August 6, 2014 Salem fountain project hits more snags New subcontractor chosen to do etching on concrete blocks

By Neil H. Dempsey Staff Writer The Salem News Wed Aug 06, 2014, 04:30 AM EDT

SALEM The effort to renovate the downtown fountain featured in Nathaniel Hawthornes short story A Rill From The Town Pump is turning into something of a tale itself.

We have had a few unexpected issues, said Lynn Duncan, director of the citys planning department. Its been a complicated project.

Work on the Town Pump Fountain was supposed to be done by July 4. But as anybody who has seen the fenced-off site at Essex and Washington streets lately can attest, that didnt happen. Now it looks like it will be completed in mid- to late August, Duncan said.

The $250,000 project was designed to significantly reduce the footprint of the fountains basin it was often targeted by pranksters who dump soap in to make bubbles and replace its steps with concrete blocks inscribed with text from Hawthornes short story.

Workers will also put in a new filtration system, clean up the bronze plaques and install underwater lights that will shine up through the falling water at night.

There have been problems nearly from the get-go. The first cropped up when the contractor, R. Bates and Sons, discovered that dismantling the concrete base would be more complicated than anticipated. The project was put on hold as the company worked with engineers to develop a plan to avoid disrupting sensitive electrical and plumbing infrastructure below ground.

The delay was unexpected, though not exactly a surprise; whether its a house or a fountain, Duncan said, contractors often dont know exactly what theyll find when rehabbing a site. Also, the contractor apparently was working without complete drawings of what lay beneath the fountain.

Workers also encountered problems with drainage and plumbing, Duncan said, but theyve since been resolved, and everybody involved is now focused on what appears to be the final issue: getting the concrete blocks correctly etched with text.

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Salem fountain project hits more snags

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The City of Rochester celebrated Wednesday the story of how a drinking fountain came to be exactly 25 years ago.

The Miss Jane Pittman drinking fountain sits outside the Sibley Building at the Liberty Pole.

In 1988, Midge Thomas needed a drink of water to take some medication, but found no free drinking water available in downtown Rochester. Thomas, the widow of the late Dr. Freddy Thomas, spearheaded a movement to get a public drinking fountain downtown.

"The symbol represents the time years ago when there were separate drinking fountains. We wanted this fountain to be more meaningful than just having a drink of water. It talks about the history of this country of America," said Thomas.

The fountain is named after the fictional character in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," a 1971 novel by Ernest Gaines about the life of a slave girl. The novel inspired a made-for-TV movie in 1974, where Pittman was played by actress Cicely Tyson.

Thomas said when the fountain was dedicated, Tyson was invited to attend the dedication, but asked for a $800,000 attendance fee. Ernest Gaines, author of the novel, appeared instead for free.

Wednesday was also proclaimed Midge Thomas Day in Rochester.

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25 Years Ago, A Drinking Fountain in Downtown Rochester Became a Movement

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A piece of Rochester history celebrates its 25th anniversary Wednesday.

In 1988, Midge Thomas, widow of the late Dr. Freddy Thomas, needed a drink of water to take some medication but found no free drinking water available in downtown Rochester.

Thomas spearheaded a movement to get a public drinking fountain downtown. Wednesday was the fountain's 25th anniversary of the Miss Jane Pittman drinking fountain outside the Sibley Building at the Liberty Pole.

The fountain is named after the fictional character in the 1971 novel by Ernest Gaines.

"The symbol represents the time years ago when there were separate drinking fountains. We wanted this fountain to be more meaningful than just having a drink of water. It talks about the history of this country of America," said Thomas.

To commemorate the anniversary of the Miss Jane Pittman Fountain, Mayor Lovely Warren proclaimed this Midge Thomas Day in Rochester honoring her efforts to make this community fountain a reality.

Mrs. Thomas said back in 1989 when the fountain was dedicated, Cicely Tyson, the actress who portrayed Miss Jane Pittman in the TV dramatization in 1974, was invited to attend the dedication. However, Tyson wanted an $800,000 attendance fee. Ernest Gaines, author of the novel, appeared instead for free.

