Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

Wearing an old-timey outfit of suspenders, tan pants and an old felt hat, Gary Pettus told a group of teenagers about being an American pioneer in the 1800s.

One night it got so cold, Mr. Pettus said, according to a friend, Don Cole, that the tent froze to my hair. The trail boss came by and jerked the tent up to tell us it was time to get up.

He removed his felt hat. Look! he cried. Mr. Pettus was bald.

Just as he threw himself into disaster relief work and building his plumbing business, Mr. Pettus relished leading pioneer treks camping trips designed to teach young members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the flight of early Mormons from persecution.

When he wasnt dressing up, Mr. Pettus was happy to lug portable toilets from one campsite to another. If there were no roads, he and Mr. Cole built makeshift toilets themselves, using tarps and poles and post hole diggers.

Mr. Pettus died on Sept. 5 after spending six weeks on a ventilator in North Alabama Medical Center in Florence, Ala. He was 70. The cause was Covid-19, his wife, Cheryl Pettus, said.

Gary Wayne Pettus was born on Jan. 20, 1950, in Florence and grew up in a rural area nearby. His father, Wiley Edward Pettus, worked as a hog and chicken farmer and sold sweet potato cuttings. His mother, Reba Gladys (Killen) Pettus, pitched in with farm work. She took her seven sons into the cotton fields, left early to prepare lunch, and then went back to work with her boys.

Mr. Pettus graduated from Rogers High School in Florence in 1968 and married Vicki Poss. In the late 1970s, missionaries knocked on their door and gave Mr. Pettus the Book of Mormon. He found time to read it during breaks at his maintenance job at a Ford Motor Company plant in Sheffield, Ala. Within months, Mr. Pettus converted.

The Ford plant closed in 1983. Mr. Pettus created his own business, Pettus Plumbing and Piping. His home and pickup truck were his office, and he regularly got up to work at 4 a.m.

Mr. Pettus and Vicki Pettus had six children; Ms. Pettus died in 1997 of kidney disease. A year later, Mr. Pettus married Cheryl Rooks.

In addition to her, Mr. Pettus is survived by two brothers, Jimmie Daniel Pettus and Tommy Dale Pettus Sr.; three daughters, Amber Walker, Amy Elliott and Johanna Brown; three sons, Noble Pettus, Marion Pettus and Joshua Pettus; 18 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Pettus in 2003 sold his company, which had grown to employ more than 100 people and gained major corporate clients, such as Walmart.

In semiretirement, Mr. Pettus found more time for church activities. It is hard to keep track of the many duties he performed: senior missionary, president at three levels of the local churchs hierarchy, bishop, high councilor, president of Sunday school.

Hes done about every job in the church except the sisters jobs, Ms. Pettus said.

The full range of Mr. Pettuss skills were called upon when he volunteered as a disaster relief worker. He outfitted his pickup truck with an arsenal of equipment, including extra gasoline for his chain saw, a generator to recharge his power tools and a tractor with a front end loader.

Several years ago, when a nearby area was hit by tornadoes, the Pettuses were on the road the next day, even though Mr. Pettus had recently suffered a heart attack. They arrived at a church members home that had been severed by a fallen tree.

Ms. Pettus was concerned about her husbands health, but she got lost for a moment in conversation with fellow church members. She looked up, and there was Mr. Pettus, on top of the tree with his chain saw, looking for the best place to make an incision.

He loved it, she said, because he could use his knowledge, his skills and his equipment to bless the lives of people.

See more here:
Gary Pettus Dies at 70; Used Skills To Bless the Lives of People - The New York Times

In the upcoming election, the Highland County Health Department is seeking to maintain its funding with the renewal of a local health levy, Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner told The Times-Gazette.

Were looking to renew again this year. Its just to keep it at level funding; its not an increase to anyones taxes, Warner said. Were just trying to maintain funding so we can continue supporting all the different programs that we have here in the county.

If renewed, the levys tax rate will continue at $0.05 for each $100 of land valuation for the next five years, according to information provided by the Highland County Board of Elections. The tax will commence in 2020 and first become due in 2021.

Warner acknowledged that Highland County voters passed a separate health levy during the November 2019 election. He said that levy replaced a levy from 1989, bringing the old levy to modern-day funding levels.

The Highland County community passed the levy that appears on the current ballot in 2000, Warner said, and has renewed the levy every five years since.

The ceiling was set for how much it could earn from the beginning, and its never earned more than it did in 2000, Warner said.

The health department counts on levies like the one on the 2020 ballot to provide its services. Health levies make up 50 percent of the health departments funding.

