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Story Produced by Citizens Count, a Member ofWant to know more about this legislation? Listen to the podcast above as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in $100 Plus Mileage.

CONCORD, NH The New Hampshire House is considering a bill that would require towns to allow tiny houses alongside single-family homes.

Supporters envision a future where tiny house aficionados flock to New Hampshire, bolstering our workforce. Opponents are concerned about the erosion of local control and property values.

A tiny house is generally 100 to 400 square feet. A tiny house can sit on a foundation or on a trailer. Some tiny houses are equipped with full kitchens and plumbing, while others are designed to live off-grid with composting toilets.

Tiny homes have gained popularity as an affordable and eco-friendly housing option over the past decade.

However, many towns, counties, and states have zoning laws or building codes that require houses to have a minimum square footage. Tiny houses on wheels may be categorized as RVs unsuitable for year-round living.

In 2016 New Hampshire passed a law that enabled municipalities to permit small, detached accessory dwelling units next to regular homes, but not every town opts-in. Towns can also set their own minimum dimensions for accessory dwelling units.

Related story Accessory Dwelling Units: How ADUs can solve Manchester housing shortage

Brianna OBrien of Hampton Falls became a bit of a poster child for the New Hampshire tiny house movement after she tried to live in a tiny house on her parents property. The Zoning Board of Adjustment denied her occupancy permit for a few reasons, including that the tiny house did not meet the towns definition of a detached accessory dwelling unit. OBrien was forced to abandon the tiny house.

This year three New Hampshire representatives two Republicans and a Democrat are sponsoring a bill to welcome tiny houses to New Hampshire. HB 588 would require towns to allow standalone tiny houses anywhere they allow single-family homes.

If a municipality allows detached accessory dwelling units, HB 588 would require the town to accept tiny houses under the same terms.

The bill establishes various other requirements for tiny houses. For example, tiny houses have to follow fire codes. If the house is on a trailer, the trailer must be licensed, registered, and inspected.

Lastly, this bill requires towns and cities to pass zoning laws to address tiny house parks a group setting of at least four tiny houses.

HB 588 is a repeat of a 2020 bill, SB 482. That bill died during the coronavirus shutdown.

The House has yet to schedule a public hearing for HB 588.

Tiny house supporters argue these little dwellings could ease New Hampshires big affordable housing problem.

An extremely low inventory of houses and rental units is driving up the median home price and the median rent in New Hampshire. According to the November/December 2020 Housing Market Snapshot from New Hampshire Housing, the median sales price for a home in New Hampshire increased 17 percent over the past year, while there is less than a one-month supply of homes for sale under $300,000. The median gross rent increased 5 percent from last year, to $1,413, and there is only a 1.8 percent vacancy rate.

The cost of a tiny house, meanwhile, usually ranges from $15,000 to $100,000 a much more affordable option.

Some people are also attracted to tiny houses because they have a smaller environmental footprint than traditional dwellings. This green option might attract more workers and businesses to the Granite State.

Lastly, supporters of HB 588 point out that many people already live in tiny houses under the radar of local officials. HB 588 would help these people legally join their communities and pay taxes.

Opponents of HB 588 argue that New Hampshire should not force towns and cities to accept tiny houses. Instead, towns and cities should be able to decide if tiny houses are appropriate in their communities.

There is concern that tiny houses may lower nearby property values.

Towns also already have trouble collecting taxes on manufactured homes and RV camps. Tiny house owners would probably pose similar challenges.

Lastly, there is still ambiguity in building codes around safety standards for tiny houses, particularly those on trailers. Similarly, HB 588 requires tiny houses on wheels to have a seal from a third-party inspection company authorized to provide such certification for tiny homes or recreational vehicles, but theres no guarantee that companys standards will match a towns desired standards.

Tiny houses cannot single-handedly solve New Hampshires housing shortage, of course. There are many other proposals related to affordable housing in the Legislature this year. For example, Gov. Sununu recently threw his support behind HB 586, a long bill that modifies various processes and tax credits to encourage workforce housing. Other legislators are looking for a big deposit in the Affordable Housing Fund as part of this years state budget. Other proposals look to increase eligibility for property tax breaks or modify the zoning appeals process. You can see all of these proposals on the Citizens Count Affordable Housing and Property Rights topic page.

