Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Contractors, code enforcement and clean water top concerns at 'Ask The I-Team' in Auburn

The I-Team's Stephanie Grindley and Dan Lampariello meet with Mainers at Kristi's Caf in Auburn to hear their concerns. (WGME)

AUBURN (WGME) -- The CBS13 I-Team is On Your Side and on the road.

The coffee was brewing and so was the conversation at Kristi's Caf in Auburn.

One of the issues brought to the I-Team was a gravel pit that is expected to be built and blasted near Mike Fraumeni's home in Dresden. Fraumeni is concerned about the impact it will have on the water in his area.

"That ledge, all the rivers, all the streams and everything go down to the eastern river and which, in turn, goes right into the Kennebec. That's a hot button right there," Fraumeni said.

Meanwhile, Clair Patry is trying to nail down a contractor who installed her flooring. She showed the I-Team a piece of the floorboard, which is now chipping, after spending thousands of dollars to install.

I-TEAM |Solar projects & Net Energy Billing expected to lead to higher electric bills this summer

"When you walk on the floor you can feel it. It's uneven. Im just thinking that a floor should last more than two years," Patry said.

She wants the I-Team to look into her lifetime warranty.

Gary Simard got right down to business. He's concerned about code enforcement in communities, especially those seeing a lot of new development.

"Who's going to make sure that these people are safe in their apartment buildings?" Simard said.

Simard is hoping the I-Team can investigate whether safety regulations are actually being met.

The I-Team is on your side

From new developments to your drinking water.

Barry Gilman raised the issue of the reservoir, Lake Auburn. He wants to know whether the possibility of a new development near the lake could impact water quality.

"I'm sure you people can find out about that, that's a major issue," Gilman said.

I-TEAM |Fall victim to fraud? Here are the best ways to report it and get help.

Throughout the day, the I-Team heard a lot of major issues and will be digging deeper into these stories in the days and weeks ahead.

"We're really looking for more of an investigative reporting on this," one viewer said.

The I-Team is on your side and on the road, working to uncover the truth and bring these concerns to light.

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Contractors, code enforcement and clean water top concerns at 'Ask The I-Team' in Auburn - WGME

19 April 2023

Works to transform Crewes Lyceum Square into an exciting events and performance space are beginning to take shape.

The scheme called Ly2 will see the centre of Lyceum Square becoming a mixed-use space to host events, festivals, performances, and activities throughout the year.

As well as a new raised events stage with an integrated digital screen, the scheme includes colourful and multi-functional street furniture and improvements to key gateways into the square. Part of these improvements has seen the design and installation of an eagle mural the first artworks to appear as part of the enhancement of the square.

The mural has been applied to the southern market shed known as the Crewe Central venue, which is operated by the Crewe Market Hall team. The eagle mural will sit next to the floor art on the Northern market shed designs, which are being installed later this month.

The eagle mural created by artists We are Culla references the heritage of the town and the four historic cast iron eagles that are located across the town. It fits with the vibrant colour palette for Ly2, and that resonates with the Crewe branding.

Peter Skates, Cheshire East Councils director of growth and enterprise, said: This is a great scheme, which will make such a positive difference to an area already well served by the arts community with the Lyceum Theatre and the Market Hall, which regularly hosts music and cultural events.

"Having a multi-use arts space will have a positive knock-on effect to not only the theatre and the market hall but will also encourage further footfall into the town centre.

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: Ly2 is a transformative project for Crewes town centre and I am really looking forward to seeing how this space will be used by the community going forwards.

This is going to be a brilliant hub for artists and musicians to showcase their work and will be a great area to host regular events and cultural activities.

The vision forLy2 was developed by the Crewe Cultural Forum a collaboration of more than 100 residents, organisations and businesses in Crewe and it aims to enhance the setting of the Lyceum Theatre and Crewe Market Hall and create a cultural heart for the town centre.

Crewe Town Board was allocated 750,000 from the governments Accelerated Towns Fund for an improvement scheme for the Lyceum Square and adjacent areas.TheLy2 project is being delivered by Cheshire East Council and overseen by Crewe Town Board with Crewe Town Council also a key partner.

Live events will start onLy2in June.

