Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Carla Eslava, Manager of the Recofloor commercial waste vinyl flooring collection scheme, discusses the issues and offers some solutions.

In the construction sector, what happens to many products at end-of-life is typically not considered due to their longer lifespans and the need for them to meet strict technical performance criteria.

The construction industry is the UKs biggest consumer of natural resources. According to DEFRA, an estimated 120 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste was produced in 2016. While their statistics indicate that 92% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste was recovered in some form (55 million tonnes) in 2016, nearly 5 million tonnes (8%) of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste was landfilled.

Waste is generated during the construction and installation phases and when products reach the end of their life. While many materials, such as PVC and metals, are recyclable, the construction sector is a challenging diverse environment for waste management and requires a heavy reliance on engaging with contractors to collect these recoverable resources.

Capturing waste at the installation phase should always be done where possible as the material is clean, we know what exactly is in it and this improves the chances it can successfully be turned back into new products. End of life waste is more challenging, and more work will be needed in the future to establish effective recycling techniques and end markets for the recyclates.

For installation waste, a great example of circular construction is the Recofloor scheme that offers a sustainable collection service for commercial waste vinyl flooring generated from refurbishment and new build projects, including live project sites. The scheme accepts both installation offcuts and uplifted smooth and loose lay vinyl, as well as Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) and safety offcuts and roll-ends.

Since its 2009 inception, the scheme has diverted more than 6,000 tonnes of waste vinyl flooring from landfill for use in new vinyl flooring or other useful products. The scheme continues to expand as more flooring companies recognise the environmental value and reduced disposal costs of up to 70% of recovering recyclable resources.

By capturing more waste at the installation phase and developing a viable recycling route, it is more likely in the future we will be able to develop more solutions for end-of-life construction waste.

Moving towards circular construction principles still presents many challenges, such as the collection of materials on a busy site with lots of different contractors, transportation, a lack of sorting infrastructure and limited end markets.

For example, Recofloor relies on the efforts of individual contractors to help return the vinyl flooring for recycling. Without effective communication and their willingness to participate, it would not be possible.

But as a successful and growing scheme, Recofloor shows it can be done, with a focus on installation offcuts versus end-of-life/uplifted material. The latter is still a challenge that needs to be addressed in the future.

Richard McKinlay, Head of Consulting at resource recovery specialist Axion says: If we can tackle installation waste, that is where we really need to focus our efforts initially to get the material coming back. If you build up that system, then you start to build infrastructure which could then allow end-of-life material to enter it eventually.

Typically, the development of recycling infrastructure starts with reusing production waste first as this is the purest material to put back into the manufacturing process. Attention then turns to clean scrap materials, followed by the more difficult post-consumer waste as recycling techniques become more advanced.

For the construction sector to move towards more circular sustainability, we will need to see more and more solutions like Recofloor in the coming years.

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Moving towards a circular economy in the construction sector - RECYCLING magazine

You cant blame everything on potash mining.

In pre-historic, pre-human, and pre-Bonneville Speed Week times, there was a body of water in western Utah known as Lake Bonneville. It was huge. If you look up at the mountains surrounding what are now the Bonneville Salt Flats, home of the greatest land speed racing the world has ever known, you can still see ancient shorelines hundreds of feet above the burning white flatness. Then, 16,800 years agogeologists are very precise on thissomething let loose and almost all of Lake Bonneville drained out into what is now southern Idaho.

This was both good and bad. Bad if you were an ancient dino-shark eating as many fish as you felt like eating all day long only to find yourself in what would become an Idaho potato field (oh, how the mighty always fall!), but good if you were a land speed racer.

Since the great draining of Lake Bonneville those tens of thousands of years ago, the remnants of the once-great lake literally ebbed and flowed. But in modern times, the lake remnants became what is now known as Great Salt Lake, the one by Salt Lake City, and the Bonneville Salt Flats a hundred miles west of that. Over the last hundred years or so the Bonneville Salt Flats have mostly dried up and left a hard surface miles and miles long that is just perfect for flooring the throttle and seeing what your race car can really do.

George D. LeppGetty Images

The first racing may have taken place as early as 1914. Ab Jenkins set records on the flats in the 1930s in a car called The Mormon Meteor. Successive racers came over the decades and set their own records, perhaps the greatest being the competing duo of Art Arfons and Craig Breedlove in the early 60s, who moved the record over 500 and 600 mph. In between those great high-water marks were hundreds of home-grown racers driving self-engineered craft of all manner to land speed records.

