NEW YORK (AP) Jeremy Lin checked back in, triggering the wave of cheers that accompany his every move at Madison Square Garden.

This time, they were for the guys leaving the game.

Lin had 19 points and 13 assists and Carmelo Anthony scored 22, but the New York Knicks turned around this one with their reserves to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-103 on Wednesday night.

"I think our second unit did an awesome job," Lin said. "I think we've been talking a lot about our depth and tonight we definitely got to see the depth, and so that's going to be a strength of ours and we need to continue to use that."

Steve Novak had 17 points off the bench as the Knicks turned a 17-point deficit into an easy win, outscoring the Cavs 71-42 in the second half. They capped a 10-5 month, their first 10-win February since going 10-3 in 1996-97.

The Knicks didn't lead until Novak made consecutive 3-pointers to put them up 75-74 with 2:52 left in the third quarter, then dominated the fourth quarter to send the Cavs to their third straight loss. Their bench produced 50 points, outscoring the starters 38-33 in the final 24 minutes.

"We hope that's the normal-case scenario, if that's possible," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "And to be honest, the last couple of days in practice, that group has just kicked our first group's butt every day, so it wasn't different. They've been playing that way."

Antawn Jamison had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, beaten at home by Boston on Tuesday, giving them losses on consecutive nights to two of the teams within reach for a playoff spot.

"I saw a team over there in the white uniforms that were a lot more aggressive and a lot more physical," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "We had two turnovers at halftime, 16 in the second half. We didn't do a good job taking care of the ball. We didn't do a good job of attacking. If they're going to be aggressive like that, we need to be aggressive back. I don't think we were."

Kyrie Irving had 22 points and seven assists.

See the rest here:
Knicks storm back, beat Cavs 120-103 behind bench

The Knicks Iman Shumpert goes strong to the hoop during their 120-103 win over the visiting Cavaliers on Feb. 29, 2012. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) Jeremy Lin checked back in, triggering the wave of cheers that accompany his every move at Madison Square Garden.

This time, they were for the guys leaving the game.

Lin had 19 points and 13 assists and Carmelo Anthony scored 22, but the New York Knicks turned around this one with their reserves to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-103 on Wednesday night.

I think our second unit did an awesome job, Lin said. I think weve been talking a lot about our depth and tonight we definitely got to see the depth, and so thats going to be a strength of ours and we need to continue to use that.

Steve Novak had 17 points off the bench as the Knicks turned a 17-point deficit into an easy win, outscoring the Cavs 71-42 in the second half. They capped a 10-5 month, their first 10-win February since going 10-3 in 1996-97.

The Knicks didnt lead until Novak made consecutive 3-pointers to put them up 75-74 with 2:52 left in the third quarter, then dominated the fourth quarter to send the Cavs to their third straight loss. Their bench produced 50 points, outscoring the starters 38-33 in the final 24 minutes.

We hope thats the normal-case scenario, if thats possible, coach Mike DAntoni said. And to be honest, the last couple of days in practice, that group has just kicked our first groups butt every day, so it wasnt different. Theyve been playing that way.

Antawn Jamison had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, beaten at home by Boston on Tuesday, giving them losses on consecutive nights to two of the teams within reach for a playoff spot.

Kyrie Irving had 22 points and seven assists.

Original post:
Knicks Put On Second-Half Show In Blowout Win Over Cavaliers

More than 70 years ago, five physicians founded Monroe Clinic. Doctors Nation Bear, W.G. Bear, Leurner Creasy, W.B. Gnagi and John Schinder opened their doors Jan. 1, 1939 on the second floor of an office building in Monroe, Wis.

It was not long before these same physicians approached the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, inviting them to Monroe to build a hospital. St. Clare Hospital, now known as Monroe Clinic, was built soon after. Additions followed in the 1950s and 1970s, but as time and technology changed, the mission of Monroe Clinic to focus on patient needs and care needed to change. The quality of care would remain the same, but patients needs, and to incorporate the changes in technology, forced Monroe Clinic to look at their options

In June 2009, Monroe Clinic unveiled construction plans for its new hospital. A groundbreaking ceremony for the $83 million, 225,000 square-foot, four-story facility followed on December 2009. Despite uncertain economic times, plans continued for a new hospital that is designed to support modern health care and efficient employee and patient flow while accommodating for the environment.