The rest is here:
19/04/2023 - Mural installed for new arts space on Lyceum Square - Cheshire East Council

Case: BOA-1430845 Address: 143-143cTremont Street Ward 22 Applicant: Chayla White, EsqArticle(s): Article 51 Section 8Use Regulations - Use : Multifamily Dwelling : Forbidden Article 51 Section 8 Use Regulations - Use : Townhouse : Forbidden Article 51 Section 8Use Regulations - Use : Accessory Parking : Forbidden Article 51 Section 9 Floor Area Ratio Excessive Article 51 Section 9Building Height ( # of Stories ) Excessive Article 51 Section 9 Side Yard Insufficient Article 51 Section 9Location of Main Entrance of a Dwelling shall face the Front Lot Line Article 51, Section 56Off Street Parking & Loading Req - Off Street Parking InsufficientArticle 51 Section 9 Front Yard InsufficientPurpose: Erect 5 New Townhomes

Case: BOA-1443147 Address: 309 Summit Avenue Ward 21 Applicant: Marc LaCasseArticle(s): Article 51, Section 8 Use: Forbidden - Use Forbidden of 9 units Article 51, Section 9 Rear Yard Insufficient Article 51, Section 9 Front Yard Insufficient Article 51, Section 9 Usable Open Space Insufficient Article 51, Section 9 Bldg Height Excessive (Feet) Article 51, Section 9 Bldg Height Excessive (Stories) Article 51, Section 9 Floor Area Ratio Excessive Article 51, Section 9 Add'l Lot Area Insufficient Article 51, Section 57.3Traffic Visibility Across Corner -Corner lot of (Summit ave. and Allston st.) Article 51, Section 56 Off Street Parking InsufficientPurpose: Demolish existing building [under separate demo permit]; erect new 3 story 9 unit residential dwelling building with parking for 9 vehicles and 16 bicycle storage spaces.

Case: BOA-1431895 Address: 184 Wren Street Ward 20 Applicant: Mike & Erin DonaghyArticle(s): Article 56, Section 8 Floor Area Ratio Excessive Article 56, Section 8 Bldg Height Excessive (Stories)Article 56. Section 8 Side Yard InsufficientPurpose: The project scope is to construct a full height addition to the side of an existing 2 1/2 story detached single family house to add a bathroom on the first floor, a master bedroom on the second floor, and to finish the existing attic as a dormered third story with two additional bedrooms.

Case: BOA-1432793 Address: 23 Regin Road Ward 18 Applicant: Derick JoynerArticle(s): Article 60, Section 8 Use: Forbidden Article 60, Section 9 Bldg Height Excessive (Stories)Purpose: To erect a three family dwelling with 3 parking spaces in the rear.

Case: BOA-1352114 Address: 6 Winter Street Ward 15 Applicant: Taou KhamouliArticle(s): Article 65, Sec 65 41 Off Street Loading Req.Purpose: Please check the related a application : U491209045 At 10 Winter St Dorchester MA 02122 and 6 Winter StDorchester, MA 02122 we would like to cut one curb for both properties to use the spaces between both buildings for parking.

Case: BOA-1352108 Address: 10 Winter Street Ward 15 Applicant: Taou KhamouliArticle(s): Art. 65 Sec. 41 Off street parking requirementsPurpose: At 10 Winter St Dorchester MA 02122 and 6 Winter St Dorchester, MA 02122 plan to cut one curb for both properties to use the spaces of both buildings for parking. The space we have on the side of both 6 and 10 Winter St in between the 2 buildings will easily allow 4 6 cars.

Case: BOA-1397632 Address: 31 Downer Avenue Ward 13 Applicant: Alexander BrownArticle(s): Article 65, Section 9 Side Yard Insufficient Article 65, Section 9 Front Yard InsufficientArticle 65, Section 9 Bldg Height Excessive (Stories) Article 65, Section 9 Floor Area Ratio ExcessiveArticle 65, Section 42.2 Conformity w Ex Bldg Alignment Article 65, Section 32 NDOD Review RequiredArt.65 Sec. 8 Use: Forbidden - Parking space: Forbidden by 3 family use Forbidden Art. 65 Sec. 60 83 Family Detached Dwelling, Forbidden Art. 65 Sec. 64 34Restricted Roof Structure DistrictPurpose: To change the existing two family into a three family with three parking spaces in the rear.

