of these galleries opened during the late 1990s.

More: Conference that focuses on helping Main Street thrive is headed to Hutchinson

In addition to shifting around some of the exhibits and the items within them, the Cosmosphere will add new items like a slide rule, period videos that include launches and testing and new documentation.

"The Kennedy Theaterwill be 100% demolished and completely redone," Remar said.

The Kennedy room discusses the creation of NASA, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy's challenges and the firsts in space of both the Soviet Union and the U.S.

"This (the Kennedy Room) will be completely different," said Jack Graber, vice president of exhibits and technology. "This was our first gallery."

Many of the display items throughout the museum are authentic.

"They'llbe a lot of blue and red throughout the galleries," Remar said. "This is because of the Soviet Union and the United States."

More on the Cosmosphere: Next-generation space telescope focus of Galaxy Forum

The Cosmosphere'scollection includes U.S. space artifacts second only to the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museumand the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow.

The most crucial phase of the remodeling is the opening up of the rooms and, in so doing, helping visitors understand the timeline, starting with the Germans, of exploring space.

The German Room is being renamed the V2 Rocket Gallery. V stands for the German vengeance weapons. These needle-nosed rockets were packed with explosives. According to the museum, Hitler saw them as Germany's last chance for victory. More than 10,000 laborers died building the V2 Rockets.

About 100,000 people visit the museum each year, mainly from the U.S.

Construction started on the simultaneous renovation of the three galleries on Monday.

"It's an exciting project," Remar said. "We look forward to sharing it with the public."

Visitors can also enjoy regularly scheduled space-themed documentaries and rotating feature films in Cosmospheres Carey Digital Dome Theater. Cosmospheres family-friendly Dr. Goddards Lab science shows and planetarium shows continue daily on their regular schedules.

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Kansas' premier space museum, the Cosmosphere, gets a major facelift - The Hutchinson News

That fatal mistake, as Logan calls it, led to a supply-demand mismatch that by May of this year had driven the cost of lumber from mills to quadruple what it was in April 2020, according to data from Fastmarkets Random Lengths , a wood products industry trade publication. Lumber mills incorrectly predicted that the housing market would crumble under the weight of the pandemic rather than boom as it did, says David Logan, senior economist with the National Association of Home Builders .

Here are tips to navigate a home remodel when wood costs are through the roof.

As of mid-July, lumber prices dropped to only double their spring 2020 levels, but whether the decline will continue and when lower prices will reach homeowners isnt yet clear, Logan says.

MAKE ROOM FOR VARIABILITY

The recent price dip may seem like a positive sign, but Logan likens a home remodelers dilemma to that of a homebuyer: Theres no telling when the time will be right.

Trying to time the market is likely to cause more angst than having the certainty of getting things underway, he says.

Logan says if he were renovating, hed move forward with a large renovation, like a kitchen upgrade or room addition.

SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES, PLAN FOR SCARCITY

If a project requires months of planning and waiting, build room for price and timeline changes into your contract, says Ethan Landis, principal at Landis Architects/Builders in Washington, D.C . That way, you wont overpay if prices drop before your contractor starts buying, but you can still delay if the project will be too expensive.

If a small DIY or good-to-great update could wait a few months, Logan says hed take the gamble and wait for wood to become more affordable.

Knowing perfectly well that prices could be higher by the time I do it, he says.

In the meantime, search for recycled, reclaimed or alternative materials.

Ty Lindgren, a shift leader at a food and beverage manufacturing company in Olympia, Washington , brought home leftover wood pallets from work to build a playhouse for his kids.

He estimates that using the pallets instead of high-priced two-by-fours lowered the projects cost from $1,000 to about $100.

If you dont have access to extra, unclaimed wood, you can buy it.

Your local lumber or flooring liquidator may have enough wood to redo the flooring in a small room or on a single floor of your home, says Rebekah Hernandez, a Dallas-based interior designer.

Habitat for Humanitys ReStore has over 900 locations , many of which sell recycled wood or wooden items you can rehabilitate or convert into something like shelving. Some locations let you browse their inventory online.

PUT AFFORDABILITY FIRST

You cant be picky, because theres not many options, but theyre out there, she says.