So much of what we do is unfunded. Half the work we do is funded by local levies and in the midst of a global pandemic is not that time to take away one of those levies, Warner said. When infectious diseases are identified, we contact people who are sick, we talk to them about what symptoms to expect, we connect them with treatment when we need to, we tell them how to prevent spreading that disease to others. Theres no reimbursement for that work. Thats why we rely on funding from tax levies to support that effort.

In a normal year, Warner said the health department provides 60 different health department services for the community.

In 2019, the Highland County Health Department performed 4,337 immunizations, completed over 600 food inspections, processed 3,174 birth and death records, and tracked 514 infectious diseases, Warner said.

The nursing and environmental health departments also answered around 10,000 phone calls.

A lot of those phone calls were the same people, but that represents a quarter of our population that has some interaction with the health department each year, Warner said. Traditionally Highland County is in the bottom quarter of funded health departments in the state. Theres plenty of room for improvement in the health factors and measures that we use to determine if a community is healthy or not. Thats why were here; thats what were trying to do. Thats what this levy funding helps us support.

Warner acknowledged that many community members are frustrated with state officials due to the COVID-19 response but stressed the value of funding local health departments.

The CDC and the national news media and the Ohio Department of Health have the biggest voices, but we are the ones doing the real work were doing essentially all of the work locally, but we have the smallest voices, Warner said. Weve really worked hard to find common-sense ways to protect this community from Covid. Thats one of the benefits in having a local health department thats involved and invested in the community: We understand one size doesnt fit all, and as a local health department, were in the position to make some common-sense decisions and interpret some of these orders from the state in ways that make sense for Highland County. We look for ways to protect our community and work as a partner with the community. Were not out there shutting things down and yelling at people; were really trying to work beside people and find safe ways to do things.

If the levy is not renewed, Warner said the health department will be forced to stop offering some of its programs and increase its prices for remaining services.

There are a few things that were currently having trouble keeping up with, and wed have to do away with those programs, even though a couple of them are mandated by the state, Warner said. One of them is the trash and sewer nuisance program. Its completely unfunded. We dont get any revenue from dealing with these trash complaints and sewage failures. We just will not be able to do that work if we dont get that funding.

It really turns the health department towards only doing jobs and only working on programs that generate funding for us because were trying to make payroll and pay people to do the work that we need to do as a health department. None of this is meant to be held over someones head like, Were going to charge you more if you dont pass this its just the reality. I have to make payroll. If we dont have funds, thats not going to happen.

Fees for items like food licenses and septic and water installation permits could also increase.

A lack of funding would also affect some of the health departments free health care clinics and screenings for those without insurance or access to health care, which ultimately save taxpayers money.

People get frustrated with us because we occasionally have these free programs to offer to the community, Warner said. If we spend a little bit of the health departments money in, say, identifying breast cancer in a woman in our community and we find that early, we save tens of thousands of dollars that would have been spent when this person shows up at the emergency room at the hospital with advanced breast cancer and has to go through all the treatment using Medicare, using Medicaid. A little bit of an investment in preventative health care saves our entire community and our entire tax system a lot of money down the road.

Reach McKenzie Caldwell at 937-402-2570.

In a scene from a past interview, Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner explains local public health issues.

Health commissioner: Its not an increase to anyones taxes

See the article here:
Highland Co. Health Department seeking to maintain funding - Hillsboro Times Gazette

October 09, 2020

LUMBERTON Domestic violence survivors are doing their part to help others this month, as crisis calls have increased because of isolation brought on by COVID-19.

The Robeson County Sheriffs Office responded to 2,732 domestic violence calls in the county between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30. Those numbers do not include calls to city police. There are 1,588 domestic violence protective orders pending in the county.

Seven people have died in Robeson County this year because of matters related to domestic violence, said Emily Locklear, executive director of Southeastern Family Violence Center.

Quarterly reports from the Rape Crisis Center of Robeson County also show a 63.9% increase in rape and/or sexual assaults in the county when compared to the same time period in 2019, according to Virginia Locklear, the Crisis Centers executive director. Those numbers include children under the age of 18.

But there are agencies working to address the increased need brought on by COVID-19.

My whole goal with Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) is to let individuals in our community know that we are here, Emily Locklear said.

I just want people to know that domestic violence is present in our community and that there is help for any individual, she added.

Emily Locklear is a survivor of domestic violence herself, and she often shares her story and strength with others at the center.

The executive director recalls enduring dating violence at the age of 18, when her then boyfriend tried to run her over with his vehicle, while she was pregnant with his child. He convinced her not to continue taking college courses, a decision she would regret and remedy later at a community college.

It altered my life, Emily Locklear said.

But she shares a common history with the rest of the staff, all of whom have been affected by domestic violence in some way, including a worker who started working Wednesday at the center.

The worker, who chose to remain anonymous, recalls six months spent at the centers shelter when she was about 10 years old. She and her younger brother formed bonds with center workers as her mother attended counseling and planned her escape from a husband who used mental and verbal tactics to control and abuse her.

