More lights and CCTV cameras being installed on a pathway near Wellington's Victoria University after two attacks are a good start, but more needs to be done to address safety concerns, the university's students' association says.

It's believed the same man attacked two women near the walkway, which runs between The Terrace and Boyd Wilson Field, over Easter weekend.

Police have increased patrols in the area, but say the pathway isn't safe and they're urging people not to walk through the dark, bush-clad and isolated area alone.

Police say there have been other attacks in the last three months and students for years have regarded the walkway, which is a key thoroughfare between the city and the university, as dangerous.

Work is underway to install CCTV cameras and more lights, but Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) president Sonya Clark says that's not enough.

"It's not just about one set of steps. Students tell us they feel unsafe around Dixon St, Devon St, and the many steps, pathways and alleys in Wellington after dark," she said.

"A coordinated response between the university and the Wellington City Council is needed to improve walkways, and condemn sexual assault."

VUWSA is calling for the introduction of emergency help stations on campus, with a panic button, phone and light attached.

There are similar stations already at Otago and Canterbury universities.

"It isn't good enough to tell women, especially students, that they shouldn't walk alone at night," Ms Clark said.

Originally posted here:
Calls for more action after attacks near uni

By Ed Mahon

emahon@ydr.com @edmahonreporter on Twitter

York County commissioners on Wednesday approved funding for two separate projects, using funding from natural gas drilling fees collected across the state.

They approved $32,500 for the first part of improving the Indian Steps property in Lower Chanceford Township. A museum on the property houses American Indian artifacts.

They also approved giving $30,000 for York City Little League and the city over three years. The money will go toward replacing bleachers and other improvements at multiple parks that members of the league and others use, according to a letter York Mayor Kim Bracey wrote to commissioners.

Bracey requested the funds on behalf of the league, which she said has provided recreational opportunities to several thousand city children. Planned improvements include leveling the playing surface on the baseball fields.

The county will provide $10,000 for this year, and then the same amount in both 2015 and 2016.

Doug Kilgore, a former York County commissioner, is leading a committee for Indian Steps improvements. In a letter to commissioners, he said the committee wants to add modern rest rooms and air conditioning. Members also want enhancements to the walkways, parking and public areas.

The website for the Indian Steps Museum says it has operated as a public museum since the 1940s. The origin of the museum goes back to the beginning of the 20th century with the late John Edward Vandersloot, according to Kilgore and the museum website.

"He absolutely loved collecting arrowheads," Kilgore told commissioners at their weekly meeting.

Follow this link:
York County commissioners approve funding for Indian Steps property, Little League at meeting

Students call for a co-ordinated response to recent assaults on Wellington pathway

Victoria University of Wellington Students Association President Sonya Clark sends her support to the victims of this weekends assaults and is calling for greater action to keep students safe on campus and around Wellington.

The recent assaults have shocked the student community, and come after years of warnings about safety issues in the area.

VUWSA had raised students concerns about the Boyd Wilson Field pathway for a number of years. After working with Victoria University, Wellington City Council and Te Aro School, we finally saw the installation of improved LED lighting and the removal of some shrubbery in 2013.

Clark was pleased with the Universitys actions this week, saying that the installation of increased lighting and CCTV cameras was a good start, but was only part of the solution."

Its not just about one set of steps. Students tell us they feel unsafe around Dixon Street, Devon Street, and the many steps, pathways and alleys in Wellington after dark. A co-ordinated response between the University and the Wellington City Council is needed to improve walkways, and condemn sexual assault.

We want to see the introduction of emergency help stations, like the ones at Otago and Canterbury Universities, with a panic button, phone, and light attached. The introduction of a service where Campus Security walk people off campus at night is also a change VUWSA would like to see."

Clark further emphasized the importance of not blaming victims, saying it isnt good enough to tell women, especially students, that they shouldnt walk alone at night.

Taxis are expensive and unaffordable: it is unreasonable to expect students to catch a taxi every time they work late at the library or in town.

While lighting and CCTV may act as a deterrent, assaults are not caused by a pathway, but people who hurt other people. It is those actions which must be condemned. The University and the Council must work closer with organisations like the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network to follow best practice in this area."

See the original post:
Students Call for Co-ordinated Response to Recent Assaults

Icy steps and walkways can be very hazardous. This is a guide about keeping ice off steps and walkways.

0 Videos 2 SolutionsShare 0 QuestionsAsk 0 PhotosShare Related

Share a SolutionRead and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up".

Last minute company coming and you have a icy sidewalk? A fast way to make it not slippery is to use cat litter or fireplace ash if you have a fireplace. Just spread either along the sidewalk and your guests will have better traction.