Case: BOA- 1034997 Address:120 Minden Street Ward 10 Applicant: Morat KianiArticle(s): Article 55, Section 8Use Regulations - 4 family use Forbidden Article 55, Section 9 Floor Area Ratio Excessive Article 55, Section 9 Usable Open Space InsufficientPurpose: Change of occupancy from a 3 family to a 4 family. Existing condition, no work to be done.

Case: BOA-1444249 Address: 584 East Fourth Street Ward 6 Applicant: George Morancy, EsqArticle(s): Article 68, Section 8 Side Yard InsufficientPurpose: Amendment for ALT1039568. Add 3rd floor deck. 3rd story deck and deck components do not alter any other portion of approved permit and approved structure.

Case: BOA-1428169 Address: 98-100 F Street Ward 6 Applicant: Marc LaCasse, EsqArticle(s): Article 68, Section 8 Front Yard Insufficient Article 68, Section 8 Side Yard InsufficientArticle 68, Section 8 Rear Yard Insufficient Article 68, Section 29 Roof Structure RestrictionsPurpose: On combined parcel [see ALT1376038 and ALT1376044] to be known at 98 100 F Street, combine existing structures to create 2 dwelling units and attached garage for 4 vehicles; one story bump out on each side; introduction of six dormer windows at front along third level; rear terraces and balconies.

Case: BOA-1447633 Address: 48 Montgomery Street Ward 4 Applicant: Lewis Legon (by John M. Moran,Esq)Article(s): Art. 32 Sec. 04GCOD Applicability - Structure Substantially rehabilitatedPurpose : Renovation of existing single family as per plans.

Case: BOA#1447667 Address: 48 Montgomery Street Ward 4 Applicant: Lewis Legon (by John M. Moran, Esq)Purpose: Renovation of existing single family as per plans.Violation Violation DescriptionViolation Comments 9th 780 CMR 1011 Stairways1011.12.2 Roof access through a penthouse.

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Zoning Board of Appeal Hearing - Boston.gov

The first third of the new pedestrian bridge across the Merrimack Canal at Lowell High School arrived on April 19. When the three pieces are all on site, the structure will be welded together to create the South Bridge connecting the new academic wing to the east building. (Courtesy Jennifer Myers/Lowell Public Schools)

LOWELL The first of three parts of the steel framing for the South Bridge arrived on Wednesday, and signaled the beginning of the end of the steel work in Phase 2 of the $381 million Lowell High Schoolrebuild and renovation.

Meanwhile, bathroom parity problems wont be addressed until 2024, and air quality concerns persist.

Suffolk Construction Senior Project Manager Pannha San-Chung updated the School Building Committee during its March 22 meeting that by the end of April, we will be substantially complete with structural steel, which will be followed by the spraying of fireproofing material on the exposed beams before exterior faade work such as framing and sheathing takes place in May.

The steel framing has dominated the skyline on the project since early January when the first columns of the five-story Freshman Academy and the three-story addition to the back end of the 1980s building called the D building, closest to the new Riddick gym began.

Once the building steel was installed, San-Chung said a major milestone would be met with the South Bridge steel going up, as well, which connects from the renovated D building across the Merrimack Canal to the back wing of the existing 1922 building.

The third and final piece of the bridge is expected to arrive on Friday, and the entire structure will be welded together for placement.

Phase 2 commenced in the summer of 2022 with the demolition of the old Riddick Field House and the abatement and tear down of the back section of the D building.

Throughout the rest of this year and into the next, significant interior work will take place including plumbing, electrical and building out the classroom and cafeteria spaces.

San-Chung presented a slightly revised project milestone moving the end of Phase 2 from April 2024 to August 2024, which she said resulted from discussions with the project team Suffolk, Skanska, Lowell High School and the city of Lowell.

The occupancy for Phase 2 originally slated for April 2024 would be virtually impossible because it would only be giving (the high school) one week to move the students, the staff and all the furniture before Phase 3 work begins, San-Chung said.

She called the revised timeline lessons learned from Phase 1 and will allow ample time to do construction punch lists, startup commissioning of all the equipment as well as code inspections.