The worker does not recall being abused by her father, but remembers the shouting behind closed doors and the escape from the man behind the heated words.

Now that Im older, I just aspire to be a change, she said.

Although she is new at the center, she hopes to share her story with people who need to hear it most, and to offer advice.

Your situation doesnt define your story, she said.

The worker encourages other victims to reach out for resources and to seek help if needed.

The center offers a 22-bed shelter at an undisclosed location, and programs to help victims plan their way out of abusive situations and to secure housing away from abusers. It also helps with obtaining domestic violence protective orders and hosts a domestic violence support group. A confidential 24-hour crisis hotline also is available at 910-739-8622 or 1-800-742-7794.

Also among about 20 staff members is a Latino advocate and three other Spanish-speaking staff members who work across language barriers to provide accessibility and support for victims.

The SFVC is working to share videos, photos and stories of survivors on its Facebook page during the pandemic, which has restricted its usual methods of raising community awareness of the issue. The center will host its annual candlelight vigil on Thursday via Facebook to honor the memory of people who have died as a result of domestic violence. Anyone interested in sharing photos of loved ones during the ceremony should call the center by Tuesday at 910-739-8622.

About one in four women and nearly one in 10 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported some form of IPV-related (intimate partner violence) impact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, verbal, financial and sexual, among others.

Victims are encouraged to contact the Rape Crisis Center of SFVC for help, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sexual assaults have not stopped during the pandemic nor did they stop during the stay-at-home orders. If anything the experience is compounded by the COVID 19 restrictions and isolation, said Virginia Locklear, of the Rape Crisis Center.

If you decide to stay, call our crisis line to devise a safety plan, said Emily Locklear, of SFVC.

When survivors choose to leave, the abuser feels as if his or her power is threatened, which can lead to retaliation, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

As a result, leaving is often the most dangerous period of time for survivors of abuse, the Hotlines website reads in part.

In 2019, SFVC served 1,383 individuals and received 1,151 crisis calls. Ninety-five adults and 84 children used the shelter to escape abuse that year.

Leaving an abusive relationship may be hard to do but its the right thing to do. There is no shame in reporting domestic violence and asking for help. As seen by the numbers in Robeson County, we have an issue, and no one is immune from the threat of domestic violence, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said.

Simply asking for help is the first step in taking charge of your life, Wilkins added.

To find more resources on domestic violence visit http://www.hotline.org. All services provided by SFVC and the Rape Crisis Center are free and confidential. The Crisis Center can be reached by phone at 910-739-6278.

Originally posted here:
Pet of the week - The Robesonian

Indianapolis is home to huge galleries and off-beat spots that show major artworks and hidden music gems. Here are five you need to visit. Wochit

Indianapolis will soon feel what it's like to walk inside and even listen to and smell paintings in a new experience that takes up a space almost equal to half a football field.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields announced Wednesday that it will open The Lume Indianapolis, a cinema-likeinstallation that will comprise its entire fourth floor, or around 30,000 square feet.

Thanks to about 150 high-definition projectors, paintings by Vincent van Gogh will pour over the galleries' walls, floors and every crack in between. Almost 3,000 images pulled from his work will be choreographed to a dramatic classical music score and even time-released aromas.

This is a rendering of The Lume Indianapolis, which will be built by Grande Experiences.(Photo: Photo provided/Courtesy of Grande Experiences)

The Lume will be exhibition companyGrande Experiences' first permanent, immersive, multisensory digital art gallery in a U.S. fine art museum and the biggest continuous exhibition space in the 137-year history of Newfields. A bar and cafe, which will serve cocktails and food that correspond to van Gogh, will be added as well.

The Lume is scheduled to open in June a key month for tourism. Visit Indy foresees summer 2021 as a time when people will look for safe entertainment options after a winter hunkering down to avoid the coronavirus. The tourism bureau is making plans to market it accordingly.

Longer term, the installation is a way to continue inviting new people to the campus, a strategy that Newfields has shown with itspopular Harvest and Winterlights festivals. It's a goal that Grande Experiences, The Lume's creator, shares.

"The thing I always try to remember is that over 76% of Americans do not go to art museums," Newfields CEO Charles Venable said, citing statistics from the National Endowment for the Arts. "We've been looking for ways that we think will attract part of that 76%. We really believe The Lume is going to help us dismantle barriers where a lot of people, they don't think they know very much about art and find museums off-putting."

The first year of The Lume will be dedicated to van Gogh, who's known for ultra-famous works such as"The Starry Night." After that, the installation will offer a multitude of possibilities.

The point of The Lume is to create "an epic visual story," Craig Hartenstine, Grande's chief operating officer, wrote in an email to IndyStar.

