Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Rough-sawn 1x8 shiplap cedar siding is rot-resistant and weathers well.Photo by David Stiles

Ask a dozen shed owners what they keep in their sheds, and youll probably get a dozen different answers. But a shed doesnt have to be a catchall for storing extra household items. It can have a special use and provide a pleasant space in which to work on hobbies.

This 10-by-11-foot structure is the perfect size for a potting shed. Its big enough to store all the necessary garden equipment and still provide ample room. It features a 4-by-6-foot skylight, which floods the interior space with natural light, and it has an overhang in back for additional storage.

A 10-by-11-foot shed is small enough to fit comfortably in a backyard, but large enough to accommodate most projects.Diagrams by David Stiles

The directions specify using cedar timber framing with simple lap joints; however, they can be easily adapted for 2x4 construction. The walls are built with 1x8 shiplap cedar, but any siding, including board and batten, can be used. Similarly, any roofing material can be used.

Diagram by David Stiles

If you dont want to build your own windows, you can order single-sash barn windows from a lumberyard. Or, to save a bit of money, salvage windows from old houses to use in your shed just make sure theyre all the same size.

Install braces at each corner of the wall frame using 3/8-by-5-inch lag screws.Diagram by David Stiles

When building the roof framing create a base for the shingles with 1x8s and 1x4s.Diagram by David Stiles

Clear a flat surface, and measure and mark the space on which your shed will be built. The floor frame will be supported by concrete blocks under each corner. This will allow you to move the shed, if necessary.

From the 12-foot 2x6s, cut six 10-foot-9-inch boards. (Two for the frame sides and four for the floor joists.) Assemble the floor frame with two 10-foot 2x6s for the front and rear, and two 10-foot-9-inch 2x6s for the sides. Nail the frame together so the rear and front pieces overlap the side pieces.

Diagram by David Stiles

Settle the concrete blocks into place on the ground, and then position the floor frame on top of the blocks. Square the floor frame so the diagonals measure 14.86 feet (178-3/8 inches). Make sure the frame is level. Adjust the concrete blocks with shims if necessary. Install four floor joists at 2-foot intervals. Cut and toenail 2x6 blocking between floor joists. Nail down 2-1/2 sheets of plywood using 6d nails every 8 inches. Create the floor of the open deck by nailing the 10-foot decking boards across the floor frame.

Illustration byDavid Stiles

From the 4x4s, cut four corner posts 691/2 inches long, and two rear posts 56 inches long. Use 1x2s to temporarily prop up the posts while toenailing them to the floor.

Notch the ends of the 10-foot and 8-foot 4x6 beams to form lap joints. Position the 10-foot beams on the tops of the corner posts, and nail a 6-inch spike through each beam into each corner post.

Fit 8-foot beams into the notches in the 10-foot beams, and spike again. Cut ten 2-foot knee braces, and then miter-cut the ends at a 45-degree angle. Install braces at each corner using 3/8-by-5-inch lag screws.

Install 4x4 posts for the door frame. The doorway posts should be 32 inches apart. Cut ten 2x4 studs, measuring 69-1/2 inches long each. Install window studs, spaced 25-5/8 inches apart. Install interior wall studs, spaced approximately 24 inches on center. Install rough sills using screws (to allow for adjustments). Check for plumb.

The walls are covered with 1x8 shiplap boards. Rough-sawn cedar works well for this, because its rot-resistant and weathers to a soft gray. Start installing the siding at the bottom of each wall using 2-inch galvanized siding nails. To prevent rain from entering the shed, make sure each successive board overlaps the one below.

Cut the tops of the 6-foot roof rafters at a 40-degree angle. Using the shed floor as a work platform, lay two rafters down flat, and join the tops using 2-1/2-inch screws.

Diagram by David Stiles

To mark the location of the birds mouth, temporarily lay an 8-foot 2x4 (representing the width of the shed) approximately 6 inches up from the bottom end of each rafter, and mark with a pencil. Cut the ends of the collar ties off at a 40-degree angle. Screw the collar ties to the rafters, making sure the ends dont protrude past the outer edge of the rafters, so as not to interfere with roofing. Cut birds mouth notches, and screw each pair of rafters to the top beam. Use a 1x4 to temporarily hold the rafters in place. Hold the end of one 4-foot rear rafter up to an existing rafter end and rear beam, and mark where the next birds mouth and rafter joint should go. Cut out the notches, and screw the rear rafters in place with 3-inch galvanized deck screws. To provide a base for the cedar shingles, nail a 1x8 to the bottom of the rafters, overlapping the bottom edge of the rafters by 3/4 inch. Space the remaining 1x4s 2 inches apart.

Screw 4-foot-long 1x2 side ledges to sides of rafters 6 feet apart, with upper edges aligned. Build a curb out of 2x4s that measures 46-1/2 by 73-1/2 inches, and then screw it directly over the existing rafters, placing sides over side ledges. Headers arent necessary here, because the rafters remain intact. Bend over four 1/2-by-5-inch metal straps to form J-hooks, and screw them to the bottom of the curb to hold the bottom edge of the Plexiglas.

Lay glaziers tape over the top edge of the skylight curb.

