Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By Diana C. Kirby| Special to the American-Statesman

Caring for houseplants might seem daunting, but with a few simple tips, you can master the art of houseplant parenting.

As with most things, the best defense is a good offense. Healthy, well-cared-for plants are less likely to succumb to pest and disease.Stressed plants are easy targets.

Research the unique needs of your plant before you buy. Remember, indoor winter air is drier, and plants wont have as much light as they enjoy outdoors. Know how much water and light are necessary for your plant to thrive.

Before you buy your plant, check it carefully, even looking under the leaves for signs of distress or disease. Once you bring your baby home, always start with clean pots and fresh potting soil, not garden soil.Fertilize regularly, as nutrients wash out quickly from potted plants.

To enjoy the health benefits of plants, choose varieties that are easy to grow and dont require frequent, fussy maintenance.

Some of the easiest houseplants to grow include:

Aloe

Dracaena

English ivy

Heartleaf philodendron

Monstera

Peace lily

Peperomia

Ponytail palm

Pothos ivy

Sansevieria snake plant

Spider plant

ZZ plant

If you have small children or pets, make sure to choose plants that are safe. Whether they should chew on plants isnt the issue anyone with kids, dogs or cats knows their behavior often defies logic.My dogDakota routinely ate lantana outside the back door and threw up minutes later.I removed the lantana, and she promptly started eating the next (albeit safer) plant as well. Many house plants like poinsettias, commonly brought into homes during the holidays, can be dangerous.Be sure they are placed in a secure area, out of the reach of little ones and fur babies.

Once your new plant has settled in, if you begin to suspect pest or disease problems, the first step is to move it far away from other plants and begin troubleshooting.Dont "wait and see."If you think theres an issue, there probably is one.Its important to act quickly to prevent infestation or spread.

Common issues include:

Leggy plants: When your plant begins to send out leggy stems and grows too tall without filling in, its letting you know it needs more light.You can rotate your plant, allowing the sun to hit the opposite side so it will grow more evenly, or you can find a sunnier spot if that doesnt help.

Yellow leaves: If your plant develops yellow leaves, its probably a sign of either over- or under-watering. Each plant is different, but you dont want your plants to stay wet all the time, as that leads to root rot. Most plants want to be on a wet to dry cycle.Stick your finger in the pot about 1/2inch and rewater when the soil is dry.Succulents dont need much water at all; you will want to treat them differently and allow them to dry out fully.Plants have different needs and preferences; you will need to learn what works best for each plant.

You might also have a low-light problem. Revisit your watering schedule, and if that doesnt work, try moving the plant into a brighter location.

Spotted leaves:Fungal, bacterial and viral plant diseases often cause spots on leaves.First, isolate the plant and cut off and throw away any damaged leaves.Prune the plant to increase airflow or put it in a place that gets more air movement.Make sure to water at the base of the plant without getting water on the leaves.Once youve removed all damaged foliage, apply an organic bactericide or fungicide.

Powdery mildew:This fungus is differentand appears as a white, chalky film on plants.It is often caused by humid conditions.Pruning the plant to allow increased airflow might help.You can make a treatment at home with 1 tablespoonbaking soda, 1/2teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 gallon of water. Place into sprayer and spray generously.Commercial organic fungicides are also available.

Aphids:The most common houseplant pest, aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects that suck the sap from new plant growth.They attach themselves to the ends of soft stems and cause foliage to wrinkle and leaves to drop. They also secrete a sticky honeydew substance that can attract other insects or cause sooty mold or fungus.

To eliminate aphids, you can wash them away with a strong spray of water with a hand-held sprayer indoors or a hose outside.You also canturn the plant upside down and hold it while you dip all the foliage in a bucket of water. If those treatments dont work, look for safe, pesticide-free insecticidal soap to spray on the plants. Make sure you spray the undersides of the leaves because these pests are smart and will try to get away by hiding underneath.

