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Maria Moreno, a nurse in the Yucatan, always planned to move to her familys home in Citilcum once she retired. But a new train line meant to bring prosperity to Mexicos long underdeveloped and impoverished south may be pushing her plans off track. Last spring, the national tourism agency told her that her gleaming-white home surrounded by coconut trees would need to be demolished.

The Mayan Train is a pet project of President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, who won on a populist ticket to create jobs and improve the lives of Mexicos rural poor and Indigenous populations. But how the project has been carried out with complaints of limited community consultations, incomplete environmental studies, and threats to displace many of the presidents most vulnerable supporters has soured some against him, including Ms. Moreno, who voted for Mr. Lpez Obrador back in 2018.

Mexicos president won on a ticket to help the countrys most vulnerable. But, with the end of his term approaching, his rush to complete big works could create a more complicated legacy.

The Mayan Train is meant to extend around the Yucatan Peninsula in a roughly 950-mile loop that links tourism centers like the colonial city of Mrida and the hipster paradise of Tulum. The government estimates it will increase tourism revenue by 20% and create more than 1 million jobs.

The president doesnt seem swayed by the criticism and pushback on the project, convinced any resistance to the train wont translate to a dip in support, says Carlos Bravo Regidor, a political analyst. Indigenous resistance to the project was never an issue [for this administration], he says.

Citilcum, Mexico

Maria Moreno promised her mother she would always take care of their family home. After her parents died, Ms. Moreno and her husband painted the houses walls gleaming white and planted a shady grove of coconut trees in the yard.

But the care that went into the home didnt seem to matter to Mexicos national tourism agency, Fonatur, when a representative told her last spring that it would need to be demolished. The government is making way for a massive infrastructure project called the Mayan Train, which it wants to build along the power lines that rise beside Ms. Morenos home in this steamy village about 170 miles west of Cancn.

The Mayan Train is a pet project of President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, who won the presidency on a populist ticket to create jobs and improve the lives of Mexicos rural poor and Indigenous populations. But how the project has been carried out so far with complaints of limited community consultations, incomplete environmental studies, and threats to displace many of the presidents most vulnerable supporters has soured some voters against the president, including Ms. Moreno, who voted for him back in 2018.

Mexicos president won on a ticket to help the countrys most vulnerable. But, with the end of his term approaching, his rush to complete big works could create a more complicated legacy.

He has really deceived us, says Ms. Moreno, who works as a nurse. We were excited about change, but now things are going from bad to worse. Ms. Moreno currently lives in nearby Campeche, but always planned to move back to her familys home in retirement.

The Mayan Train is meant to extend around the Yucatan Peninsula in a roughly 950-mile loop that links tourism centers like the colonial city of Mrida and the hipster paradise of Tulum. Mr. Lpez Obrador promotes the train as a way to reduce poverty in the Yucatan: The government estimates it will increase tourism revenue by 20% and create more than 1 million jobs.

Locals gather in the shade of the municipal palace in Kimbil, Mexico, June 28, 2021, to discuss how their community can organize to have a say in the development of the Mayan Train. The major infrastructure project that has become a touchstone of President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, who ran on a ticket of lifting up poor people.

Most of the train will run on existing tracks that need modernizing. The government plans to construct the rest on public and private land, which means eviction for some in Mexicos Yucatan. The government, which broke ground on the project in 2020, would not provide specific numbers on how many households it will relocate, saying the estimate of homes that could be affected is constantly changing. But Kalycho Escoffi, a lawyer who assists families facing displacement, estimates more than 2,000 homes will be demolished to clear space for the train.

Thats hit at the hope some in Mexico felt in voting for Mr. Lpez Obrador, who has built his personal brand on fighting for the little man and rejecting corruption. But Mr. Lpez Obrador is convinced any resistance to the train wont translate into a significant dip in support at the polls, says Carlos Bravo Regidor, a political analyst whose podcast Un Poco de Contexto featured an episode about the Mayan Train.

Construction started without securing the buy-in of Indigenous communities, says Mr. Bravo. Indigenous resistance to the project was never an issue [for this administration].

The Mayan Train has become so contentious its divided some friends and family over how to address Mexicos stark inequality.

The largely rural south has historically experienced higher rates of poverty and unemployment than the more industrialized north.And some take issue with the projects very name, calling it an act of cultural appropriation, commercializing Mayan culture without including Indigenous communities in the plans.

Francisco Colle, a member of the Mayan community in the town of Hctun, likens the presidents ambitious focus on infrastructure to the United States New Deal. He foresees construction jobs that will allow disadvantaged communities to put food on the table.

Now a lot of rich people [in Mexico] are mad because theyre no longer getting a piece of the cake, says Mr. Colle.