Diagram by David Stiles

Carefully lay a piece of Plexiglas on top of the glaziers tape. The Plexiglas and J-hooks should overhang the curb by 1 inch to allow for water runoff. After the skylight is installed and youre shingling the roof, make sure to use stepped flashing where shingles meet the skylight curb. Once shingling is finished, complete the skylight by screwing aluminum angle bar to the sides and top.

Trim the two gable roof ends with 1x4 cedar. Nail the ends of the spaced sheathing to the top of the gable trim. Add the front and rear 1x4 fascias, the 1x2 gable trim, and the 1x2 fascia trim, in that order. Cover the four corners with two 1x4s nailed to each other and to the walls. Attach the eave trim and insect screen.

Diagram by David Stiles

Install flashing. Cover the 1x4 spaced sheathing with cedar shingles. Use 1-inch galvanized roofing nails. Double the first row of shingles, and overhang the edge of the roof by 3/4 inch. Stagger each row so the seams are unaligned. Make each row 5-1/2 inches above the previous one, using a 1x6 board as a guide on which to rest the bottom of the shingles before nailing them in place. Cap off the ridge with two 1x4 beveled boards caulked and nailed together.

On a flat surface, place the shiplap cedar boards side by side. Saw off the edges on the two end pieces so the door measures 32 inches wide. Cut two pieces of 5/4x8, each 31 inches long, for battens. Screw the battens to the door. Mark and cut the 5-foot-long 5/4x4 as a diagonal brace to fit between the top batten and the hinged side of the bottom batten. Screw two 10-inch strap hinges to the front of the door.

Diagram by David Stiles

To hang the door, screw the other half of the hinges to a piece of 2-1/4-inch cedar door casing. Hold the door in place, and, allowing for a 3/16-inch clearance, screw the trim and the door to the shed. Add the pent roof and the 2-1/4-inch casing to the doorway. Install door latch hardware of your choice.

Diagram by David Stiles

Alternatively, A wooden latch can be made from a piece of 1x2, two pieces of 2x3, and an 1/8-inch diagonal dowel. Cut a 1-1/4-by-3-inch slot in the door for the dowel to extend to the exterior. Mount the latch on a piece of 5/4x8, and screw it to the inside of the door.

Diagram by David Stiles

For each of the three windows, cut two 33-inch-long pieces of 2x3 for the stiles and two 22-inch-long pieces of 2x3 for the rails.

Using a table saw, make a 7/8-by-1-1/2-inch rabbet cut in one edge of each 2x3. Cut a 2-1/2-inch shoulder notch in each end of the 33-inch 2x3s. Make a 5/8-inch-wide, 5/8-inch-deep dado cut in the middle of each 2x3 to accept the muntins, which youll add later.

Diagrams by David Stiles

For each window, glue and screw the sash together using 2-inch screws. Lay a bead of clear silicone in the rabbeted groove provided in the window, and insert a Plexiglas panel into the groove. Use brads to nail waste strips (left over from cutting the rabbets) over the edges of the Plexiglas to hold it in place. Cut and glue 5/8-by-5/8-inch muntin strips to the front of the window. Install a window catch to the top of the window.

Diagrams by David Stiles

To hang a window, build a 4-3/4-inch-wide window frame to fit inside the rough opening, allowing 1/8 inch of clearance between the window and the frame. On the 30-5/8-inch-long windowsill, bevel the front and back edges at a 15-degree angle. The windowsill should extend 1/4 inch past the outside edges of the 2-1/4-inch casing. Install the sill over the rough opening. Cut the bottom ends of the two window casings at 15 degrees to fit the sill, and nail them in place. Frame the inside and outside of the window opening with 2-1/4-inch casing. Mortise a small hole for the window catch bolt, and install a screw eye and cord to hold the window open. To keep the window in place, cut and nail 3/4-by-3/4-inch stops to the side window frames. Open the window by releasing the catch and tilting it back. No rain will get in, and the window can be easily removed for maintenance. Repeat with the other two windows.

Excerpted with permission from Sheds: The Do-It-Yourself Guide for Backyard Builders, 4th Edition, by David and Jeanie Stiles.

Build the ultimate garden shed with this Boscobel Garden Shed E-Plan! This e-plan has all the instructions you need to build this 10-by-10-foot shed, including a complete materials list and step-by-step instructions. This product is available at our storeor by calling 800-234-3368. Item #5033.

Do you have a great garden shed thats dressed to the nines? Or a versatile shed thats creatively built with repurposed materials? We want to see it? From top to bottom, photos by Barbara and James Stanley, and Sharon and Dan Clements, respectively.

Do you have a tool or garden shed thats a beautiful focal point on your property? Mother Earth News invites you to enter our Great Garden Shed Showoff! Any small structure used to store garden tools and equipment or house livestock is eligible. Well choose grand prizewinners in two categories:

Each winner will receive a $250 gift certificate to the Mother Earth News store, where they can choose from hundreds of gardening and farming tools and books, plus a years access to our online courses and webinars.

To enter, email a photo of your shed and at least 50 words describing it and what makes it outstanding, with subject line Great Garden Shed Showoff, to: Letters@MotherEarthNews.com by May 1, 2021.