That extended Phase 2 timeframe does not impact the overall project phasing, with Phase 3 still on track to begin in June 2024 with the renovation of the remaining 1980s building, the demolition of the North Bridge and the renovation of the Father Morissette Boulevard-facing wing of the 1922 building and Cyrus W. Irish Auditorium.

This is moving the intermediate date, Skanska Program Director Jim Dowd said. The overall project completion date of July 2026 has not changed.

The committee learned that the issue of bathroom access and parity will not be addressed until the summer of 2024, when a sports team room in the original Phase 2 plans is partially converted into student toilets.

Perkins Eastman architect Joe Drown said feedback from the School Department was that operationally, they would like to see more toilets particularly in the first floor.

It was also an issue raised several times by the Lowell City Council including responses by City Manager Tom Golden to two of Councilor Kim Scotts motions and at the School Committee meetings.

Until the newly constructed cafeteria, which will be housed in the D building connected to the Riddick Athletic Center, opens in 2024 providing extra egress from the gym audience capacity is limited by code to 999 people.

Currently that sized audience, as well as staff and student athletes, share the use of only seven toilets each for men and women within the space five off the gym floor and two near the first-floor entrance resulting in complaints of long lines during events, especially for women.

Once the egress is opened, the seating capacity will increase to 3,000 people sharing the same number of toilets.

However, Drown said the six additional toilets for female students, and one additional toilet and urinal for male students built out in the team room space, will eventually address the overcrowding issues.

Head of School Mike Fiato asked about timing on the increased bathroom facilities.

Whats the actual date that these extra bathrooms will come online? he asked.

August 2024, Dowd answered.

So theres the remainder of this school year and next school year (2023-2024), Fiato said, a comment which was met by silence from the design team.

Concerns about air quality did not come up at the meeting, but were raised in the Board of Health meeting on April 5, where it was noted that classrooms 527, 556 and 648 in the 1980s building continued to show high-level readings of dust and other airborne debris during construction, according to indoor air quality assessments performed by Cashins & Associates.

Operations and Maintenance Director for Lowell Public Schools Rick Underwood wrote the board that Air purifiers and new filters have been placed in the 3 rooms. There is a plan to increase air flow to the center classrooms once the weather becomes a little warmer.

The half-hour School Building Committee meeting closed with member Jay Mason requesting more timely information regarding project meeting minutes, dissemination of the project plans and schedules.

If we have those pieces of information, we can do a much better job of raising better questions and providing feedback and constructive dialogue, he said.

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Lowell High rebuild on track, but ongoing challenges - Lowell Sun

If youre a custom integrator exploring opportunities in the recreational/medical cannabis business, you should know about carbon dioxide, or CO2 detection as it relates to the growing of cannabis. More states continue to pass legislation legalizing cannabis in some capacity (primarily medicinal use), including 21 that have legalized the selling of recreational-use cannabis.

With such greater demand, to increase the growth rate of these plants, CO2 is injected into the cultivation or grow rooms of facilities that are licensed to produce this product.

Heres your brief science refresher: CO2 comprises about 0.04% of our planets atmosphere and is the primary carbon source of Earths life. Atmospheric CO2 is used by plants for photosynthesis, which in part produces the oxygen that is required for life.

CO2 is also used as a fire suppression agent, a refrigerant and a means of carbonating beverages among other uses. CO2 detection solutions get deployed for installation in locations that implement CO2 for the dispensing of beverages.

For the production of cannabis, around 2,000 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 is locally placed into the atmosphere of the grow rooms. This is not a fatal concentration for human life; a lethal dose is 90,000 ppm for five minutes.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a permissible exposure limit at 5,000 ppm and immediately dangerous exposure to life or health at 40,000 ppm.

Depending on which state you work in will determine if the production of cannabis is legal. Each jurisdiction within the state may then have its own local requirements for both fire detection and CO2 detection. Ive now seen several jurisdictions require CO2 detection within a space in which CO2 is being injected.

The state of California, in which I am based, added requirements for CO2 detection to the 2016 California Fire Code, July 2018 Supplement. These requirements are not found in Chapter 9, or Section 907, however, but rather Section 5307, Compressed Gasses not Otherwise Regulated. This may become the model for other jurisdictions.