By Debbie N from Tacoma, WA

I came home during a freezing rain storm on Sunday Night. My cement steps were treacherous and I was out of Ice Salt and table salt. I racked my brain to think of what I could use and went to make myself a pot of coffee then I thought of the used coffee grounds. They don't disintegrate so I tried them on my steps. They are still there and have not frozen over and are doing a fine job of keeping my stairs free of ice and snow. They don't seem to track in either.

By Katie from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada

Give a "thumbs up" to the solution that worked the best! Do you have a better solution? Click here to share it!

Share FeedbackFeedback about this article is posted here. Want to contribute? Click above to post feedback.

Thrifty Fun has been around so long that many of our pages have been reset several times. Archives are older versions of the page and the feedback that was provided then.

Original post:
Keeping Ice Off Steps and Walkways | ThriftyFun

Find everything you need to know about Walkways right here

Ideas: Cut Stone Walkways For a more formal walkway , cut stone paths ..... the edge of the walkway . The orderliness ..... about cut stone walkways is that a unique ..... addition for small walkways that lead off ..... plants frame the walkway and blend well

Fences, and Walkways Take your deck, fence, or walkway project from ..... build a fence. Walkways While material ..... the cost of a walkway , labor is also ..... Paver. Paver walkways are often $10 ..... quality paver walkway to last for 20

Path Ideas: Flagstone Walkways Flagstone offers natural ..... ensure that your stone walkway is the perfect addition ..... Private Escape Flagstone walkways are a beautiful and ..... placed. The narrow walkway does not break up the ..... feel. While many paved walkways look out of place in

lush greenery, the walkway is a beautiful way ..... with Straight-Edged Walkways Add to the design of ..... grow over onto the walkway completes the walkway . Checkerboard with ..... The beauty of brick walkways is that they can be

newly planted yard. Grass Walkway What's better for walking ..... bricks add interest. Narrow Walkway Narrow spaces are popular places to add designed walkways . Here, two sizes of square ..... in place. Asian-Style Walkway Depending on the design

Gravel Walkway This gravel walkway is an inexpensive and informal ..... side. Step 1 Dig out the walkway to a depth of 2-4 inches. Expert Advice: Gravel walkways are best suited to low ..... fabric ensures that the walkway will stay weed-free and

Curving Gravel Walkways Curving along outcroppings ..... such as on this walkway , is a good material ..... of this garden. Walkways Delineate Garden Beds Gravel walkways make it simple to ..... plants frame the walkway , lending a more

Path Ideas: Stepping Stone Walkways Stepping stone pathways can ..... Comment: Next Intersecting Stone Walkways Stepping stone paths spread ..... sizes. The light hues make the walkway easily visible and invite guests ..... each stone when installing a walkway in your yard. Here, the stones

Home Improvement / Outdoor Structures / Walkways / Concrete Paver Walkway Concrete Paver Walkway Concrete pavers offer a wide range of colors ..... 1. Build the base. After laying out your walkway , excavate to a depth of 6 inches. Install

Read the original here:
Walkways Videos and more at Better Homes and Gardens

Sarasota police provided this photo of a damaged car that they say was involved in a crash that killed a pedestrian early Wednesday morning on U.S. 41 near Sarasota High School. The driver was charged with DUI-manslaughter.

The clock had not yet struck 1 a.m. Wednesday when a Sarasota pedestrian suffered a terrible -- and quite possibly preventable -- death.

In seconds, the course of several lives -- that of the victim, the driver now charged with DUI-manslaughter, and those of their families -- changed in devastating ways.

As the Sarasota Police Department reported, a man on the U.S. 41 sidewalk (a block north of Bahia Vista Street) was struck by a southbound car that jumped the curb. A nearby officer arrested the driver, 66, noting that he didn't smell of alcohol but appeared to be "very out of it" and "impaired by some unknown substance."

"There was no sign of life of in the victim," who was 44.

Records indicate it was the city's first pedestrian fatality of 2014.

We hope it is the last.

Blood-test results were not available when this editorial was written. If convicted as charged, the driver could face a lengthy prison sentence because Florida law treats DUI-manslaughter quite seriously.

Whatever the legal outcome of the case, the crash is a tragic reminder of disturbing realities, both in driving and pedestrian safety in our area.

It is self-evident but bears repeating that anyone on the road has an obligation to stay sober and alert -- free of not just alcohol but also mind-slowing drugs, medicines, sleepiness or distractions.

Read the rest here:
Pedestrians at risk

I am co-chairman of the Tisbury planning board and a member of the municipal parking lot committee but this is a submission of my own. Any errors or misstatements are my responsibility.