Whiteflies:If you notice little specks of white almost like dust flying around when you water or touch your plants, its a whitefly infestation.They are prolific and rest on the undersides of leaves.Treat them at the first sign or they will spread. They secrete honeydew like aphids and can be treated with the same methods.They are also attracted to the color yellow. Yellow sticky traps mightwork as well.Be sure to keep the trapsin or on the plant and away from any children or pets.

Red spider mites:If infested, your plant leaves will get spots, wilt, turn brown and fall off.You might not even be able to see red spider mites, they are so small.They might appear as a reddish film in the bottom of leaves, or you may notice faint webbing or red/brown dots on the leaves. Mites prefer dry conditions; indoor heat in winter can contribute to this problem.

They are also attracted to dusty plant leaves; keep your plants wiped clean. Treat with miticides made from natural ingredients like neem oil or pyrethrins. You also can use insecticidal soap.

Scales and mealy bugs:Armored and soft scales are flat and look like fish scales, with no visible legs.Mealybugs are covered with a white, cottonlike material.They all suck on plant sap.Soft scales excrete honeydew and increase plant susceptibility to sooty mold and fungi.If you only have a few, you can scrape away scale with a fingernail or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Or, for bigger infestations, spray with insecticidal soap, neem oilor natural pyrethrin products.

The key to thriving houseplants is a watchful eye.Give them the right light, water regularlyand keep a lookout for any emerging pesky problems.

Landscape designer Diana Kirby helps garden lovers by educating anddesigning and installing successful gardens. Follow her at dianasdesignsaustin.com, Dianas Designs on Facebook or dianasdesignsaustin on IG.

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Know best indoor plants to buy, how to keep them healthy - austin360

Local homebuilder EDGEhomes donated $200,000 to the Utah Food Bank, which has seen a remarkable increase in need since the pandemic began. With 48% of Utah Food Bank's funding coming directly from the community, the generosity of businesses and individuals will help feed the 511,000 Utahns who are facing hunger, many for the first time.

With the sharp increase in demand, Utah Food Bank's transportation expenses have increased as they expand their Mobile Pantry program and deliveries to meet that need. Utah Food Bank estimates that it will take 12-18 months before its operations will return to pre-pandemic levels. EDGEhomes, throughout a difficult and unprecedented year, rallied together with other trade partners, vendors, and associates to raise $200,000 for the food bank, and they invite others in the industry to help meet their goal of matching that amount in donations.

EDGEhomes has continued to feel blessed to be in the construction industry, and blaze ahead with a commitment to the community. They continue to seek out organizations every year to give back to the communities that have given so much to them. Utah Food Bank serves families in our community and family is a core emphasis of EDGEhomes.

EDGEhomes wants to inspire and encourage others in the community to get involved with the Utah Food Bank and donate what they can through their Home Industry Heroes Virtual Food Drive. Helping to take care of their community has been one of the company's biggest joys, and it has been one of ours to be on the receiving end of their generosity.

Donations can be made through Utah Food Bank's Virtual Food Drive, which will be automatically matched up to $200,000. Donors can fill a virtual shopping cart with the items needed most and take advantage of the food bank's incredible purchasing power, all without the hassle of having to visit a store. To donate to the Home Industry Heroes Virtual Food Drive, visit the Utah Food Bank website.

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Local home builder makes hefty donation to Utah Food Bank and asks community to match - KSL.com

