The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Waimakariri District Council say the public has put forward an exciting vision of open spaces with a community focus for the Waimakariri red zones.

"People have told us that they want to see the natural environment restored so that community activities can take place and new community facilities can be developed. They would also like a place to remember the earthquakes and what happened to the land," says CERA Acting Chief Executive John Ombler.

Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers has welcomed todays release of the summary of the public conversation on future use.

"Canvas was a valuable exercise for the Districts red zones," Mr Ayers says.

"Its important that the end use of these areas reflects and encompasses what the community needs and the Canvas ideas have provided us with a good basis for drawing up some options. The summary of the community feedback will help us do this before going back to the community for their input."

The Canvas public engagement process ran for six weeks from 30 July to 12 September. Over this time, nearly 600 people contributed their vision, from which more than 2750 ideas and values were identified for the future use of the red zones in Waimakariri.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the engagement has been a real success in encouraging public discussion about the future use of the land.

"The leadership of the Mayor and the Waimakariri District Council has also been crucial in getting the community involved in looking ahead to that future use," Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Ombler says recreation has emerged as the most popular theme from the public engagement, with contributions ranging from walkways to BMX parks to community gardens.

"This is strongly supported by requests to create natural reserves and restore native ecosystems. People are also interested in business and commercial opportunities such as markets, cafes, festivals and entertainment events," Mr Ombler says.

See the article here:
Exciting vision put forward for Waimakariri red zones

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Waimakariri District Council say the public has put forward an exciting vision of open spaces with a community focus for the Waimakariri red zones.

"People have told us that they want to see the natural environment restored so that community activities can take place and new community facilities can be developed. They would also like a place to remember the earthquakes and what happened to the land," says CERA Acting Chief Executive John Ombler.

Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers has welcomed todays release of the summary of the public conversation on future use.

"Canvas was a valuable exercise for the Districts red zones," Mr Ayers says.

"Its important that the end use of these areas reflects and encompasses what the community needs and the Canvas ideas have provided us with a good basis for drawing up some options. The summary of the community feedback will help us do this before going back to the community for their input."

The Canvas public engagement process ran for six weeks from 30 July to 12 September. Over this time, nearly 600 people contributed their vision, from which more than 2750 ideas and values were identified for the future use of the red zones in Waimakariri.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the engagement has been a real success in encouraging public discussion about the future use of the land.

"The leadership of the Mayor and the Waimakariri District Council has also been crucial in getting the community involved in looking ahead to that future use," Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Ombler says recreation has emerged as the most popular theme from the public engagement, with contributions ranging from walkways to BMX parks to community gardens.

"This is strongly supported by requests to create natural reserves and restore native ecosystems. People are also interested in business and commercial opportunities such as markets, cafes, festivals and entertainment events," Mr Ombler says.

Read the rest here:
Vision put forward for Waimakariri red zones

Advice and installation help at the John Bridge Tile Forums

How to build and tile steps and walkways (sidewalks)

John P. Bridge, May, 2001 (Revised December, 2009)

Way back in the day, I spent about 6 months of my apprenticeship training studying step/stair building and layout. One of the points that was constantly emphasized was that stairs are a hazard to your health a necessary one but a hazard no less. There are certain conventions that are essential to a safe and eye-pleasing step project.

Think about it. When you walk you tend to build up a cadence where, unless something inhibits you, each step taken is about the same as the previous one in length and speed. The same tendency is in force when you are ascending or descending stairs or steps. If all the steps are not the same height and width, it tends to throw you off balance, and this can lead to a serious mishap.

A good rule of thumb when building a series of steps is called seven-eleven. No, thats not a convenience store chain, its a stair-building convention. The front of the steps or risers are about 7 inches in height, and the tops of the steps or treads are about 11 inches in width. Now this is not a hard, fast rule, but it should always be taken into consideration when a project is planned. In my opinion risers should never be higher than 7 inches, and treads should never be narrower than 11 inches. A step that is about 6 to 6-1/2 inches high and 11-1/2 to 12 inches wide is just about ideal in my book, whether you are building one step or a hundred. People have gotten used to this norm through decades (centuries) of climbing stairs and steps.

Once again, though, although there is leeway in the height and width of steps, all steps in a series must be uniform. The height of the risers cannot vary by more than 1/4 inch, and the width of the treads must be constant to within 1/4 in. On commercial tile projects the tolerance is usually less than 1/8 in.

Do not build steps in tread widths that cause people to take more than one step per tread. A normal person should be able to walk up or down a series of steps without breaking stride. A tread width of, say, 16 inches or more might cause a persons foot to land on the edge of the tread, half on and half off. The foot tends to slip or tilt toward the next riser, a sure recipe for disaster, especially when walking downward. When ascending such steps its very possible someone might trip on a riser and fall forward.

In outdoor construction, nothing is level. All surfaces are tilted somewhat so that rain water doesnt collect on them. This includes steps, whose treads should be pitched ever so slightly toward the front. In the width of a 12 in. tread, a 1/16 to 1/8 in. pitch is ideal just enough to keep water from collecting but not enough to cause a slip. It should go without saying, but Ill say it anyway step treads absolutely must be constructed from materials that will provide plenty of grip for the feet. Brick, rough stone, and non-slip quarry tiles are good choices. If your steps are to be simply concrete, finish the treads with a fine broom.