But others say its just another project dreamed up by the powerful, who will reap all the benefits. The train has backing from Mexican scion Carlos Slim, one of the richest people in the world.

Were living in the modern colonial era, says Juan, who is Mayan and declined to give his last name because he fears retaliation for his opposition to the train. He calls it a continuation of the Spanish conquest, in which outsiders plunder Indigenous lands. None of the profits from the Mayan Train will stay in our communities.

The government is obligated to consult Indigenous communities prior to building new projects on their land, according to Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization, which Mexico has ratified. Fonatur has repeatedly come under fire for not holding these consultations.

Mexico plans to build part of the Mayan Train along an access road below tall power lines that run through the small village of Citilcum, seen here June 28, 2021. The more than 950-mile project, championed by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, will link tourism hot spots like Cancn and Tulum.

Javier Velzquez Moctezuma, Fonaturs scientific coordinator for the Mayan Train, says the government complied with their obligations, organizing meetings in 15 regions along the trains route with interpreters who translated into Indigenous languages.

Many people [told us] they wanted the train, they wanted development, they wanted to have opportunities, Mr. Velzquez says, acknowledging the government hasnt held consultations in every town where the train will operate.

With the end of Mr. Lpez Obradors term looming in 2024, Mr. Velzquez says Fonatur must work to finish the train quickly. The train isexpected to cost nearly $10 billion. He maintains any disadvantages of speeding the projects construction are overshadowed by benefits.

But the collapse of Line 12 of Mexico Citys metro last spring casts doubt on a rushed project.Mariano Snchez-Talanquer, a political science professor at El Colegio de Mxico, says authorities rushed to complete that metro line and the project was carried out by a company owned by Mr. Slim that is also involved in constructing a section of the Mayan Train.

You cant help but think the same type of problems with the metro could be replicated, Dr. Snchez-Talanquer says.

Recently Mexicos government took the bold step of passing a measure that would expedite infrastructure projects in the name of public interest and national security. Critics say the move undermines regulatory measures and makes public spending less transparent, while allowing AMLO, as the president is often referred, to steamroll into existence big projects like the Mayan Train or a new Mexico City airport. He hasmore than 60%approval.

Despite some local disapproval of the train, I think the president is calculating that his popularity gives him no reason to change course, says Dr. Snchez-Talanquer.

On a Sunday morning last summer, nearly two-dozen residents from the town of Kimbil gathered in the shade of the municipal palace. They brainstormed ways to organize their community in order to gain greater say in the trains construction. Locals sat in a circle across from an aging colonial church and shops selling the regions colorful embroidery. Organizers say one strategy theyre using to appeal to AMLO supporters is to try and underscore that their discontent isnt blanket opposition.

I voted for Lpez Obrador, and Ill probably vote for [his party] Morena again, but that doesnt mean that I agree with how theyre implementing the Mayan Train, a software engineer named Juan Mex told the small crowd.

Chief among Mr. Mexs concerns is the fact that Fonatur has not held a local consultation with his community in Kimbil. The government plans to build part of the train in the local ejido collective farmland.

Representatives from Fonatur did come to Kimbil, but Mr. Mex says the government only met with select members of the ejido in a series of closed-door sessions. Everyone else was excluded, even though the entire community would be potentially affected.

Mr. Mex and others decided to fight for their right to attend, spending the summer pressuring authorities to give them a seat at the table. Despite their efforts, they remained sidelined: The government paid the ejido members 5,000 pesos each about $250 for the right to construct the train, locals say.

Theyll spend [that] in one month, says Jorge Fernndez Mendiburu, a lawyer with the human rights group Indignacin, which has won several injunctions to stop construction on parts of the train. Its an insult for those who live in poverty.

Still, the rollout has done little to dissuade Mr. Lpez Obradors core supporters.

Get stories that empower and uplift daily.

Mr. Colle, a former immigrant living in California, decided not to try to return to the U.S. after Mr. Lpez Obrador became president. For the first time in his life, he says he feels he has a future here. He wants to open a business near the train and take advantage of the increased foot traffic he expects to come with the train line.

If Mexico keeps going in the same direction, Mr. Colle says, then in 20 years, well probably be like Canada.

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Mexicos Mayan Train: Will it hurt those its meant to help? - The Christian Science Monitor

Longstanding structural issues at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts threaten the health and future of the building and need to be addressed, but it wont be able to do everything it wants after the Historic Landmarks Commission rejected the proposed color choice for the building, calling it too dramatic a chance for the iconic downtown building.

Commissioners voted 6-1 at its Jan. 13 meeting to support the Department of Planning and Community Developments recommendation to grant a certificate of appropriateness to allow proposed work to replace windows, the supports above them and moldings around the top of the building, but reject the choice of paint. Chairman Oliver Hobbs voted no.