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Miss Jane Pittman Drinking Fountain's 25th Anniversary

The situation is getting dire and California needs everyone on board

By Marianne, Taylor

Is there anyone in California that doesnt know were in a drought? Has the media told you over and over that the drought police are coming? Its looking pretty serious with the water warnings. As of July 15, 2014, new state rules were passed cracking down on water waste.

Weve been informed that residents, businesses and public entities will face daily fines up to $500. The infractions include: washing driveways and sidewalks; watering ornamental landscaping or turf with potable water that causes runoff; using a hose to wash a motor vehicle, unless the hose is outfitted with a nozzle; and using potable water in a fountain, unless the water is recirculated.

Im not sure who the drought police are but I do know that I do not want to wait to have an infraction if I can make simple changes in my daily life in and around my home.

Do your part. Starting today, use less water.

Time your showers to two minutesthe Navy way, get wet, soap up, wash off. While youre at it, add a bucket in your shower and collect water to use on your plants.

Even without a turf lawn, you can put together a beautiful, water-wise yard using native plants, perennial grasses and ground cover. Photo by Marianne Taylor

Calculate how much landscape water youre actually using. Recently, I saw my husband staring at his watch while he was filling a five gallon bucket full of water. I asked him, What are you doing? Washing your car? No, he said, Im figuring out how much water we use hand watering our plants. Turns out, it costs us about $3 to water for 30 minutes. Knowing this information is essential to getting in control of our water bills and water use.

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Dirt Therapy: When it Comes to Saving Water, Just Think About it

CHICO >> New statewide rules are on the way to curb the easiest-to-change water-wasting habits. However, local water agencies aren't hiring water cops to hand out $500 fines.

What the new rules have done is call people's attention to the seriousness of the drought and provided a clear list of really bad water use behavior.

Last week the State Water Resources Control Board voted for statewide emergency drought regulations including:

Don't allow water to run down your walkway, down the street or onto structures.

If you wash your car, use a shut-off nozzle so the hose doesn't run while you're scrubbing.

Don't use a hose to wash off driveways and sidewalks.

If you have a fountain, make sure it has a system for the water to recirculate.

Also, cities or water companies need to have a plan with triggers in place that include water restrictions.

Local water agencies reached said they have these in place.

The main point of the four rules is to avoid what "no one should be doing," said Paul Gosselin, manager of Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation.

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New rules for water waste, but $500 fines unlikely here

From whiskers and night vision to paws with retractable claws house, cats and lions have a lot in common, including the tendency to become dehydrated.

Their sandpaper tongues are great for grooming but are not meant to lap up water. A feline body is meant to extract its hydration from its food.

Just as house cats are fed commercial foods and need another source of water, captive lions also need extra water.

"We basically check their water all the time, because they hydration is super important. We make sure they always have water, clean water, fresh water so we monitor it constantly because that is a big thing with them. They definitely need to have their water," said Jeff Taylor, owner and operator of The Wild Animal Park in Chittenango, N.Y.

Through computer simulation and watching slow motion video of cats drinking, researchers at MIT discovered that big cats and house cats just use the tip of their tongue to drink by bending the tip under to draw water in while lapping up the liquid. House cats lap four times per second, while lions lap just twice per second.

To help your cats get more water, try mixing soft food with hard food. Give them a cat fountain and try placing bowls at different heights.

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Cats of All Sizes Need Help to Stay Hydrated

California is facing "perhaps the worst drought that [it] has ever seen since records (began) about 100 years ago," announced Governor Jerry Brown in a recent press conference after declaring a drought emergency for the state. Here are four easy ways to minimize your water usage until the rains come again.

Reducing your water usage around the house without significantly impacting your daily routine is easy. The simplest means is to find and fix any leaky faucets, toilets, or shower-heads you might have. Toilets alone can waste up to 200 gallons a day if left running.

To check, got out to your water meter and note the reading. Then turn off all your faucets and don't use any water for two hours. If the reading on the meter has changed at all during that two-hour period, you've got a leak somewhere.

