Summertime is silly season in world soccer. Clubs are moving and shaking, trying to improve their squads before seasons begin anew in August. And like every summer, there are a handful of players that seem destined to leave their current clubs. (Or, at least, are rumored to be destined to leave their current clubs.)

Without any club matches going on, the eyes of the soccer world turn toward these transfer sagas. Last year, it was Paul Pogba's move from Juventus to Manchester United that was the story of the summer. And in the years before that, the sagas of Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas, to name only a few, dominated the tabloids.

This year is no different, with some of the best players in the world rumored to be searching for greener pastures. These storylines will be long and drawn out -- and can drive you insane if you're a fan of team rumored to be buying or selling one of these players.

Here are the ones that will have our full attention.

Potential destination: Manchester United

The world's best player's potential move away from Real Madrid is the biggest transfer saga of the summer, but it also has the biggest potential to be a red herring. Ronaldo's camp leaked to reporters that he wants to leave Spain, which some have described as an "irreversible" decision based on a supposed feeling of persecution stemming allegations that he committed tax fraud in the ballpark of 15 million.

One reason Ronaldo's team went public with this may be to get the executives at Real Madrid -- who hold sway within the Spanish government -- to support him more fervently with regard to the allegations. Now that such support has come, any chances of Ronaldo leaving the European champs seems to have diminished. But whether or not Ronaldo is actually thinking about demanding a transfer doesn't matter anymore. This story will generate headline after headline over the next two months, regardless of the veracity of reports.

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Potential destinations: Arsenal, Real Madrid

Arsenal has needed a top striker since Robin van Persie left the club in 2012. Every summer since, there's been a big-name forward rumored to be headed for the Emirates, before Arsene Wenger's notoriously tight pockets have always put the kibosh on any move. This year, the rumored player is 18-year-old Monaco sensation Mbappe, perhaps the best young player on the planet.

Arsenal would have to explode their current record transfer f ee to pry Mbappe from Monaco, possibly exceeding 100 million. With some kind of moves needed to appease the fanbase after a disappointing season, it's possible the Gunners make one of the biggest transfers ever -- they've got the cash -- but it still seems far-fetched. Real Madrid s also rumored to be in for him, to either replace Ronaldo or Alvaro Morata. But as far as Arsenal and Mbappe goes, I'll file it under, "I'll believe it when I see it."

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Potential destinations: China, Atletico Madrid

Despite being a key cog in Chelsea's Premier League-winning side, Costa is not in the club's plans for next season. Antonio Conte reportedly let Costa know his fate with the Blues via a 27-word text message that ended with, "Good luck for next year but you are not in my plans." While some of the entries on this list may well end up staying with their current clubs, Costa doesn't seem to be among that group.

Costa will be in someone's plans, though. It's long been rumored that he could make a big money move to China like his former Chelsea teammate Oscar, while a move to the club that put him on the map, Atletico Madrid, is also on the table. I wouldn't rule out a handful of Premier League sides either.

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Potential destinations: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea

Sanchez's transfer saga has been on the mind of Arsenal fans for almost a year now. His contract with the Gunners ends after this season, and when the best players in the world get sold, it's typically when they have one season left on their deals. Arsenal didn't qualify for the Champions League either. With Sanchez being one of the most hyper-competitive players in the world, the lack of UCL soccer only adds to the possibility that the Chilean attacker wants to jump ship.

That leaves Arsenal with two choices: A) keep him on for next season and hope he eventually signs an extension, but risk losing him on a free transfer at this time next year, or B) sell him now and get something for him while they can. If the Gunners go for option B, some of the best clubs in the world will be lining up to sign Sanchez. Arsenal fans will just have to hope the highest bidder isn't a Premier League rival.

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Potential destinations: Manchester United, PSG, Real Madrid

At 18 years old, Donnarumma already has 68 appearances for AC Milan. It's no stretch to say he's the best young keeper in the world. He's already announced he won't extend his contract with Milan, and now some of the world's best clubs are circling for his services. His deal runs for one more year, so it's a good bet that Milan will go ahead and sell him and get as much as they possibly can.