When racing first started at Bonneville the salt was as much as six feet thick and seemed like it would never go away. Winter rains would flow onto the salt, bringing replenishing minerals from the hills, and the salt got thicker. In the summer the rainwater would dry up, the surface of the salt would get hard as concrete, and the racers would come and race.

The mining started in 1917 during WWI, when the countrys previous supply of potash, from Germany, dried up because of the war. Mineral extraction really got going in 1963, according to local media outlet Deseret News.

(In) 1963 the Bureau of Land Management leased 25,000 acres to Bonneville Ltd., a private mining company, Deseret said. By 1979, the Utah Geological and Mineral Surveys salt drilling measurements indicated that the flats were shrinking. The salt crust became thin and easy to puncture. In 1960, the salt on the International Speedway was multiple feet deep. In May 2021, it was a quarter of an inch thick.

Originally covering 96,000 acres when someone first measured it, the Bonneville Salt Flats are now less than 30,000. At least one third of the shrinkage is due to mineral extraction, mostly potash, potassium-rich salts that are used as fertilizer.

A century ago, there was plenty of thick hard salt as far as the eye could see, said an organization of racers called savethesalt.org. As the years unwound, the damning game of give and take, the salt giving and man taking, knocked the natural balance out of whack, causing the salt surface to not only thin, but the perimeter to slowly shrink... The land speed racing community is now facing a daunting ecological emergency.

In 1997 a deal was worked out wherein potash miners would replenish the salt flats by pumping salt-heavy brine back onto the flats after extracting potash from it. This seemed to work. For a while. Now, however, it doesnt rain as much, the extraction goes on, and the salt continues to shrink. So various government agencies have agreed to study the problem.

Alvis Upitis / Design PicsGetty Images

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS), in collaboration with the University of Utah, Bureau of Land Management, Intrepid Potash, and the land speed racing community (as represented by the Specialty Equipment Market Association [SEMA]), is working to collect scientific data to understand the effects of climate, racing, salt laydown, and potash mining on the Bonneville Salt Flats salt pans growth, salt dissolution and sustainability, read a statement from the Utah Geological Survey.

The study is funded by $1 million from the state of Utah. The BLM added $125,000. Last fall, UGS installed climate and hydrologic monitoring equipment to collect data focused on the continuing salt laydown process (wherein they pump brine back onto the salt), and its effects on the salt crust and the underlying and adjoining brine aquifer, the Utah Geological Survey said. In the coming months, UGS said, Intrepid Potash will lay down up to half a million ton of salt brine in critical areas of the salt flats. The effects of the laydown will be monitored and analyzed for potential impact on the salt flats.

Will it be too little too late? Is merely studying the problem like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? SEMA, representing the racers, sounded optimistic.

In working with Intrepid Potash, the volume of salt laid down on Bonneville will be increased by updating and improving the efficiency of the current pumping infrastructure and water conservation efforts, which include rebuilding water wells, covering ditches and installing new pipes and pumps, SEMA said. Great efforts to use water more efficiently will help achieve the goal to increase the volume of salt returned to the salt flats. It will likely take several years to upgrade the infrastructure and gradually increase pumping volumes.

Mark Miller PhotosGetty Images

SEMA offered specific details on what will happen next.

The summer 2021 installation of the new water well and equipment to measure water evaporation rates and collect scientific data represented a tangible start to the ambitious restoration effort. The program will seek to identify the best ways to take advantage of the salt laydown and study the effects on the salt crust and underlying brine aquifer. For example, the program will consider ways to contain the salt within the large pumping area. If current research proves beneficial, efforts may be extended into the future upon funding availability. Stakeholders are now identifying projects to be pursued in 2022 and beyond to continue increasing the volume of salt being pumped.

If you want to help, consider a donation.

While the bulk of the program funding will come from federal and state appropriations, both industry and the land speed racing community will voluntarily help pay the costs. Financial contributions from the racing community are gratefully accepted at http://www.savethesalt.org, a 501(c)(3) organization.

And pray for rain in western Utah.

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Ever been to Speed Week? Share your memories and experiences in the comments below.

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Is It Too Late to Save the Bonneville Salt Flats? - Autoweek

Creating dramatically new kitchens for a fraction of the cost compared to many kitchen remodels is what we are all about. Your kitchen cabinets make the most noticeable difference in a kitchen update.

So how can you revitalize your cabinets without breaking the bank or eating away your remodeling budget? Our team at N-Hance can help you with cabinet door replacement in Sandia Heights. Cabinet door replacement has several significant benefits that may make this the best option for you.