The new language is for CO2 enrichment systems, in which more than 100 pounds of CO2 is being used. There is to be a low-level alarm upon the detection of 5,000 ppm and a high-level alarm upon the detection of 30,000 ppm.

The CO2 detectors are to be located within the enrichment area within 12 inches of the floor. This is due to CO2 being heavier than air, so it will sink first to the floor and then travel upward as it fills the space.

Article originally appeared in sister site Security Sales & Integration. Author Shane Clary, Ph.D. has more than 45 years of security and fire alarm industry experience and is VP of Codes and Standards Compliance for Concord, Calif.-based Bay Alarm Co.

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Booming Legalized Cannabis Market Heats Up Demand for CO2 ... - CE Pro

One of the first questions that gets asked in the process of mounting a flat screen TV to a wall is How high should I place the screen? For those who want their viewing experience to be as immersive as possible, this is a vital question. The height of a TV screen can mean the difference between an engrossing, theater experience when viewing movies and shows or a cricked neck.

As Lee Marc, CEO of MantelMount describes it, It can feel like you are sitting in the front row of a movie theater. The problems associated with that can be eye strain, chronic neck pain, and chronic back pain. You are also going to degrade the quality of the TV. People spend all this money to get a clear, beautiful picture and then they watch it at an angle that degrades the picture quality.

Figuring out how high a TV should be mounted is the first step in creating a comfortable, idyllic viewing experience. The general rule of thumb is that, while seated, the center of the TV should be exactly at eye level.

However, much like the English language, there are a series of conditionals that come attached to that statement. Room layout, audience positioning, audience height and even the size of the TV itself can all be influential in determining the height of the TV, as well as what mount you might want to use.

As such finding a truly ideal screen placement requires a little more finetuning. To help elucidate both beginners and experts on this topic, CE Pro reached out to Marc and the experts of MantelMount for additional guidance.

As mentioned previously, the general rule of thumb is to have it so that, when the intended audience is seated, the center of the mounted TV is as high as eye level. To break it down even further, many guides will state that any screen up to 85-inches in diagonal length (which is the general calculation of TV sizes) can be placed 42-inches off the ground, from floor to center of the TV.

However, others will contend that, when wall mounting a TV, the screen should be placed high enough that, when seated, the bottom of the TV is just eye level, and when standing, the top of the TV is at eye level. The reason for this is that, using the general guidelines above, many of the larger TVs will end up with very little floor clearance once installed, which can be problematic for accumulation of dirt, furniture placement, etc.

For Marc and the experts over at MantelMount, theyve developed a set of recommended TV heights based on their experience working on mounting projects over the years. These vary slightly from the generally recommended heights and therefore allow for greater floor clearance while still maintaining a comfortable viewing experience:

Knowing the ideal height to mount the TV at, you can then mark that position on the wall using a simple calculation. Using a 43-inch TV as an example, you simply take the screen height (22 inches in this case) divide it in half (11 inches) and then subtract it from the recommended mounting height. Using this, you can determine that the bottom of the TV should be 45-inches off the ground once mounted, allowing you to mark the wall at that height.

Another element thats just as important as figuring out how high a TV should be mounted is figuring out how far away one should be seated when watching, Marc notes.

Have audiences seated too far from the screen, and it can lead to a lack of immersion when watching movies or shows. However, placing the seating area too close to the TV can lead to its own set of issues. It might not ruin your eyesight like your mom once told you, but the associated eye strain will certainly lead to some literal headaches.

Thankfully, theres a handy method, according to Marc, for calculating the ideal viewing distance based off the size of the display. Lets use a 65-inch TV as an example. To calculate the ideal viewing distance for it, all you need to do is divide it by 0.55, meaning the ideal viewing distance is 118 inches (roughly nine feet) away.

For a 55-inch display, that translates to 100 inches, or a little over eight feet of viewing distance. For 42-inches, its a 76-inch recommended viewing distance. No matter what, just divide the display size by 0.55 and youll have your ideal viewing distance. It even works for projection screens.

The angle at which a TV should be mounted is another issue, Marc notes. This is not often a concern on most mounting projects, but in special scenarios, such as trying to mount a TV over a fireplace or in a corner of the room, viewing angle becomes a core consideration.