Donnarumma's fate seems tied to the fate of another one of the world's best keepers, David De Gea of Manchester United. De Gea has been rumored as a target of Real Madrid's since last summer. If the Spaniard makes that move, United could swoop in for Donnarumma as his replacement. If De Gea stays put, Real Madrid could instead opt for Donnarumma. There's also the chance that Donnarumma stays this season or signs a short extension in hopes of replacing Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus once the legend finally retires.

Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian could return to Chelsea only a few years after the Blues sold him to Everton for 28 million. But will he want to return to a club that's already kicked him to the curb once?

Antione Greizmann. Top clubs have been knocking since he blew up last year at the World Cup. The two powers in Manchester seem the most likely destinations for the Frehcman.

Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutch defender's move from Southampton to Liverpool seemed imminent at one point. But the Saints are playing hardball after letting many of their best players depart for Anfield over the last few years, and the transfer now seems in doubt.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Top forwards are always in high demand, and a few of the world's richest clubs (Manchester City, PSG) seem to fancy signing the Dortmund attacker.

David De Gea. Read Madrid's move for De Gea a few years ago was scuttled when they failed to file the necessary paperwork in time. The European champs still want him, but United and Jose Mourinho may not be willing to let one of the world's best keepers go.

***

Cy Brown writes about soccer and other stuff for Sports on Earth. Follow him on Twitter@CEPBrown.

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Top 5 Transfer Sagas of the Summer - Sports On Earth

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EXCHANGE: Henry County round barn badly needs new roof The San Luis Obispo Tribune While the friends group tackles smaller barn projects, such as repairing metal flashing at dormer windows, the roof work is beyond their abilities or pocketbook. "We can handle window replacement," Mr. Christian said. "But at a $2 donation, we cannot ... and more »

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EXCHANGE: Henry County round barn badly needs new roof - The San Luis Obispo Tribune

Oklahoman Published: June 24, 2017 5:00 AM CDT Updated: June 24, 2017 5:00 AM CDT

The U.S. Postal Service, GH2 Architects LLC, and Ed A. Wilson Inc. earned a Citation of Merit for the exemplary window replacement project for the historic United States Post Office in Ponca City. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY GH2 Architects LLC]

Historic Preservation Office names Citations of Merit honorees

The Oklahoma Historical Society's State Historic Preservation Office presented its 2017 Citations of Merit recently during Preservation Future Tense: Oklahoma's 29th Annual Statewide Preservation Conference, Oklahoma City. Recipients in Oklahoma City and Tulsa were published last week. Recipients elsewhere were:

Altus

Museum of the Western Prairie; Preservation Oklahoma Inc.; Southern Prairie Library System; and Western Trail Historical Society for sponsorship of Tombstone Restoration Workshops and Presentations conducted by Tombstone Conservator Jonathan Appell.

Bartlesville

McCoy Building LLC and Keleher Architects for rehabilitation of the McCoy Building, in the Bartlesville Downtown Historic District.

Bartlesville 125 LLC, Lilly Architects, and Rosin Preservation LLC for rehabilitation of Sharp's Pawn Shop in the Bartlesville Downtown Historic District.

Durant

DH Housing Limited Partnership; Strategic Realty; The Hill firm; Big Five Community Services Inc.; and Mike Kertok, Architect, for rehabilitation of the Bryan Hotel in the Durant Downtown Historic District.

Enid

Cherokee Terrace LP and Rosin Preservation LLC for rehabilitation of Enid's historic Cherokee Terrace Apartments.

Main Street Enid, Inc.; the city of Enid; Visit Enid; Park Avenue Thrift; and Wymer Brownlee for sponsorship of Preservation is Golden: Oklahoma's 28th Annual Statewide Preservation Conference, held June 1-3, 2016, in Enid.

Fort Sill

Fort Sill for rehabilitation of the Fort Sill Artillery Bowl, a WPA-constructed stadium for formal ceremonies and entertainment and recreational events.

Foyle

David and Patsy Anderson, Margo Hoover and Erin Turner for the historic Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park preservation project.

Guymon

Dale Housing Partners, LP and Preservation and Design Studio for rehabilitation of downtown Guymon's historic Hotel Dale.