Citizens Count is a nonprofit serving the New Hampshire community by providing objective information about issues, elected officials, bills, elections, and candidates. These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.

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Should NH require towns to allow tiny houses? - Manchester Ink Link

Steep, unexpected rent increases, utility hikes, reduced services and abrupt evictions are among the practices Iowa mobile home owners are calling on state lawmakers to address again this year.

Please help us stay in our homes. Please stop out of town investors buying up trailer parks and raising our rent to the point we can no longer live in our homes, Connie Simon, a resident of the Table Mound Mobile Home Park in Dubuque, wrote to lawmakers.

Table Mound is one of dozens Iowa mobile home parks that have been bought by out-of-state investment firms in the past few years, a trend occurring across the country.

Simons brief statement summed up many of the public comments filed to House File 442, a bill aimed at expanding some rights of people who own manufactured housing but rent the property under their home.

Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, noted lawmakers had received nine pages of written public comments on the bill, many from residents living in mobile homes. These are single moms. They are veterans, they are people with disabilities, they are some of the most vulnerable in our community. And their stories in here are heart-wrenching. And they are asking us to help them, she said.

House File 442 deals with numerous aspects of the relationship between the dwelling owner and the land owner, including:

Evictions: The bill limits the park owners ability to evict a tenant, restricting reasons to material noncompliance with the rental agreement or park rules or a legitimate and material business reason that doesnt affect only one resident, such as a sale of the land. The landlord would have to provide at least three written notices of the violations dated 10 days apart. However, the bill also allows eviction for any reason with a 90-day notice, as long as it is not in retaliation for a tenants complaints or actions asserting specified rights.

Rent increases: Rent could not be increased more than once a year and a tenant must receive 120 days notice. Rent increases could not be levied as retaliation. Decreasing services or amenities that are included in the rental agreement without a change in rent to be paid would be considered a rent increase under the bill.

Utility charges: The bill deals with utilities in several ways, including forbidding landlords from overcharging a tenant for utilities provided and allowing no more than a $5 administrative fee per month for utility administration.

Sales of mobile home parks: The bill requires a 90-day notice to tenants prior to the sale of a mobile home park.

Representatives of the Manufactured Housing Association raised numerous objections to the legislation, including that the grounds for lease termination are unclear, that it restricts the property owners rights such as to increase rent, and that it treats mobile park owners differently than landlords of apartment complexes or other rental housing.

Tim Coonan, a lobbying for the association, said the bill imposes provisions that we think are unfair, and also impose unreasonable restrictions on our ability to do what were very proud of and thats provide an unsubsidized affordable housing option for Iowans.

Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant, the lead sponsor of the bill, said Wednesday he is striving for a balance of rights between people who own manufactured homes and those who own the land.

Its all about the property rights. But we cannot forget that park owners are not the only one that owns something in this equation. Mobile home owners also own something. They have property rights, and those cant be dragged through the mud. They cannot lose their home, were talking about losing a home, Lohse said.

Lohse said he believed lawmakers were nearing a compromise on similar legislation last year but they ran out of time when COVID-19 caused a month-long suspension of the legislative session.

Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, joined Lohse and Democratic Rep. Ross Wilburn of Ames in moving the bill to the full House Judiciary Committee. But, she said, she believes the legislation still needs work to find a compromise.

She said she believes some tenants are unrealistic in not expecting rent to increase over decades, but its also unfair to have steep increases with little notice. So theres got to be some happy medium here, she said.

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Bill would expand rights of mobile home park tenants after years of complaints - telegraphherald.com

HTF MIpublished a new industry research that focuses on COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing market and delivers in-depth market analysis andfuture outlook of COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people get ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. The study is segmented by Application/ end users [Residential, Commercial & Others], products type [, Mobile Homes, Modular Homes & Pre-cut Homes] and profiled players such as BonnaVilla, Pine Grove Homes, Clayton Homes, Crest Homes, Cavco, Kent Homes, Sunshine Homes, Schult Homes, Karsten Homes, Champion Home Builders, Nashua Builders, Titan Homes, Manufactured Housing Enterprises Inc., Marlette Homes & Moduline Homes].

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The research covers the currentmarket size of the COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housingmarket and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of theCOVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured HousingMarket.