Growth For The Future

The new hospital is set to open for business on March 24. The mission for Monroe Clinic in building this new hospital was to create a healthier environment for patient care. Wednesday, officials from Monroe Clinic hosted a press day to unveil the new hospital, which adds to the existing campus that includes the clinic and what will be the St. Clare Center, which will be created at the old hospital.

Talking to the crowd and giving the tour was Mike Sanders, president and CEO of Monroe Clinic; Dr. Mark Thompson, chief medical officer; Steve Borowski, director of facility services and Paula Elmer, vice president clinical operations and chief nursing officer.

Sanders said they are in the final stages to ready the hospital for the opening date. He said the objective in building the new hospital was to keep up with changes in health care, look at growth and create a campus to meet the health care needs of the community it serves.

The last addition of the existing hospital took place more than 40 years ago, and a lot has changed in health care since then, Sanders said. We had great support for the 28-month $83 million project, which was financed through savings and investments. We set for a spring 2012 opening, and we are pleased that the project has gone smooth, on time and on budget.

Healing Environment

The new hospital is designed with the healing environment in mind. The tour unveiled a nature-inspired atmosphere, built around the latest innovations in health care. Green technology and sustainability was a primary focus. There is an expanded emergency department, with a helipad and heated ambulance garage. There is convenient lobby level access to surgery and a procedure center with a private exit. The chapel has a meditation garden, there is an expanded family birth and womans center, updated cardiology and imaging services, a cafe with sweeping views and outdoor seating, and most importantly, there are all-private inpatients rooms, which Monroe Clinic had before.

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Monroe Clinic unveils new hospital

Last month, IGN's Ryan Clements reviewed Final Fantasy XIII-2 and awarded it an 8.0. Editors at IGN and 1UP have had the opportunity to spend some time with the game since then and have a wide range of opinions. Here are their thoughts on Final Fantasy XIII-2's positives, negatives and everything in between.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is easily among the shortest numbered Final Fantasy games, and the story is definitely lacking any kind of cohesive vision. There are some great story beats, but the game is all over the map; I often lost sight of exactly what my ultimate goal was, and felt very "meh" about the lack of closure in the end.

XIII-2 is far more accessible than XIII was, and I've enjoyed all of my time with it. Still, it's frustrating that it could have been so much more.

Yet for all these improvements, the game still has major issues. Namely, the script. It's bad. Not laughably bad, just bad. It's a real testament to voice actors Laura Bailey and Jason Marsden that they managed to turn what would have been CRINGINGLY bad dialogue into something likable.

So do I hate Final Fantasy XIII-2? No, in fact I'm quite enjoying it. It's much better than XIII or X-2. It's just a shame that character development (of which there is almost none) and a sensible storyline got shoved out of the way in favor of QTEs and a weirdly convoluted attempt to avoid linearity.

Sadly, the thread begins to unravel the moment you leave the battlefield. The open-ended time travel conceit that the game is built upon presents itself with the promise of freedom, and yet too often treats the player as a pawn, forcing you to travel down the linear path that the game wants you to. Had FFXIII-2 treated the grandiose concept of time as the player's personal toy, the game may have been something truly special. So when the curtain raised after the much discussed cliffhanger ending, I was left feeling nothing. The story I had just experienced was told with a lack of confidence that just never quite allowed me to engage with the world beyond a superficial level.

What I found most enjoyable about XIII-2 is that, like the similarly minded X-2, it approaches series gameplay conventions with a sense of experimentation and whimsy. The Hystoria Crux interface provides a fun twist on traditional exploration with seamless jumps into the timeline and the ability to rewind time. Additions like monster raising, coliseum battles, and a variety of uses for your moogle provide plenty of content for those wishing to really dig in. Also, the CG cutscenes are still absolutely stunning. This is top class animation, whether talking movies or games. It's a shame, then, that Final Fantasy XIII-2 never really comes together as a sum of these parts.

If you enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII even somewhat, you deserve to give XIII-2 a go. For those who left XIII with a bitter taste in their mouths, this could still be that much needed palate cleanser. However, for many like me who grew up with Final Fantasy in our blood, this will likely be another reminder that the series isn't really geared towards us anymore. However, if it means that a new audience gets to discover the gameplay and fantasy that hooked us years ago, then maybe that's okay.