TipRanks

After a year that most of us want to forget, 2021 is shaping up to start with stability and an even keel. The election is safely behind us, the new Biden Administration promises a no drama approach, a closely divided and hyper-partisan Congress is unlikely to enact any sweeping legislation, reform or otherwise, and COVID vaccines are ready for distribution. Its a recipe for a calm news cycle.Which makes it a perfect time to buy into the stock market. Investors can read the tea leaves, or study the data whatever their preferred mode of stock analysis and use this period of calm to make rational choices on the stock moves. Using the TipRanks database, weve pulled up three stocks that present a bullish case. All three meet a profile that should interest value investors. They hold unanimous Strong Buy consensus ratings, along with a perfect 10 from the Smart Score. That score, a unique measure, evaluates a stock based on 8 factors with a proven high correlation to future overperformance. A 10 score indicates a strong likelihood that the stock will rise in the coming year. And finally, all three of these stocks present with double-digit upside potentials, indicating that they are still undervalued.UMH Properties (UMH)Well start in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, with UMH Properties. This company, which started out after WWII in the mobile home industry, later become the premier builder of manufactured housing. Today, UMH owns and manages a portfolio of 124 manufactured housing communities, spread across 8 states in the Northeast and Midwest, and totaling well over 23,000 units. As a REIT, UMH has benefitted from the nature of manufactured houses as affordable options in the housing market. UMH both sells the manufactured homes to residents, while leasing the plots on which the properties stand, and leases homes to residents. The companys same-property income, a key metric, showed 8.6% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.Also in the third quarter, UMH reported a 16% yoy increase in top line revenue, showing $43.1 million compared to $37.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Funds from Operations, another key metric in the REIT sector, came in at 11 cents per share, down from 14 cents in 3Q19. The decrease came as the company redeemed $2.9 million in Series B Preferred Stock.REITs are required to return income to shareholders, and UMH accomplishes this with a reliable dividend and a high yield of 4.7%. The payment, at 18 cents per common share, is paid quarterly and has been held stable for over a decade.Compass Point analyst Merrill Ross believes the company is in a sound position to create value for both households and shareholders."We believe that UMH has proven that it can bring attractive, affordable housing to either renters or homeowners more efficiently than has been possible with vertical rental housing. As UMH improves its cost of funds, it can compete more effectively with other MH community owners in the public and private realms, and because it has a successful formula to turn around undermanaged communities, we think that UMH can consolidate privately-owned properties over the next few years to build on its potential for value creation," Ross opined.To this end, Ross rates UMH a Buy, and her $20 price target implies a 25% one-year upside. (To watch Rosss track record, click here)Overall, the unanimous Strong Buy on UMH is based on 5 recent reviews. The stock is selling for $15.92, and the $18.40 average price target suggests it has room for 15% growth from that level. (See UMH stock analysis on TipRanks)Laird Superfood (LSF)Laird Superfood is a newcomer to the stock markets, having gone public just this past September. The company manufactures and markets a range of plant-based, nutrient-dense food additives and snacks, and is most known for its line of specialized non-dairy coffee creamers. Laird targets customers looking to add nutrition and an energy boost to their diet.Since its September IPO, the company has reported Q3 earnings. Revenue was strong, at $7.6 million, beating the forecast by over 26% and coming in 118% above the year-ago figure. The company also reported a 115% yoy growth in online sales. Ecommerce now makes up 49% of the companys net sales no surprise during the corona year.The review on the stock comes from Robert Burleson, a 5-star analyst from Canaccord. Burleson reiterates his bullish position, saying, We continue to view LSF as an attractive platform play on strong demand trends for plant-based, functional foods, noting LSFs competitively differentiated omni-channel approach and ingredients ethos. Over time, we expect LSF to be able to leverage its brand and vertically integrated operation into success in a broad range of plant-based categories, driving outsized top-line growth and healthy margin expansion.Burleson rates LSF shares a Buy alongside a $70 price target. This figure indicates his confidence in ~63% growth on the one-year horizon. (To watch Burlesons track record, click here)Laird has not attracted a lot of analyst attention, but those who have reviewed the stock agree with Burlesons assessment. LSF has a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 3 recent reviews. The stocks $62.33 average price target suggests room for ~39% upside in the coming year. (See LSF stock analysis on TipRanks)TravelCenters of America (TA)Last but not least is TravelCenters of America, a major name in the transportation sector. TravelCenters owns, operates, and franchises full-service highway rest stops across the US an important niche in a country that relies heavily on long-haul trucking, and in which private car ownership has long encouraged the road trip mystique. TAs network of rest stops offers travelers convenience stores and fast-food restaurants in addition to gasoline and diesel fuel and the expected amenities.The corona crisis has been hard time for TA, as lockdown regulations put a damper on travel. The companys revenues bottomed out in Q2, falling to $986 million, but rose 28% sequentially to hit $1.27 billion in Q3. EPS, at 61 cents, was also strong, and showed impressive 165% year-over-year growth. These gains came as the economy started reopening and with air travel still restricted, automobiles become the default for long distance, a circumstance that benefits TravelCenters. Covering TravelCenters for BTIG is analyst James Sullivan, who rates the stock a Buy, and his $40 price target suggests a 22% upside over the coming year. (To watch Sullivans track record, click here)Backing his stance, Sullivan noted, "TA is in the process of moving on from a series of unsuccessful initiatives under the prior management team. The current new management team has strengthened the balance sheet and intends to improve operations through both expense cuts and revenue-generating measures which should boost margins [...] While we expect the 2020 spend to be focused on non-revenue generating maintenance and repair items, we expect in 2021 and beyond that higher spending should generate good ROI All in all, TravelCenters shares get a unanimous thumbs up, with 3 Buys backing the stocks Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares sell for $32.87, and the average price target of $38.33 suggests an upside potential of ~17%. (See TA stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Notice to the media - Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance and Medical...