I have family, I graduated there, my mother did she was back in the early (19)30s, said Commissioner Susan Coley. I think anybody from Suffolk itself is very sentimental to that, and youre taking away part of what is your memory. Theres got to be a better way of repairing, making better repairs.

Lorelei Costa Morrow, executive director and CEO of the arts center, spoke during a public hearing of the Historic Landmarks Commission Jan. 13 to get their support for the needed work, which includes addressing leaks and water damage that make part of the 78,600-square-foot structure uninhabitable.

Windows are also falling out in parts of the building and are taped off to keep people from getting hurt.

Costa Morrow said the center started the work about two years ago on fixing up the longstanding issues with the building, which formerly served as the old Suffolk High School. However, COVID-19 delayed those efforts.

The issues that you have before you are ones that existentially threaten our building, Costa Morrow said. Theyre existential threats to our building and our mission. These repairs that you have in front of you are a long time coming.

Specifically, the arts center is looking to replace all four-over-four double-hung windows on the original section of the building that are beyond repair with four-over-four double-hung aluminum-clad wood windows. It also wants to replace all one-over-one double-hung windows on the rear addition of the building that are beyond repair with one-over-one double-hung aluminum-clad wood windows.

All existing steel lintels that are beyond repair would be replaced with new galvanized steel lintels and new flashing. All damaged brick around the opening of the windows would be repaired and replaced with similar brick and mortar in color.

Also, all wood and metal cornice and dentil sections would be replaced with an exterior insulation and finish system to match the existing material in color and profile and to match the existing sections of cornice and dentil exterior insulation and finish system sections.

It would also paint all brick, columns, cornice, dentil, trim, accent panels and upper parapet with a white opaque protective coating, known as Tnemec paint. The granite tread and risers would not be coated.

Though the staff report supported the work the arts center has proposed for the windows, as well as the wood and metal cornice and dentil sections, it did not support painting over the building, noting that painting unpainted brick is not permitted by Historic District guidelines, and they state that waterproof, water-repellent or non-historic coatings should not be used because they often trap moisture inside the masonry and cause more problems in freeze/thaw cycles. The building is an anchor to the northwest corner of the Historic District and is highly visible from both West Finney Avenue and North Main Street.

Gerrie West, a principal architect with Dills Architects of Virginia Beach, which is heading up the arts centers restoration project, said the reason for the coating is to cover up bricks that have been removed and replaced due to previous repairs and are visible on the buildings exterior. The coating would cover up much more of it that they expect to happen when the lintels above every window are replaced.

Also, West said if they reuse the existing brick, assuming it could salvage enough, the mortar is the main visual problem. Getting it to match the existing mortar is nearly impossible, she said, due to the age of the existing mortar. The coating being used, West said, is not a sealer, but is breathable and made for use on old bricks. It allows the moisture from inside the building to penetrate the brick and come back out. She said it is not holding moisture inside the building and allowing it to cause more problems.

Mark Brinkley, president of C.W. Brinkley Inc. Construction of Suffolk, the general contractor for the project, said he was brought in due to the leaking issues. At the time, because it wasnt able to do all of the work needed, it put in a silicone sealer on the northeast side of the building the side having the absolute worst problems, he said.

Having worked with the arts center for more than a decade, Brinkley said the sealer would only buy the arts center a few years, calling it a Band-Aid.

The water was coming in so drastically that we had to do something to slow it down, Brinkley said. And over these years, its just continued the sealer has deteriorated and moistures been coming in worse and worse.

He said they would have used a clear coating if one was available that could do the job, but he said the white opaque protective coating would have covered what would have been a brick and mortar that would not have matched.

About five years ago, the arts center asked him what had to be done long-term, and Brinkley pointed to the work he and Dills Architects had done in downtown Norfolk for the 100-year building that housed Crossroads Church, which underwent a similar renovation to what has been proposed for the arts center.

All the windows and doors to the church had been removed and replaced, replaced the lintels and put new flashing in to get the water out. They also used the opaque coating because in many older buildings, Brinkley said, the moisture is designed to go into and through the walls and on the backside, there were furring strips to enable the moisture to come down the backside of the wall and drain out through the ground.

That worked when the building had no air conditioning, but now, when the water comes through, its trapped in the wall because the air conditioning draws air into the building, he said. Previously, windows could be opened to dry the walls out. He said that cant happen, so they must create a barrier to prevent the moisture from getting trapped in the walls. The Tnemec coating doesnt allow moisture into the wall, but it lets moisture out of it.