Steps in Conjunction with Walkways

Read this article:
How to Build Steps, Walkways and Handicap Ramps | Tile ...

Log

More sand

In a program to aid senior citizens, Officer Ted Hatch on Dec. 6 delivered a pail of sand following a request from a home on Wescott Road. The program is sponsored by Triad and Gorham police to help seniors sand steps and walkways.

Car burglary

A caller on Dec. 8 from Libby Avenue reported a motor vehicle burglary on Main Street.

Dog walker trip up

After a home alarm sounded on Dec. 10, homeowners on Mountview Drive told police that they believe it was a mistake by the dog walker.

Arrests

John J. Kennedy, 44, Curtis Street, South Portland, on Nov. 22 on a charge of operating under the influence and operating without license, on Sebago Lake Road.

Austin J. Watts, 20, Anderson Avenue, Westbrook, on Nov. 21 on charges of operating without license more than 30 days and operating under the influence (alcohol), in Gorham.

Original post:
Gorham police log, Nov. 20-Dec. 8

Durham, NC - When Valorie Little arrived for work at Dukes Carolina Family Practice office in Cary last Jan. 30, a touch of snow and thin layer of ice still coated the ground.

She parked, got out of her car and decided to take a short cut of about five steps down a gentle, grass-covered slope.

I immediately thought, I better not slip, and as soon as that happened I lost my footing and went right down, said Little, a patient service associate who had hip replacement surgery three months prior. I had snow down my pants, up my shirt, and my lunch bag went flying. A coworker nearby grabbed my orange as it rolled away.

Luckily, Little wasnt hurt beyond a few aches the next day, but the impact of the event stayed with her longer.

God forbid I had done something to my hip, she said. Its worth taking an extra minute or two to use a walkway. Theres no need to rush like that.

Littles experience was not unique last winter between December 2013 and March 2014, employees submitted 65 workplace injury reports related to severe weather. The incidents ranged from bruises and scrapes to broken bones.

Chip Kyles, director of Workers Compensation, said that most incidents happened because faculty or staff used uncleared paths that are typically safe during warm months.

To stay safest during severe weather, Duke community members are reminded to follow the campus snow and ice removal plan, which clears priority sidewalks and building entrances. Areas to avoid are sloped surfaces, stairs, ramps and paths not identified as preferred routes, according to the plan.

With the official start of winter on Dec. 21, staff and faculty are encouraged to review Dukes severe weather policy to prepare for potential ice and snow this season and to ensure roles and responsibilities are understood during severe weather.

This season, the National Weather Service reports the Southeast may see below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation this winter, but a repeat of last years extreme cold, snowy conditions is unlikely.

More here:
Duke Outlines Plan for Severe Winter Weather

So I have taken the digital tour of the eight contenders for St. Petersburg's new pier.

I read all of the proposals and pretended to understand all of the blueprints. I solicited opinions from those around me and recorded all of their considerations.

And now, with complete confidence, I can say to the six members of the pier selection committee:

Suckers!

You people cannot win. No way, no how. A design by Michelangelo, with input from Frank Lloyd Wright, would get trashed by folks on one side of town or the other.

We are 10 years into this discussion and still haven't bought a screwdriver.

We cannot agree on whether we care more about preserving the past or forging a new direction. Whether beauty is more important than function. Whether we build farther out, or closer to the shoreline.

Theoretically, Monday's unveiling of the latest proposals gets us one step closer to completion. We'll have committee meetings in January, a public survey in February, the selection of a winner in March and, finally, City Council approval on April 2.

Personally, I think that timetable is ambitious. I'm predicting rancor in January, accusations in February, chaos in March and nothing but pelican poop by April.

It's not that the proposals on Monday were lacking. In fact, most had at least one interesting design element or feature, and I thought two were quite fetching.

See the rest here:
Romano: At this point, any pier in St. Petersburg will look good

MULTI-million pound plans to demolish and rebuild Castlepoints flawed car park have been given the green light, with work due to begin in spring.

Planners at Bournemouth council have granted consent for the shopping centre car parks rebuild, which will allow the park to remain open throughout the major work.

And Castlepoints owners and Kier, the original contractor, have issued reassurance that measures will be put in place to limit disruption and inconvenience to both customers and retailers.

Preparations will now get underway on the phased plan with the work expected to properly start in spring 2015.

Mark Watt, spokesperson for the owners, The Castlepoint Partnership, said: This is the result we had hoped for. The councils decision endorses our plan to deliver a long-term solution for Castlepoint, which will help it to retain and strengthen its position as a major destination in the retail hierarchy of the region.

Sean Jeffery, managing director, Kier Infrastructure UK, said: This is very welcome news. Together with the Castlepoint Partnership, we have worked hard to reach this stage.

There remain a few key steps to put in place, but this consent brings us closer to being able to start work on-site.

The car park demolition and rebuild will be done in five phases, starting at Sainsburys and working along the two malls.