If you are using a TV mount that can tilt and swivel, all you need to do is adjust such that the viewer is looking directly at the TV when seated. However, as Marc notes, there are limitations on how much a TV should be angled.

In order to maintain a comfortable viewing experience, you dont want to have a vertical tilt of more than 15 degrees. Anything steeper than that and heads will be craning too far up to get a good viewing angle of the TV.

For horizontal viewing, Marc recommends no more than a 40-degree angling.

One of the more popular mounting options that comes with its own berth of consideration is the decision to mount a TV over the fireplace. The reason for this is that fireplace mantels generally dictate a mounted TV height far higher than the general recommendation to avoid damage from heat and soot. In this scenario, having something like a drop-down TV mount can help combat the high viewing angle.

Another element to consider is the placement of stands or cabinets beneath the TV. Say you mount a TV on the wall but choose to store media players and other devices beneath the TV in a cabinet or dresser on the floor. For obvious reasons, the TV will need to be positioned higher than the surface height of the furniture.

This can also lead into how you intend to hook cables up to the TV. If you happen to be running wire behind the wall, this may not be as much of an issue, but for a more traditional install hooked up to a wall outlet, where you choose to place the TV may heavily depend upon available outlets, especially if you want to keep visibility of wires to a minimum.

Installers should also avoid wall locations where the TV will be in direct sunlight as this can not only result in an annoying glare on the TV itself, but it could potentially damage image quality over time if it gets hot enough in that one location.

You may still be wondering how to mount a TV to the wall now that you know the ideal placement, or what the best types of wall mounts to use are. Maybe youre even curious about more specialized projects, like mounting a TV over the fireplace as we just mentioned. In that case, we have plenty of articles to follow for more information.

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How High Should a TV Be Mounted? and Other Questions - CE Pro

There are more than 420,000 plumbers in the United States - which one should you hire?

Plumbing systems are important components of any home or business. At some point in time, everyone will need a plumber to fix a clogged drain or a leaking toilet. How do you find a great company and get a competitive price?

It's important to carefully select who you contact - ensure that every plumber has the following qualifications:

The services of plumbers come in handy for many different situations, from tasks as simple as a clogged drain to more complex projects such as piping a home. Some of the most common functions that plumbers undertake include:

Blocked drains are perhaps the most common cause for plumbing services. Various drains within homes and businesses can become clogged due to food debris, oiland foreign objects going down the drain. A blocked drain can be aninconvenience, with the potential of causing kitchen sinks, bathroomsand showers to become unusable until the blockage is addressed. A hand snake or machine auger can typically resolve this issue.

In some casesplumbers are called outdue to a broken or damaged pipe. Corrosion is common if two types of metal pipes connect to each other that have different material, such as copper pipes connecting to galvanized steel pipes. This leads to small leaks that turn into larger issues.

Another popular service offered by plumbers is the unclogging of toilets. It's pretty obvious why someone would want this fixed.

More common is a toilet that won't stop trickling water. An constantly-flowing toilet can eventually result in further damage to pipes and the sewage system, along with a higher water bill.

Plumbing Manufacturers International - Advocacy for safe and efficient plumbing products | Plumber Hiring Resource Center - For consumers looking for information on hiring plumbers | Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters Pay Information - Bureau of Labor Statistics median pay and other information on plumbers

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This is it: Dads brush with death during Geelong Ring Road disaster  Geelong Advertiser

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This is it: Dads brush with death during Geelong Ring Road disaster - Geelong Advertiser

Its Almost Like an Illusion- Mario Creator Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals the Ideology That Keeps Nintendos Legendary Plumber Welcoming to All Generations  EssentiallySports

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Its Almost Like an Illusion- Mario Creator Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals the Ideology That Keeps Nintendos Legendary Plumber Welcoming to All Generations -...

Its the Dynamic of This Guy- The Super Mario Bros. Movie Star Seth Rogen Reasons on the Choice of Donkey Kongs Voice  EssentiallySports

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Its the Dynamic of This Guy- The Super Mario Bros. Movie Star Seth Rogen Reasons on the Choice of Donkey Kongs Voice - EssentiallySports