Read more:
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Second Opinions

Instead of addressing the real issues with the current wild-card system, Bud Selig and MLB are electing to double down.

AP

Back in October 2010, in the wake of a Yankees/Rays "race" for the AL East title that both teams treated with little care, the idea of a second wild-card slot in each league was floated. After a CBA negotiation and lots of waiting, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Wednesday that the plan will be put in place for the upcoming season. An additional wild-card team will be added to each league, and the two wild cards will play a single game to advance to the Division Series. At the time of the original idea, this is what I wrote in my newsletter. Nothing has changed.

* * *

Maybe the Padres had their run a few years too early. In the wake of the Yankees/Rays non-race in the AL East, in which both teams made it perfectly clear that the division title meant little versus getting ready for the postseason, there's a movement afoot to implement a rule change that would force teams in similar positions to value the division title more than it was valued this year. The most popular of these involves allowing a second wild-card team from each league, and having the two wild-card teams meet in a very short playoff, either one game or a best-of-three, to advance.

I called this idea "unimaginably stupid" on Twitter, and trust me, I was underselling its problems. The idea is to make winning a division more valuable than winning the wild card, so much so that a team will have to try to win its division. What it effectively does, though, is make winning a bad division valuable. To use the 2010 AL season as an example, the Twins and the Rangers, both inferior to the Yankees and Rays, would have been free to rest their regulars and set their rotations, because their divisions couldn't produce a viable challenger. Meanwhile, the Rays and Yankees would be fighting for a division title to stay out of the Coin Flip Game. Despite being objectively better teams -- both of them -- they would both be disadvantaged relative to worse teams. A system that metes out punishment and reward in inverse proportion to quality is a bad system.

Let's play it out, though. The Yankees and Rays bust their humps all month, win a few extra games, maybe 99 for the Rays, 98 for the Yankees. With a "second wild card" to play for, the Red Sox make a couple of small additions, pick up some wins in September and get to 91. One of those extra wins comes at the expense of the White Sox, who fade a bit faster, enabling the Red Sox to lock up their spot in the Coin Flip Game heading into their last series of the year.

Now, the No. 3 seed and the No. 4 seed are preparing for the playoffs, while the two best teams in the league are playing for the right to not be dropped into this unimaginably stupid Coin Flip Game against a team that, because the sixth-best team in the league is far enough behind the fifth-best, is itself resting! Moreover, after proving itself to be eight or so games better than than its divisional partner over a full season of play, the second-place team is now, after losing its run at the division title, forced to beat that inferior team one more time despite being disadvantaged in the run-up to the game.

The second-best team in baseball could go from fighting for a division title and the best record in its league to a one-game playoff against a team it was miles ahead of for six months. It may sound far-fetched, but it is not that far removed from what we would have had this year had the rule been in place. It's pretty much what you would have gotten in the AL in 2005, where the Yankees and Red Sox tied for first place while the "second wild card" would have been the Indians, five games clear of the A's for the #5 seed.

This is a really bad idea. It's one thing to throw away September because you're looking for easy cash on the heels of being tagged for $280 million in CBA violations. It's another to set up a system that has the ability to turn your regular season results into a bad joke because you didn't listen the first time. The scenario that people want to avoid, the September we just watched? It happens when two great teams play in one division together. If you force one of them into a Coin Flip Game, you will always be invalidating a great six-month season in a single afternoon, which is no way -- no way at all -- to run a sports league. The Coin Flip Game isn't "making the playoffs" any more than the play-in game in the NCAA's is "making the tournament." No one confuses Tuesday in Dayton with Friday in Charlotte, and no one will confuse Monday afternoon at Suncoast Dome on MLB Network with Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium on TBS.

Continued here:
Joe Sheehan: Additional wild cards won't solve problems; they'll compound them

Like most people out there, I hate my cable provider.

I could rip into Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) routinely, but I don't because venting and ranting don't serve you with an investable point. However, something happened last week that's too comical not to share.

Comcast has been my cable and Internet access provider for more than a dozen years, but this has been a particularly brutal month. There have been at least four prolonged outages during which I have been without cable and broadband.