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The study provides company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of key manufacturers of COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing Market, some of them listed here areBonnaVilla, Pine Grove Homes, Clayton Homes, Crest Homes, Cavco, Kent Homes, Sunshine Homes, Schult Homes, Karsten Homes, Champion Home Builders, Nashua Builders, Titan Homes, Manufactured Housing Enterprises?Inc., Marlette Homes & Moduline Homes. The market is growing at a very rapid pace and with rise in technological innovation, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new manufacturer entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.

COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as , Mobile Homes, Modular Homes & Pre-cut Homes. Further the research study is segmented by Application such as Residential, Commercial & Others with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing in these regions, from 2014 to 2025 (forecast), covering North America (Covered in Chapter 7 and 14), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 8 and 14), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 9 and 14), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Others, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 10 and 14), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Others, South America (Covered in Chapter 11 and 14), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile & Others and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2019 to 2025.

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Following would be the Chapters to display the COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing market.

Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing, Applications of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing, Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes North America (Covered in Chapter 7 and 14), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 8 and 14), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 9 and 14), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Others, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 10 and 14), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Others, South America (Covered in Chapter 11 and 14), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile & Others, COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [, Mobile Homes, Modular Homes & Pre-cut Homes], Market Trend by Application [Residential, Commercial & Others];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing;Chapter 12,13, 14 and 15, to describe COVID-19 Outbreak- Manufactured Housing sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

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COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments Focus of the study is to analyse characteristics that affect the nature of competition and pricing. Identifying Influencing factors keeping COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured Housing Market Intense, factored with periodic analysis of CR4 & CR8 concentration ratio. In-depth Competitive analysis at product and Strategic business level. Predictive analysis on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior. To analyse the competitive developments, such as new product launch and merger & acquisition, in the COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Manufactured HousingMarket

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Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

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Manufactured Housing Market to Eyewitness Massive Growth by 2026 | Crest Homes, Kent Homes, Titan Express Keeper - Express Keeper

Sandie Hayes found her way out of a homeless shelter and into one of 30-subsidized units in the Solace Apartments in St. Peter in 2019.

The new setting provided the kind of housing stability her life was sorely missing. It helped Hayes escape a troubled relationship and aided in her pursuit of sobriety. She could easily tap into supportive services, including on-site Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and connection to mental health offerings.

Im alone now. I love myself. And Im not in a toxic relationship anymore, Hayes recounted recently. If I didnt have housing like Solace, that wouldnt happen for me.

Hayes shared those personal details with Minnesota lawmakers, who are searching for ways to replicate the success story.

Whether its people trying to get back on their feet or its companies struggling to expand because there are few places for workers to live, affordable housing is in critical demand.

Minnesota Housing, a state agency, estimated last year that more than 550,000 households devoted at least 30 percent of their income sometimes much more to housing. That benchmark is one measure of housing insecurity.

Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul and the chair of a legislative housing committee, said the problem has only grown more acute over the past year.

Housing was already a crisis. It has become even greater since the pandemic and jobs that were lost and people who are one paycheck away from not being able to pay their bills, Hausman said.

Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake and head of a Senate housing panel, hears much the same.

When I travel the state, thats the number one thing I hear from chambers and business people is they dont have enough affordable housing, Draheim said. They have a hard time attracting people because they cant find anywhere that is affordable.

A 2018 Housing Task Force estimated the need for 300,000 new housing units in Minnesota by 2030. While that figure covers all types and price points, the task force found the most significant need was for places where low-income families could call home.

Legislators from both parties are pushing bills to address the lagging stock of emergency shelter space, adequate multi-family housing at affordable rents and availability of entry-level, single-family homes.

Proposals range from increased assistance for rent or mortgage to state borrowing toward new housing development and building rehab projects.

Lawmakers are hearing from civic leaders, business owners and housing specialists from across the state Alexandria, Grand Rapids, St. Peter and beyond. Thats probably by design.

Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, said it highlights how substantial the statewide need is. She chairs a House committee focused on combating homelessness.

Housing supply and affordability impact every single community across Minnesota, Gomez said. And I know were going to have to continue to beat that drum because there is this sort of mistaken impression that it just impacts the urban core.

Take Roseau as an example.