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ABOUT THE MONEY: How to Lower Your Remodeling Costs When Wood Prices Are High | Deal - BollyInside

Taking a birth class is a pregnancy milestone. Whether you've been excited to take a birth class for a long time or have just recently decided that you wanted to take one, sitting down for that first lesson feels bigspoiler alert, this is really happening! But finding time for a birth class isn't as easy as it would seem.

We know new parents are busy (hello, understatement of the year). Between diaper changes, pediatrician appointments, healing from birth and the general adjustment to #newparentlife, the days can fill up quickly. But a lot of people are caught off guard by how busy pregnancy can be, too! That first trimester is so often full of symptomslike nausea and fatiguethat can make previously easy or simple tasks exhausting. The second trimester begins and (usually) we start to feel better. But then our days get filled with planning out baby registries and deciding on questions like, "Where will this tiny new human sleep?" And before you know it, it's the third trimesterand, well, then you're in the home stretch. Plus there are so many appointments!

All this to say that we get how busy you areand how hard that might make it to fit in a birth class.

Think you'll want to watch each lesson a few times over? Great!

Due date's next week and you need the option to take a birth class very quickly? No problem!

Like everything at Motherly, we designed this class with you in mind.

Taught by Certified Nurse-Midwife Diana Spalding (who also wrote "The Motherly Guide to Becoming Mama"), this class is broken into 12 lessonsand you get to control how and when you watch them. We'll teach you about what your (amazing) body is up to in labor, how to decide when it's time to head to the hospital or birth center (or when to call your home birth midwife), what your options are for coping with pain and so much more.

When you sign up for The Motherly Birth Class, you'll get access to a downloadable workbook and meditations. Plus, you'll be invited to join our supportive private online community (where you can chat with the class instructor!)

Oh, one more thing: Your insurance or flexible spending account might even able to able to cover the cost of this class.

Pregnancy is wonderfulbut it's a lot. You deserve a birth class that works for you and empowers you to have your best birth. Because vaginal or Cesarean, unmedicated or medication, birth is incredible. And you are the star of it all.

You've got this.

Take our completely digital birth class from the comfort of your living room. We'll help you have your best birthbecause you deserve it.

We independently select and share the products we loveand may receive a commission if you choose to buy. You've got this.

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Target's public breastfeeding policy + nursing rooms are amazing - Motherly Inc.

A native of Pretoria, South Africa, where she grew up surrounded by breathtaking beauty, rich colors and creative people, Ingrid de Villiers has called Southwest Florida home for 24 years. Robb & Stucky has been her workplace home for the past nine of these years. Ms. de Villiers earned a bachelor of arts degree in interior design at London Metropolitan University in London, England. She has received numerous Sand Dollar Awards from the Collier

Building Industry Association for her work on single-family homes, and in 2016 she was the winner of Blink Art Resources annual interior design challenge. Blink is an art marketplace described on its website as a cross between a portfolio, an artist director and a trends reference.

When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

I am married to an architect and always loved looking at the homes my husband designed. Whenever we went to bookstores, I would go straight to the interior design/architecture section. One day I realized interior design was my passion. Soon after, I enrolled at London Metropolitan University to study my passion.

Describe your approach to interior design in five words.

Its all about the clients.

Tell us something about your first project.

It was a second home for a couple in Naples. I had to do everything. My mentor guided me though the entire thing and really built my confidence.

What about your most challenging project?

It was a Barefoot Beach condominium for a single guy who had started on it but got stuck. He didnt want to change the bright yellow walls in the den, the bright blue walls in the master bedroom or the bright, bright green walls in the guest room. It worked out great in the end.

And a favorite project?

It was a 5,000-square-foot house that we gutted. The clients loved silver, white, gray, cream and pink with crystals and bling. It was wonderful to work with them because they were open to my ideas. It earned a perfect score in the Sand Dollar Awards.

What is your favorite room in your own house?

The living room. Its very pretty, but its also very lived in.

What things do you consider must-haves for a great room/family room where people gather?

Plenty of comfortable seating. Some storage. And something soft underfoot.

Walk us through the process when you start with a new client.

I normally meet the clients in their home and ask about their style, design preference, budget, etc., to determine if we are a good fit. I take pictures and notes. I get a floor plan. We meet again at the Robb & Stucky showroom and walk the floor, look through fabric samples Then I do a power point design presentation so we can discuss everything involved.