Why Choose Cabinet Door Replacement?

With a standard kitchen remodel, contractors completely remove and dispose of your existing cabinets, then replace the cabinet boxes. This costs you time and money and is just unnecessary if the bones of your cabinets are in good shape but the cabinet faces are old or out of style.

Cabinet door replacement is perfect for cabinets that may be old but are still in great condition. If your cabinets are simply outdated and you want a fresh, new look, cabinet replacement is an extremely cost-effective option.

With cabinet door replacement, you can keep your existing cabinets while only replacing the part thats visiblethe door fronts. You can upgrade the exterior doors with a custom face, edge profile, color, and hardware.

By leaving the existing cabinets in place and only swapping out the drawer and door fronts, your entire space will feel new for a fraction of the cost.

Customizable Cabinet Door Replacement Options

Cabinet replacement professionals can match your cabinet door color perfectly with the existing cabinets, or give you an entirely new color. This process takes a small portion of the time compared to what it would take to completely replace your cabinets.

First, youll choose the style of your cabinet doors. You can hand-select exactly what the face of your cabinets will look like by choosing your preferred profile for the panels, edges, rails, and stiles.

You can also decide on the type of wood you wantlike alder, beech, walnut, cherry, maple, and more. The wood you choose will have its own unique grain and tone.

Finally, youll choose your cabinet color and finish. The best part is, youre not limited to natural colors. You can go as traditional or as bright and bold as youd like!

From country to modern, your cabinet color will blend perfectly with your desired style. You can also select the perfect sheen for your cabinetsgiving them a matte or glossy finish that will really pop.

How Much Does Cabinet Door Replacement Cost?

Most cabinet remodeling projects can cost around $10,000 or more. With cabinet door replacement, the cost will vary depending on the size of the job. The good news: this service will be a fraction of the cost compared to other, more expensive full-cabinet replacement services.Ready for us to start your cabinet door replacement project? Schedule your estimate with us today!

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The Benefits of Cabinet Door Replacement | N-Hance Wood ...

LONDON -- Revelations that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff partied while Britain was in a coronavirus lockdown have provoked public outrage and led some members of his Conservative Party to consider ousting their leader.

If they manage to push Johnson out or if he resigns the party would hold a leadership contest to choose his replacement.

Here's a look at who could rise if Johnson falls:

RISHI SUNAK, TREASURY CHIEF

Sunak, 41, is widely regarded as the brightest rising star in the party, the best known of the contenders to the public and the bookies favorite to succeed Johnson.

Sunak was thrust into the spotlight when he became treasury chief in early 2020, tasked with the unenviable job of steering the British economy through its worst economic slump on record due to the pandemic.

Sunak has dished out billions of pounds in emergency spending to help businesses and workers, and his pandemic policies have generally been seen in a positive light.

A big Star Wars fan, Sunak nurtures his personal brand with a slick Instagram account. Opinion polls have suggested that he is one of the most popular Conservative ministers among voters, though his elite education and past work for the investment bank Goldman Sachs and a hedge fund means some see him as out of touch with ordinary people.

He would be Britains first prime minister who is not white. Born to Indian parents who immigrated to the U.K. from East Africa, Sunak attended the exclusive Winchester College private school, studied at Oxford University, and is married to Akshata Murthy, daughter of an Indian billionaire.

LIZ TRUSS, FOREIGN SECRETARY

Truss, 46, took on the high-profile job of foreign secretary in September after serving as trade minister and has been gaining momentum as a contender since.

As well as serving as Britains chief diplomat, she is the U.K.s new lead negotiator with the European Union to deal with lingering issues following Britain's exit from the bloc.

Once a campaigner for remaining in the EU, Truss has become a fervent champion for Brexit. Her prior role as international trade secretary saw her signing post-Brexit trade deals around the world and channeling Johnsons ambitions for Global Britain.

Truss is popular with many Conservatives, who see in the free-market-loving politician echoes of the partys first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Her supporters have coined the slogan In Liz We Truss.

She is less well known to the general public. When you ask about Liz Truss, 50% of voters say Liz who? said Chris Curtis, a pollster at Opinium Research.

SAJID JAVID, HEALTH SECRETARY

Javid, 52, has been health secretary since June, leading Britains response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before that he served as treasury chief, but resigned in early 2020 after clashing with Johnson over the prime ministers order to fire his team of advisers.

The fact Johnson brought him back to the government to handle the coronavirus response reflects his reputation as a competent and safe pair of hands.