Todd Peterson, community development coordinator in the far northwestern Minnesota city, said there are seldom vacancies in its affordable housing stock a chronic problem that he says has made it tough for the industrial area to fill job openings.

We just dont have the housing to house those people we need to bring in to work at those jobs, Peterson said. Weve tapped out our labor force and without additional housing we just cant move forward.

Dedicated workforce housing grants are among several proposals in the mix. Measures pushed by Gov. Tim Walz include $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds to foster more supportive housing, senior housing and manufactured home parks.

Since 2012, lawmakers have authorized $415 million in housing bonds that have supported $775 million in total development when local and private money is factored in. Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho says the return on investment is strong.

Thats jobs. Thats economic development. Thats getting people to work, Ho said. And its also creating or preserving over 4,700 units.

Program skeptics say the cost-per-unit is too high.

The reasons are many: The prices of lumber and other construction supplies are up. There are permit fees that builders say drive up their costs. Many government-subsidized projects come with wage requirements for construction crews.

Were chasing perfection with the cost of building a new home or a new unit, Draheim said.

He said the debate shouldnt be limited to how much the state antes up.

We have to look at zoning, energy code, building code, density, he said.

The housing construction discussion could get tangled in the brewing debate over what to do about evictions once a COVID-19-prompted moratorium goes away.

Key lawmakers say they hope to keep the two separate, but that might not be possible as the session goes on.

2020 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.

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Drive for low-cost housing finds bipartisan buy-in - Southernminn.com

Washington, DC, Feb. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a time when many people are in financial survival mode, addressing everyday money matters, building long-term stability and wealth is more important than ever. One way to build long-term wealth is through homeownership, and a Feb. 17 NeighborWorks America virtual symposium explored shared equity housing models specific types of housing strategies that create permanently affordable homes, build wealth for families and create equitable communities.

Shared Equity Housing: Creating Lasting Affordability and Community Ownership was part of the 2021 NeighborWorks Training Institute. The weeklong event, which began Feb. 15 and ends Feb. 19, hosted by NeighborWorks America, provided comprehensive professional education and training for housing and community development professionals.In 2020 NeighborWorks America awarded more than 18,000 training certificates to professionals from more than 2,000 community development organizations.

By creating shared ownership, these models give community members who wouldn't otherwise be able to own a piece of their community access to the wealth building and stability that homeownership offers," said Shanti Abedin, director of shared equity housing at NeighborWorks America.

NeighborWorks America provides vital training to professionals like housing counselors who help people become homeowners and therefore increase their pathways to wealth. More than 12,400 people enrolled in NeighborWorks Americas HUD-certification courses over the last year. On Aug. 1, 2021, all housing counselors must be HUD certified to provide housing counseling for a HUD participating agency.

Speakers at the symposium included:

Shared equity and cooperative models, including community land trusts, limited-equity cooperatives, deed-restricted homes, and resident-owned manufactured housing communities, ensure homes for families who may not otherwise be able to afford stable housing in their neighborhood of choice. This means that subsidies put into a community remain in that community over time, allowing affordable housing to serve multiple families over generations. Shared equity housing models also serve a pathway to traditional homeownership and wealth building for families who would normally not have access to equity-building opportunities. They also often allow for increased community control of housing and land.

Learn more information about the NeighborWorks Training Institute.

About NeighborWorks AmericaFor more than 40 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a national, nonpartisan nonprofit known as NeighborWorks America, has strived to make every community a place of opportunity. Our network of excellence includes nearly 240 members in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NeighborWorks America offers grant funding, peer-exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools and access to training, as the nation's leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations provide residents in their communities with affordable homes, owned and rented; financial counseling and coaching; community building through resident engagement; and collaboration in the areas of health, employment and education.

More here:
Symposium on expanding shared equity housing highlights innovations and best practices in community-owned land - GlobeNewswire

Photo by Joanna BastianThe Methow Valley Interpretive Centers Seasons of the People exhibit shows traditions of the Methow people through dioramas, personal photo archives, artwork and artifacts.

Partnerships are key to telling valleys story

By Joanna Bastian

The Methow Valley Interpretive Center (MVIC) launched the new year with an updated mission statement that expands its scope.