Muskogee

Jonita Mullins for publication of The Jefferson Highway in Oklahoma.

Muskogee Historic Preservation Commission and Okie Heritage for publication of Muskogee's Colorful History Coloring Book.

Muskogee Arts District Homes LP and Preservation and Design Studio for rehabilitation of Muskogee's Severs Block, in the Pre-Statehood Commercial District.

Noble

Richard Drass for his career of service in the study and protection of Oklahoma's archaeological heritage.

Norman

Robert Bartlett for his career of service in the study and preservation of Oklahoma's archaeological heritage.

Marjorie Duncan for her career of service in the study and protection of Oklahoma's archaeological heritage.

Okmulgee

Park on the Square LLC, Ron Drake Consulting and J Square Construction for rehabilitation of the Parkinson Trent and Company Building in the Okmulgee Downtown Historic District.

Ponca City

U.S. Postal Service, GH2 Architects LLC, and Ed A. Wilson Inc. for the exemplary window replacement project for the historic United States Post Office in Ponca City.

Sand Springs

City of Sand Springs, Sand Springs Historic and Cultural Museum, GH2 Architects LLC and VOY Construction for the exterior rehabilitation of the historic Page Memorial Library, now home of the Sand Springs Historic and Cultural Museum.

Shawnee

Historic Shawnee Alliance Inc. for leadership and public educational programming that contribute to the preservation of Shawnee's historic built environment.

Sulphur

Cheri Killam-Bomhard and Ken Ruhnke; Chickasaw National Recreation Area; and Spring 2016 Environmental Design Capstone Class, Environmental Design Program, University of Oklahoma College of Architecture for collaboration on the design of the historic Panther Falls Comfort Station and the Cold Springs Campground upgrade project in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

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The Oklahoman's Real Estate Notes for June 24, 2017: statewide historic preservation Citations of Merit - NewsOK.com

Enhancing the appeal of downtown Marietta is the goal of Build Up Marietta, a new facade improvement program from Marietta Main Street and the Marietta Community Foundation.

This program is due in part to the hard work of our Design Committee and their focus on beautifying downtown, Cristie Thomas, executive director of Marietta Main Street said in a recent news release.

Through the Build Up Marietta program business and property owners in Mariettas downtown C4 district can apply for a matching grant of up to $3,000 to upgrade the front facades of their buildings.

Those improvements may include exterior painting, brick maintenance, new or replacement awnings and signage, lighting, door and window repair, or other upgrades that increase property value.

We hope that Build Up Marietta opens the door to new partnerships with property owners and business owners, as well as new opportunities for property maintenance through quality design by helping offset some of the financial burden, Thomas added.

Support for the grant funding comes from the Marietta Community Foundation.

The submission date for the first round of 2017 grant applications is no later than July 1. A second round of grant applications this year must be submitted by Oct. 1.

Applications for grant-funded projects will be taken on a quarterly basis and all submissions will be reviewed by a group with working knowledge of construction, design, historic preservation, and community development, according to Thomas.

Build Up Marietta is reminiscent of a similar facade improvement program that was funded through the citys annual Community Development Block Grant. But the city has not offered that program for the last several years.

We used to do that every year during my first administration, said Mayor Joe Matthews. And we would present plaques thanking those who took advantage of the program. Im glad Marietta Main Street is going to do something now.

Andy Coleman, the citys development director, said the CDBG-funded facade program was successful for the first few years, but interest in the program began to wane.

Anytime you use federal (CDBG) dollars for a project, you had to pay the prevailing wage, which apparently made it too expensive for those who wanted to do a facade project, he said.

Coleman noted the project cost was covered 50 percent by the city and 50 percent by the property owner. But having to pay prevailing wage for the work, under the federal Davis-Bacon Act, proved to be too costly for property owners.

Because the Build Up Marietta program is being funded with Marietta Community Foundation dollars matched by the property owner, the federal prevailing wage stipulation is not expected to apply to those projects.

Coleman said CDBG monies once used to fund the citys facade program now support projects like Paint Marietta and the Emergency Repair Program, aimed at improving housing within the city and preventing blighted properties.