I would like to support the proposed expansion of the Stop & Shop store on Water street, but there are a few outstanding issues that I think need to be resolved before the Marthas Vineyard Commission gives its approval. These focus on three broad categories: Plans for the building, plans for the municipal parking lot and traffic, transit and circulation.

Size of Building

Many have advocated for a smaller building, one that would fit more easily into the surrounding context. This is still an unresolved issue, repeated at every public hearing, for which there has been very little give on the part of Stop & Shop.

The primary issue of size, in my view, centers less on the square footage of the floor area (plus or minus 30,000 square feet) and more on the fact that the building is maxed out to the limits of the property in every dimension width, depth and height leaving little or no room to modify its shape or provide adequate space for safe pedestrian walkways and amenities such as trees, benches, cart corrals, signage, bike racks and other street furniture.

Relatively small changes to the frontages along Norton and Cromwell, which are now pushed to the limit, could make a big difference. For example, shortening the length of the building by just 10 feet (from 240 to 230 feet) would allow for a 10-foot widening of Cromwell Lane, a significant improvement creating a safer pedestrian way and space for landscaping. This would reduce the parking garage by no more than three cars and the overall square footage of the building by about 1,000 square feet. Since Cromwell Lane is the link to the Islands shared use path system, this would be an important Islandwide improvement that the MVC should require.

Building Design

Apart from the unresolved issue of building size, the latest design has been greatly improved. While still bulky, it now looks more like an ensemble of three or four individual structures rather than one continuous mass, and the detailing more closely matches the character of downtown Vineyard Haven. The Water street sidewalk has been widened, providing space for trees, landscaping and displays. A second-floor balcony enlivens the street and provides a view of the harbor.

Still, there is just a two-foot setback along Norton Lane adjacent to the parking lot, leaving little room for a wider sidewalk, foundation plantings or other amenities. The building dimensions 110 by 240 feet are closer to the size of a city block than an individual building lot. This is a scale more associated with a supermarket than a grocery store.

When the Island Plan called for the inclusion of a grocery store in a village center, it was a call for a smaller building and one less dependent on automobiles. While we all have cars and use them excessively, Vineyard Haven is a village with many residents living well within walking and biking distance of the Stop & Shop. But existing traffic congestion along Water street, exacerbated by the auto-centered character of the store, tends to drive bikes and pedestrians away. The commission needs to assure that the store provides a safe, pleasant, pedestrian access that encourages shoppers to walk and bike to the store, both for the improvement of the design of the building and as part of a strategy for reducing traffic and parking demand.

Read the original post:
Issues Need Resolving

Games that are worth your attention.

These days, keeping up with games can be a full-time job. So how do you separate the signal from the noise, the wheat from the chaff, the Temple Runs from the Temple Jumps? Allow us to help by regularly selecting a gameYou Should Play.

In a world where Flappy Bird is a frustrating success, the ethereal and surprisingly poignant Monument Valley is a breath of fresh, creative air. Designed by indie developer UsTwo, Monument Valley is described as an illusory adventure of impossible architecture and forgiveness, and its easy to see why. The game relies on puzzles of perception, stunning visuals, and a trance-like atmosphere to extract wonder and emotion from its players.

Part puzzler, part adventure, all sorts of awesome.

You guide Ida, the silent princess, as she wanders through an impossible, pastel-painted abandoned kingdom geometrically styled after the imaginations of the Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. At first, movement in the game is a simple tap on the part of the path you desire Ida to walk to. After a level or two, however, movement becomes increasingly complicatedthough not overwhelmingly soas your finger glides across the screen to rotate walkways, spin wheels, and manipulate perspective to create Escher-esque impossible constructions.

As Ida passes through the deserted halls and walkways of the landwhich I can only assume is called Monument Valleyshe encounters a handful of other living beings. A ghostly figure speaks to her in short, ambiguous sentences. The mysterious, aloof crow people stride purposefully along walkways and squawk at her as she approaches, acting as unmovable obstacles in her path. In later levels, a friendly, sentient totem helps her navigate difficult landscapes.

If that doesnt sound captivating enough, here are three other features that make Monument Valley worthy of a spot on your home screen:

Manipulate your pathway to navigate the impossible.

A matter of perspective: Monument Valley is a perception puzzle that feels refreshing and unique. The bulk of the game involves environment manipulation; as you maneuver the environment using wheels, levers, and sliding blocks to create viable paths for Ida, youre forced to also look at the stage as a whole to determine how different perspectives can alter in-game reality. In one level, rotating a path creates a Penrose tribar, which allows Ida to reach a higher plane as she strolls along the impossible route.