Executive Director David LaFever noted that the initial work of MVIC was limited to the Methow watershed. But in recent years, the MVIC actively worked to expand its outreach beyond the Methow Valley. The organization has developed valued partnerships with Paschal Sherman Indian School and the River Warrior Society to connect with more people.

Hence the MVICs new guidance: Our mission is to foster cultural awareness and understanding of Indigenous peoples and the natural history of the Methow Valley and Upper Columbia region through education, interpretation, creative expression and cross-cultural connections.

One of our core values is honoring relationships, LaFever said. The new mission statement is a reflection of what the MVIC aspires to accomplish in the future.

We are building relationships, and trying to do it right, LaFever said. Tending those relationships is our first priority. Trust and relationship-building help people connect.

For example, Rob Crandall of Methow Natives Plant Nursery noted that MVIC is sponsoring Paschal Sherman Indian Schools (PSIS) Traditional Food Systems program.

In partnership with PSIS and Methow Natives Plant Nursery, MVIC will serve as the fiscal sponsor for this program, which is working to integrate the traditional food systems of the Upper Columbia region into the everyday learning of PSIS students, Crandall said.

The program will create an outdoor classroom garden of native plants. Tribal elders can use this natural setting to share plant knowledge and traditions with students and staff. The Native American Agriculture Fund awarded the project a $50,000 grant.

The majority of grant funds are dedicated to supporting tribal members and elders to implement the program, Crandall said. Colville Confederated Tribes members Faith Zacherle and Cody Saint are community coordinators for the project.

The MVIC was also awarded a Washington Equity Fund grant of $25,000. LaFever said the grant will fund the interpretive centers general operating budget. It is a reflection of us as an organization that we are considered for these types of grants. This competitive consideration and the recognition that our work is equity work is the result of the deep work of the founders, he said.

MVIC fire recovery work continued throughout the winter with the replacement of lost homes with manufactured homes, infrastructure building and repair, and ensuring that elders basic needs continue to be met. Recovery work will continue in the spring with fence repairs, outbuilding construction and planting seeds.

Wealth of exhibits

New exhibits at MVIC are the result of building the relationships LaFever promotes. The story of the original people and the Methow Valley place becomes more revealing through the new exhibits.

The first exhibit, Clouds of the Methow, showcases dramatic cloud formations photographed by Dennis OCallaghan.

The Emergence of the Methow exhibit explains geologic history, tectonic activity and glaciation that transformed the Methow Valley from ocean floor to icy peaks. According to the Methow people, rocks tell the oldest stories and are teachers from the dawn of time. The exhibit was first created in 2019 with contributions from local geologists John Adams, Alan Gillespie and MVIC volunteer Jon Hawley.

The exhibit was expanded in the last year to include the field work of Julian Barksdale who, along with fellow professor Peter Misch and University of Washington students, began early geologic work on the North Cascades in the 1940s. Theirs was a complex undertaking, as the rugged landscape yielded puzzles that grew more complete after the discovery of plate tectonics in the 1970s placed the geology of the Cascades in a global context. Tectonic drift is explained in the Emergence of the Methow exhibit through the work of geologist Ralph Haugerud.

The Ribbon of Life exhibit focuses on the Methow watershed. Aquatic ecologist John Crandall contributed photos and text that tell the story of the Methow River wetlands and aquatic life.

A Living Landscape showcases important Methow Valley plants and animals and some of their cultural uses. Photos are by clinical herbalist and local author Rosalee de la Foret, and naturalist Mary Kiesau. Animal displays were contributed by Paula Mackrow, Jane Gilbertson, Rich Davis, Ray Robertson and Rico Mileski.

Two exhibits describe how the Methow people lived throughout the seasons. The Seasonal Food Cycle follows the movement of star formations that coincided with different harvest times and related preparation tasks. Elaine Timentwa Emerson and Jimmy Timentwa shared their knowledge of gathering traditions for this exhibit. Seasons of the People was created through story and photo contributions from the personal collection of Tillie Timentwa Gorr.

There is depth of knowledge, artistic creativity and skilled craftsmanship that has gone into telling the story of the Methow Valley, said Carolyn Schmekel, founder of the MVIC.

