Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Manhattan developer has proposed to build 750 apartments -- of which 225 units would be earmarked as affordable housing -- along with ground-floor retail in three high-rise buildings on the waterfront in St. George, the Advance has learned.

The three proposed apartment buildings would sit on a two-acre site owned by Madison Realty Capital at 170-208 Richmond Terrace and 8-26 Stuyvesant Place, according to a source with knowledge of the project.

Dubbed Liberty Towers, the buildings would range from 12 to 26 stories high, and there would be 23,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, said the source. There would also be about 366 parking spots for the development, the source said.

ZONING CHANGES NEEDED

The site is located within the Special Hillsides Preservation District and the Special St. George District, both of which have height and density restrictions for all new construction.

The plan would have to go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process, which requires a host of approvals, including those from the Community Board 1, the City Council and City Planning.

For construction to move forward, the developer would need a change from the current lower density zoning to an R7-3 zone, which allows for apartment buildings of greater height, said Joseph Marvilli, a City Planning Department spokesman.

An Environmental Assessment Study has been submitted to City Planning by the developer, and a remote public scoping meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19 about the project, said Marvilli.

The developer is hoping to have the project fully complete by 2025, the source said.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The formula to determine the criteria for the units earmarked as affordable housing will be based on 80% of the areas median income, the source said.

The source couldnt say yet whether the citys Section 8 program would be accepted at Liberty Towers.

City regulations require all new housing developments include at least 20% of units reserved for affordable housing.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT

Joseph Carroll, district manager of Community Board 1, said board members had an informal meeting with the developers several months ago, during which they unveiled their vision for the property.

At the time we commented that there were multiple zoning amendments that would have to be achieved, including relief from the St. George Special District and the establishment of [a more dense] zoning district, which currently does not exist on Staten Island, he said.

Local elected officials have expressed concern about the project, as well.

Borough President James Oddo, who previously met with the developers about the project, said he wont entertain the zone change needed for the development to take shape.

I am very passionate about this issue. I am calling for every current elected official on Staten Island and every announced candidate for this cycle and the 2021 cycle to completely go on the record about where they stand on the notion of a 26-story apartment building to be dropped in St. George, said Oddo.

To avoid construction of large apartment complexes, Oddo said elected officials fought several years ago to remove dense zoning on Staten Island. The Castleton Park Apartments, which are located behind the proposed Liberty Towers site, is zoned R6, he said, noting R7-3 will permit more density.

We are in favor of growth and investment. We know that needs to happen to keep Staten Island vital, but that can not be an excuse, yet again, to increase density without a care in the world about the impact on the infrastructure, said Oddo.

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said she also saw preliminary plans for the project.

The developers presented their preliminary plans to me last year, and we are scheduled to meet again for an update. This development would be subject to intense public review process and a vote. I look forward to hearing from the community once this engagement process begins, she said.

Madison Realty Capital declined comment about the proposed zone change.

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750-unit high-rise apartment towers with affordable housing proposed for St. George - SILive.com

A sold sign sits on a lot as new home construction continues in Westfield, Indiana, on Sept. 25. U.S. home construction rose a solid 1.9% in September after having fallen in August as home building remains one of the bright spots for the economy. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. home construction rose a solid 1.9% in September after having fallen in the previous month, as home building continues as one of the bright spots of the economy.

The increase last month pushed home construction to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.42 million homes and apartments after a 6.7% drop in August, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Applications for building permits, a good barometer of future activity, rose an even stronger 5.2% to 1.55 million units.

After a plunge in the spring due to pandemic-related lockdowns, housing has staged a solid rebound as demand for homes with more space has grown and mortgage-rates have stayed at ultra-low levels.

Construction of single-family homes in September surged by 7.8%, offsetting a 14.7% drop in the smaller apartment sector. Single-family construction is now at its highest level since 2007.

Construction was up in every region of the country except the Midwest which registered a 32.7% plunge. Construction surged 66.7% in the Northeast with smaller gains of 6.2% in the South and 1.4% in the West.

Economists believe home building will continue to thrive in the months ahead.