The son of Pakistani immigrants, Javid has billed himself as a common-man alternative to his private school-educated rivals although he had a lucrative career in investment banking before entering politics.

As with Sunak, he'd make history if he were to win.

MICHAEL GOVE, LEVELLING UP SECRETARY

Gove, a party heavyweight, has held many key Cabinet posts and is currently in charge of delivering on the governments promise to level up Britain, that is, address inequality by increasing opportunities in deprived areas.

Gove, 54, played a key role in the campaign to take Britain out of the EU and is widely respected in the party, but not completely trusted. In the 2016 Conservative leadership campaign, he backed Johnson for leader before deciding he would rather run himself a betrayal that many Conservatives have not forgotten.

To the public, he may be best known for being filmed dancing to techno music at a nightclub in Aberdeen, Scotland, in August, in a clip that drew a lot of chuckles when it went viral on social media.

JEREMY HUNT, FORMER CABINET MINISTER

Hunt, a former health secretary and foreign secretary, ran against Johnson in the 2019 leadership race, billing himself as the more sensible, serious candidate. He lost heavily, and was dumped from the Cabinet when Johnson took over.

In a recent interview, the 55-year-old was quoted as saying that his ambition to lead the country has not completely vanished.

He has remained a lawmaker, and kept himself in the public eye by grilling ministers and experts as head of the Health and Social Care Select Committee in Parliament.

As a critic of the governments response to the pandemic, he may appeal to those seeking a change from Johnson though some look on him unfavorably for implementing unpopular policies when he was health secretary.

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British Conservatives set to go for top job if Johnson falls - ABC News

We have just moved into a house in Woodford Green on the edge of London but BT is unable to offer us broadband. The previous occupant had it, and as soon as I had a moving date I asked BT to switch us. However, it seems that this was not processed properly and the connection has been given to someone else in the road.

Incredibly, BT has told me that the local fibre cabinet is full, and there is no longer an old-style copper line connection. We need wifi to work at home and cant believe this is happening in 2022.

PC, Woodford Green

This unusual case has been something of a trial to resolve. Youd have thought that BT would have taken a keen interest in getting you connected given that it lost your original order, but it has been anything but.

Following my call to Openreach, which manages the overall network, an engineer was dispatched to install one of the old copper wires which will deliver you a basic broadband service. You are just waiting for a replacement router.

I fear we will see more of these cases as landlines are withdrawn over the next two years.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include a phone number. Letters are subject to our terms: gu.com/letters-terms

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Why cant BT connect me to broadband on the edge of London? - The Guardian

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND Tongas main island could have its internet service restored within two weeks, although it may take much longer to repair the connection to the smaller islands, a cable company official said Tuesday.

The single undersea fiber-optic cable which connects the Pacific nation to the outside world was severed 10 days ago after a huge volcanic eruption and tsunami.

That left most people unable to connect with loved ones abroad. For days, people couldnt get through on their phones, by email, or through social media.

Since then, Tongas Digicel has been able to restore international call services to some areas by using satellite connections. Some people have been able to send emails or get limited internet connectivity.

Samieula Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., the state-owned company which owns the fiber-optic cable, said a repair ship had left from Papua New Guinea and was due to stop over in Samoa by Monday to pick up supplies. It should then arrive in Tonga by Feb. 1.

Fonua said the CS Reliance had a crew of about 60 aboard, including engineers, divers and medical staff. He said its equipment included a robot which could assess the cable on the sea bed.

Fonua said preliminary estimates indicated the break in the cable was located about 37 kilometers (23 miles) offshore from the main island of Tongatapu. He said that all going well, the crew should be able to repair the cable by Feb. 8, restoring the internet to about 80% of Tongas customers.

The cable runs from Tonga to Fiji, a distance of about 800 kilometers (500 miles), and was first commissioned in 2013 at a cost of about $16 million. It was financed through grants from the World Bank Group and Asian Development Bank, and increased Tongas internet capacity fivefold.

But like many small Pacific countries, Tonga relies heavily on a single cable to stay connected and has little in the way of a back-up plan. Three years ago, a cable break believed to have been caused by a ship dragging its anchor also led to weeks of disruptions.

A second, domestic fiber-optic cable that connects Tongas smaller islands to the main island could prove much more difficult to repair. Fonua said that cable runs near the undersea volcano which erupted and may have been severely damaged. It might need extensive repairs or even a replacement, he said.

Fonua said the focus was on fixing the main international cable, and they could deal with the domestic connections at a later time.