Since Tnemec coating has been put on the Norfolk church more than six years ago, Brinkley said they have had no issues with that.

In my opinion, if were going to correct the problem here, Brinkley said, and were trying to fix the envelope of this building forever, we need to go with the best product out there, and thats why we chose the Tnemec.

Several commissioners expressed concern about the choice of color for the building.

Commissioner George Bailey Jr. noted the buildings status as an anchor in the community and said despite his concern about the proposed color change, the commission has been presented with enough evidence that the buildings integrity has deteriorated.

My only concern is the overall changing of the color, Bailey said. I think (Brinkley) has already mentioned that theres nothing out there that will preserve the integrity of it, but we see a stark difference in the color from the existing red brick to an all-white exterior.

Said Commissioner Merritt Draper: I think that building is the most outstanding building in the city. I think it should be maintained as much as it can in its original color. The original color is brick, but I see here it does not approach that.

Commissioner Edward King asked why the paint couldnt be a different color that more approximated the current color of the bricks on the building.

The paint can be whatever color we want, Brinkley said. We could go with red. The problem is that youre never going to be able to simulate the mortar joints. because you would have to paint those individually, and I dont think that would be what you would want.

King agreed with Brinkleys point about the mortar joints, but asked whether more than one coat of the clear sealer could be applied.

Brinkley said the clear sealer would last just three to five years before it would have to be reapplied, versus the proposed paint that would last 15 to 20 years, he said.

Youre still going to have the mismatch of the brick and mortar, where every single window, weve got to cut out a section of brick above the windows and doors, and we have to put new flashings in, new lintels and lay that brick back, and youre going to see that difference between the two mortars. Its just no way around that. The Tnemec paint is just so much superior. Its designed for what were using it for. And in my experience, its 10 to 1 as far as quality. If we could go with a clear coat that would last and that it would give the protection, I would say thats what we need to do, but theres just not one out there.

Hobbs said he has seen brick buildings painted red in an effort to look like bricks that have turned out awful.

Still, Commissioner Brian Shaffer said he struggled with the loss of detail on the sides of the building no matter what color is used.Im really torn about altering the look of it that dramatically, Shaffer said.

Costa Morrow said the arts center wants to use the modern technology and materials available to them to ensure its use to support the arts in the Historic District for generations to come. She said the proposal before the commission is vital to continue its work.

We are proud and honored to be part of the district, Costa Morrow said. We want to continue to preserve and use this building and we want to make sure that the perfect is not the enemy of the good in this case.

See original here:
Structural issues at arts center an 'existential threat' to building, mission - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald

Restaurant patios in Toronto are reeling from a recent enforcement blitz from public health officials.

What started out as a complaint about a blocked fire hydrant back in December turned into a myriad of inspections, notices to comply and notices of violation, co-owner of Cafe Diplomatico, Rocco Mastrangelo Jr. told the Star.

We were using our patio as a way to keep ourselves viable, open, paying our bills, and not laying off staff, he said.

On Jan. 14, Mastrangelo said he was given three different violations or orders to comply. One for the fire hydrant being obstructed, one for not having two sides of their patio open and a third for issues with their gas heaters, which were later fixed, according to Mastrangelo.

After a meeting on Thursday, the Cafe Diplomatico shut down its patio until it is able to fully reopen.

The health department, they want two sides (of the patio) open. Or if you have a retractable roof you have to have the roof open and one side open. Its minus 20 outside so basically its useless, said Mastrangelo.

He said the latest installation of heaters on their patio cost $80,000, which are now out of use due to the closure. The entire patio structure, he said, cost the restaurant over $200,000.

Mr. Ford, he says that were in it together. Were not in this together. Its only certain industries that had to take the brunt of this lockdown and restrictions. It seems like for whatever reason its always in the hospitality industry, he said.

St. Clair Wests Atomic10 is another restaurant among those affected. Earlier this month, the iconic Latin American restaurant was classified as being too enclosed by public health officials, co-owner Anna Canzona told the Star.

The officials asked the owners to either close the patio, or take down two full sides, which include Plexiglas panels as well as wooden barriers, according to Canzona.

We offered to remove the Plexiglas, but those wooden barriers are structurally integral to the patio, so they decided to shutter, Canzona said.

The official rules, according to the Reopening Ontario Act, are as follows:

If an outdoor dining area is covered, at least two sides of the area must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked by any walls or other impermeable physical barriers. And if it has a retractable roof, when its retracted, at least one side of the area must open to the outdoors and not be blocked.

But Canzona said they were not aware of the two-sides-fully open rule.

When they closed indoor dining, they said that patios would be allowed to operate. So we did continue to operate, not knowing that there were guidelines, Canzona said.