Strong demand, low inventory and a record level of homebuilder confidence continue to support new home construction, wrote Nancy Vanden Houten of Oxford Economics.

The National Association of Homebuilders reported Monday that its survey of builder confidence climbed to a new record high of 85 in October, up from a September reading of 83.

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Home building remains bright spot The Daily Reporter WI Construction News & Bids - Daily Reporter

WASHINGTON U.S. home construction rose a solid 1.9% in September after having fallen in the previous month, as home building continues as one of the bright spots of the economy.

The increase last month pushed home construction to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.42 million homes and apartments after a 6.7% drop in August, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Applications for building permits, a good barometer of future activity, rose an even stronger 5.2% to 1.55 million units.

After a plunge in the spring due to pandemic-related lockdowns, housing has staged a solid rebound as demand for homes with more space has grown and mortgage-rates have stayed at ultra-low levels.

Construction of single-family homes in September surged by 7.8%, offsetting a 14.7% drop in the smaller apartment sector. Single-family construction is now at its highest level since 2007.

Construction was up in every region of the country except the Midwest which registered a 32.7% plunge. Construction surged 66.7% in the Northeast with smaller gains of 6.2% in the South and 1.4% in the West.

Economists believe home building will continue to thrive in the months ahead.

Strong demand, low inventory and a record level of homebuilder confidence continue to support new home construction, wrote Nancy Vanden Houten of Oxford Economics.

The National Association of Homebuilders reported Monday that its survey of builder confidence climbed to a new record high of 85 in October, up from a September reading of 83.

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US home construction up 1.9% in September to 1.4 million - The Republic

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Some heavy-dutyexcavation and foundation work is underway in Winooski, a stone's throw from two new apartment buildings on E. Allen Street/VT 15.

A link has been sent to your friend's email address.

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

WINOOSKI - Most of the action is hidden and will remain out of sight to motorists for another month or so.

But some heavy-dutyexcavation and foundation work is underway in Winooski, a stone's throw from two new apartment buildings on East Allen Street/Vermont 15.

A tall crane marks the spot: Roughly halfway between Community College of Vermont and the entrance ramp to Interstate 89.

Taking shape: Foundations and walls for underground parking are under construction at East Allen and Manteau streets in Winooski on Oct. 14, 2020.(Photo: JOEL BANNER BAIRD/FREE PRESS)

The project is big. The developer says it will take about a year before the building opens to the public.

Parc Terrace will be impossible for commuters to ignore.

Subscribers can read the full story here to find out how the new structure is rising from a steep slope, what it will look like when it's finished, what it cost to build and where folks might find a new cafe/market in the neighborhood.

The Burlington Free Press is dedicated to bringing you stories that help make sense of Chittenden County's rapidly changing landscape.

Sign up today to support our coverage and to get unlimited access to more subscriber-only content.

Contact Joel Banner Baird at 802-660-1843 or joelbaird@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@VTgoingUp.

This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

Read or Share this story: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/10/20/whats-big-project-going-up-between-winooski-rotary-and-89/3708702001/

Oct. 22, 2020, 10:49 p.m.

Oct. 22, 2020, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 22, 2020, 1:06 p.m.

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What we know about the Winooski Rotary and I-89 new construction - Burlington Free Press

Dublin, Oct. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Liquid Applied Membranes Market by Type (Bituminous, Elastomeric, Cementitious), Application (Roofing, Walls, Building Structures, Roadways), End-Use Industry (Residential, Commercial, Public Infrastructure), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global liquid applied membranes (LAMs) market size is expected to grow from USD 18.5 billion in 2020 to USD 24.6 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period.

The LAMs market is driven by various factors, such as high demand from the construction, growing demand for energy-efficient buildings, and increasing water management activities in APAC. However, the availability of sheet based membranes can hinder the growth of the market for specific applications.

The elastomeric membranes segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period

The elastomeric membranes segment is the fastest-growing in the LAMs market. The LAMs market has been categorized as elastomeric membranes, bituminous membranes, and cementitious membranes. Elastomeric membranes seamless, highly weather-resistant, highly flexible, and highly elastic waterproofing membrane. They also have excellent adhesion to a substrate and good UV resistance. These membranes are used in applications, such as roofs, balconies, and terraces.