He said Tongans had been somewhat understanding of the communication disruptions caused by the disaster, which killed three people, destroyed dozens of homes and tainted water supplies with volcanic ash.

People are calm. Coming out of a total blackout, just being able to call outside and send an email has settled them a bit, Fonua said. By the time they start getting more frustrated, Im hoping well have the cable connected by then.

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Internet to Tongas main island could be restored in 2 weeks - newsconcerns

Plans to control traffic, new development, and unsightly satellite dishes are being proposed for Cullompton.

Mid Devon District Councils cabinet, which met on Tuesday, January 4, has approved its draft version of the Cullompton Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) following public consultation.

The consultation took place between June 28 and August 13 2021, with a public meeting being held on July 27, as well as face-to-face consultations.

Key areas identified for improvement in the CAMP include:

Volume and Nature of traffic, and Highway Management

The report states: Given the nodal connection to the motorway, there is high volume of traffic in the main streets of Cullompton which is passing through on its way to and from the motorway.

This includes heavy good vehicles passing through the historic core. The volume of traffic results in queuing at the principal junctions, and when deliveries are made along Fore Street.

Along with the narrow pavement widths, this makes the experience of the historic core quite unpleasant, with the noise, fumes and dirt from the traffic, and at times a feeling of danger for those on foot and bicycle.

Traffic Management

The report states: There is clutter from signage, road markings and traffic islands, some of which relates to highways for direction or for restrictions such as parking.

Public Realm

The report states: A number of negative impacts in the public realm have been identified within the conservation area appraisal. Some are site specific whilst others have an impact throughout the conservation area.

The report lists poor quality paving and surface materials which fail to enhance or re-inforce the historic identity of the conservation area , and that the public accessible pathways to the leat, Forge Way car park, and to Shortlands Road are not legible or welcoming.

It adds: The street furniture, as distinct from traffic control, has grown organically. This has led to a cluttered and uncoordinated appearance

The Higher Bullring is dominated by car parking, the volume and nature of traffic passing through it and associated traffic control measures, and street furniture which has been provided organically over time. The listed War Memorial is a key landmark building here. It is compromised by car parking, and uncoordinated street furniture.

Loss of original architectural details and inappropriate building materials

The report adds: Many of the unlisted, and some of the listed, buildings in the conservation area have been adversely affected by the replacement of original timber sash windows, casement windows and doors with uPVC or aluminium, the replacement of natural roof slates with man-made slate or natural slate being turnerised.

In the case of shopfronts there are a number of cases where the replacement or alteration of historic shop fronts and advertisements has spoiled the external appearance of a building and the local streetscape.

Lack of routine building maintenance and repair

The report states: Buildings in the conservation area are generally in good condition but there are instances of the neglect through lack of routine maintenance and repair which results in unsightly buildings.

Unsightly satellite dishes

The report states: Satellite dishes are a feature of modern living. Unfortunately, when located on the front of a historic building, a satellite dish can spoil the appearance of the building and the street scene.

They have a particularly noticeable adverse effect when a black dish is sited on a light background, especially render. In certain circumstances, satellites dishes may have been installed without the need for planning permission and/or listed building consent.

Sub-division of properties into flats

The report states: Sub-division of properties into flats or let for multiple occupancy can tend to erode external character through poorly maintained buildings, gardens and shared areas by absentee landlords. There can be a lack of external storage for bins etc. and multiple external wires for services.

Overhead power lines and telephone lines

The report states: A number of streets retain above ground servicing by telephone and power cables radiating out from and between telegraph poles which adds clutter to the street scene. In many cases the telegraph poles are metal and have been poorly maintained.

Negative sites and buildings

The report states: This appraisal has identified negative buildings and areas i.e. buildings and areas which clearly detract from the character or appearance of the conservation area and could suitably be redeveloped or improved.

In addition, there are is are vacant sites where some form of built development has the potential to improve the town-scape.

At the meeting Councillor Richard Chesterton (Lower Culm, Conservative), cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration explained: Overall, there were 67 submissions from individuals, 61 using the proforma, and were either online by post at the drop off point and six were letters.

Each of the comments made is responded to with an officer comment.

Overall, comments on the CAMP and its contents are positive and proposed changes to the CAMP are listed in detail with the draft CAMP, which has been updated to include all the changes.

The next stage is that the CAMP is taken to full council in accordance with Mid Devon's constitution and the recommendation which reflects this.

The recommendation is cabinet recommends to council that the Draft CAMP including proposed alterations to the extent of the Cullompton Conservation Area of the planning listed building and Conservation Areas Act 1990 is amended, be approved.