The puzzle aspect of Monument Valley is not only decidedly different, its challenging in a way that consistently feels stimulating rather than exasperating. Although the game offers few hints and clues along the way, its experimental nature ensures youll spend your short time with the title doingswiping, tapping, and moving Ida aroundinstead of growing frustrated and Googling game walkthroughs. Monument Valley is a short game, but its puzzles are inspired enough to woo even the most creative veteran puzzlers, while still being manageable for most casual players.

See the rest here:
You Should Play: Monument Valley

The end is in sight for the revitalization of Kelowna's main downtown street.

According to City Hall, the first layer of paving is underway on the final phase of the $14 million Bernard Avenue revitalization, which marks the completion of utilities and the commencement of streetscaping and landscaping work.

"Its your last chance to walk in the middle of the road when walkways temporarily shift from next to the buildings onto the middle of the newly paved road for the final time," says the city in a news release issued Friday.

The city is reminding residents businesses are open as usual and accessible with corridors from the centre of the road to each business entrance, minimizing disruption to pedestrians and business accesses, while allowing for the removal and reconstruction of the sidewalks.

The water main and storm systems are now complete and we are looking forward to the sidewalk construction and proceeding to the final steps of the project, said Bill Berry, design and construction services director.

New trees, benches and the installation of the last light standards will complete the consistent look of Bernard Avenue from the Sails to the Gateway at Richter Street.

The extensive improvements will see four lanes narrowed into two lanes and a centre turning lane, expanded outdoor retail and cafe space, wider sidewalks for pedestrians, street furniture, intersection plazas, landscaping and replacing of utilities.

Final paving, finishing work and permanent road markings of the previous phase between St. Paul Street and Ellis Street will occur this spring in conjunction with completion of the current phase between Ellis Street and Water Street, scheduled for June.

If you havent seen the construction downtown youve got to stop by, visit your favourite business and check out how things are constructed before its all done, said Berry. Its really an attraction in itself.

Meanwhile, the Downtown Kelowna Association is running its Great-Big-Bernard-Giveaway contest, with a $500 prize drawn every three weeks, during the construction. Visit Downtownkelowna.com for more details.

Link:
Kelowna's Bernard Avenue work closing on on completion

Since its 2007 acquisition as a state park, the 1880s landmark outdoor attraction Chimney Rock Park ( http://bit.ly/N0Yw5U) has been undergoing repairs and changes. After suffering a washed out road, a trail bridge destroyed by a land slide and an elevator that wouldnt elevate the big news for 2014 is everything has been fixed and fixed up. That includes trails where old boardwalks and steps are now updated walkways to awesome vistas.

Specialty hikes and walks ( http://bit.ly/1h6OwS5) scout out rare species, hike to the peak of the park and, in summertime, hike across the highest parts of the park.

With such great scenery, you dont have to be hiker. Start at the Old Rock Cafe and Medinas Bistro (both accessible to public parking) and stroll down the riverwalk, beside the Rocky Broad River, a nice natural walkway with a stone bridge, and access to shopping. Between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, stroll The Flowering Bridge, a classic old highway bridge now devoted to pedestrians and flower gardens ( http://www.lakelurefloweringbridge.org).

You cant visit Lake Lure and miss Chimney Rock Park, so why not eat at Old Rock Cafe ( http://bit.ly/1lOmlwS) at the park entrance overlooking the Rocky Broad River? The menu starts with burgers from local grass-fed beef and includes produce, local jams and more.

When expensive isnt the goal, but great food and a view are, La Strada at Lake Lure ( http://www.lastradaatlakelure.com) satisfies with tasty Italian fare and a lakeshore view and outdoor dining that revels in the areas A-plus scenery. Point of View Restaurant ( http://www.thepointofview.com), a longtime Lake Lure eatery is in new hands but still the place for upscale, casual dinners with a view, seven nights week.

The landmark Esmeralda Inn ( http://www.theesmeralda.com) has burned down twice during its more than 120-year history as a stagecoach stop, post office, and hideout for silent film stars. The newest (1996) version retains the historic atmosphere of old and one of Chimney Rocks best eateries, with three delicious meals a day and Sunday brunch (the restaurant is closed Wednesdays).

Theres no better way to appreciate the area around the lake than a ride with Lake Lure Tours ( http://www.lakelure.com/activities), a guided one-hour tour boat excursion with a dose of history and great views of film locations including the lakeshore scenes for Dirty Dancing. Randy Johnson

The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.

Have a news tip? You can send it to a local news editor; email local@charlotteobserver.com to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Charlotte Observer.

The Charlotte region is vast and diverse. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all. The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day, but we ask that you keep the discourse civil.

See more here:
Lake Lure / Chimney Rock