It tells the story by beaming high-quality images of artwork and details like the intricacies of van Gogh's brush strokes that can be difficult to detectwhenviewing the originals.Rounding out the visuals are archival footage and images sourced from the time when and place where an artist was working.

This is a rendering of The Lume Indianapolis, which will launch in June 2021 at Newfields.(Photo: Photo provided/Courtesy of Grande Experiences)

"It's like placing a masterpiece under the microscope while walking through it all at the same time!" Hartenstine wrote.

Some details of the artworks are animated as well. For example, a video on Grande's website shows the famous "Wheatfield with Crows," but instead of being stationary, the crows take flight above van Gogh's golden brush strokes.

"Van Gogh probably watched the crows flutter off while he was painting the static painting, of course,"Venable said."We might love the painting, but being able to walk into his mind, walk into what he was seeing vis-a-vis the great pictures he was able to paint. ... I found that extremely compelling."

Layered in with the visuals are gentle scents. Hartenstine said a system has been engineered to synchronize aromas like citrus for a van Gogh still life with the movement of images and the score. For van Gogh, a classicalsoundtrackthat captures the emotional upheaval of his life is shaped to the show. It includes works byAntonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Schubert.

Visitors can move through The Lume at their leisure. The structure includes a 45-minute main feature, three five-minute features, an area to learn more detailed information about the subject and educational opportunities. The entire experience lasts about 90 minutes.

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Visits to a Grande installation in Rome and to the immersive Atelier des Lumiresdigital exhibition in Paris helped Venable see what could be possible in the Circle City. He and a team spent about five years researching projects in Asia, Australia and Europe, and the CEO said they chose Grande because of its technical prowess and the way it choreographsart. Newfields worked with the Lilly Endowment on the projectas well. Thelatter contributedan almost $7 million grant, which it approvedin November 2019, according to the museum.

This is a rendering of The Lume Indianapolis, which will be the largest continuous exhibit space in Newfields' history.(Photo: Photo provided/Courtesy of Grande Experiences)

Hartenstine said Grandewanted to work with Newfields because the institutions sharea vision. The museum has received extensive coverage in the national media for its rebranding and expansion of experiencesthat emphasize its outdoor campus. Thegoal has been to engage a broader spectrum of people and increase its financial stability.

"Once we had the chance to understand (Venable's) deeper vision for Newfields, we knew it was the ideal place to launch THE LUME in North America," Hartenstine wrote.

Since its 2006 founding, Grande, which is based in Melbourne, Australia,has had more than 190 experiences in 32 languages that have lived in more than 145 cities. An installation that centers onClaude Monet and the Impressionists, for example, submerges viewers in the bohemian flavors of 19th-century Paris. Other subjects include nature and science.

The company will launch TheLume Melbourne, a permanent experiential gallery, in the second quarter of 2021, shortlybefore Newfields. Venable said Indianapolis' version will be the mothership of permanent immersive digital experiences for the U.S.

Those behind the project see it as a destination for people within driving distance and they hope even farther.

When Visit Indy's Chris Gahlbecame involved with The Lume about two years ago, he knew an experience of this size would be another magnet for travelers. Visitors already reportspending multiple days at Newfields.

Now, given the shock of 2020,The Lume will have an even larger role for the city's tourism industry.

"COVID has caused this screeching halt to tourism nationwide, you could argue, globally. What makes this exhibition so special is that it will beunquestionably part of our recovery strategy to get visitors to Indianapolis and bounce back from the pandemic," said Gahl, the tourism bureau's senior vice president of marketing andcommunications.

He said the June launch alignsperfectly with Visit Indy's projections for late spring and early summer. The organization anticipates pent-up demand from those who sheltered in place and who have restless kids fresh off another school year. Venable said driving vacations and day trips could tick up in 2021 because people still might not feel comfortable on planes.

This is a rendering of The Lume Indianapolis, which will debut at Newfields.(Photo: Photo provided/Courtesy of Grande Experiences)

While coronavirus vaccine predictions vary, top health officials and scientistshave said that the U.S. could have widespread vaccine doses by the middle of next year, which are expected to usher the beginning of a transition back to normalcy.

Regardless, the Lume capitalizes on museums' major asset during the pandemic wide-open spaces that allow people the freedom to move.Looking further into the future, Gahl sees the installation as a way to continue to diversify Indianapolis' reputation.

"Someone in New York receiving advertising and marketing about Lume in Indianapolis will take a second look. They'll say, 'Indy has this caliber of exhibit; let's make a trip,' " Gahl said. "Whereas that same consumer, pre-this exhibit, might not give us that look. This might be the distinguishing tipping point that will get someone from L.A. or New York to come visit Indy, experience our product,walk our city and then ultimately come back."