Councillor Nikki Woollatt (Cullompton North, Independent) added: What I really like about this is the management plan principles. I'm very keen to see those move forward into an action plan so this is a document that that does bring about improvements rather than just a policy document that gets referred to occasionally.

This could be used to really drive forward improvements in certain areas.

However, Councillor Graeme Barnell said that while it was a great document it did not address the issue of the motor car and the impact it is having on Cullompton.

The issue is the same across all of our towns, he said.

It's not just the road safety issues, it's the noise, air pollution, the continuing dividing of our communities by ever-increasing streams of traffic.

The issue in Cullompton and most of our towns is a debate between retailers who believe that through traffic brings custom and the rest of the population who have to put up with it.

I think we are continuing to duck the issues in many ways here.

I have great respect for Cullompton Town Council and for Nikki and all the other people involved in these issues, but we need to be taking a more robust approach to the need for through traffic and how we might deal with it in our towns.

He said that the Cullompton relief road plan would not make it all go away

He added: We're going to have to really think carefully about how we deal with through traffic through our towns and mitigate the impact it's having on our communities.

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Traffic and ugly satellite dishes targeted in Cullompton - Devon Live

In 1969 when independent Indias finally got round to thinking about a replacement for George V under the canopy behind India Gate, three names were considered, Nehruji never wanted to remove George V from it, and plans to put Gandhiji there also got stymied. However, Netaji will finally prevail

A statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate on his 125th birth anniversary. Image courtesy: News18

Amid the kerfuffle over the rejection of West Bengals tableau for the Republic Day parade and Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement that a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed in the canopy that Edwin Lutyens designed for George V, not many will remember a factoid: a gigantic statue of Netaji had already graced Rajpath in 2005. It was part of the tableau of the justice department of the Union government, but that is beside the point!

While it is not known in what avatar West Bengal proposed to celebrate Netaji on their 2022 float, the one that featured in that 2005 Republic Day parade in New Delhi had him in military uniform, arm raised and finger pointing forward, simulating his famous Dilli Chalo! clarion call. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will salute that Netaji tableau before Kolkatas Republic Day parade, so the effort has not gone to waste.

Also read: Excluding West Bengal's tableau from Republic Day parade is an assault on representative democracy

It cannot be said that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has been underrepresented in his home state and the city whose municipal corporation was his first political stomping ground. Besides a clutch of educational institutions and stadia major and minor around West Bengal, Kolkatas international airport bears his name as does a neighbourhood and, confusingly, two major roads in different parts of the city. And countless Netaji busts dot small parks and kerbsides.

But the most iconic statue, without doubt, is the one of a uniformed Netaji astride a rearing horse (with a curiously erect tail), installed in 1969 in the middle of Kolkatas busiest multi-road crossing at Shyambazar, amid a tangle of overhead wires. And last year, a Bengali autorickshaw driver spent all his savings and even borrowed money to the commission, finance and erect a fiberglass statue of his hero also astride a horse in his hometown of Basirhat.

His reason for doing so is telling. He is quoted by The Telegraph as saying, I spent only a few years in school. But I realised Netaji was the real icon of our country. I later heard about him from many learned persons and concluded that without his initiative, Independence would have come late. That feeling runs so strong in Bengali hearts that the announcement that Netaji is about to get pride of place in New Delhis Central Vista will undoubtedly resonate.

For a long time the Bengali community that formed a prominent component of the pre-Independence population of New Delhi has felt under-represented in the city of the Nehru-Gandhis. This, even though the capital has a Netaji Nagar (housing mid-level government servants) and a Netaji Subhas Park (renamed, not named) situated on Netaji Subhas Road near Red Fort that also has a bronze statue of the swashbuckling freedom fighter and stormy petrel.

But now, things cant get bigger (and better) than a statue of Bengals valiant son adroitly juxtaposed between a national war memorial and the Central Vista planned by the British itself being thoroughly reimagined and reconstructed. The commemoration of Bose will also shine a light on the oft-forgotten fact that India did not win freedom by satyagraha and ahimsa alone; and that many sons and daughters of India (including Bengalis) died fighting that good fight.

Interestingly, in 1969 when independent Indias government finally got round to thinking about a replacement for George V under the canopy behind India Gate, three names were considered. The first two names were Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. The international news agency Associated Press described the third name as a dark horse and a militant Bengali nationalist: Subhas Chandra Bose. Gandhiji was chosen but never made it to the canopy.