Community efforts

The exhibits grew from a community effort created by the support and dedication of individuals and organizations. Most of the materials were donated and all of the displays were created by talented volunteers. Artful representations were completed by Susan Sprague, Ron Gross, Rich Davis and Elaine Timentwa Emerson. Descriptive text was written by Carolyn Schmekel, Bruce Morrison, George Wooten and Susan Sprague.

Cascade Columbia Fisheries, Methow Salmon Recovery and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation sponsored the Ribbon of Life exhibit. Artifacts were donated by the Shafer Museum and Methow Valley residents. Featured photographs come from the archives of the Okanogan County Historical Society and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

The MVIC is open for private tours. Contact LaFever at (509) 919-0686 or email dhlafever@gmail.com.

A virtual tour of the center and never-before-seen displays can be viewed on the MVIC YouTube Channel. The link is located on the MVIC website home page, http://www.methowvalleyinterpretivecenter.com. The 30-minute narrated virtual tour includes oral histories as told by Methow descendants, Salish terms, and a scientific exploration of the Methow Valley formation and watershed.

Also found on the MVIC homepage are links to Notes from the Center, where LaFever discusses what each time of year brings to the Methow Valley, and what it means to the Methow people.

Excerpt from:
MV Interpretive Center expands its scope - Methow Valley News

Photo: Red Oak Realty

One of the most challenging parts about owning a home is performing renovations. Unless you are a designer or architect, knowing the best design options and the most reliable vendors can be nearly impossible to navigate. In addition, managing the home improvement projects can be rife with challenges.

Red Oak agents have seen a host of problems, from owners causing vertigo with a bad combination of penny tile and dark grout, to contractors ordering the wrong products, forgetting to add a cabinet or simply not showing up. Its no wonder that home renovations reportedly make 12% of couples consider divorce.

These challenges are only exacerbated when doing renovations in preparation for a home sale. In January 2021, three-bedroom single family homes in Berkeley sold in an average of just 14 days, requiring that sellers be ready to move quickly. The stress of choosing the vendors, making the design decisions, managing the workload while moving all of a familys belongings, coupled with worrying about buyer response can be downright overwhelming. And with COVID-19 driving up demand along with the cost of labor and materials managing the process with a tight deadline has proven to be even more difficult.

Today Red Oak Realty is excited to announce Enhance, a thoughtful new program for East Bay sellers to improve their property before they sell. They do not pay until after the property closes, and its particularly special because they also dont have to manage the project or vendors. Instead, the project is handled by a team of professionals, including a licensed and insured general contractor, professional designers and project managers who make thoughtful, on-trend and budget-friendly decisions while showcasing the homes best features, all of which likely leads to a higher sales price.

The work is performed through Red Oaks exclusive relationship with The Home Co., a respected women-owned interior design, construction and staging company that has been servicing the East Bay since 2007. From design choices to painting, tiling, staging and landscaping, every aspect of the project is thoughtfully and professionally managed by a team of insured professionals.

Enhance covers up to $40,000 in project work, which might include small remodels, repairs and staging. After a walkthrough to scope the project, The Home Co. provides the seller with a proposed budget to approve, then handles the entire project from start to finish. There are no invoices, no haggling, no incomplete projects or vendors that hold up the timeline as its all sourced through one company who oversees every detail. Projects stay within their timeframe, and more importantly they stay completely within budget every time.

Red Oak has been running a pilot program since late last year. Two properties are closing this month and several more in process. The results have been outstanding! The owners of 679 59th Street in Oakland used an Enhance budget of $39,750 to renovate and stage their home. They listed on Jan. 7 and received eight offers after just six days. The property sold at $950,000, 40% over the list price. Here are a few before and after photos:

5443 Brookdale Ave, Oakland used a $40,000 Enhance budget, received 15 offers in 7 days, and broke the Laurel neighborhood record for a 2 bedroom home under 1,300 square feet. Enhance helped to make dramatic changes:

If you think you might need help renovating your home for sale, reach out to your Red Oak agent or learn more about Enhance.

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Home Truths: The challenges of East Bay home renovations (and a possible solution) - Berkeleyside

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Fort Myers Beach is going through a lot of changes and Bayside Park is no different. Gaining consensus on the towns plans for overhauling the park has proven to be a challenge.

For the two businesses on either side of Bayside Park off Old San Carlos Boulevard, the town is headed in the right direction though they differ on some aspects of the overhauls.