Installing The Lume on the fourth floor will set more changes in motion. The fourth floor has most recently housed contemporary art. Some of those pieces will be integrated elsewhere in the building as interventions that will bring out new dialogues when they're placed next to older works.And in the future, the museum is creating a10,000 square-foot space where the Edward Hopper show is now, whichwill be devoted to contemporary works, Venable said.

This is a rendering of The Lume Indianapolis, which will first highlight paintings of Vincent van Gogh.(Photo: Photo provided/Courtesy of Grande Experiences)

The Lume will offer the opportunity to highlight some of the museum's own collection as well. Its "Landscape at Saint-Rmy," by van Gogh, will be a key piece visitors can examine before or after they enter the digital installation.

The multisensory experience of van Gogh will be just the first part of the technology's capabilities. Not only can the museum bring in more traditional artwork, it also can commission contemporary artists.

"That is the future, to see, 'How do we bring in artists as many artists sort of leave the canvas and they go into technology?' " Venable said.

Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/arts/2020/10/07/newfields-house-lume-permanent-art-installation-indianapolis/3534933001/

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1st-in-the-U.S. show at Newfields will let you experience a painting with all your senses - IndyStar

TipRanks

If the stock markets ups and downs this year have taught us any enduring lesson, its a repeat of an old stand-by: the importance of setting up a steady income stream, to keep the portfolio profitable no matter how the individual shares move. Dividends are a key part of any investment income strategy, giving investors a reliable income when its needed most.All dividends are not created equal, however. Investors should seek out companies with one of two advantage or preferably both: a commitment to maintaining the dividend, and a high yield. The second is not hard to find, considering the Federal Reserves policy of keeping interest rates near zero, while the first attribute may take some research.With all of that in mind, weve opened up the Stock Screener tool from TipRanks, a company that tracks and measures the performance of analysts, to find stocks with high dividend yields. Setting the screener filters to show stocks with "strong buy" consensus rating and a high dividend yields exceeding 9% gave us a manageable list of stocks. Weve picked three to focus on.New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC)The first stock on the list is New Mountain Finance, in the business development niche. New Mountain invests in debt securities, including first and second lien notes and mezzanine securities. The Company's portfolio includes public and private equity and credit funds with a total worth well north of $28 billion.The company reported 30 cents per share in net investment income for the second quarter, down 4 cents sequentially. At the top line, revenues came in at $76 million, a healthy turnaround from the first quarter revenue loss of $174 million. As far as the data can show, New Mountain has turned around from the coronavirus losses incurred early in the year.New Mountain kept its dividend payment stable in the second quarter, at 30 cents per common share. At the current level, the $1.20 annualized payout gives a high yield of 11.5%.Wells Fargo analyst Finian OShea is comfortable with NMFCs dividend policy, writing, Having reduced its $0.34 dividend to $0.30 last quarter, coverage appears solid after the BDC has sustained its impact from nonaccruals, de-leveraging and LIBOROShea believes NMFC shares have room to rise, noting: "NMFC trades at 0.82x, about in-line with the WFBDC Index despite its history of top-quartile returns, improved leverage profile and portfolio level performance so far through todays recessionary environment."To this end, OShea rates NMFC an Overweight (i.e. Buy), and his $11.25 price target suggests it has a nearly 14% upside potential for the coming year. (To watch OSheas track record, click here)Overall, the Wall Street consensus on NMFC is a Strong Buy, based on 4 reviews including 3 Buys and 1 Hold. The shares are selling for $9.88, and the average price target of $10.92 implies a one-year upside of 11% for the stock. (See NMFC stock analysis on TipRanks)Plains GP Holdings (PAGP)Next on our list, Plains GP, is a holding company in the oil and gas midstream sector. Plains assets move oil and gas products from the well heads to the storage facilities, refineries, and transport hubs. The companys operations move more than 6 million barrels of oil equivalent daily, in a network extending to the Texas oil patch and the Gulf Coast. Plains also has assets in California and the Appalachian natural gas fields.The crisis in the first half of this year put heavy pressure on Plains revenue and earnings. By Q2, revenue was down by two-thirds, to $3.2 billion, and EPS had fallen to just 9 cents. As part of its response, Plains slashed its dividend by half from 36 cents per common share to 18 cents. The cut was made to keep the dividend within the distributable cash flow, affordable for the company and kept up for shareholders. Looking at numbers, PAGP's dividend payment offers investors a yield of 11.7%, almost 6x higher than the average yield among S&P 500-listed companies.Tristan Richardson, covering the stock for Truist, sees Plains in a good spot at present. Noting the difficulties faced earlier in the year, he writes, Despite cautious notes on recovery and general industry commentary that reflects the tepid growth environment, Plains remains among best positioned, in our view, amongst volumetrically sensitive business as a dominant Permian operator We believe the units/shares should find some support over the near term on the inflection to positive free cash flow and gradual de-levering.Richardson gives this stock a Buy rating and $12 price target, indicating an impressive potential upside of 80% for the next 12 months. (To watch Richardsons track record, click here)The Strong Buy analyst consensus rating on PAGP is unanimous, based on 5 recent reviews, all Buys. The stock has an average price target of $11, implying an upside of 65% from the current share price of $6.82. (See PAGP stock analysis on TipRanks)Sixth Street Specialty Lending (TSLX)The last company on our list recently underwent a name change; in June, it dropped its old name TPG in favor of Sixth Street. The ticker and stock history remain the same, however, so the difference for investors is in the letterhead. Sixth Street continues the core business of providing credit and capital for mid-market companies, helping to fund Americas small and medium enterprise niche.The economic difficulties of the corona crisis were easily visible in this companys top line. Revenue was negative in Q1, due to a curtailment in loan collections and reduction in interest income, although earnings remained positive. In Q2, EPS rose to 59 cents per share, meeting the forecast, and revenues returned to positive numbers, at $103 million.Sixth Street adjusted its dividend during the crisis, but that move did not raise any eyebrows. The company has a long history of dividend payment adjustments, regularly making changes to the common stock dividend in order to keep it in line with earnings, and giving supplemental dividends when possible. The current regular payment is set at 41 cents, annualizing to $1.64, and giving a strong yield of 9.45%.JMP analyst Christopher York believes that Sixth Street has as solid position in its niche, noting, we think the company has historically proven, and subsequently earned investor trust and credibility to underwrite and structure complex and special situation investments to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.Regarding the dividend, York is optimistic about the future, writing, [The] supplemental dividend is likely to return following two quarters of no distributions as a result of the mechanics of the supplemental dividend frameworkIn line with his positive outlook for the company, York rates the stock as Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his $20 price target indicates confidence in a 15% upside potential. (To watch Yorks track record, click here)This stock has another unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating, with 5 recent Buy reviews. The stocks current share price is $17.33 and the average price target of $19.30 suggests it has room for 11% share price growth ahead of it. (See TSLX stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Peeks Offers Free Install on Karastan Carpet During National Karastan Month - Yahoo Finance