Describe your ideal client.

I love it when clients are open to new ideas and are willing to incorporate different products, textures and designs into their space.

Do you have a design pet peeve?

I dont like a house that looks like everyone elses house. I am an out-of-the-box person and always encourage my clients to do something out of the box that creates interest in their home.

Remodel or start from scratch: Do you have a preference?

I would always prefer to start from scratch. But Id say half of my work is remodeling.

Any trends you especially love?

I love so many of the new furniture lines, fabrics and wallpapers, lighting fixtures and accessories. I especially love it when we incorporate them with traditional, older pieces and designs.

Any words of wisdom for a young person who wants to be an interior designer?

Make sure interior design is your passions. As Vincent van Gogh said: What is done in love is done well. I believe that completely.

What would you be doing if you werent doing this?

Probably something in fashion design.

Originally posted here:
Using her talents to combine trends with tradition | Bonita Springs Florida Weekly - Key West Florida Weekly

If you have limited mobility, its important to consider the design of your home. This includes investing in products that make your living environment more accessible and safer.

One example is a walk-in tub. Its a safer alternative to a traditional tub, which requires you to step over a high threshold. A walk-in tub omits this feature, so its easier to get in. This can give you a greater sense of independence, comfort, and safety.

If youre thinking about investing in a walk-in tub, read on. Well explore the best walk-in tubs, along with alternatives and tips for installation.

A walk-in tub is a bathtub with a door. It lets you walk directly into the tub, rather than stepping over a high edge.

Also, Walk-in tubs have very high walls and an elevated seat, said Ralph Severson, licensed contractor and owner of Flooring Masters. This means you can submerge yourself in water without sitting on the floor.

A walk-in tub has a door with a watertight seal. It also has a faucet that fills the tub with water, just like a standard tub. It may have a handheld showerhead attached to a hose as well.

When youre done bathing, the water flows down the drain. Once the tub is empty, you can walk out of the tub.

You might be a good candidate for a walk-in tub if you have limited mobility. This includes mobility issues related to age, injury, or chronic conditions.

Walk-in tubs are generally not covered by health insurance. However, every insurance company is different, and some states might offer financial assistance. Your healthcare professional can let you know about state programs that may provide financial help.

Currently, Medicare doesnt provide coverage for walk-in tubs.

Medicare only covers durable medical equipment (DME). DME includes equipment and devices deemed medically necessary. A walk-in tub isnt considered a DME, meaning Medicare doesnt provide coverage for related costs.

Again, your state may offer programs that offer financial help.

The tubs on this list were chosen based on their safety features and recommendations from home contractors. We also considered specialty features that might make the tub more enjoyable to use. Finally, we included a range of prices to accommodate different budgets.

The price range for walk-in tubs can vary greatly. Without installation, walk-in tubs may range between $1,800 to $6,000 or higher.

The tubs on this list range in price. Pricing is indicated as follows:

The installation is an additional cost. According to CostHelper.com, replacing a bathtub may cost between $1,500 to $5,000.

Price: $$

For a spa-like experience, consider this freestanding walk-in tub from ANZZI. This walk-in bathtub comes with whirlpool jets that provide a soothing massage, said Ryan Thompson, plumber and owner of Plumbing Informer.

It has a quick-fill faucet, which can quickly fill up the bathtub. This is important because one of the most common complaints about walk-in bathtubs is that they take too long to fill up.

The step-in threshold is 4 1/4 inches tall. Other standout safety features include a showerhead with a 60-inch hose, grab bars, textured flooring, and an ADA-compliant seat. The term ADA-compliant refers to design standards defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, for accessibility.

In addition to the whirlpool jets, other spa features include color therapy lighting and air jets. The tub has a built-in heater to maintain the water temperature as you bathe.

According to ANZZI, all products come with a lifetime warranty.

Price: $$

This tub offers ADA-compliant seating and slip-resistant flooring. It also has a quick-fill faucet and buttons that are designed to reduce stress on fingers and joints, said Severson. The tub has a built-in grab bar, and the step-in threshold is 7 1/4 inches tall.

Severson points out that the tubs drain is powered by a pump, so all the water will drain in about 1 minute. This might be ideal if time and convenience are your priorities.