The residential construction end-use industry is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

Residential projects include the construction of houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, apartment buildings, driveways, sidewalks, wet rooms, basements, foundations, drainage systems, and others. LAMs help meet sustainability, waterproofing, ozone resistance, and thermal shock durability needs in these residential projects.

Rapidly growing population, urbanization, and improving standards of living are driving the demand for residential construction. This will boost the growth of residential construction, which, in turn, drives the LAMs market.

APAC is expected to record the highest growth rate during the forecast period

APAC is expected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to the increasing developments related to the construction sector. The high growth of population in China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and other countries provide huge opportunities for the construction sector of APAC. This will further drive the LAMs market in the region.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights4.1 Attractive Opportunities in the Liquid Applied Membranes Market4.2 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by Type4.3 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by End-Use Industry4.4 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by Country4.5 APAC: Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by End-Use Industry and Country, 2019

5 Market Overview5.1 Introduction5.2 Market Dynamics5.2.1 Drivers5.2.1.1 Increasing Spending on Infrastructure Development5.2.1.2 Growing Requirement of Water Management Activities in the APAC Region5.2.2 Restraints5.2.2.1 Availability of Substitutes, Such as Sheet Membranes, for Large-Scale, Open Surfaces5.2.3 Opportunities5.2.3.1 Growing Demand for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Green Roofs5.2.4 Challenges5.2.4.1 Fluctuations in Raw Material Prices5.3 Impact of COVID-19 on the Liquid Applied Membranes Market5.3.1 COVID-195.3.2 Confirmed Cases and Deaths, by Geography5.3.3 Impact on Application and End-Use Industries5.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis5.4.1 Threat from Substitutes5.4.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers5.4.3 Threat from New Entrants5.4.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers5.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry5.5 Raw Material Analysis5.5.1 Bituminous Membranes5.5.2 Elastomeric Membranes5.5.2.1 Acrylic5.5.2.2 Polyurethane5.5.3 Cementitious Membranes5.6 Value Chain Analysis5.7 Adjacent/Related Markets5.7.1 Introduction5.7.2 Limitations5.7.3 Market Ecosystem and Interconnected Markets5.7.4 Roofing Market5.7.4.1 Market Definition5.7.4.2 Market Overview5.7.5 Roofing Market, by Type5.7.5.1 Materials5.7.5.1 Chemicals5.7.6 Roofing Market, by Application5.7.6.1 Residential5.7.6.2 Commercial5.7.6.3 Non-Residential5.7.6.4 Other Applications5.7.7 Roofing Market, by Region5.7.7.1 North America5.7.7.2 Europe5.7.7.3 APAC5.7.7.4 South America5.7.7.5 Middle East & Africa5.8 Macroeconomic Indicators5.8.1 Global GDP Trends and Construction Industry Statistics

6 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by Type6.1 Introduction6.2 Elastomeric Membranes6.2.1 Elastomeric Membranes to Account for the Largest Share of the Market6.3 Bituminous Membranes6.3.1 Low Cost and Easy Availability to Boost Their Demand6.4 Cementitious Membranes6.4.1 Demand for These Membranes is Expected to Remain Stagnant Due to Their Low Quality

7 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by Application7.1 Introduction7.2 Roofing7.2.1 Benefits Provided by Green Roofing Provide Huge Untapped Opportunities for Market Growth7.3 Walls7.3.1 Improved Energy Efficiency to Drive Growth in this Market Segment7.4 Building Structures7.4.1 Need for Below-Ground Structure Protection to Propel Market Growth7.5 Roadways7.5.1 Increasing Infrastructural Activities to Drive Market Growth7.6 Other Applications

8 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by End-Use Industry8.1 Introduction8.2 Residential Construction8.2.1 Residential Construction Holds the Largest Market Share8.3 Commercial Construction8.3.1 Increasing Demand for Commercial Infrastructure Will Boost Market Growth8.4 Public Infrastructure8.4.1 Increasing Population, Urbanization, and Industrialization Are Driving the Growth of the Public Infrastructure Sector