In response to questions by the Star, Toronto Public Health reiterated the outdoor dining rules outlined in the Reopening Ontario Act.

The City continues to work with businesses to educate them, help them understand the regulations and be in the compliance, said an emailed statement sent Sunday.

Staff from Toronto Public Health continue to respond to complaints and conduct inspections to ensure businesses are following the requirements under the ROA, including the patio requirements.

Matt Park, co-owner of Burdock Brewery, said that his restaurant was also visited by public health officials. Similar to Canzona, Park was told that lifting their rollable walls was not enough, and that their fences must also be removed.

Its a waist height fence, and that apparently isnt considered completely open even though the walls are completely up. Theres air blowing through and its still freezing, Park said.

The regulations say the two openings must not be substantially blocked by any walls or other impermeable physical barriers.

If you look at the definition of permeable, permeable is that gases and liquids could pass through it. Our fence has holes in it. Its not like a sealed airtight barrier.

Despite this, Burdock Brewery says it was given a letter from public health ordering them to comply, or they could risk fines.

Park said they have been in contact with their city councillor and public health, but it has been difficult to get clear answers on how they can keep the restaurant open to keep their staff employed and pay their bills.

By no means are we wanting to contravene public bylaws. We just want to know what they are, said Park.

This comes as the food and beverage industry in the province has already been through the mill in recent weeks, due to COVID-19 restrictions throttling capacities at eateries.

Although restrictions are set to ease on Jan. 31, restaurants are still uncertain about their future. Canzona is taking contingency steps, by getting two food trucks up and going.

We just dont know whats going to happen next. So were trying to prepare ourselves in case there is another lockdown, Canzona said.

Hopefully nothing changes from now until then.

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Were not in this together: Outdoor patios shuttered, warned over public health restrictions - Toronto Star

Stonegate Fellowship leaders are attempting to connect with Midlanders in their 20s and 30s for a different type of worship and ministry

The plan is to start a Porch Live location in downtown Midland, beginning Tuesday.

The Porch is a program that started with a church in Dallas called Watermark. Every Tuesday, thousands gather in Dallas and even more at our livestream locations around the country, according to the website -- http://www.theporch.live. Lives are changing, friendships are forming, and many are finding hope they never had before. Through messages, music, and relationships with other young adults, our goal is to walk alongside you through the highs and lows of adulting. From talks about dating, relationships, anxiety and more, we are learning what it looks like to live a life full of purpose.

Stonegate Fellowship leaders said Midland will be the 14th location to join the livestream, and they want young professionals in the city no matter their church preference to come along. And in this case, they will meet the 20- and 30-somethings in a professional setting the Second Story Coworking Space, 223 West Wall St. suite 200 (above Cancun Grill in downtown Midland).

Doors will open at 7, said Chase Gilbert, the student pastor at Stonegate. The service begins at 7:15 (p.m.). We see this being a city-wide thing and wanted to capitalize with the push toward downtown, with Centennial Park. We see the city very intentionally making downtown the place to be. We want to take advantage of that and use that.

So, after work, get dinner, stay downtown and go to the Porch. We want it to be the place to be for that age demographic.

Gilbert talked about the younger men and women who are making Midland their homes. The Porch will help identify those issues that young singles face, including the culture struggle. The Porch also provides a ministry opportunity for those young adults that havent connected with a more traditional church institution. Single or married, the Porch should be a place to gather and help navigate lifes ups and down and to love and serve Jesus.

They know their target audience, Gilbert said. They will speak about things that a 20- or 30-year-old will face.

Now, it is a matter of getting the word out. Gilbert said they attracted more than 100 followers in their first full week on Instagram and have expectations of at least 50 or 60 who are interested.

We want there to be excitement across the city, Gilbert said. We want this to be a city-wide thing, not a Stonegate thing.

Gilbert added that movements happen with younger age groups, and those movements create people who emerge as the next leaders.

We will see God use this and raise future leaders to lead our city and state, Gilbert said.

Read the rest here:
Stonegate to use the Porch to reach younger adults - Midland Reporter-Telegram

CHICAGO (CBS) Following two back-to-back storms, the entire Chicago area has been left under several inches of snow and ice.

As CBS 2 meteorologist Tammie Souza explains, arctic air will settle across the region tonight plunging us to near zero with the coldest temperatures since last February.

Black ice becomes the problem on sidewalks, stairs, driveway and porches and with temperatures not expected to go above freezing for the next seven days that ice becomes dangerous if not treated.

Applying a thin layer of Ice Melt pellets or flakes is the best way to minimize the ice threat. What type of Ice Melt depends on the air temperature.

The most commonly used melt is rock salt, better known as sodium chloride. One pound can melt up to 46 pounds of ice. Unfortunately it is only effective to about 20 degrees F and stops working below that temperature.