The town council has given the go-ahead to allow its engineering and design consultants DRMP to send out the Bayside Park plans for bid. Those plans, as drawn up by DRMP with input from town staff and the town council, includes shade sails, a new grassy area, some replacement of trees and removal of trees, a new stage, veterans memorial tribute and rain garden.

A longstanding gazebo at the center of the park near the rail overlooking Matanzas Pass would be removed for the stage. The neighboring businesses support the removal of the gazebo but not the replacement of the stage.

That stage, big enough to hold about three people, is out of place, said Nervous Nellies co-owner Tyler Lemmer. He said a stage would only be used a few times a year, not enough to justify the cost. The restaurant borders the park on one side.

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

However, Lemmer said he didnt support keeping the gazebo.

I think it should be removed. I dont want anything in its place, Lemmer said. Its a park. Lets open it up. Lemmer said the gazebo attracts homeless people.

Snug Harbor co-owner Peter Ennis, whose restaurant borders the other side of the park, shared Lemmers view regarding the stage and gazebo. He said the park is not a big area to begin with.

Ennis said the gazebo was outdated and doesnt have the nice appearance that Bayside park should have.

He doesnt support plans by some on the council to install shade trees at the park, which he said would block the view of the water.

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy said the gazebo, which is younger than the town, will be coming down. I dont know how much use it gets, Murphy said.

Murphy said he recently met with the two neighboring businesses and said he supports their desire to merge the walking paths along the rails overlooking the bay at the rear of the park. Murphy said some work would need to be done on the seawall and docks to make it happen.

It will make a very nice walk for people, Murphy said.

I dont think there is much difference in what everyone wants, Murphy said.

Chris Lloyd, of Fort Myers Beach, said he didnt like the towns plans for Bayside Park and the gazebo. Its a little bang for a lot of buck, he said. He said a stage was preferable to the gazebo but wasnt worthy of the cost. I think the gazebo is fine, Lloyd said.

Lloyd said if there were more events requiring a stage at Bayside Park than the stage could be justified. This space is so small, how many people are going to be able to utilize it?

For David Bickes, of Michigan, the plans to remove the gazebo are horrible. Its a great place to hang out. Bickes said he and his family have been visiting Fort Myers Beach for the last 10 years and enjoys the gazebo. I love it, he said.

I hate to see it go, Bickes said.

Lemmer said he would like to see a small-scale fountain return to Bayside Park. The old fountain has issues due to the seawall leaking, he said.

Lemmer and Ennis want to move the veterans memorial from the front of the park with the rain garden (where it is currently proposed to go) to alongside the walking path near the back rails overlooking the bay.

Lemmer said the towns new plans are moving in the right direction.

Ennis said he is fine with the towns plans for shade sails overlooking the park, along with a new grassy area to replace trees at the center of the park which are currently equipped with lights.

Ennis also wants the park and general area to be lit up more. He said the installation of turf would give it a nice park feel.

Cost estimates for the project depend on which features are ultimately chosen as well as the final design and engineering fees for DRMP.

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said We are developing specifications for a bid to replace the gazebo with a stage. Town council will make the decision to proceed or not when the contract award is up for a vote.

According to the towns contracts with DRMP from 2020, they are to be paid $190,700 for the design of the Bayside Park project plus $1,000 for design meetings and public relations. Permitting costs are expected to cost another $6,000 for the firm along with more than $8,000 for the stormwater portion.

The contract also calls for additional charges depending on the time it takes to approve the designs.

Fort Myers Beach Communications Coordinator Jennifer Dexter stated Thursday that DRMP is to be paid $242,208 for its work on Bayside Park at 90% completion. The total project has an estimated cost of $524,000 at 90% completion before bid.

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Gazebo on the way out at Bayside Park - Fort Myers Beach Talk

It happened overnight in Trumbull County

by: Nadine Grimley

MECCA TWP., Ohio (WKBN) A driver in Trumbull County crashed into the gazebo at the Mecca Circle Sunday, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

It happened just before midnight where Route 88 meets Route 46.

Authorities said witnesses reported the driver had a gun as he ran away.

911 Caller: Someone just ran into the gazebo in Mecca Circle. Like, their car is in the gazebo!

Kirby Saum lives nearby. He heard the crash and thought it was a garbage truck.