Projects that qualify for both of those programs are 100 percent funded out of the grant, he said.

About the

Build Up

program:

Owners may apply for a matching grant of up to $3,000 to improve the facades of their properties, including painting, brick maintenance, awnings, lighting, signage, door and window repair, or other facade projects.

Grant applications from business and property owners in Mariettas C4 downtown district must be filed no later than July1 to qualify for the next award cycle. Applications will also be taken no later than Oct. 1 for a second grant cycle this year.

For more information contact Cristie Thomas at info@mariettamainstreet.org, or call 740-885-8194. Or visit the Web site at mariettamainstreet.org/build-up-marietta

Source: Marietta Main Street

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'Build Up' and beautify the city - Marietta Times

The season of pansies is about over, but what a glorious one it turned out to be.

So, we can say both thanks and good-bye to pansies and their smaller cousins, the violas, and prepare to replace them with something great for the hot months ahead.

Since most people use pansies as edging for beds or in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets, this is not a huge, expensive job. But it is one you should get going on so that the plants get settled down and growing before the real heat clamps down on us in a few weeks.

The choices are amazingly varied, particularly among color, size and texture. There are also choices to be made governing the form of the plant, whether it is tallish and upright, wide and spreading or trailing. All three are useful, particularly for container gardens.

WHAT TO PLANT

This time of year offers a huge range of possibilities that allow gardeners to enjoy more variety and even experiment a bit. For example, a 12-inch pot that held eight or nine pansies can take on a completely different look with a mix of several different kinds of annual flowers. I find these combinations, such as petunias, trailing verbena, celosia or torenia, rich in color and texture and a delight to select and plant.

Before you choose, however, it is essential to know the environment. Spots, such as a flower bed or porch steps that get full sun through the winter and into April may turn quite shady once the trees are in full leaf. Without trees, this sunny spot may turn very hot for plants at midsummer.

Shady spots call for plants such as impatiens, begonias and torenia. Impatiens can grow quite large and should go solo in smaller baskets and containers. They can easily make a good edging for a flower bed and you would need fewer plants than you did with pansies because impatiens grow larger.

Begonias are another top choice for shady containers and edges because they bloom almost constantly, grow rather fast and cause no problems. For the shadiest spots, choose begonias with green foliage, for brighter, sunnier spots, the bronze-leaved ones perform better in partly sunny spots.

An edge of pansies in a hot, sunny spot can be readily replaced with scarlet sage, a wonderful summer flower. The bright red form is one of the best choices and makes a nice change, especially if the bed was filled with pastel colors through the winter.

When selecting annuals for mixed containers, take care to choose a variety of forms. This actually expands the space you have with vertical plants rising above the others and trailing plants that spill over the sides, creating a larger effect.

Q: The foliage on my daffodils is yellow now. Can I get rid of it and plant something else there?

A: The foliage should come up easily now. You can plant annuals over them, but great care must be taken to avoid hurting the resting bulb. Dont use a shovel to dig the soil. Just use a trowel and very gently to set out small plants that wont require deep digging. Even if the bulbs were set 7 or 8 inches deep, the top of the bulbs would be a few inches higher. A really safe choice would be a spreading annual such as lantana or verbena. They could add the color you want, and you would set the new plants just outside the area where the bulbs grow.

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Still got pansies? It's time to replace them with hot-weather flowers - Arizona Daily Sun

FAIRFIELD, Conn. PCB-containing paint has been discovered at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and the town plans a forum on the topic for July 11.

Those working on the window replacement project of the schools Building Committee discovered the paint, which has been encapsulated by years of repainting in the schools interior.

Environmental testing showed there are no air quality issues or health risks posed by the paint.

The Fairfield Ludlowe High School Building Committee, Fairfield Health Department, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency are working closely with the town and its environmental consultants to determine details of the abatement plan for these areas as part of the building committees work.

Work on the window replacement project is not affected by the encapsulated paint.

School and town officials know the community will have questions about the issue, so a forum will be held at 7 p.m., July 11, at the Board of Education board room, 501 Kings Highway East. Experts from the town Health Department and the projects environmental consulting firm will be on hand to offer details and answer questions.