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- NeighborImpact has funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture available for weatherizing homes in Jefferson County, with more funding from NeighborWorks America for weatherizing homes in rural communities outside of Bend and Redmond.

NeighborImpact's weatherization program provides free weatherization services, which can include adding insulation, sealing leaky ducts and repairing heating systems for income-qualified clients.

Weatherization staff conduct an on-site energy audit, evaluating and documenting the existing condition of the home. This information is then used to determine which measures will save the most money on the home's utility bills.

Clients can be renters or homeowners and live in mobile homes or stick-built homes. Manufactured homes must be on a permanent foundation.

Services may include:

Additional services may be available to qualified owner-occupied homes in Jefferson County, including roof repair or replacement, wiring repair or replacement, plumbing repair or replacement and structural repair.

For more information or to see if you qualify, visit https://www.neighborimpact.org/get-help/help-with-bills/home-weatherization/

About NeighborImpact: NeighborImpact is a private non-profit governed by a board of directors drawn from across the community. Since 1985, NeighborImpact has led the region in developing solutions and bringing resources to Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We help meet the basic needs of Central Oregonians, build economic security and create a community where everyone thrives. NeighborImpact receives federal, state and local grants, foundation grants and donations from individuals and businesses in our community. To learn more about NeighborImpact, visit http://www.neighborimpact.org.

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NeighborImpact seeks applicants for home weatherization - KTVZ

On December 2nd- 8th several threats were received by contract workers on a construction site on Waldrop Church Road, in Louisa VA. Site Managers contacted the Louisa County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) and took appropriate actions to ensure the safety of their employees. Uniformed Officers responded and secured the area surrounding the construction site. After this incident, an in-depth investigation by the LCSO Criminal Investigation Division was begun, and a person of interest was developed. Interviews were conducted and evidence collected that led to the arrest of Eric Hardy, Sr., who was picked up without incident by the US Marshalls in Americus, GA at approximately 7:00 PM, on December 10th, 2020. Eric Hardy, Sr., is currently being held at Sumter County Jail awaiting extradition back to Virginia. LCSO would also like to thank the Virginia State Police, Sumter Sheriffs Office, and the US Marshalls for their assistance in helping bring this to a safe and speedy conclusion.

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Georgia man arrested for making bomb threats against workers at Louisa County construction site - WVIR

LONDON (AP) Britains government is in talks with French firm EDF Energy over the construction of a 20 billion-pound ($26.8 billion) nuclear power plant in eastern England.

Officials said Monday that negotiations are taking place over the Sizewell C site in Suffolk, which could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity enough to provide 7% of the countrys energy demands.

Any deal would need to be approved on areas such as value for money and affordability, and Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the talks with EDF are not a green light for construction to begin.

What we will be doing is looking to see whether we can reach an investment decision in this Parliament on that particular project, he told the BBC. We will only do so if this delivers value for money for taxpayers and consumers.

EDF says its eight existing nuclear power stations in the U.K. generate around a fifth of the countrys electricity.

The statement confirming the talks came as the government outlined its plans to cut emissions and expand clean energy. Officials say that, in total, the plans will support 220,000 jobs in the next decade.