It usually comes on Monday morning at 6 oclock, but it aint 6 oclock. Its like 12ish. Im going towait a minute thats too loud, Saum said.

Township officials are warning people to stay away from the gazebo until permanent repairs can be made.

Mecca Township Trustee Dan Galbincea was out Monday trying to secure the structure.

Im just trying to support it for the winter. Its not safe, he said.

Snow covered debris was scattered across the grass. Galbincea said there will be a lot of work to do to repair it.

Theres a couple of posts missing. There are some picnic tables missing. A bike rack has seen better days over there, Galbincea said.

Investigators with the Trumbull County Sheriffs Office said they made contact with a person of interest.

No arrest has been made, but investigators are consulting with a prosecutor on possible charges.

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Person of interest found in crash that damaged Mecca Twp. gazebo - WKBN.com

One year after the Florida Legislature passed a bill considered its first direct confrontation of climate change in years, the state is moving closer to making the policys promises a reality.

The Department of Environmental Protection is crafting a rule that will lay out a standard for considering sea level rise before starting construction on some publicly funded projects along the coast. It is supposed to take effect July 1, and agency officials said this week they aim to hone a draft version by April 1.

The whole idea is to raise the floor, and the floor on planning was absolutely nothing, said Jos Javier Rodrguez, a former state senator from Miami who pushed the original legislation.

Department of Environmental Protection secretary Noah Valenstein said in a meeting last month that the measure will mark the first time Florida sends a uniform signal across the state of what sea level rise projections should be used over what time periods.

The rule will require Sea Level Impact Projection (or SLIP) studies to be finished before builders break ground on projects that receive state funding and fall in specific areas especially vulnerable to flooding near the shore. It will cover structures like houses, parking garages, piers, water treatment plants and bridges, but not smaller items like gazebos and beach walkovers, or seawalls and breakwaters meant to combat erosion.

The impact studies are supposed to look forward to possible flooding over the lifespan of a project, often several decades, using a sea level rise estimate developed by federal scientists. During a meeting Tuesday, state officials indicated they would require an intermediate-high projection for how much local sea levels could rise, slightly lower than some environmentalists wanted but also not among the most conservative scenarios.

An engineering firm is creating an online tool that will allow developers to plug in their project information and produce the studies. It could provide a ranking of future flood risk, data on potential flooding, along with suggestions of ways to make a project more resilient. The rule will not force agencies, cities or counties to pursue whatever is deemed the safest route.

Theres no requirement to implement a particular alternative that may be suggested, said Whitney Gray, administrator of the Florida Resilient Coastlines program, during the meeting this week. This is not a regulatory tool.

Rodrguez, a Democrat who lost a bid for re-election last year, said he designed the bill to gain support in a Legislature historically averse to discussing climate change. We are so far behind the curve from where were starting, he said.

He modeled it after the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires project managers to study environmental impacts and identify alternative designs, but not necessarily to take the least harmful route.

The rule will require studies to be posted on the Department of Environmental Protections website for at least 10 years, and for 30 days before groundbreaking can commence. The state will not solicit public comments or hold public hearings on each individual study, said Weesam Khoury, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rodrguez said he hopes that requiring the research and posting it online affords accountability, and that residents will pressure elected officials who back risky investments of their tax dollars.

Environmental groups like the measure but have offered some critiques. State officials have revised the draft language in response to feedback and will continue to do so over the next several weeks.

The Environmental Defense Fund in Florida submitted suggestions in a letter last month, including a request that the rule make clear how studies should look at environmental risks outside damage to buildings, like changes to water quality and erosion.

The rule feels more like an anti-flooding rule rather than a sea level rise impacts tool, said Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, a staff attorney at the Everglades Law Center, which shares the concern.

The Law Center also wants officials to demand a longer wait period before construction than 30 days to give developers time to consider alternative designs.

Because the state is beginning to take steps, we want to make sure that the step they do take is of high quality, Fata Carpenter said. Its a step in the right direction, but its not a very big step.

To learn more about the proposed rule, visit the Department of Environmental Protections website here: https://floridadep.gov/rcp/beaches-funding-program/content/resilience-and-coastal-protection-rules-development

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Florida celebrates sea level rise planning tool after years behind the curve - Tampa Bay Times