An RTI led to the Central Public Works Department revealing there was no move to install Gandhijis statue in the canopy but added that in 1994 PV Narasimha Raos cabinet decided to develop the area around India Gate as August Kranti Udyan and install a statue there but no specific spot was fixed. In 2009 replying to a question from Congress MP Rajeev Shukla, the Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy said that the decision was taken in 1992.

Roy also said the plan to install Gandhijis statue was put on the backburner after a writ petition in 1995 when a Group of Ministers on directions of the Union Cabinet recommended that the statue be installed at the site of the canopy. In a response to that writ petition from heritage activists, the Delhi High Court passed an interim order in July 1995 restraining the government from altering/ removing/ demolishing the canopy at India Gate complex.

Though the Court disposed of the matter in March 2005, Roy told Parliament there is no immediate demand or proposal to install a Gandhi statue at the India Gate. By then, of course, Gandhijis statue made by the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar for the canopy had already been installed post-haste in the grounds of Parliament in 1993 after the then opposition MP George Fernandes accused the Congress government of leaving it in the middle of the road.

Curiously, the statue of George V continued to preside over Central Vista during the entire long prime ministerial tenure of the third candidate for placement under that canopy, Jawaharlal Nehru. This may seem an inexplicable incongruity, but it must be remembered that Nehru was also one of those who favoured a dominion status for India (recognising the British Crown) post-Independence, a position that was vehemently opposed by Netaji, who wanted total severance.

There will be attempts to stymie the placement of Netajis statue under the canopy too but as there is no proposal to dismantle the Lutyens designed structure, heritage activists may find little cause to oppose it. The proposal has the first-mover advantage as even political parties will now be averse to doing anything to deride the idea. Maybe Mamata Banerjee will propose replacing Queen Victorias statue at Kolkatas landmark Victoria Memorial with one of Netaji too.

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Netajis Dilli Chalo campaign finally finds fruition ..tussle over Bengal tableaus exclusion at R-Day parade - Firstpost

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Global Backsplash & Wall Tile Services Market to witness an impressive growth during the forecast period 2021 to 2027 The Oxford Spokesman - The...

On a cold January night two years ago, Regina Cappelli, a single grandmother raising two young grandsons, got the call from her local county child welfare agency.

Another grandchild an infant had just been removed from Cappellis daughter, also the mother of the other boys. Come get the baby, or he would go into foster care, she was told.

Overwhelmed and unprepared, Cappelli called Karen Barnes, another single grandmother raising a grandchild.

I was devastated and I was in tears, the Delaware County woman recalled. When you get these kids, you get the clothes on their back and thats it. I said, I dont know what Im going to do.

Her friend wasnt just sympathetic. She was outraged.

Karen said, Thats it! Somethings got to be done!

That night, Barnes got on social media. The next day, when she showed up at Cappellis home, the grandmother couldnt believe her eyes.

She filled up my living room! said Cappelli, now raising her three grandsons. Four contractor bags full of clothes, diapers out the wazoo, formula, a Pack n Play, a stroller, blankets galore, wipes. I couldnt imagine something like that from just overnight.

Barnes was also amazed by the robust response her posts received. She took it to heart.

I said to myself, I have a gift and I am definitely being called, Barnes said. I can do this.

And thus, Grands Stepping Up (GSU) was born. A nonprofit organization, GSU provides support to grandparents raising their grandchildren and kinship guardians raising their family members.

Everything I do and try to empower others to do comes from saying yes, said Barnes, 58.

For this former volunteer program coordinator who had to stop working due to a chronic gastrointestinal condition, saying yes meant taking emergency custody and eventually adopting her granddaughter, Ellianna, now 9. It came to mean seeing other guardians who needed help, just like she often had, and deciding to do something about it.

Grands Stepping Up has come a long way since it started in 2020.

The program runs Denis Pantry, a place where any member of the Delaware County community and grandparents from anywhere can come for food, clothing, and baby goods. GSU estimates the pantry served about 500 families last year. It is located in the basement of Llanerch Hills Chapel in Havertown and named after Barnes brother, who died of COVID-19.

But Grands Stepping Up has expanded in other ways, too.

The group has partnered with other organizations like the Main Line Art Center and the Kiwanis of the Main Line to provide free art programs for the grandkids. GSU has also helped provide holiday meals for hundreds of grandfamilies.

GSU now has a legal clinic with local family lawyers offering their services on a sliding scale. There are three licensed therapists volunteering their services for trauma-focused counseling for the children and their guardians. The group also has been able to provide some financial assistance.