In calling to report the second of last week's outages, an otherwise cordial representative tells me that he's looking into my account. I could save some serious money if I switch my landline to Comcast's XFINITY Voice offering.

"If I did that, how would I be reporting this outage?" I asked.

"Don't you have a smartphone?" he responds, not realizing that he has just killed his own sales pitch.

Who needs a landline when you have a wireless phone? Who needs a Comcast triple play -- especially when I'm already dealing with two outs?

Bundling TV, Internet, and broadband phone have been a godsend for cable providers. They already know that their cable TV offerings are too expensive. Comcast lost 460,000 video customers last year, and that was after suffering through 757,000 more cancellations than additions the prior year. However, the "triple play" push has paid off, with Comcast growing in the two cheaper categories.

It's the same story at Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) , where "triple play" additions have offset the nearly 1 million net defections of cable television customers over the past two years.

Giants are merely swapping customers these days. AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are losing hardwired landline customers, but making up for that through wireless and their Web-based television offerings. Time Warner Cable and Comcast are stealing the landline customers of AT&T and Verizon, but handing over their couch potatoes to the cheaper and aggressively marketed U-verse and FiOS television platforms.

Read the rest here:
A Triple Play Ends the Inning, Comcast

February 28, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) Jacksonville Sharks ST JOHNS COUNTY, FL - The ArenaBowl XXIV Champion Jacksonville Sharks continued training camp on Tuesday morning, holding the team's second full-contact practice in as many days at Plantation Park in St. Johns County.

Unlike in Monday's rain-soaked workout, the overcast skies stayed dry on Tuesday. The heightened intensity from Monday's padded practice spilled over, particularly in the one-on-one and team portions of practice.

Jacksonville's wide receivers seemed to have a strong showing on Tuesday, as rookie Oliver Young tipped the ball to himself to make a highlight-reel catch down the sideline and each of his fellow position-mates made plays in the open field.

Sharks veterans continue to work to get newer players up to speed. One of those new players is former Georgia Bulldog Bryan Evans, recently assigned to the 2012 roster.

"The practices are cool, it's a real family oriented team." Evans said. "I like the atmosphere. Everyone has been trying to teach me as long as I've been here, so it's been pretty cool so far."

Capozzoli Takes the Field

After kicking a clutch 36-yard field goal that helped the Sharks clinch the American Conference Championship last season, Marco Capozzoli returns for his second season as Jacksonville's kicker. Capozzoli participated in his first practice of the season on Tuesday.

Though he had not officially hit the practice field since ArenaBowl XXIV, Capozzoli worked throughout the offseason to refine his game.

"I've been training ever since the ArenaBowl," he said. "I took a week off and then I've been back at it. [LaRoche Jackson] and I had been at the field, we practiced at [Jacksonville University] every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, just practicing our holds and snaps, and just kept doing our thing."

Local Ties

Link:
Sharks Training Camp Report #5

February 27, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods) Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Wisconsin Rapids, WI - February 27th, 2012. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters announced the additions of two right-handed pitchers to the 2012 roster today in junior Kyle Wormington (Valparaiso) and sophomore Ronnie Muck (Illinois). Muck will join current Illini teammate and returning infielder, Brandon Hohl, in Wisconsin Rapids this summer.

"We are extremely excited to add two high-caliber pitchers to the team," said Manager Jake Martin. "Both guys possess power arms and will provide experience to the 2012 pitching staff."

RHP-Kyle Wormington, 6'3", 210 lbs (R/R) Junior, Valparaiso

A transfer from Connors State College, Wormington has gotten off to a great start this spring in his first year at Valparaiso University. After making his first two starts of the season, spanning 13.2 innings on the mound, Wormington carries a 3.29 ERA with four walks and as many strikeouts. Kyle was named the top newcomer to the Horizon League earlier this spring by Baseball America.

Wormington earned All-Conference honors in 2011 for Connors State after posting an 8-1 record with a 2.67 ERA in 12 appearances as a sophomore. He walked just 18 batters while striking out 62 in 77.2 innings. His impressive performance also earned him a First Team All-Region Two Selection, in addition to his All-Conference recognition. Wormington is a native of Norman, Oklahoma.