Todays plan establishes a decisive and permanent shift away from our dependence on fossil fuels, towards cleaner energy sources that will put our country at the forefront of the global green industrial revolution, Sharma said.

The document outlines plans to develop offshore wind turbines, accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle charging points, improve energy efficiency in homes and move away from fossil fuel boilers.

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UK in talks with EDF over nuclear plant construction - Associated Press

Matt Soergel|Florida Times-Union

The year 2020 has been a disaster in most of the world, so it's easy, perhaps understandable, to see why many Floridians have moved on from a close-to-home catastrophefrom the year before the global pandemic.

But, say a couple of 29-year-olds, don't forget Hurricane Dorian and the incredible damage it inflicted on parts of the Bahamas in September 2019.

There's still an overwhelmingneed there, said Danny Moroney, who leads Hope Fleet (hopefleet.org),a young nonprofit Christian relief group, based in Sarasota,that'strying to keep attention on the Bahamas.

The Bahamas have been forgotten, he said. As a place thats normally deemed paradise, this has been their toughest year. And people [elsewhere] had already moved on to the next thing, then: coronavirus.

Though slowed by the pandemic, Hope Fleet has been using its own sailboat and the boats of other volunteers headed to the Bahamas to take supplies to the islands, with a focus on rebuilding and helping children.

Photos: Scenes of Dorian devastation in Bahamas

Moroney's group found an early supporter in Kenny Roberts, pastor of a small Jacksonville church, whowas born and raised in the Bahamaswhere his family goes back generations. He has family and friends who almost died in Dorian, and who told him that for days after there were still bodies strewn about in the rubble.

"Life kind of moves on for everybody else, but not to those affected," Roberts said. "Talking to family members and friends who live there, its going to be many years before things get back to normal.

Dorian was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Bahamas, aslow-moving storm that mowed through the island nation in early September,bringing 185-mph Category 5 winds and a massive storm surge to Great Abaco and Grand Bahama islands.

The official death toll in the Bahamas was 74, though more than 200 people went missing. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and many people were left homeless.

Roberts grew up on the tiny island of Spanish Wells, 2 miles long, half a mile wide, just off the coast of Eleuthera. Surrounded by reefs, it survived Dorian fairly well.

Roberts'father was a lobster fisherman, like many of the men there, and as a young teen he would join him on the water when school was out.

Hes lost his Bahamian accent, though it comes back easily on telephone calls or visits back home. Growing up on Spanish Wells was often idyllic: It was like a small, fairly well-off town, he says, a place of unlocked doors surrounded by water, where everyone knew everyone else.

You grow up with no real needs, in a beautiful place, Roberts said.

There was not a wide range of opportunities there though, so at 16 he came to Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville. That's where he met his wife, Jenna, who had grown up on the Westside.

In January 2019, Roberts became pastor at 150-member MissionWay Church on Old St. Augustine Road, south of Interstate 295. It's website ismissionwaychurch.org.

Our church is smaller and we dont have a ton of resources, he said. We're not even one of Hope Fleet's biggest supporters because we dont have the means to be, but our heart is there: How can we help?

Great need: Tourism economy gutted

MissionWay has sent donations, including some to make sure Hope Fleets sailboat got needed repairs for its first relief voyage. Its also collected supplies and sent money so families with very little would have food and gifts for Christmas.

If things get back to normal, Roberts said, he would like to send church members over on the sailboat, people who could work construction and teach Bible classes to children.

The need is great: The Bahamas tourism-based economy was gutted by the storm, and then came the coronavirus, which hit a country whose government, he said, was ill-prepared to handle it.

On the hardest-hit islands, though, the pandemic isnt the biggest problem.

In Abaco, COVID is barely even a blip on the radar of these people,because everything else in their lives is more urgent and significant right now, Roberts said. Thats not to downplay COVID or its effects, just to emphasize how difficult things are there now.

Hope Fleet's Moroney said it's frustrating not being able to make a significant dent in the massiveneed in the Bahamas. But it's still worth trying.