9 Liquid Applied Membranes Market, by Region9.1 Introduction9.2 APAC9.3 Europe9.4 North America9.5 Middle East & Africa9.6 South America

10 Competitive Landscape10.1 Overview10.2 Market Evaluation Framework10.3 Market Share, 201910.4 Market Ranking10.4.1 Sika Ag10.4.2 Gcp Applied Technologies10.4.3 Carlisle Companies10.4.4 Soprema Group10.4.5 Mapei10.5 Key Market Developments10.5.1 Mergers & Acquisitions10.5.2 Investments & Expansions

11 Company Evaluation Matrix and Company Profiles11.1 Company Evaluation Matrix Definitions and Methodology11.1.1 Stars11.1.2 Emerging Leaders11.1.3 Pervasive11.1.4 Participants11.2 Company Evaluation Matrix, 201911.3 Company Profiles11.3.1 Sika Ag11.3.1.1 Business Overview11.3.1.2 Products Offered11.3.1.3 Recent Developments11.3.1.4 Analyst's View11.3.1.4.1 Key Strength/Right to Win11.3.1.4.2 Strategic Choices Made11.3.1.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats11.3.2 GCP Applied Technologies11.3.2.1 Business Overview11.3.2.2 Products Offered11.3.2.3 Recent Developments11.3.2.4 Analyst's View11.3.2.4.1 Key Strength/Right to Win11.3.2.4.2 Strategic Choices Made11.3.2.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats11.3.3 Carlisle Companies11.3.3.1 Business Overview11.3.3.2 Products Offered11.3.3.3 Recent Developments11.3.3.4 Analyst's View11.3.3.4.1 Key Strength/Right to Win11.3.3.4.2 Strategic Choices Made11.3.3.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats11.3.4 Soprema Group11.3.4.1 Business Overview11.3.4.2 Products Offered11.3.4.3 Recent Developments11.3.4.4 Analyst's View11.3.4.4.1 Key Strength/Right to Win11.3.4.4.2 Strategic Choices Made11.3.4.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats11.3.5 Mapei11.3.5.1 Business Overview11.3.5.2 Products Offered11.3.5.3 Analyst's View11.3.6 BASF11.3.6.1 Business Overview11.3.6.2 Products Offered11.3.6.3 Recent Developments11.3.6.4 Analyst's View11.3.7 Fosroc11.3.7.1 Business Overview11.3.7.2 Products Offered11.3.7.3 Recent Developments11.3.7.4 Analyst's View11.3.8 Johns Manville11.3.8.1 Business Overview11.3.8.2 Products Offered11.3.8.3 Analyst's View11.3.9 Renolit11.3.9.1 Business Overview11.3.9.2 Products Offered11.3.9.3 Analyst's View11.3.10 Tremco11.3.10.1 Business Overview11.3.10.2 Products Offered11.3.10.3 Analyst's View11.4 SME Profiles11.4.1 Alchimica Building Chemicals11.4.2 Chryso11.4.3 Copernit11.4.4 Elmich11.4.5 Firestone Building Products Company11.4.6 Gaf11.4.7 Henkel Polybit11.4.8 Henry Company11.4.9 Iko11.4.10 Isomat11.4.11 Kemper System11.4.12 Paul Bauder11.4.13 Pidilite Industries11.4.14 Saint-Gobain Weber11.4.15 Siplast

12 Chinese Companies12.1 Oriental Yuhong12.1.1 Business Overview12.1.2 Products Offered12.2 Shenzhen Joaboa Tech Group12.2.1 Business Overview12.2.2 Products Offered12.2.3 Major Projects12.3 Fuhua Waterproofing Technology12.3.1 Business Overview12.3.2 Products Offered12.4 Hebei Chenyu Waterproof Building Materials12.4.1 Business Overview12.4.2 Products Offered12.5 Beijing Jianguo Weiye Waterproof Material12.5.1 Business Overview12.5.2 Products Offered12.6 Weifang Luyang Waterproof Material12.6.1 Business Overview12.6.2 Products Offered12.7 Shandong Jingze Waterproof Technology12.7.1 Business Overview12.7.2 Products Offered12.8 Guangdong Yunyan Special Cement Building Materials12.8.1 Business Overview12.8.2 Products Offered12.9 Nantong Yuru Engineering Materials12.9.1 Business Overview12.9.2 Products Offered12.1 Shandong Dingtai Waterproof Technology12.10.1 Business Overview12.10.2 Products Offered