Robert Standfield didnt imagine he would find his career profession before he graduated high school.

To earn money like any other teenager who wanted a car back in the 1980s, Standfield said sure to a request from a friend of his fathers to assist him in laying carpet.

By the 12th grade, I was installing by myself and two years after that, I was self-employed, he explained.

Nearly 35 years later, Standfield is still in the industry as he and his wife Candace opened Floorworks, LLC, Oct. 1, at 2071 Glacier Drive, Suite 3 in St. Croix Falls.

A lot of people come into these stores with a deer in the headlight look, he said last month before they opened. They dont know where to begin. They go on the Internet and all they read is how great everything is.

Yet, theres downside to some flooring. Wood scratches, Ceramic tile is very hard and if you drop something on it, it cracks. Carpet actually improves the air quality of a home.

Im going to give them the positive and negative information and allow the customer to make the best decision for them.

Every floor we offer Ive worked at for decades.

Standfield has been an installer for a long time. In 1998, he had his first back surgery and in 2011, came the second back surgery on the same part of the back.

With that in mind, he made the transition to sales. At the same time that meant working nights and weekends, traditionally the same time Candace was working as well, being an esthetician.

We never got to seeeach other, Robert said. We had to become family first. The couple are the parents of Olivia, 10 and Audrey, seven and live in Osceola.

Those plans are now changed, as she will join Robert in the stores operation, focusing on interior decorating.

We are going to treat each job like it is our own, Robert said. Look at them as a person and not as customers. Make them enjoy the process and giving them no stress.

Word-of-mouth has worked.

We are already getting business and we havent even opened, he said.

The Standfields have called this area home for the last five years.

There are a lot of good people in the area who are down to earth, Robert said. We love being so close to the River.

Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays and 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays. The store will be closed Sundays and Mondays. For additional information, visit floorworks.llc.

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Standfields excited about working together to open flooring business - Osceola Sun

Installation of the signature bay windows is nearing completion on Thomas Heatherwicks Lantern House at515 West 18th Streetin Chelsea.Developed by Related CompanieswithSLCE Architects as the architect of record, the ten- and 21-story reinforced concrete edifices straddle the High Lineand yield 181 residential units. Sales and marketing are led by Related Sales LLC and Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group.

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Recent photos show the state of progress at the site and the remaining external segments left to be filled in. The shorter ten-story edifice appears completely enclosed, while the taller 21-story sibling has work in progress on the southern corner. Most of the tall bay windows span two floors and disguise the actual number of levels behind the large-scale assembly of glass and brick masonry.