RHP-Ronnie Muck, 6'1", 190 lbs (R/R) Sophomore, Illinois

Muck begins his sophomore campaign for Illinois after posting a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings of work as a freshman. He is no stranger to summer collegiate baseball having played with the Lombard Orioles of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League last summer.

Muck was named the No. 38 prospect in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, Pioneer Press North Stars Player of the Year, and Bugle Newspapers Male Athlete of the year as a senior for Maine South High School in 2010. He was also an All-Area selection by the Chicago Sun-Times from 2008-2010 and was also All-Central Suburban Conference pitcher in 2008 and 2009. Muck posted a 12-4 record on the mound with a 2.48 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 80 innings as a senior in 2010. He also broke the single-season strikeouts record for Maine South with 98 during his junior year in 2009, before surpassing his own record his senior year. Muck is a native of Park Ridge, Illinois.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2012. Opening Day at historic Witter Field is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30th at 7:05 pm against the La Crosse Loggers. Reserve your 2012 ticket packages today by calling 715-424-5400, or in person by stopping by the Rafters office at historic Witter Field. The offseason office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm. For more information, visit http://www.raftersbaseball.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Continue reading here:
Rafters Add Pair of Hurlers to 2012 Roster

February 27, 2012, 7:56 PM EST

By Liezel Hill

Feb. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Newmont Mining Corp., the world’s second-largest gold producer, said it’s too early to say whether its proposed $4.8 billion Conga mine in Peru will proceed while a state-commissioned review is in progress.

Consultants from Spain and Portugal hired by Peru yesterday began a 40-day review of an existing environmental impact assessment, or EIA. Greenwood Village, Colorado-based Newmont halted construction in November at the project in the northern Andes mountains following clashes between police and opponents of the development.

“It’s too early to say” if the project will move forward, Chief Executive Officer Richard O’Brien said yesterday an interview in Hollywood, Florida.

O’Brien said Conga must be a “viable” project to proceed. “I don’t think we can call that until we get through with the EIA review, assuming that happens in a reasonable period of time.”

Conga may yield 680,000 ounces of gold and 235 million pounds of copper annually in its first five years. O’Brien said Jan. 17 that Newmont may increase spending on projects in Nevada, Australia, Ghana and Indonesia if it’s unable to continue developing the Peruvian mine.

Newmont will seek “a balance between the EIA that we already have approved and whatever additions that the government thinks they need to make.”

Reservoir Construction

Under Newmont’s current plan, building Conga will require the construction of four reservoirs to replace four lagoons. That’s failed to win over farmers in the region, some of whom protested in November by blocking roads and destroying Newmont installations.

The demonstrations stopped after President Ollanta Humala on Dec. 4 granted the country’s armed forces extra power for 60 days, including the right to make arrests without warrant.

Newmont, which owns 51 percent of Conga, is partnering with Peru’s Cia. de Minas Buenaventura SAA on the project. The U.S. company also controls Peru’s Yanacocha, South America’s largest gold mine.

“If we don’t have this done within the next three months, we are going to be extremely disappointed,” O’Brien said, referring to the review process.

Newmont may consider selling its Hope Bay project in the Canadian Arctic, he also said. The company announced last month it would halt work at the site. Newmont said Feb. 23 it recorded a $1.61 billion writedown on the project. Hope Bay is relatively expensive to operate because of its location.

‘Opportunistic M&A’

“Could it be worth something to somebody else? Yes,” said O’Brien, who was in Florida to attend BMO Capital Markets’ Global Metals & Mining Conference. “I think you’ve got the potential to see that district expand over time, but just not right now and not on our time frame.”

O’Brien said he views $1,750 to $2,000 an ounce as a “reasonable estimate” for the gold price in 2012, and that the price may rise to $2,300 in the next three to four years. Gold futures for April delivery fell 0.1 percent to settle at $1,774.90 an ounce yesterday on the Comex in New York.

Newmont’s strategy is to increase production through a combination of exploration, project development and “opportunistic M&A,” he said. He declined to comment further on the potential for acquisitions.

Newmont is the second-largest gold producer ranked by revenue, after Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp.