More:
How to Build a Potting Shed - Mother Earth News

CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) There are so many factors that come into play here.

Factors that, according to results obtained from West Virginia Kids Count and the West Virginia Department of Education, among others, have resulted in child homelessness within the state of West Virginia increasing in recent years.

Everything from poverty in the economy, to the opioid epidemic, said West Virginia Kids County Executive Director Tricia Kingery. Grandparents raising grandchildren. Foster care. And then, add COVID-19, a pandemic, into that.

According to the Department of Education, there were 10, 417 youths experiencing homelessness during the last school year, a 14% increase within the last half decade.

If you look back, dating back to the school year of 2014-2015, there were only, and I dont want to say only, 8,959 students, Kingery said.

Southern West Virginia is not immune to child homelessness. The following numbers represent the number of homeless youths in Southern West Virginia counties as of last school year. Mercer: 588. Raleigh: 372. Fayette: 180. Greenbrier: 177.

These numbers are real, Kingery said. These are children. Every one of those numbers represents a child and family in need of our services and support.

Its the responsibility of entire communities, especially people who work directly with children, to pay attention and bring awareness to an issue that needs to grow smaller, not bigger.

Keep our eyes wide open, Kingery said. You can see where theyre struggling and you have to ask the right questions.

You have to build that relationship, that trust, so that the children will be honest with you about whats happening.

Related

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West Virginia Kids Count Executive Director sheds light on youth homelessness throughout the state - WOAY-TV

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - PCG Digital: Soligenix (NASDAQ: SNGX) continues to build excitement for its SGX301 candidate following strong Phase 3 data and commercialization plans. The company recently held an investor webcast to further explain the company's plans for commercializing its ground-breaking SGX301 candidate for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

Here are some key takeaways from the commercialization Q&A:

1. Soligenix will commercialize SGX301 in the U.S. on its own

During the presentation, the company noted that after conducting necessary due diligence and simulating different routes to commercialization, it was determined that a partnership would not be the best solution for shareholders. The licensing landscape and CTCL's small, orphan market were the key drivers behind the decision. Considering that the average biopharmaceutical licensing deal, a Phase 3 licensor will typically retain no more than 40% of the product's value, it did not make sense to give up so much value when the market is small and highly specialized to begin. However, Soligenix CEO Dr. Chris Schaber noted the company continues discussions regarding partnerships for ex-U.S. rights to SGX301.

The company has submitted its proposed brand name, HyBryte, and logo for SGX301 to the FDA for review and approval.

2. SGX301 marketing and sales force size and costs

CTCL's small, orphan market will not require Soligenix to build out a massive marketing and sales force. The uniqueness and ability to serve an unmet medical need are the key selling points in the CTCL treatment space. As a result, Soligenix estimates the need for a sales team consisting of around 20 people. The company estimates that pre-launch costs will come in around $7 million, with annual sales and marketing costs coming in below $10 million.

3. Ample cash reserves to carry SGX301 through commercialization

During the webcast, management was asked if the company's current cash reserves were sufficient enough to carry SGX301 through the commercialization process. After the previously-announced financing deal with Pontifax, the company continues to be well-capitalized for the commercialization process. It was revealed that the company currently maintains a cash balance of in excess of $20 million and also has a $20 million ATM with B. Riley.

Story continues

"Based on this strategic capital structure, we are well-positioned for success and really have no need for a large capital raise anytime soon," noted CFO Jonathan Guarino during the webcast.

4. Daavlin partnership for companion light device

On January 7, 2021, Soligenix first announced its strategic partnership with Daavlin, an Ohio-based company with a 40-year history in phototherapy. Daavlin has an extensive product line that is delivered to healthcare providers worldwide.

Under the strategic partnership, Daavlin will supply and distribute a commercially-ready companion light device that is critical to the success of SGX301 in treating CTCL. The companion light device is a derivative of an existing, 510K-approved product. Unlike other phototherapies, Daavlin's light device does not require a dedicated room or any complex wiring. In fact, the device can be stored and moved out of the way when not in use.

The Daavlin companion device will be sold directly to physicians initially, as treatments will be conducted in a doctor's office. However, Soligenix management notes that the company does intend to offer a house-use version of the Daavlin device down the road. However, it is important to note that Daavlin's UV devices are already approved for home use.

5. Soligenix estimates peak U.S. sales of SGX301 to hit $90 million

The pricing of SGX301 continues to be evaluated and will not be finalized until closer to the U.S. launch. However, management did note that an existing, inferior treatment, Valchor, was being considered as a benchmark price. Valchor's price is roughly $3,500 per WAC/tube and generates estimated annual sales of around $40 million.

Given the unique nature of SGX301 and its ability to serve as an early-stage treatment for CTCL, the company primary market research has shown that four out of five dermatologists are likely to prescribe the product, if/when approved. With Valchor as a benchmark, Soligenix estimates SGX301 will have peak U.S. net annual sales that exceed $90 million.