He reached out to MissionWay as soon as the hurricane passed. They were the first church, he said, to donate to his group.

Since then hes found other willing helpers, even though coronavirus-related travel restrictions kept travelers from the Bahamas until recently.

At age 15, Moroney began workingto bring supplies to childrens homes and orphanages in Jamaica, where his mother is from. He was motivated by his trips there, seeing deep poverty right next to beautiful resorts.

Hope Fleet became a nonprofit in March 2019 and was gearing up to bring aid to Cuba when Dorian hit the Bahamas. Their efforts quickly shifted.

Key to their work is the Shooting Star, an older 40-foot sailboat they boughtat a significant discountfor $10,000.

They load it at Pompano Beach and sail it, with little to no gas needed, to Freeport, where many hurricane evacuees have settled. Theyve focused their work there.

Lets do one thing really well rather than a bunch of little things not too well, Moroney said.

The group enlists other boaters who are headed that way, loading them with supplies as well. Boaters really want to help; they just dont have the time to vet different organizations, to find supplies, he said.

For example, Hope Fleet once got a call from a 156-foot yacht that was ready to go, ready to help. They loaded it with donated mattresses and bedding, and it sailed east.

There's still far more that needs to be done, but that effort was a success.

A family there told us, For the first time in months our babies arent sleeping on the ground, Moroney said. All of its worth it for that one family, who now has something to put their heads on.

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Jacksonville church and Sarasota nonprofit: Don't forget the need in the Bahamas - The Florida Times-Union

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GRANITE FALLS, NC (December 16, 2020) Jessie Odell Bowman was born on December 28th, 1919 to Cordia Brown Bowman and Earl H Bowman in the Bethlehem community in Alexander County. Jessie was born to deaf parents and had to work at an early age to help with the financial burden of raising four children during the depression. Jessie earned $30.00 per month in the C.C. Camp where he land mapped 4 counties. Jessie served for 2 years and sent most of his money to his family.

In 1940, Jessie met Sadie Jane Clark on the railroad tracks in Sawmills and they were married 5 months later on February 22, 1941. They eventually bought a home on Dudley Ave in Granite Falls for $800. On December 5th, 1943, their first child, Nancy Sandra Bowman was born.

Jessie was drafted into the Army serving with the 87th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. His main job was a mortar operator and marched in front of the troops to clear the way. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge; walked across France; and he was in Plauen Germany when the war ended. In 2013, the Ambassador of France presented Jessie the French Medal of Honor, in Raleigh, NC. The Governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, attended the ceremony and spoke to the honorees and thanked them for their service. That was one of Jessies most cherished medals.

Jessie decided to become a barber and attended Barber College in Winston Salem in 1945 and worked for Astor Peelers Barber Shop. In 1948, they decided to move to Bluefield, West Virginia to work as a foreman of a strip mine for Blythe Brothers Construction Co. While living in West Virginia, Sadie became pregnant with their second child, Deborah Anne Bowman, born on February 28th, 1950. They stayed in West Virginia until 1952.

When the family moved back to Granite Falls, Jessie bought and operated Central Barber Shop, where he worked full time until he retired from barbering. The barber shop was a busy, thriving business, where they offered a large walk-in type shower for 25 cents. In 1952, the price of a hair cut was 50 cents for children under 12 and 75 cents for older children and adults. Shaves were 50 cents and about 10% of the older men wanted shaves because they did not have hot water in their homes. When haircuts reached $1.25, Jessie had to buy a new cash register as the old register would only ring up $1.00.

Dale and Lisa Clark joined the Bowman family in 1971, as a result of Sadies brother passing away. The courts were going to place the two young children in an orphanage and Sadie could not stand the thought of this happening. They both lived with the Bowman family until they graduated from high school. Lisa was legally adopted and became the youngest Bowman daughter.