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

The sidewalks along Tenth Avenue are mostly complete with some extra work of tree planting and landscaping to be done.

The glass railings have been installed on the setbacks, which yield private outdoor terraces and will soon feature additional landscaping. The rounded brick corners are a nice touch to the design of Lantern House and complement the voluminous two-story bay windows.

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Below are close-up photographs that show workers preparing for the installation of the corner enclosures for the taller structure to the west of the High Line.

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

The morning is the best time of the day to see the majority of Lantern House illuminated in the light.

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Lantern House. Photo by Michael Young

Both buildings will feature homes with one- to four-bedroom layouts and 10-foot-high ceilings. A number of units are planned to provide landscaped terraces that offer views of the High Line, Chelsea, and the Midtown skyline. Prices start at $1.7 million, with residential amenities including a doorman, concierge service, a common courtyard and outdoor garden, a meeting room, a fitness center with spa and swimming pool, an entertainment room, residential lounges, a childrens playroom, and private parking for 175 vehicles.

It looks like work on Lantern House should fully wrap up by the end of the year.

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Installation of Signature Windows on Thomas Heatherwick's Lantern House Wrapping Up in Chelsea - New York YIMBY

Curtain wall work is progressing at 39 West 23rd Street, a 24-story residential project in the Flatiron District. Designed byCOOKFOX Architectsand developed by Anbau Enterprises, the development consists of two structures separated by an internal courtyard.

39 West 23rd Street. Rendering by COOKFOX

Recent photos show the state of exterior work on the building, which is located on the northern side of West 23rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. One of the most noticeable places of progress is on the western lot line wall, where thin, narrowly spaced horizontal bars subtly protrude, adding an interesting texture to the faade.

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

The other more recent area of concentrated work is on the bottom floor of the southern profile, where workers were spotted installing the first set of warm-colored stone panels around the metal perimeter framework above the ground floor.

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

The metal railings, and overhanging shrubbery as part of the more subtle design aspects of 39 West 23rd Street have yet to go in. Below we see the southern elevation awaiting to be externally enclosed.

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

The following renderings depict the finished look of the project.

39 West 23rd Street. Rendering by COOKFOX

Workers have painted part of the walls above the main setback toward the top floors. The earth-toned color appears to be the final treatment for this portion of 39 West 23rd Street.

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

Meanwhile, fenestration work is progressing on the the upper levels of the eastern profile that cantilevers over its abutting low-rise neighbor. We expect this area to emulate the same architectural design as the front of the building.

39 West 23rd Street. Photo by Michael Young

The development will span a total of 118,00 square feet and yield 44 units. Four residences will be designated as affordable rentals. Residential layouts vary between single-floor homes and duplexes, including some with their own private outdoor terraces. Amenities include a fitness center, a residential lounge, a childrens playroom, a communal outdoor landscaped terrace, and a 25-car garage below street level.

A definite completion date for 39 West 23rd Street is unclear, but sometime within 2021 is likely.

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First Exterior Stone Panels Installed at 39 West 23rd Street in the Flatiron District - New York YIMBY

Various signals of the start of North Plattes $2.81 million downtown bricks renovation project could be seen Monday up and down East Sixth Street. At top, crews with Paulsen Inc. of Cozad run a joint saw along the sidewalk on the south side of Sixth between Dewey Street and Bailey Avenue. Project manager Jed Paulsen said that task will make it easier to pry up the old sidewalks concrete panels so the sidewalk can be rebuilt. East Sixth remained open Monday due to Tuesdays blustery, possibly snowy forecast while workers laid out ROAD CLOSED signs next to intersections from Jeffers to Chestnut streets and marked existing utility lines with red, blue, pink or orange spray paint. Removal of East Sixths bricks, which will be stored for later re-laying, and old concrete will start Tuesday if the snow holds off and Wednesday if it doesnt, Paulsen said. One block of East Fifth and downtowns two showcase blocks of Dewey will be redone later before the project wraps up late this year.

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From February to October, a look back at the work in the Canteen District - North Platte Telegraph

Philadelphia | $373,000A 1920 rowhouse with two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms, on a 683-square-foot lot

This brick house is in the East Passyunk Crossing neighborhood in South Philadelphia, about two miles from Center City and close to restaurants (currently with street dining), vintage stores, cafes, parks and the Singing Fountain at East Passyunk Avenue north of Tasker Street, which belts out Sinatra and other standards from hidden speakers.

Size: 1,100 square feet

Price per square foot: $339

Indoors: The two-story house has an open-plan lower floor with refinished parquet flooring in the living area at the front. Beyond an archway is a dining area and the kitchen. The kitchen was updated several years ago with wood floors, white cabinets, subway tile and stainless steel appliances. Sliding-glass doors at the back open to a walled patio. There is also a half bathroom on this floor.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, front and back, which are (unusually for this housing type) almost of equal size. Between them is a walk-in closet or home-office space. The skylighted bathroom has a combined tub and shower and a black-and-white-tile floor.