SGX301 Commercialization Timeline with Multiple Near Term Catalysts Anticipated

As SGX301 begins its commercialization phase, there will be several important milestones over the coming months that could serve to be significant catalysts for Soligenix. The first milestone to watch for will be the initial submission of the rolling New Drug Application (NDA). The NDA, along with the completed Clinical Study Report, is estimated to be handed over to the FDA during the second quarter of 2021.

Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, the FDA is required to review new drug applications within a 10-month period. If the new drug has been given fast track designation, the FDA deadline to review the application is only six months.

SGX301 has already been granted fast track designation and orphan drug status. As a result, the FDA will have six months from the date that Soligenix officially files the NDA. Just as an example, this means that even if the NDA is filed at the end of June, a review will take place around the end of the year. The official U.S. commercial launch is estimated to occur during the second half of 2022.

Aside from the rolling NDA filing, resulting FDA review, and official commercial launch in 2022, investors will have a few other potential catalysts in the shorter-term. Soligenix announced that it has submitted abstracts to present on SGX301 to the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting in March 2021 and to the Society for Investigative Dermatology Meeting in May 2021. Management notes its plans to submit its manuscript to the JAMA Dermatology journal this year as well.

Zack's Research Updates Soligenix with a Positive Report

Two days after Soligenix's webcast, Zack's Small-Cap Research issued an updated research report on the company.

Zack's notes, that based on its probability-adjusted discounted cash flow (DCF) model (which estimates future revenues from SGX301, CiVax, etc.), there is significant potential price appreciation for SNGX.

"The webinar on SGX301 provided a comprehensive overview of the company's plans for commercializing SGX301, including encouraging data from primary market research with physicians and initial revenue projections. As discussed, there are a number of upcoming milestones for the company as it relates to SGX301, with perhaps the most important being the submission of the rolling NDA, which should begin in the second quarter of 2021."

The full report can be found here.

Disclaimer:

This communication was produced by PCG Digital Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of PCG Advisory Inc., (together "PCG"). PCG is an integrated investor relations, communications and strategic advisory firm. The information contained on this may be 'Paid Advertising' for purposes of Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations there under, the "Securities Act"). PCG may be compensated by respective clients for publicizing information relating to its client's securities. For more information in terms of compensation received for services provided by PCG, see the pertinent advertising materials relating to the respective client. By accessing this Site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

PCG is not a registered or licensed broker, dealer, broker-dealer, investment adviser nor investment manager, nor does PCG engage in any activities that would require such registrations. PCG does not provide investment advice, endorsement, analysis or recommendations with respect to any securities, and its services to or statements about its clients should never be construed as any endorsement of or opinion about any security of any client. No information contained in this communication constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other similar product or service regardless of whether such security, product, or service is referenced in this communication. Further, nothing in this communication is intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice and nothing in this communication should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment or security or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. For full disclaimers, including compensation received for professional services, please visit http://www.pcgadvisory.com/disclosures.

Contact: info@pcgadvisory.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73924

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Soligenix's Upcoming Catalysts Highlight Growth Potential as it Sheds Light on its Commercialization of SGX301 - Yahoo Finance

Jerry Erstrom was always quick with a smile and loved his children and grandchildren. Recovering from a back surgery, Erstrom - a well-known local personage - contracted Covid and died from the infection. Now his family wants people to know the Covid virus isn't a hoax and it kills.

Jerry Erstrom (center with hat) poses with his son Mike (left) and other family members. Ernstrom died Jan. 21 from the Covid virus. (Photo courtesy of Niki Cutler)

VALE The nurse walked into the hospital room and then the chaplain came and they stood by as Niki Cutler kneeled next to her dads bed and held his hand and, as best she could, prepared for him to die.

His lungs destroyed by the Covid virus, Erstrom died quietly soon after.

Erstrom became one of 55 Malheur County residents who have died from Covid since last spring.

In Oregon, he was among 1,900 people who perished form Covid.

Less than a month before Jerry Erstrom died Jan. 21, he was a healthy 71-year-old man recovering from a minor back surgery. The future was wide open for the former farmer and Bureau of Land Management employee.

While the number of Covid deaths and infections continues to climb, Erstroms life and family and experiences cant be relegated to statistics.

He was a dedicated employee, a man with a ready smile who loved his children and his grandchildren.

He liked to play cards with his grandson.

He loved Oreo cookies.

He loved to travel with his family.

He loved to go to Bixbys Stopitoff Coffee in Vale.

He loved to give people a hard time, said Cutler.

Perhaps the simplest vision of Jerry Erstrom is the truest.

He was a father.

A grandfather.

A friend.

A hard worker.

He loved Malheur County.

Then one day the Covid virus invaded his body.

And it killed him.

****

When Niki Cutler first heard about the Covid virus a year ago, she didnt consider it a serious illness.

In fact, she said in an interview last week, the virus appeared to be more of an inconvenience than anything else.

I was not sure if it was actually anything worse than the flu, said Cutler.

She no longer feels that way.

I wish I still had the privilege to be that nave, said Cutler.

In mid-December Jerry Erstrom was hospitalized for back surgery. He returned to the Cutler household in Ontario afterward with Niki and her husband, Jared, helping him recover.

Covid didnt haunt the Cutlers then and the family turned to Christmas.