Similarly, you should look into replacing your old 6 gpf toilet with one of the low-flow variety. Same goes for water-conserving shower-heads, faucets, and hot water heaters. California law already dictates that these fixtures be installed in all new construction (and all new remodels), but that only went into effect a few weeks ago.

That's not to say that spending hundreds on new bathroom fixtures is the only solution. There are plenty of things you can do to save water that won't cost a dime. It's all about efficiency:

Just because there's a drought on doesn't mean you'll have to sacrifice your lawn and garden. You'll just need to get creative in how you care for it.

One of the easiest mistakes to make during a drought is to keep watering like you've always done. Don't do that. Install moisture sensors like the Koubachi, or set up an automated system rather than sticking with the existing regimen.

It's also not just how much but also how you water. Trees and shrubs with deeper root systems need longer but less frequent watering, using a bubbler or soaker hose than the sprayers you use for shallow-rooted annuals. Either way, make sure you only water your plants in the cooler early morning hours in order to minimize evaporative water loss.

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How to Save Water (And Not Get Fined) In This Drought

Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 11:29 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 11:29 p.m.

VENICE - If a few more city boards say OK, people living in Venetian Woods will be able to watch a nightly light show.

Venice Area Beautification Inc. wants to install a fountain in a pond at Ruscelletto Park at the senior apartment community off U.S. 41 Bypass and Venice Avenue.

The plans are for the fountain to be colorfully lit for several hours each night.

Because it is a permanent installation in a city-owned park, the group needs approvals from the Public Art and Parks and Recreation advisory boards.

VABI President Judith Keeler said the project has the approval of the Venice Housing Authority and Venetian Walk residents.

The residents are thrilled with it and want another in front, Keeler said.

In addition to the visual appeal, Keeler said, the fountain will help aerate the water and prevent algal blooms.

Public Works Director John Veneziano said no other city-owned ponds have fountains for aeration.

VABI will pay to install the fountain and bring power to the site; the city will pick up the utility bill and equipment maintenance.

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Proposal in Venice to add splash of color

In Bellevue, there's a new addition to American Heroes Park.

KETV NewWatch 7 was there Wednesday morning as the city showed off a new fountain. It's the latest project at the 70-acre park, complete with special lighting at night.

Mayor Rita Sanders said it's important to showcase the special area.

"It is an entrance to the city of Bellevue and to actually Nebraska. This is where Nebraska begins," she said. "And so now we have what used to be a water treatment facility here on this site, and now we have a lake with a fountain for all the citizens to use."

The fountain and its maintenance are being paid for by the Bellevue Community Foundation.

More projects are planned for the park later this year.

Sanders said work to install a fishing dock and 300-seat amphitheatre will likely begin this fall.

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Officials show off new fountain in Bellevue park

The Naperville Park Board has approved a gift agreement ordinance with the Naperville Noon Lions Club Foundation to donate $35,000 to the Park District over the next three years.

The funds will be used to install interpretive signs at Knoch Knolls Park as part of the improvements for the new Nature Center set to open this fall. The wew signs will comply with ADA requirements.

Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said this was the second donation the Park District has received from the club.

Last year, we received a commitment for funding up to $10,000 for a drinking fountain here at the Knoch Knolls facility, and we appreciate the generosity of the club, McGury said.

President of the Lions Club Jim Ebers said the gift meets the mission of the group in two ways.

We like to be active in the community, and secondly, our mission primarily has to do with sight and hearing and this helps in that regard, Ebers said. We had discussions with the Park District after the water fountain project and we thought providing this signage was a good fit.

The drinking fountain became part of a Knoch Knolls Park improvement project that began in late July of last year that included ball field renovations and a new multi-use trail.

Park District Director of Planning Eric Shutes said the Park District will fund the project at $5,000 per sign and will be paid back by the Lions Club in increments over the next three years.

This is a good example of the partnership we have with the Lions Club and ourselves, Shutes said. We have competitively bid for these seven signs which will be installed this fall. The Lions Club will pay us in installments over three years including $10,000 this year, $15,000 in 2015, and another $10,000 the year after.

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Lions Club to help pay for signs at Knoch Knolls Park