With our temperatures expected to be at or below zero the next few nights there are other options that will work better at such low temperatures.

In extreme cold experts recommend using either Calcium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride. Calcium chloride will melt ice down to -25 degrees F and is the most gentle on walkways and surfaces.

Magnesium Chloride works well down to -10 degrees F and works the fastest. It is also considered more environmentally friendly than the other two.

Remember to always keep any ice melt product away from children and pets and wipe off your pets paws after they walk through a treated area.

Read more:
The Best Way To Melt All That Ice - CBS Chicago

Editor's Note: The Porch Talk series explores the most recent happenings around town and what residents think about it.

As the new year begins, Maury Countyresidents have faced significant blustery winter weather from windy snowfall and sleet to icy road conditions that haveled to the closure of schools and local government offices.

Even though winter weather can cause some inconveniences, many cozy memories can be made with friends and family while snowed indoors.

In recognition of the recent snowfall and dips in temperature, The Daily Herald askedwilling participants this question: What is your favorite thing to do on a snowy day?

"My favorite thing to do when when it'ssnowing is to sit inside with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and just enjoy the view because it is so pretty. "

- Megan Hendrickson, Culleoka

"My big thing is sledding. We would spend hours outside, and my mom would make us snow cream and hot chocolate when we would finally go back inside. I don't know if other people do this, but to make snow cream, she would go outsideandget the top layer of snow and make it into like a snow cone, mixing it with vanilla extract and sugar."

- Katie Belt, Clarksville

"What I do when I'm snowed in isgrab my camera and head outside. Sometimes I'll get in my car when it's not too bad, and I will find my favorite spots to grab a photo. There's a pond in my backyard, and I'll take pictures of the ducks or whatever is out there on the pond."

- Kellye Murphy, Columbia Tourism & Marketing Director, Columbia

"I've got a driveway that's about a quarter mile uphill. So, for fun I go out there and clear it. I'll also hang out with my mom, who is a 'tough old bird'and about to turn 80 years old and still works. So when we're snowed in, I'll spend a day with her, enjoying some days off together, because my one day off is usually yard work or house work."

- Charlie Pignato, Williamsport

"I dont like it. I stay inside, and I dont go out if I don't have to. When I was young, it used to snow a lot here. I prefer to stay inside and watch TV; sports, if they are on."

- David Joyce, Columbia

"I have two acres, and it keeps me busy. I have to clear downed branches and ice. I prefer the summer, mowing grass and planting flowers."

- Bettye McNeese, Columbia

"I love playing with my son. First, we play in the snow, make a snowman and snow angels. Then, we go inside to have hot chocolate, and then we have a pillow fight."

- Victoria Beard-Fitzpatrick, Columbia

"Mainly, I stay in and study for my teaching degree that I am seeking as a student at Columbia State Community College. After teachinghome school for 26 years and being a home school consultant, I realized I want to be a teacher in the classroom. I also love sipping a cup of hot tea and diffusing essential oils to enjoy the aroma."

- Alicia Meese, Columbia

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Porch Talk: What is your favorite thing to do on a snowy day? - Columbia Daily Herald

News you can use Denver! Let's get this Monday started. Here's what's going on today in town.

Monday's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 44 Low: 25.

Here are the top stories in Denver today:

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Porch Pirate + Homeless Impact Study + Cold And Snow On The Way - Patch.com

A man who was awarded 105,000 for a fall in the porch of his council house after drinking claimed this week "five pints is nothing" after the award was overturned.

homas Keegan successfully sued Sligo County Council in the High Court in 2017 for injuries sustained in a fall at his council property in McNeill Drive in Sligo in 2013.

But Mr Keegan, who was given 30,000 of the award after the original case, also told the Sunday World that he no longer has the money.

He had successfully argued that despite being a tenant, he was just a visitor to the council property where he had lived for nine years and the council were the occupier so were responsible for the porch being slippery.

However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the case be reheard in the High Court as in the original case Mr Justice Anthony Barr had discounted alcohol as a factor in the fall "purely on the basis of the judge's own opinion and not on the basis of evidence".

It also ruled that the judge had not considered the question of Mr Keegan's own knowledge of the tiles having lived there for nine years.

Last week, the High Court found that Mr Keegan failed to prove the council was in any way responsible for the fall after finding the tiles did not pose a danger and that as a tenant at the property he had control over the condition and cleanliness of the tiles.

On the day of the accident Mr Keegan had been at a funeral and had five pints of Guinness before coming home and slipping on the tiles of his porch at the council house. Mr Keegan said the pints had no bearing on his fall.