We had a small, quiet Christmas, Cutler said. Dad was a little sore from back surgery, but good.

Life continued normally at the Culter house after Christmas. Jerry Erstrom watched television news or old Westerns. He enjoyed his grandkids, especially playing cards with his 12-year-old grandson Brennan.

The card games were a tradition for Erstrom and Brennan.

They had the same sense of humor. They would try to one up each other with jokes. They didnt need anyone else and went and did their thing, said Cutler.

In late December, Jared Cutler, an Ontario Police Department officer, came down with a head cold.

Then we found out he may have been exposed (to Covid) at work. He went and got tested and came up positive. My daughter and I came back positive. My dad was negative, said Cutler.

Where were we exposed? We honestly dont know for sure, said Cutler.

On the second to last day of the year, Jerry Erstrom went to a hospital in Nampa because of a urinary tract infection. Erstrom was again tested for Covid. Again, he was negative.

We just needed to clear up the UTI and he was good to go to come home, said Cutler.

A few days later while still in the hospital, Jerry Erstrom tested positive for Covid.

He was having some congestion and some trouble breathing, said Cutler.

X-rays of Erstroms chest showed he had Covid pneumonia that the medical staff told the Cutlers was manageable. Erstrom would need supplemental oxygen for a while but he was ready to go back home.

Erstrom returned to the Cutler home on Jan. 7 but he was a different man.

His stamina was gone and he depended more on the oxygen each day.

Culter worked hard to keep her father moving, following the instructions from doctors to help him improve. While he needed oxygen, his levels remained in the normal range. Cutler thought her dad would beat the virus.

****

On the night of Jan. 11, a Monday, Erstrom played cards with Brennen. No one suspected it would be the last game.

The next day when Erstrom awoke he could barely get out of bed.

The most modest of movements drained him. He asked that his oxygen be turned up.

He said, I just feel like I cant get air, Cutler said.

Cutler checked the blood oxygen level as her dad sat in a chair in her living room.

It was where it should be, said Cutler.

Erstroms physical therapist was scheduled to arrive soon so Erstrom prepared to shower. He could barely move.

He had to stop about every two steps because he didnt have enough energy to walk. He would stop, sit down and then get back up. My husband helped him into the bedroom to lay down and got oxygen on him and he said, I just need a minute, said Cutler.

The Cutlers tested Erstroms blood oxygen level again and this time it had dropped into the 70s. An oxygen level between 95 and 100 percent is considered normal and immediate medical attention is recommended for a reading of less than 88.

We couldnt stabilize it, said Cutler.

The Cutlers immediately acted to take Erstrom to the hospital.

The children helped get their grandpa ready for the hospital and into the car.

They would never see him again.

At the St. Lukes Fruitland Medical Plaza emergency room, medical staff tested Erstroms blood oxygen level and alarms on equipment sounded.

They had to turn everything as high as they could just to get the alarms off, said Cutler.

Erstrom was tested for a bacterial infection.

He was tested for a blood clot.

Nothing showed up on the tests but Covid, said Cutler.

The doctors, she said, didnt waste any time.

They said he is being transported, said Cutler.

The medical staff asked Erstrom if he would allow himself to be intubated if need be.

I answered yes before dad can get a word out, said Cutler.

The ambulance arrived and Cutler was able to give her dad a hug and tell him she loved him.

That was the last time that I would be able to have a conversation with him that lasted longer than one or two minutes, said Cutler.

****

Over the next five days at St. Lukes Nampa Medical Center, Erstrom appeared to be on the long road back. He was receiving the highest amount of oxygen possible each day, but his levels stabilized around 90 to 95, said Cutler.

Erstroms chest X-rays, said Cutler, looked awful but he was improving a little bit each day.

Doctors were cautiously optimistic, said Cutler.

There was hope because they dont know with this virus. There is no pattern, no way of knowing. They cant predict. The doctor in the ICU mentioned they do their best but they sit and watch because the virus has a mind of its own, said Cutler.

Cutler was at home Jan. 18 when Erstroms doctor called.

The signs werent good.

Erstrom was suddenly declining, his blood pressure was dropping.

He needed to go on a ventilator to save his life, the doctor said.

His oxygen wasnt able to be sustained. If they did not intubate him, he would be in cardiac arrest that night, said Cutler.

The doctor said the family could talk to Erstrom over the phone before they inserted the tube that would prevent Erstrom from speaking.

So that Tuesday, Cutler and her children, Brennan and his sister Alex, 18, cradled the phone in the living room and talked to their grandfather.

The smallest thing was causing him to be short of breath, beyond being able to speak, said Cutler.

The conversation was grueling for her children, said Cutler.

She handed the phone to them, aware the conversation might be the last they had with their grandfather.

Erstrom told his grandchildren how important to him they were.

How much he loved them.

How proud of them he was and that he would always be with them.

Afterward, she held them as they cried.

Questions lingered. They were terrified. Grandpa had just been at the house. What was going on?

The next four days were a blur for Cutler and her family. They were isolated from Erstrom and could not see him because of Covid restrictions at the hospital.

So, they waited.

And hoped.

And prayed.

****

On Jan. 21, Cutler received another phone call from the doctor.