The tub has specialty features as well. It has 12 adjustable whirlpool massage jets and colored lights, which are used for chromatherapy, or color therapy. Universal Tubs offers a 10-year warranty on the tub shell, frame, and finish, as well as a lifetime warranty on the doors watertight seal.

If you need help choosing a tub, the company invites customers to call their consultants. They can also help you find a certified and licensed installer.

Price: $$$

This walk-in tub by American Standard is designed for smaller spaces. It has a contoured seat for maximum comfort, along with 26 air jets for relaxing water-based therapy. Safety features include push-button controls, grab bar, and textured floor.

It also has an ergonomically shaped neck rest, which is a stand-out feature, according to Severson. This may be ideal if youre concerned about neck support. Most walk-in tubs lack a built-in neck rest.

The tub has a quick-draining system so youre not stuck waiting several minutes to the open door, added Severson. You can also call the companys bath specialists to determine if the walk-in tub is right for you.

American Standard offers a lifetime warranty on the door seal, a 10-year warranty on the tubs shell, and a 5-year warranty on all other parts. The company also offers in-home evaluations and professional installation.

Price: $$

If youre looking for a freestanding walk-in tub, you might like this 52-inch tub by Empava. The Empava 52 has a curved and practical shape that makes it easy and convenient to install in bathrooms, said Thompson. It has safety features like ergonomic control knobs, interior grab bars, and a handrail along the rim. The door is extra wide, and the floor is slip resistant.

A unique feature is the extra-low step-in clearance height, which is less than 4 inches tall. [This] is great for people who dont want to, or cant, raise their feet too high when entering the tub, said Thompson. Empava also offers a 3-year limited parts warranty.

Price: $

If youre looking for an inexpensive walk-in tub, consider this product from Universal Tubs. This is a very safe and affordable tub without the bells and whistles, explained Severson. It still has a slip-resistant floor, safety rail, and a low step threshold.

The tub has also ADA-compliant contoured seating, a quick-fill faucet, and a wide-opening door. Its simpler than other walk-in tubs on this list. If you dont need a whirlpool or powered drain features, this tub performs well at a lower cost, said Severson.

Universal Tubs offers a 10-year warranty on the tub shell, frame, and finish and a lifetime warranty on the door seal. The company can help you find a certified and licensed installer.

If you want to create a safer bathroom environment, walk-in tubs arent your only option.

Other potentially effective alternatives include:

A step-in shower is a pre-fabricated shower that has no threshold to step over. It has a seat or bench that allows you to sit while bathing. This is ideal if you prefer to use a handheld showerhead versus soaking in a tub.

According to Severson, you can install non-slip flooring, safety rails, and comfortable seating in a step-in shower. The floor tile can also be continued throughout the bathroom.

A good option is the Freedom ADA Roll In Shower. Safety features include a folding shower seat, grab bars, and a textured floor. It also meets all ADA guidelines and has a 30-year limited warranty.

If youd like a shower thats built-in and tiled, contact a licensed contractor who is experienced in bathroom remodeling. If possible, work with a contractor who has experience installing accessible showers for people with limited mobility.

Your contractor can install safety features such as a bench, grab bars, and ergonomic doors. They can also provide suggestions based on your budget and personal needs.

For an inexpensive and simple way to make bathing safer, install grab bars in your existing tub or shower. A contractor who has experience designing bathrooms for limited mobility can determine the best location for each bar.

Its worth noting that towel bars arent the same as grab bars. Towel bars lack sufficient support, so using them as grab bars might be unsafe.

A shower bench or chair is another budget-friendly option. When choosing a bench, make sure the feet have a non-slip grip. Some benches fit into the tub, while others are placed over the edge so you can sit and slide into the tub.

To reduce the risk of slipping, place a non-slip mat in your tub or shower. Consider placing a non-slip mat or anti-slip rug just outside of the shower, too.

Some state programs might offer financial assistance for walk-in tub installations. However, Medicare and insurance companies generally dont provide coverage. Walk-in tubs usually arent considered medically necessary.

Many retailers offer financing options that let you pay for a product over time. This wont reduce the overall cost, but it might be easier to pay in smaller portions.

A walk-in tub may be ideal if you have limited mobility. Compared with a standard tub, this type of tub is safer because you dont have to step over a high edge.