"Sure, five pints is nothing," Mr Keegan told the Sunday World. "And they were five quick pints that day too because it was a cold old day. I was only coming from a funeral. I bought a bit of grub as well to come home with. You'd drink a lot more. It's only when the bad weather was here [that the porch was slippy]."

Mr Keegan said he wasn't even aware of the latest High Court ruling when we spoke to him at his home this week.

The former construction worker suffered a fracture to his left distal tibia and fibula in the fall and told the Sunday World that he has had four operations on his leg since and can no longer work. He is currently on disability payments.

Mr Keegan said the publicity around the original case caused him great hassle and people in Sligo believed he had been paid the 105,000.

"The papers wrote a load of sh*t. There was 10 different stories every day. I was getting assaulted over the town and I thought I was going to be robbed. The papers put the headline in that it was 105,000 and they all thought I got it.

"If I got the 105,000 there were houses going cheap enough then I would bought one for myself and got away from those."

While he wasn't given the 105,000 following the initial High Court victory in 2017, the judge in that case did order he be paid 30,000 of the sum pending an appeal from Sligo County Council's and their insurers.

His lawyers were also given an additional 20,000 in costs.

The council and insurers are now seeking to recover that money, but Mr Keegan told the Sunday World the money he got is already gone.

"I haven't got it... I can agree to give them 5 or 10 a month and I can default on that a month later. It'll cost them more money to bring me to court.

"I found out lately that [the council] have their own insurance company and nobody takes them on. They have their own insurance company [which insures councils] over the whole of Ireland. They've won a good few cases lately."

He said he was disappointed to learn from the Sunday World that the High Court ruled in favour of the council last week.

"Ah I am. I was looking for a few pound out of it. I'm on disability. My leg is f***ed. I've had four operations on this leg."

He said the accident ended his ability to work on sites.

"I'll never walk right again."

He showed us his mobility scooter which he said he now uses to get around because he can't walk for too long.

Mr Keegan added that before the accident he had planned to go back to England to work on sites there.

"I worked for a load of years in England have a load of contacts. Here it's not the same for me. I used to do the paving and kerbing and drive the machines. You were paid for what you do. Here you're just a general operative. A fella who knows nothing, who is just wheeling a barrow, gets paid the same money."

He said the council came to remove the tiles on the porch last month - seven years after the accident.

"They took it all out just before Christmas. They came here around the middle of December. There was no warning; they just came and said 'we're taking the tiles up'. That's how slow they are.

"It's ugly looking but it's safer. I had a lot more mats down [afterwards]. That concrete goes black. The tiles were lethal. Half of the area was taken up after my court case."

In the original case, Mr Justice Barr found that the council were responsible for the house and though he was a tenant Mr Keegan was a visitor to the property, therefore the council were liable for damages.

However, in the new High Court ruling on the case last week Mr Justice John Jordan said it was "artificial" for Mr Keegan to suggest he was a visitor of the council-owned house which he rented and occupied.

The judge also noted that council did not argue the consumption of five pints by Mr Keegan was an act of contributory negligence but argued it as a factor in regard to Mr Keegan's duty to take reasonable care for his own safety and in his conflicting accounts of how the accident occurred.

Having heard expert evidence from Michael Morris, a professor of surface and interface engineering at Trinity College Dublin, the court was satisfied the unglazed tiles did not pose a danger on the premises.

Mr Justice Jordan said the court does not know what, if any, dirt or grime or other matter was present on the tiled surface when the plaintiff slipped, although it found it was probably wet.

The plaintiff failed to prove the council was "in any way responsible" for the accident, the judge added.

The council are now seeking the return of the 30,000 paid to Mr Keegan after his initial High Court victory and are also seeking the return 20,000 in fees paid to Mr Keegan's legal team.

Mr Keegan told the Sunday World he intended to contact his lawyers to find out more about the judgement.

He added: "You might give me a few pounds for the story, will you?"

We replied that we couldn't pay him for the story.

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Man awarded 105k for porch fall after drinking five pints of Guinness told to repay money - Sunday World

The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Mass., flagship holding of Main Street Hospitality. Photo courtesy Main Street Hospitality

Main Street Hospitality announced on January 19, 2022, the appointment of Scott Williams to its leadership team. As the new Vice President of Brand & Creative, Scott Williams is responsible for enterprise-wide brand architecture and positioning, development, marketing and communication initiatives and experience design for the independent hospitality group and its portfolio of eight properties located throughout the Northeast, which includes the Red Lion Inn in the Berkshires, Hammetts Hotel in Newport, and Porches Inn at Mass MoCA.