He had declined more. With the maximum amount of oxygen, he was getting it was in the low 80s. The machines were doing all the work, said Cutler.

Erstroms instruction to his family had always been firm: He did not want to be kept alive by a machine.

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AROUND OREGON: Vale family sheds doubts about Covid after death of father - Salem Reporter

Crime

Money was stolen from the stores ATM

The Homer Police are investigating a recent case of theft at local store the Kachemak Gear Shed.

In an incident that occurred sometime on the night of Jan. 31, a burglar gained access to the store on East End Road, and stole money from its ATM.

The perpetrator broke into the lobby of the gear shed, cut into the ATM machine located there and stole the cash it contained, Police Chief Mark Robl wrote in an email.

A caller from the store reported the burglary the next morning, Homer Police records show.

The police are not disclosing the amount of money that was taken at this time, Robl said. They are still investigating the case.

Anyone who has information regarding this crime are encouraged to call the local police department at 907-235-3150, or utilize the anonymous tip service Crimestoppers by calling 907-283-8477 or emailing peninsulacrimestoppers.com.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.

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Homer Police investigating Gear Shed burglary - Homer News

Heineken is to cut one-tenth of its staff in a bid to stem losses from a coronavirus-hit 2020.

Heineken's job cuts were announced alongside sales and profits declines for 2020

The reduction, which will affect about 8,000 employees out of a total Heineken headcount of 86,000, forms part of a EUR2bn (US$2.4bn) cost-cutting programme over three years announced today, alongside full-year results. Staff at Heineken's head office look set to be disproportionally hit by the move, with personnel costs in Amsterdam in line for a 20% reduction.

The head office changes, first signalled in October last year, will take place before the end of March.

Also included in the cost-cutting programme, called 'Evergreen', is a move to strip out SKUs to "reduce complexity", Heineken said. Commercial commitments will be reviewed to tackle "least effective spend", the brewer added.

The cuts are in response to one of Heineken's most challenging years as the coronavirus pandemic closed bars and restaurants around the world and switched consumer demand to online and grocery channels. In today's results, Heineken's sales dropped by almost 12% in calender-2020 as volumes fell by 8%. In the same period, net profits slumped by almost 50%.

Heineken said the cuts aim to revive the brewer's operating profit margins, which dropped by almost five percentage points in 2020 to 12.3%. The company has set a 17% operating profit margin target for 2023.

Meanwhile, the group will take a leaf out of Molson Coors Beverage Co's recent playbook and target areas of growth beyond beer. In 2019, Molson Coors pledged to be more than just a brewer and started launching new products in categories including hard seltzer and RTD cocktails.

Today, Heineken said it will "stretch beer and move beyond beer" with plans to expand the international roll-out of alcohol-freeHeineken 0.0 and to investigate non-beer launches. As an example, the company pointed to its launch in September last year of Pure Piraa hard seltzer in Mexico and New Zealand.

Commenting on the cost-cutting programme, CEO Dolf van den Brink said EverGreen leverages "both our strengths and new opportunities to chart our next chapter of growth".

Van den Brink added: "Firmly putting customers and consumers at the core, we aim to continually enhance and expand our portfolio and footprint. We are stepping up our focus on continuous productivity improvements and raising our environmental and social sustainability ambitions."

Bernstein analyst Trevor Stirling said the EUR2bn cost-cutting plan was larger than expected. Bernstein had forecast a cut of EUR500m.

What's coming up in beer in 2021? - Predictions for the Year Ahead

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Heineken to shed 8,000 jobs in revival plan | Beverage Industry News | just-drinks - just-drinks.com

If you are searching for a way to give back, like lots of water and enjoy driving big trucks, this could be your gig! Bear Lake Countys Fire Chief Mark Parker is always looking for new recruits. Both Bear Lake and Rich county and the communities in each echo those sentiments: Bring your enthusiasm and a strong work ethic to your local fire chief to ask about joining the department.

Between February 1 and 7th, Bear Lake Countys and Montpelier Citys fire departments combined to learn and polish skills at the former Montpelier City Hall building. Montpeliers Fire Chief, Steve Higgins, obtained permission from the buildings current owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to use the structure for training then invited the countys personnel to join the hands-on training. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to train using an existing structure of that quality, said Chief Parker.

In full turn-out gear which weighs approximately 80 pounds, the 30 to 35 firefighters practiced forcing entry by opening walls and locked doors. The expected solution to locks is to break through using axes to make holes but in this situation, Nick Higgins, a fire captain from Montpelier City, advised trainees to pop latches or remove hinges to gain entry, then close the door to delay a fires advance. Steel doors were also breached using similar techniques and access through overhead doors was demonstrated. Hand-held thermal-imaging cameras were employed to search for victims. Additional training at the old city building will focus on placing and advancing ladders, hose relays and pulls and other subjects that are otherwise needed at two in the morning in the dark, so it is nice to be able to do this in a controlled environment, said Chief Parker. These are skills we dont often get to practice, he added. He is requesting the County Commissioners to likewise allow county and city firefighters to use the old courthouse for training purposes before it is demolished, tentatively slated to occur in February.