To sign up for Daily Voice's email news alerts, click here and select your town.

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PCB Paint Found At Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Forum Planned ... - Fairfield Daily Voice

Patch.com

PCB-Containing Paint Found At Fairfield Ludlowe High School Patch.com FAIRFIELD, CT A public forum will take place July 11 after PCB-containing paint has been determined to exist at Fairfield Ludlowe High School during the school's Window Replacement Project. Officials say the paint has been encapsulated by years of ...

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PCB-Containing Paint Found At Fairfield Ludlowe High School - Patch.com

Old neon signs across the Tenderloin are flickering anew, thanks in part to a city program that's helping businesses refurbish building facades with support from property owners.

The SF Shines program has spent about $51,000 over the last five years restoring about 10 signs, leveraging an additional $40,000 in private funding from property owners, Gloria Chan, spokesperson for the Mayors Office of Economic and Workforce Development, told Hoodline.

SF Shines supports other projects associated with facade improvement, including ADA compliance, storefront window replacement and awning replacement, Chan said.

Qualifying businesses must have at least three years left on their lease and property owners must contribute at least some funding toward any neon improvement or restoration project, Chan said.

This ensures there is support and engagement from the property owners...and the owners are working closely with tenants," she said.

Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, a nonprofit focused on getting people housed and preventing displacement, helped the owners of the Verona, Fairfax, Kinney, Jefferson, Boyd, Elk and Hartland hotels submit SF Shines grant applications.

These matching fund programs are a very smart policy approach, especially for encouraging facade improvements, Shaw said. Owners are much more willing to put up money if the city is also investing in the project, he added.

And while Shaw supports SF Shines' overall goals, he said he's "much less interested in getting a new awning or a paint job as I am getting a neon sign lit up again." Neon brings back a bit of the Tenderloin's history, and also help light up the sidewalks, he added.

SF Shines is a very forward-thinking program, said Randall Ann Homan, co-author of San Francisco Neon: Survivors and Lost Icons.

Historically, cities have torn down old, busted neon signs, and here they are working to refurbish them, she said.

These signs are handmade, handprinted works of art, Homans partner and co-author Al Barna said. All of the tubes are formed by hand.

In addition to being artwork, neon signs do double-duty as a beacon for a gathering place, since they typically identify small, independent businesses, Barna added.

There is now a whole row of neon signs alight starting with the Hotel Verona at the corner of Eddy and Leavenworth, followed by hotels McKinney, Fairfax and Jefferson in a line eastward down Eddy.

That is very rare anywhere, let alone in San Francisco, Shaw said.

While a row of neon signs may be rare today, in the 1940 and 50s, San Franciscos streets used to be crowded with them, Homan said. This was especially the case in the Tenderloin and Civic Center area, which was leveled by the 1906 earthquake.

The neighborhood was basically all rebuilt at the same time, in the wake of theCity Beautifulmovement, Barna said. New buildings with exterior ornamentation and design motifs needed to be properly illuminated.

Store signs were initially alabaster and backlight with gas lighting or incandescent light bulbs. When neon came along, it was much more energy efficient and inexpensive, Homan said. They were the LEDs of their time.

But signs of yesteryear tended to burn out within five to seven years, and many business owners didnt want to spend money on repairs and maintenance, Barna said. Many signs have been demolished or left inoperable because they were too pricey to fix.

Nobody in the Tenderloin today is talking about demolishing their neon sign, Shaw said. Everyone recognizes the value of neon signs, its not even a risk that theyll be demolished. It is just a question of whether they will be restored.

There were some issues in the past of erratic performance by neon sign companies Shaw worked with, but lately he and the property owners have been working with Rago Neon out of Hayward.

Rago has displayed a very high level of professionalism, which makes a big difference, Shaw said.

Homan and Barna said there are several historic signs they'd still like to see refurbished, including the old martini glass at the Gangway (841 Larkin St.) and the towering Golden Gate Theater sign at 1 Taylor St.

If youre interested in learning more about the neon signs in your neighborhood, check out Homan and Barnas website,or sign up for one of their upcoming tours.

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City, Property Owners Restore Tenderloin's Neon Signs - Hoodline