--Editors: Simon Casey, Andrew Hobbs

To contact the reporter on this story: Liezel Hill in Toronto at lhill30@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net -0- Feb/27/2012 21:49 GMT

Read the original post:
Newmont Says It’s Too Early to Say Whether Conga Will Proceed

Nissa Blocher didn't have to see the grand three-story twin in West Philadelphia to decide to live there. The then-medical resident trusted her fiance, Victor Brubaker, a contractor and old-house aficionado who had been searching for the right house with good bones.

She had only two conditions - that the house have a garage and a way to get into the basement from the outside - and this house had neither. So it goes sometimes.

Still, the dignified, circa-1902 classical revival house was within walking distance of Clark Park, a market, a pet store, and several restaurants. For Nissa, who was attending the University of Pennsylvania nearby, and Victor, a former chef, that was too good to pass up.

"I just fell in love with all the intact original details: the leaded-glass windows, the wood trim, the mantel, the window seat," says Victor, who now runs his business, Victor Brubaker - Builder, out of the dwelling's second-floor office. "It's completely coincidental I moved back here."

Originally from West Philadelphia, he spent most of his childhood in southern Africa, where his father did missionary work. He worked in the restaurant business for 20 years before turning to architecture and "rehabbing homes before it became a spectator sport."

His first house was a fixer-upper, a 1920s bungalow in Trenton. Victor went on to rehab several Italianates in that city's historic Mill Hill district, where he admits to developing a passion for cast-plaster molding, one of several additions to the new house.

Nissa, who grew up in a Spanish-style home in St. Louis and went to medical school in Phoenix, had rehabbed a house in Arizona, even teaching herself how to do electrical work.

That was one of the things that attracted him to her, Victor jokes. The couple met online, and one of their dates revolved around pouring a concrete slab in a basement.

They bought their 2,600-square-foot West Philly twin in spring 2005, commuting from New Jersey for six months while $80,000 in renovations were completed. They updated plumbing and electrical service, installed new windows and central air-conditioning, refinished the floors, repaired the roof, and remodeled the 21/2 baths.

Outside, Victor restored the porch, drawing attention from neighbors as well as honorary citations from the University City Historical Society.

Kitchens are important to Victor, who graduated from the Restaurant School in Philadelphia and cooked at the French eatery Lahiere's in Princeton for 10 years. The rehab of this particular kitchen included reconfiguring the layout and setting the work space off from the path to the back door.

"Kitchens can be made too big sometimes," he says. "You just want enough space for two people to work comfortably."

They chose black limestone counters, a subway-tile backsplash, a farmhouse sink, and a commercial range. For contrast, they embraced a 100-year-old maple butcher block and an iron pot hanger, and turned the underused back staircase into a first-floor pantry and second-floor linen closet.

Most noticeable is the bar separating the kitchen from the dining room. They constructed it from salvaged oak paneling and closet trim from a historic home on Sansom Street undergoing improvements.

"He can churn out a whole party from this place. It still respects the period," Nissa says.

The living room is painted a lively green and dominated by a leaded-glass bay window and double doors that lead to the dining room.

In the mudroom, a dog cage is covered with ribbons from their pet's agility training, Nissa's latest hobby. The golden retriever - who came with the name Jimmy, after Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins - can open the back door.

Upstairs, the office is lined with stately bookshelves and flooded with natural light. A minimalist desk sits in the middle. As with all the other rooms in the house, the walls were repainted from baby blue and decorated with art and antiques from the couple's travels to Bolivia, Vietnam, Morocco, Turkey, and Cambodia. One wall features a poster from a recent mountain-climbing trip.

A nearby fireplace, lined in magenta tile, is covered with a wooden overmantel flanked by two griffins. The piece was stolen during construction but recovered a day after they were married - the pair found it in a Lancaster antiques mart.

Standing on the landing of the original staircase, the couple say they occasionally muse about moving closer to Nissa's endocrinology practice in Elkins Park, or to northwest Philadelphia, where many other grand old houses can be found.

"Every time we think about moving, they open a new restaurant down the street," Victor says.

Holding the banister, they say that they are content with the neighborhood and the house - and that, really, there's only one thing missing.

"We have to find the little pineapple that goes here," Nissa says.

Is your house a Haven?

Tell us about your haven by e-mail (and send digital photographs) at properties@ phillynews.com

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Rehabbing an old gem in West Philadelphia