Williams is an executive marketer with a track record of igniting thoughtful change and innovation throughout leading organizations including Morgans Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and The Nantucket Project. The new appointment kicks off a year of expansion for Main Street Hospitality, with new leaders, partners and properties to come in 2022.

As we continue to grow thoughtfully and carve our niche in the independent hospitality world, having Scott on the team is a privilege and a game changer, says Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, As a company, we are built on genuine connection to a place, to a guest, and to an experience. Scotts history with the Main Street Hospitality team and the places it represents exemplifies that connection in every way. His vision and experience coupled with his authentic ties to our company mission are what make this partnership so special.

In synergistic partnership with the executive team and the performance, sales and operations functions, Williams will work to amplify the brand and identity of Main Street Hospitalitys individual properties, and further the companys mission to deliver unparalleled experiences through an authentic approach to hospitality that centers around the communities in which the hotels exist.

Joining the Main Street Hospitality team to further their mission felt like a personal calling, says Williams. Ive known Sarah Eustis for many years, and her passion lies in ensuring an exemplary guest experience that has a true sense of place and creates a real community. Her passion and my passion link in that way.

Throughout his career, Williams has accelerated the growth of businesses in the hospitality and media industries, acting as a leadership advisor, strategist, and creative catalyst to drive modern brands. Most recently Williams was the President of The Nantucket Project and is the founder of growth advisory Hitchcock Partners. He has alsohelmed marketing and creative efforts for global brands including Commune Hotels & Resorts, Starwood, and Morgans Hotel Group.

Prior to hospitality he worked in television at CBS, ESPN and HBO. He is a Graduate School Advisor in the School of Visual Arts MFA program, a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and serves on the programming committee at the Harvard Club New York.

About Main Street Hospitality

Founded in 2013, Main Street Hospitality is built on three generations of hospitality leadership, deeply committed to genuine experiences for guests and remarkable results for their partners. They are owners, operators, and designers of unique hotels. As owners and operators of some of the most distinctive hotels in the Berkshires, the companys mission is to deliver unparalleled experiences for guests, employees, and owners through an authentic approach to hospitality, service, and management. Main Streets management hotel portfolio includes The Red Lion Inn, Maple Glen at the Red Lion Inn, The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., The Seven Hills Inn in Lenox, Mass., The Briarcliff Motel in Great Barrington, Mass., Hammetts Hotel in Newport, R.I., Briarcliff Motel in Great Barrington, Mass., the Beatrice Hotel in Providence, R.I., and Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays, N.Y. (opening Spring 2022).

See more here:
BUSINESS BRIEFS: Main Street Hospitality adds new VP of Brand & Creative - theberkshireedge.com

Absolutely stunning waterfront views on this fully renovated lake front property! If you love the lake and are looking for your own personal waterfront retreat, look no further! Lake Oakdale is best known for its beautiful views, fishing, boating, kayak/canoeing, and the abundance of nature such as birds and even lake otters! This 4 bedroom, 2 full, 2 half bathroom home is tucked on a private cul-de-sac located on Lake Oakdale and situated on a .64 acre lot. With over 3,600 sq feet, you are going to love every inch of this beautifully updated home. Features of this home include a large welcoming front porch with a decorative tile and new craftsman style front door. Upon entering the home you are greeted with hardwood flooring, enhanced molding throughout and new windows that are perfect for showing off the stunning lake views. The large open rooms are ideal for entertaining and maximizing the space this home has to offer. The dream kitchen includes stainless steel appliances (double oven & gas cooktop), ice maker, counter seating, granite, tile backsplash, and decorative cabinets with built-in sliding shelves. The kitchen is open to both the dining room and living room and is nothing short of amazing. Off the kitchen is a butler's pantry (under counter lighting), laundry room and half bathroom. The spacious owner's suite also features a fully updated bathroom including ceiling to floor tiling, frameless shower, cabinets and storage galore and a large walk-in closet. The lower level living space includes a second living room with fireplace, tile accent wall, built-in book shelves, drop spot for coats and shoes, and a fully functioning kitchen that includes a large work island, wine refrigerator, walk-in pantry and plenty of space for entertaining and family time alike! Also included is a heated/cooled unfinished shop. The interior of this home has been freshly painted, new solid wood interior doors, new light fixtures and fans throughout. The exterior is just as impressive as the interior! Features include a 3 car garage, fenced in backyard, large driveway with electric gate, whole home generator, hot tub, storage shed, fenced in kennel area, sprinkler system with lake pump, security system with ring doorbell/cameras, a screened in back porch, 2 new docks (2010), sea wall and 120 feet of lake frontage! This home is in pristine condition and is sure to impress you with the details and quality! Don't delay in seeing firsthand all this home has to offer!

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Expensive homes on the market in Florence | Local News | scnow.com - SCNow