A washer and dryer are in the unfinished basement.

Outdoor space: The rear patio includes a built-in storage bench.

Taxes: $3,487

Contact: Joe Brady, Team Damis, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox & Roach Realtors, 267-401-4291; teamdamis.com

The rumor attached to this Victorian church building, formerly St. John the Baptist, is that it was abandoned in the 1970s because it lacked a center aisle and was considered undesirable for weddings. (Its successor is cater-corner across Main Street.) After sitting vacant for several years, the building was transformed in the 1980s into a home and art gallery. The current owners bought it five years ago to use as a residence and made many structural and cosmetic improvements, including fresh paint inside and out.

The house is in a college town of about 4,600, about 15 miles west of Rutland, Vt., and 30 miles west of the Killington ski area. Boston is slightly more than three hours southeast. This property is in the town center, a couple of blocks from restaurants, a library, an elementary school and the campus of Castleton University. Lake Bomoseen is a short drive west.

Size: 4,179 square feet

Price per square foot: $90

Indoors: Up a raised porch, through a refinished double doorway, you enter a foyer with hardwood floors and a staircase with a spiral-carved newel post. Turning left takes you into a living and dining room with a four-year-old pellet stove. Beyond is the larger of the homes two kitchens. Installed by previous owners about seven years ago, this kitchen has wood cabinets with Vermont-slate countertops, backsplashes faced in narrow rectangular tiles and a pantry closet. The sellers added a hand-built wood-topped peninsula.

The kitchen leads out on the other side to the original nave, a room with a soaring, curved ceiling, stained-glass windows with laboriously stripped moldings and a raised wooden floor extending from what was once the altar. Glass doors and a large casement window on the altar wall were added during the conversion.

An enclosure built out at the back of this space, with an arched window and a balcony, was also part of the conversion and used to display art. It currently contains a closet and a home office.

Off the living and dining room is an in-law suite. The railing under the archway between the bedroom and sitting room was borrowed from the altar. The gutted and refinished bathroom includes a stone-tile-and-glass walk-in shower and a vanity cabinet found in a consignment shop and garnished with a copper sink. The kitchen was part of the original conversion; its cabinets are repurposed chestnut pews. A breakfast bar connects this space to a second sitting area to the left of the front door.

The owners tore out the low ceiling over the staircase and built a faceted, vaulted timber ceiling that complements the wainscot and the newly exposed wood steps. The original choir loft became the multilevel master bedroom; double glass doors lead to a small, carpeted room at the base of the bell tower (access to the tower is through a trapdoor in the ceiling). Another bedroom is off the interior balcony overlooking the nave. A third upstairs bedroom has interesting ceiling angles.

Outdoor space: The sellers added a backyard deck and a two-car garage, and moved the shed (which has a stained-glass window) to the back of the property.

Taxes: $3,613

Contact: Sue Bishop, Four Seasons Sothebys International Realty, 802-558-2180; sothebysrealty.com

This condo is in East Austin, less than two miles from downtown via East Sixth Street, in an area packed with restaurants, bars, breweries, shops, galleries and yoga studios. The Lady Bird Lake Trail starts a mile west.

The unit is on the fourth (and top) floor, in the northwest corner. The building has 68 units, 60 of which are residential and eight retail or office.

Size: 958 square feet

Price per square foot: $376

Indoors: The interior is loft-like, with high ceilings, track lighting and polished concrete floors. A short hallway leads from the entrance, past a built-in desk, to the kitchen and dining area. The seller updated the kitchen, painting the cabinets gray and adding a blue-tile backsplash. He also installed a custom walnut storage unit on a wall that holds two bicycles.

The dining area flows into a living space with large, wood-framed windows, ending in a wall with sliding-glass doors that open to a balcony. To the left, floor-to-ceiling frosted-glass doors lead into a bedroom that has a closet with a stacked washer and dryer. The bathroom, which can be reached from both the bedroom and the hallway, has a combination tub-shower and a double vanity with a black-granite top.

The seller changed out all the lighting fixtures and ceiling fans and added a Google Nest Hub, which controls these things as well as the automated blinds in all the windows.

Outdoor space: The balcony has a steel railing and a partial view of the Rainey Street Historic District. (It used to be a full view, until GoDaddy built its headquarters down the block.) A parking space in a first-floor garage is reserved for the unit.

Taxes: $7,157, plus a $209 monthly homeowner fee

Contact: Debbie Barrera, Realty Austin, 512-203-1912; realtyaustin.com

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$375,000 Homes in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Texas - The New York Times