In 1970, Reverend Claude Dick, at the First Baptist Church in Granite Falls, urged Jessie to start a deaf ministry. Jessie accepted the calling and worked part-time at the barber shop until he sold it in 1986. Jessie resigned as the Minister of the Deaf at the First Baptist Church and began pursuing getting the deaf their own church. In 1986, he founded and organized the First Baptist Church for Deaf, a mission church sponsored by Winklers Grove Baptist Church and Mountain View Baptist Church. In 1989, with much monetary support and free labor from many different organizations, churches and individuals, Jessies dream became a reality and his deaf congregation had their own church located on Airport Road in Hickory. This was the first deaf church in North Carolina and soon the church membership grew to over 100.

Jessie traveled to Sorocaba Brazil in 1990, and started a much needed deaf ministry, as well as helping to build a chapel at an orphanage. Then in 1992, Jessie returned to Sorocaba for a revival, preaching at many different churches. Because of his unfailing love for his fellow human beings and all his charitable acts of kindness, he touched so many deaf and hearing lives, Jessie was nominated and won the 1993 Jefferson Award. This award is given by WBTV in Charlotte for outstanding community service.

Jessie retired from the ministry several times; God was not done with him because there was still work to be done. He served as interim pastor to the First Baptist in Morganton and several times at the deaf church in Hickory.

Without the support and love from his wife, Sadie, Jessie stated that he could never have had the success in business and especially in the deaf ministry. In 1995, during open heart surgery, Sadie had a stroke and was paralyzed and unable to speak. Sadie remained at home until her death in January, 2007 and they were married for 66 years.

Nancy Bowman, Deborah & Art Dlugos and Lisa & Mark Lowman all reside in Grace Chapel. Jessie has two grandchildren, Chastan Dlugos Shields & Willie Matthew Starnes along with four great grandchildren, Carson, Baileigh, Grace Shields and Willie Gabriel Starnes.

Jessie remained in his home until he passed with his daughters by his side, Sunday December 13th, 2020. Oh what a great man he was!

We will be receiving family and friends Saturday, December 19th, 1-3pm at the First Baptist Church Granite Falls Life Center. His funeral service will be Sunday at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645, First Baptist Church, Granite Falls, 12 Crestview St., Granite Falls, NC and or Campaign for the National Museum of the U.S. Army, P.O. Box 96281, Washington, DC, 20090-6281.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jessie Odell Bowman please visit the Bass-Smith Funeral Home Tribute Store.

To visit Jessies obituary on the Bass-Smith Funeral Home website click here.

Obituary written by the family.

Jessie Bowman smiling in the above photo taken during World War II. (click on photo to view a larger image)

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Jessie Bowman, WWII Veteran, member of the Greatest Generation, longtime barber and beloved father, passes away - Caldwell Journal

Crews are expected back on site by the end of the month, Evans said.

Construction started in 2018 and was scheduled to be done in January, 2020, according to BC Housing.

Construction was halted months ago due to what Evans alleged were challenges with the prior builder JBR Construction.

I cant really go into the details, because its before the courts. We terminated because of a default, Evans said.

Theres currently more than $3.2 million in liens against the property and a pair of civil lawsuits launched against JBR Construction from their subcontractors.

BC Housing confirmed the United Church is borrowing $32.5 million from its loan facility to finish the project, which is an estimated 60 per cent complete.

Evans said both primary construction contracts for the revamped Brechin United Church site were awarded following a mandated bidding process to access BC Housing loans.

Its been a major disruption for us, we certainly didnt want the building sitting for this long period, but we managed to work through this with BC Housing.

The affordable housing development at the Brechin United Church site is geared toward people with average incomes ranging between $50,000 and $100,000.

ian@nanamonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

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Work to finally resume at large affordable housing project on Nanaimo's Brechin United Church property - Nanaimo News NOW

The call to save the San Sebastin Basilica in Quiapo, Manila is starting to gain traction again on social media as heritage advocates and concerned citizens voice out concerns over the looming threat faced by one of the countrys most important architectural treasures.

The construction of a 31-story condominiumthe University Home Rectoright behind San Sebastian caught media attention three years ago. Interest over its adverse effect on the churchs structure was revived recently after reports that construction of the said high rise has been underway amid the pandemic. Photographs of the said development were shared to ANCX by the San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc.