Typically, walk-in tubs have safety features like grab bars and slip-resistant floors. You can also get tubs with specialty features like whirlpool jets and colored lights.

Walk-in tubs are available in different sizes, shapes, and configurations. A licensed contractor can determine the best option for your home and needs.

Currently, walk-in tubs arent covered by health insurance and Medicare. However, your state might offer a financial assistance program, and retailers often have financing options.

More here:
5 Best Walk-In Tubs in 2021: Costs, Features & Reviews - Healthline

How do you know if your current digs have potential to become your dream home? Its a question familiar to Victoria Sass, who founded her Minneapolis-area design firm Project Refuge Studio with a focus on renovations that keep young families in old homes. We get people who want to know, Should I invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in this house or not? she says. At some point, its not a good investment if what you really want is a different house. Its like a marriage: Is this the one, or are you trying to make it into something itll never be? Here are five signs you should stay right where you are, and renovate the house to make it suit your needs.

Whether its the home, neighborhood, school system or other local ties, a deep emotional connection to the property is worth listening to. Thats a really good reason to take the time to change your space to make it suit your needs, says Laura Fenton, author of The Little Book of Living Small. For those clients, we suggest renovation to increase square footage and fit their lifestyle, adds designer Juliana Oliveira, the principal of Dallas firm Beyond Interior Design.

Spending money on a property youre already invested in offers more potential to create additional value. With a renovation, you get a lot more bang for your buck in terms of finishes, says Oliveira. There may be some reconstruction costs, but more of your money will go to details that create a lasting impact. A 2019 study by the National Association of Realtors Research Group estimated that a homeowner could expect to recover between 50 and 60 percent of the cost of most renovation projects in the value of the homea $75,000 boost in value on a $150,000 renovation of a new owners suite, for example. (The biggest impact? Replacing or refinishing wood flooring, which saw a return of 100 to 106 percent.) That said, where you renovate matters if youve got resale in mind: Less than 1 percent of real estate professionals said that a new owners suite helped close a sale, while 20 percent reported that a kitchen upgrade sealed the deal for new buyers.

Old homes often come with quirks and charm that cant be replicated by a new build, even with antiqued or upcycled finishes. Whether its a wonky window or the fact that there are no right angles anywhere, if a homes imperfectionsor at least some of thembring you joy, you should stay.

If youre looking to start fresh due to a temporary dissatisfaction with a home you otherwise love, its probably worth making small adjustments and weathering the storm. A friend of Fentons nearly moved out of a beloved Brooklyn two-bedroom because their teens no longer wanted to share a room. I said, Wait a second. Your daughters going to be moving out in four yearsdo you really want to give up this apartment and neighborhood you love for a relatively short season of life? she recalls. They decided to do a light renovation, and theyre so happy they invested in the home they already have rather than look for a bigger one.

In many parts of the country, build-ready lots are in short supply. As developers struggle to keep up with demand, it drives up land prices and makes it difficult for families to move up to a bigger, newly constructed home, says Clark. If this is the case in your area, a major renovation may be a more cost-effective solution.

Living long-term on a construction site is far from ideal. And even if you think you want to tough it out amid the dust and the noise, designers suggest having a plan B just in case. Clients who think that they can live in the home during a renovation and dont have a backup plan on where they could temporarily stay is a red flag for me, says Oliveira. (Contractors dont like interrupting your life any more than you like having them in their spaceand if theyre tiptoeing around you and your family, youre going to pay for it, adds Irving. If they have to come in, set up and then pack up day after day, its a lot less efficient for everyone, and it may be worth the cost of getting out of your house for a bit.)

No matter how closely you hew to your budget, the costs of a renovation can be staggeringespecially if youve encountered one of those aforementioned unpleasant surprises along the way. Sass says budget fatigue often sets in as the project is winding down. People will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars restructuring a space and doing engineering modifications, she says. But then they go really cheap on something like the knobs on their cabinets. That fixture might feel like a big splurge [after a costly renovation], but in the grand scope of the whole project, that's the piece that you're going to see and pass on to the next generation. Don't skimp on that at the end of the day just because you're tired of spending money.

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5 Signs You Should Renovate the House You're Living In - HouseBeautiful.com