Chief Parker recalled the Ovid fire two weeks ago where the fire department was called out around midnight when it was reported that a haystack was burning. When engines arrived with the usual group of 18 to 25 people per call, they found a fire that began in the wellhouse behind the haystack where a heater and pump malfunctioned then spread to a 100 to 150 gallon propane tank as well. Often, the initial report turns into a more complicated scenario with property and, sometimes, lives are in danger. Training in the soon-to-be-razed city structure is an invaluable tool for both those who have been firefighters for decades and for new recruits.

When asked about the August 2020 fire at the Sweetwater Mobile Home Park, Chief Parker responded that, They were lucky and should buy lottery tickets! He explained that Garden Citys and Laketowns firefighters were becoming overwhelmed and it was important that the working relationship among the fire departments and districts is good so each can help others whenever needed. In that instance, access was difficult on narrow dirt roads and many homes lacked visible addresses. Water was running low and, fortunately, the Idaho trucks carried their own water which was both exactly timed and extremely necessary. In addition to multiple structures burning, there were propane tanks exploding. Chief Parker warmly complimented Garden City Fire Districts Chief Wallberg who has a fantastic department and an excellent rapport with Bear Lake. Parker added that the former interlocal law enforcement compact was helpful and The state line means nothing in emergencies because we have lives to protect on both sides of the line. We do the same things so we need to get back to an agreement to work together. He is grateful for Bear Lakes strong volunteer corps and the equipment which allows the department to respond to emergencies of many types. He encouraged citizens to both join a fire department and to report fires in their vicinity because, Well respond and take care of it.

Even if you are not fire fighter material, do your part to help your local heroes and heroines. Chief Parker asked all residents to be sure house numbers are easily visible and that fires are reported ASAP. Finally, he issued a reminder that before striking a match for an outdoor fire, first call for a burn permit.

Contact Mark Parker, Bear Lake County Fire Chief, at 208.317.6292 or Garden City Fire District Chief Wallberg at 435.881.6313 for more information and to discuss becoming a fire fighter in your community.

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Big Trucks and Bad Fires | News-Examiner | hjnews.com - The Herald Journal

Prestigious honor long recognized as broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, also administered by Columbia University

NEW YORK, NY (February 9, 2021) NBC 4 New York / WNBC was honored with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for The Epicenter of the Coronavirus Pandemic, an extensive, six month collection of breaking news, feature, and memorial stories that captured the rapid evolution of the novel coronavirus from public health threat to full-blown health crisis in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.Awarded this evening, this is the first time WNBC received the top broadcast news honor in its storied history.

Covering the evolution of the coronavirus outbreak was one of the toughest challenges our newsroom had ever faced. As our journalists came to work every day, they were personally coping with the effects of the virus on their families as well, said Amy Morris, NBC 4 New York Vice President of News. Every member of our news team played a critical role. Our mission was to inform our viewers and along the way were also able to find some moments to share incredible stories of hope. Its a story that continues to touch all of us deeply, which makes this duPont incredibly special to all of us at WNBC.

The awards committee specifically recognized the station for having created a 360 view in real time of the coronavirus pandemic, with courageous and thorough reporting on the viruss explosion in New York City.4pm and 11 pm news anchor David Ushery, a member of the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame, accepted the prestigious Silver Baton on behalf of the station.

Throughout the pandemic, WNBC viewers turned to local news in record numbers. Our news team was there throughout it all, delivering vital and at times, life-saving information, said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager. This special recognition by Columbia University is fantastic. Our team earned it and deserves it.

NBC 4 New Yorks duPont-winning coverage took Tri-State viewers inside the major decisions that impacted our day-to-day lives, from school shutdowns, neighborhood lockdowns and restrictions on many small businesses, such as bars and restaurants. Investigative reporting brought to light the lack of PPE available for first responders and front-line workers, black-market attempts to profit amid the shortage and the burial delays faced by morgues and funeral homes. Community-focused features such as Grateful 4 You highlighted the unsung heroes in our communities, giving viewers hope during a difficult time.

Groundbreaking reporting also placed a spotlight on important trends and emerging concerns within the community, even ahead of the attention and action of health officials. NBC 4 New Yorks I-Team was the first to bring the rare, deadly condition in children called MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome) into the public eye, prior to the attention of health regulators and subsequently leading to government action.

This is the second major national honor awarded to NBC 4 New Yorks news team in the past four months. In October, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) honored WNBC with a national Edward R. Murrow Award for top large market television newscast.

For more information on NBC 4 New York, visit NBCNewYork.com.

About NBC 4 New York / WNBCNBC 4 New York / WNBC is the flagship station of the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal, serving the New York Tri-State area with an unparalleled commitment to broadcast excellence for more than 75 years.

The station features New Yorks largest investigative reporting team, the I-Team and includes Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning journalists who successfully track down the answers to the questions most important to viewers. Storm Team 4, the stations trusted weather team, utilizes the most accurate and the most powerful weather technology available to keep Tri-State viewers informed and safe when severe weather strikes. This includes StormTracker 4, the only commercial high-frequency S-Band dual polarization fixed Doppler weather radar operating in the Northeast.