Void spaces underneath some shop units will be opened up, creating extra car parking spaces.

A minimum of 2,500 car parking spaces will be available at all times, which is enough to cater for all but the very busiest spells.

Read this article:
Castlepoint car park to be demolished and rebuilt as multi-million plans get go-ahead

The design phase of a multi-year effort to revitalize the Chartiers Avenue business district in McKees Rocks is almost complete and poised to move onto the construction phase.

Residents, business owners and local elected officials had the opportunity Dec. 2 to view the plan, ask questions and make suggestions about the design work being done by Lami Grubb Architects of Pittsburgh.

The firm has been working on plans to reconfigure Chartiers into a destination site featuring new restaurants, office space, housing and entertainment venues.

A grant from the Allegheny County Economic Development Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund is paying for the design work.

This is the next big piece of the puzzle to revitalizing lower Chartiers Avenue, said Taris Vrcek, executive director of the McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation.

The community development corporation launched the effort several years ago with a series to meetings attended by residents and borough officials to explore ways to improve the business district.

The borough has been a fantastic partner, Mr. Vrcek said.

Jonathan Glance, the lead designer on the project with Lami Grubb Architects, said a huge difference has already been made with the recent conversion of Chartiers into a two-way traffic pattern.

The one-way traffic pattern created a super highway with cars driving too fast through town, Mr. Glance said.

Also planned are new street lights, bump outs, street trees and other amenities like benches and new trash cans.

Originally posted here:
McKees Rocks Chartiers Avenue revitalization nears construction phase

UI facilities employees work long hours to ensure campus safety during winter months

When the weather gets cold and the snow begins to fall, Charles Zillinger, University of Idaho director of landscape and exterior services, said its the busiest time of the year for him and his crew.

Jett Jones | Argonaut A UI employee clears away snow on a wintery day

Zillinger said its not uncommon for some Facilities Services personnel to start work as early as 2 a.m. during the winter months and workers have an automatic early start when at least one inch of snow covers the UI campus over night.

The best time to remove snow is when no one is there, Zillinger said. (We do) whatever it takes to keep campus safe.

The annual budget for snow removal is around $19,400, Zillinger said. The money is allocated to supplies and equipment costs, but Zillinger said its not enough to cover everthing, so additional expenses are supplemented with Facilities general maintenance funds.

With the goal of having campus cleared of snow and ice by 7 a.m., the main areas of campus are the first priority. Zillinger said its after they get the main areas cleared when they get to work on other areas of the campus.

We prioritize snow removal, he said. That is going to maximize how many people can use (the walkways).

Zillinger said a routine winter morning encompasses 18 people who work throughout the day to clear snow from the 10 miles of road and 100 acres of sidewalks that make up campus. Six large plow drivers, six smaller plow drivers and six hand scoopers work together to clear campus and custodial services clear the building entryways.

With a limited amount of people working to clear campus of snow and ice, everything is not going to get cleared, Zillinger said. He said this is the reason why some areas are left untouched and some stairways are blocked off.

Original post:
Its that time of the year UI facilities employees work long hours to ensure campus safety during winter months

NASHUA Like many New England colleges, Rivier University is facing a dilemma: Should it emphasize the brick-and-mortar traditions of the past or the click-and-interact possibilities of the future?

For the moment, the answer to that question seems to be yes. It is expanding online courses for students who rarely or never come to Nashua even as it spends millions on making the approach to campus from Main Street better looking and the rest of campus more like an academic enclave. ... Subscribe or log in to read more

NASHUA Like many New England colleges, Rivier University is facing a dilemma: Should it emphasize the brick-and-mortar traditions of the past or the click-and-interact possibilities of the future?

For the moment, the answer to that question seems to be yes. It is expanding online courses for students who rarely or never come to Nashua even as it spends millions on making the approach to campus from Main Street better looking and the rest of campus more like an academic enclave.

Call it the clicks-and-mortar approach, which is partly an economic juggling act, partly a reach for new horizons, and partly the latest example of change that belies the staid image of what many still think of as a Catholic nursing school.

We have been expanding our mission for a long time, said the university president, Sister Paula Marie Buley, in a recent interview about the schools present and future.

She ticked off a variety of steps, from night and weekend classes for adults, to the 2006 addition of Ph.D. programs that now have 79 students, that have changed the school in recent decades. The growth in online-only or online-and-classroom hybrid degrees the school offers eight of them, with more coming is the latest step, she said.

To an extent, these are steps born of necessity.

The number of high school graduates in New Hampshire and New England is falling and probably will continue to fall for many years. A college or university that depends on more tuition-paying teenagers to keep the lights on will face troubles. Part of the adjustment involves cutting back; Rivier still faces some criticism for dropping the Music and Art Department and cutting the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Its not alone in cutting programs in an attempt to balance costs and income. Daniel Webster has made huge changes since ITT bought it, notably dropping the flight programs that were its foundation, while Franklin Pierce University in Rindge has eliminated several degrees, including mathematics. Looming over all private schools is the reminder of Chester College, a small New Hampshire school that closed abruptly in 2012 when its tuition-dependent finances failed.

Read more:
Rivier leaders say balance of new, old key to long term success