The all-metal church is the first and only one of its kind in the Philippines. Completed in 1891, the Neo-Gothic structure was built through an international collaboration. It was designed by a Spanish architect, with inputs reportedly from the builder of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel. Belgian engineers oversaw its erection. A Frenchman was in charge of its flooring. And invaluable assistance from local laborers and craftsmen contributed to the churchs completion.

The interiors were handpainted to look like stone, with wall paintings of statues and saints done by the Academia de Dibujo, Pintura y Arte, headed by Lorenzo Rocha, a multi-awarded painter. The basilicas walls and ceiling also feature the work of turn-of-the-century artists Isabelo Tampinco and Felix Martinez. This historical marvel was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and a National Cultural Treasure in 2011.

The construction of the condominium was the subject of a recent editorial by journalist and arts and culture critic Lito Zulueta of theInquirer,who was reminded of a statement made by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno when he assumed office in 2019. According to an Inquirer story, the mayor said he will protect the citys heritage landmarks against photobombers, the term used for the heavily criticized 49-story Torre de Manila in Ermita now marring the skyline of the Luneta Park. The skyscraper was erected during the term of Moreno predecessor, Mayor Erap Estrada.

In a story ANCX published in 2018,renowned anthropologist Dr. Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita had strong words on the development. Its a Godzilla tower rising from hell, he said. It will really overshadow the church.Mawawalan ng dignidad ang simbahan.

He said the construction of a high rise behind it will ruin the basilicas chances of being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We want San Sebastian on the UNESCO list because we want to bring more prestige to the country, more tourists, Dr. Zialcita pointed out. Masisirabecause UNESCO is very strict about its siting. The church has to be admired in its majesty, if youre going to construct any tall buildingeven a building taller than the San Sebastian Churchwala na.

Attorney Mark Evidente, Heritage Director and President of the Heritage Conservation Society explained that the settings add to the significance of heritage sites like San Sebastian. If the settings are compromised, the value of cultural landmarks is diminished, he noted.

The foundations executive director, Tina Paterno, said that the developer needs to study the impact of its foundations on nearby structures.Any impact would hit the basilica hard, she said. Construction diggings may affect the structural integrity of the church, says Zuluetas editorial.

Even more tangible than a possible UNESCO recognition is the impact of the construction to the lives of the people in the quaint neighborhood.

In an interview with Bandila in 2018,Paul Iturralde, who owns one of the old, historic houses near the lot where the residential tower is to be constructed, cited the reasons they wrote a letter of protest regarding the construction of the high-rise to then-Mayor Estrada.

The residents pointed out the immense traffic it will cause to the single-lane, one-way motorist barangay road. They also said it will weaken the foundation of old houses in the area due to the excavations. Also, the dust, dirt and toxic waste discharges from the construction can jeopardize the health of the residents. Back then, Summithome Realty Corporation hasnt been issued a building permit yet for the said project.

In an October 2020 statement, the foundation and the Augustinian Recollect Order jointly uphold to protect the basilica and the community that it serves.Their main goal, the foundation wrote, is to get urgent clarifications from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the National Museum of the Philippines based on a clearance they issued the condominium developer on 16 July 2019. Individual letters were sent on 28 September 2020 to the Chairpersons of NCCA and NHCP, and the Director General of the National Musuem.

The guidelines of this clearance must be followed with respect to the constructions proximity to San Sebastian Basilica, recognized as a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, the foundation pointed out.

Through the request for clarification, they hope to find out how [the agencies] assessed the possible effects of the buildings design and construction activities on the architectural and structural integrity of San Sebastian Basilica and the surrounding houses.

This focus on the protection of architectural and structural integrity of the Basilica and houses is important because they directly affect the lives of residents. It is important to determine if the condominiums construction is a threat to peoples homes, and if there is a possibility of displacing families. At the heart of this issue is the safety of the community, which guides the decisions made by the team alongside the data of our engineers and architects, the letter said.

The foundation, who says it has been currently working with local stakeholders, their technical consultants, and legal counsel, has yet to release an update on the previously posted statement.

Read more from the original source:
Why we need to save the San Sebastian Church, according to experts - ABS-CBN News