In addition to NBC 4 New Yorks primary channel, other programming outlets include COZI TV, the stations multicast channel, and out-of-home platforms, including TV screens in taxi cabs, elevators and aboard New York-New Jersey PATH trains. The station also delivers news and information across all platforms, including its dedicated website, mobile app and social media platforms.

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NBC 4 NEW YORK WINS FIRST-EVER ALFRED I. DUPONT AWARD, RECOGNIZING COVID-19 REPORTING AND COMMUNITY IMPACT - InsiderNJ

Antony House and Roderick House will become one when the space between them is filled

The two blocks, Antony House and Roderick House, are getting a tier of two-storey modular houses laid on their roofs and the space between them is being filled in with more prefab flats to turn Antony & Roderick into a single building.

The new development also includes bookends at each end of the existing buildings.

The development for Lambeth & Southwark Housing Association (LSHA), designed by HTA Design, will add 30 more affordable homes, in a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats.

Adston Construction is Apexs design and build contractor.

The year-long project is set for practical completion in February 2022, offering a blend of light gauge steel (LGS) modular construction on the rooftop units and on-site LGS panelised for the bookends and infill. All 30 units will be built off-site.

Initial works will remove the existing pitched roofs before a structural steel exo-skeleton is positioned over the existing building. Once this is in place, the modular apartments will be craned onto the rooftop.

Apex Airspace chief executive Arshad Bhatti said: Our collaboration with LSHA demonstrates our ability to unlock a previously untapped supply of affordable housing in London and be able to deliver policy compliant rented accommodation in partnership with local authorities and housing associations.

He added: Our pioneering model is a blueprint for other councils and housing associations to follow suit and adopt innovative solutions to address the lack of affordable housing in London.

Modular apartments are to be added on top, in the middle, and at each end of the existing blocks

Apex Airspace construction director Jonathan Poole added: The 100% affordable development of 30 new homes will be the UKs first airspace project to be built on top of and connecting two existing residential buildings. The modular construction will save the residents from normal construction works disruption, particularly with the limited space surrounding the existing building.

Adston Construction manager David Rainey said: Antony and Roderick House is a fantastic project to be involved in and Adston are delighted to be appointed by Apex Airspace for the design and delivery of these new homes. This is an innovative and new direction in the expansion and extension of existing buildings, and we believe the first of many sustainable residential developments of this type.

Lambeth & Southwark Housing Association chief executive Mark Jackson said: As a housing association we need to ensure we are maximising our existing stock in the capital. We have been impressed by Apexs model and feel this is a tangible solution for fellow housing associations to consider.

Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk

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Work starts on Bermondsey airspace development - The Construction Index

Autovol builds with people and robots.

NAMPA, Idaho (PRWEB) February 05, 2021

Just over two years since breaking ground, Autovol is now using automation in new ways as it nears completion of its first major affordable housing project. The project, Virginia Street Studios, will make high quality apartment homes more affordable to seniors in San Jose, one of Americas 10 most expensive cities.

The 400,000 square foot Autovol factory has now successfully deployed its unique combination of construction trades and robotic automation. Autovol has hired more than 100 employees, which the company calls Solutioneers. Led by CEO Rick Murdock and co-developed by The Pacific Companies, Autovol is pioneering a new kind of modular construction.

Automation and robotics will lead the world into the future of housing, Murdock said. What were doing hasnt been attempted before. Our investors and Solutioneers leaned in with lots of confidence, and now were seeing great results that prove they were right.

According to Murdock, automated modular construction is designed to take the back-breaking work off of people, and use new techniques that werent humanly possible. Robotics empower the company to create new kinds of careers and a culture designed to raise the bar of career satisfaction in construction, Murdock said. The company is staffing up toward an expected team of 300-plus Solutioneers, and already has 600 modular units on its docket, with capacity for more.

Besides its own team of Solutioneers, Autovol has helped create over 100 jobs for the various companies helping build, tool-up, and service this first-of-its kind factory. One of these is House of Design, an automation and robotics firm also based in Nampa, Idaho. According to Shane Dittrich, House of Design founder, the company has grown by helping develop this new kind of automation.

The collaborative effort of people and industrial robots in the off-site construction space provides endless opportunities. We cant solve the problems of unavailable labor and housing affordability without automation, Dittrich said. We also dont solve these problems without visionary companies willing to take a chance and endure unavoidable speedbumps on the road to extraordinary success. We applaud Autovol for their commitment and were excited to be on the forefront of realized robotics for construction technology.

Virginia Studios will be a five-story, 301-unit complex that will be over-podium, including underground parking. Automation is doing a substantial portion of the work, with Solutioneers skilled in the construction trades doing finishing work and other key tasks.

To learn more about Autovol, its vision, culture, current openings, and the Virginia Street Studios project, visit the companys just-updated website at http://www.autovol.com

For more information about House of Design Robotics, one of Idahos leading automation companies, visit http://www.thehouseofdesign.com

For information about Pacific Companies, developer of The Virginia Street project, and a national leader in affordable housing development, visit http://www.tpchousing.com

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Autovol Robots and Solutioneers Now Building Affordable Housing - PR Web