Often, GSU will put out a special request on its Facebook page and get it granted, like the funds raised to pay for a tombstone. Their appeals are seldom ignored, Barnes said.

I can tell you we always have our donors who come through for us, she said. A lot of people have been touched by so much stuff in their lives, they want to come forward to help.'

A lot of the grandparents raising grandchildren are living on fixed incomes. Some who do get governmental support say it is meager, but they are reluctant to get more involved with the child welfare system, even though it would mean more aid.

Some profess a lack of trust in the foster care system. They say they dont believe the intrusion would be in the best interest of their families. Others feel theyre to blame for their offsprings problems that rendered them unable to care for their own children.

I was so mortified, embarrassed. I was thinking this was my fault, Barnes said.

The bottom line, they say, is many of these family caretakers are struggling.

We truly are, as grandparents and most importantly the children, the silent victims of the opioid epidemic and the mental-health crisis in this country, Barnes said. We are the silent victims that no one was even considering because were all hiding.

But with a group like Grands Stepping Up, theyre no longer alone. They are helping each other.

Its like a parenting organization for grandparents, said Mary Eileen Johnston, 62, a Havertown grandmother raising her 4-year-old grandson. I know theyll always be there for me even if its just to ring and say, I need to talk.

Johnston discovered GSU on Facebook about two years ago. She stopped by the pantry to check it out, bringing some items to donate, and got to know some of the people active in GSU. A church organist who lost work when many congregations stopped in-person services, Johnston was able to find recreation opportunities for her grandson from GSUs partners. Thats included arts supplies and programs through the Kiwanis and the Main Line Art Center and dance lessons donated by Twirl, a Newtown Square dance studio. And Johnston has become a pantry volunteer.

Community members have heard about GSU and decided to pitch in, like Amie and Jim Cannon, a Havertown couple who adopted five children from the foster care system. Jim Cannon has extended his Cannon Handyman Services to fix grandparents heaters. Amie, meanwhile, helped run a project in which the grandchildren grew tomatoes that they presented to the grandparents.

Its kids learning to give back, she said.

Kathy Baggio, 68, a retired medical transcriptionist from Secane, is also a pantry volunteer and chair of GSUs support group. Raising her grandsons, ages 12 and 17, GSU has helped with desperately needed car repairs, utility bills, and funds toward a housing security deposit.

Theres definitely not enough support for the grandparents, and Im not saying that because I am one, Baggio said. A lot of grandparents have given up their savings, if they had any. They are on fixed incomes, and things have become so much harder out there.

Many of these families also have mental-health needs.

Beth Tyson directs GSUs trauma-focused therapeutic services. At present, three licensed therapists offer counseling at no charge, but Tyson hopes to find others who will also volunteer services. Many of the children have experienced trauma and need mental health, but many of the grandparents could use help as well, said Tyson, a child trauma consultant and author.

There are so many unique challenges that come along with raising your grandchild, she said.

In the coming year, she is planning on introducing webinars on trauma-informed parenting for these guardians, as well as hopefully yoga and meditation classes.

Expanding mental-health help and being able to offer more much-needed financial support are two of the ways Barnes would like to see Grands Stepping Up grow. Last year, the nonprofit got its first grant about $20,000 from the Phillies and Barnes hopes to apply for more.

All in all, Grands Stepping Up has done pretty well for a group that got started from a Facebook call for help. As much as its come along, its roots are still in the family. Chelsea Barnes, one of Barnes daughters, is her vice president. Randi Kobielnik, her oldest offspring, is her chief operating officer. Ellianna, the granddaughter she adopted, is one of her volunteers.

So is Elliannas mother. In the years since she had the child when she was 17, the young woman, who did not wish to have her name used, said she has turned her life around.

Ive been clean for six years, Im active in my daughters life, and Ive rebuilt my relationship with my mother, my sisters, and my daughter, she said. A lot of my moms grandparents and volunteers know Im Elliannas mom, and that I was a drug addict and Im clean. It gives them a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, like, Maybe this could be for my family, too.

Barnes says she was touched by the help she got along the way. It inspired her. It still does.

I appreciate everyone who has ever done anything for me and my granddaughter, but I recognized I had a vision that was greater and bigger. I knew we could help better. I knew we could do more. We could get more people involved to make more of a difference, said Barnes.

Its just the power of saying yes and not giving up.

For more information about Grands Stepping Up, visit https://grandssteppingupinfo.com/ or call 610-355-6362.

Link:
Grands Stepping Up supports grandparents who are raising their grandchildren alone - The Philadelphia Inquirer