13 Appendix13.1 Discussion Guide13.2 Knowledge Store: Subscription Portal13.3 Available Customizations13.4 Related Reports13.5 Author Details

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ktxl6g

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Liquid Applied Membranes Market by Type, Application, End-use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 - GlobeNewswire

Blackledge would be a Chapter 40B affordable housing project.

EASTON Blackledge, a 108-unit affordable housing apartment complex proposed on Union Street near the Brockton line, recently received a positive vote from the Easton Select Board to move forward.

The board voted 4-1, with member Marc Lamb opposed, to authorize Chair Dottie Fulginiti, Town Administrator Connor Read and town counsel to negotiate an agreement with the developer, Rick Lincoln of Coneco Building in Bridgewater, to address town concerns about the project.

Lamb voted against the motion after expressing concerns about the number of projects approved in town.

In the past 10 years theres been so much development, Lamb said. We are on trajectory to add 1,000 units to this town in 10 years. I feel we are doing a lot. At this point I feel strongly about pumping the brakes.

The other four members supported moving forward but acknowledged Lambs points.

I appreciate Marcs comments and concerns, select board member Craig Barger said. But Id like to move forward from an economic and affordable housing standpoint.

Lamb said the project is not in any of the areas the town is encouraging economic growth like the Avalon project, a 40B apartment complex on Robert Drive, was.

This is in the middle of nowhere, he said. I dont see it contributing anywhere economically.

Rick, I do think you are the right partner, Lamb told Lincoln. For me, at this time and that location, Im a hard no.

Blackledge would be a Chapter 40B affordable housing project.

Chapter 40B is a state statute which allows local zoning boards of appeals to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules if at least 20-25 percent of the units have long-term affordability restrictions.

If approved, the project would help the town continue to meet the states 10 percent affordable housing guideline. Easton currently is at 10 percent, but the town anticipates it will dip below the requirement once the census is complete and will need about 80 more units, Read said.

As a rental project, all the Blackledge units, even the market rate ones, will count toward the 10 percent.

There are also other approved affordable housing projects in town, but they have not been constructed as yet.

Nonetheless certainly adding some units would make that much more of a sure thing, Read said.

The town conducted a preliminary analysis of the project. Among the recommendation made by the towns affordable housing trust was that developer include more market and affordable three-bedroom units. The current plan proposes 50 one-bedroom, 46 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom apartments.

The affordable housing trust also asked the developer to consider setting the affordability rate at 50 percent of area median income rather than the standard 80 percent. At that rate, only 20 percent rather than 25 percent of the units would need to be affordable.

The median income in Easton is $121,000, Read said. At 80 percent, thats still a relatively meaningful income.

The one thing you hear most from young people is that they are never going to be able to afford a place in Easton, Fulginiti said.

She suggested considering a mix of units some based on 50 percent and some on 80 percent.

The analysis also encourages keeping and rehabilitating the 1795 house on site, which once was Benson Concrete Products. Lincoln said they plan to relocate the house and use it as an amenities building for the development.

The report recommended the project tie into Brockton for water and sewer. The site is located on the Brockton line and some of the land is in Brockton.

The project is estimated to increase police calls by 41, fire calls by 7.3 and emergency medical service calls by 13.8, a year, according to the analysis.

The school district could see approximately 26 students from the development with nine being current Easton students who relocate to the project, according to the analysis. Because the town is about to begin construction of a new regional elementary school, the increase is not expected to burden one neighborhood elementary school over another. Overall enrollment is also slightly down, the report said.

Once the agreement between the town and Coneco is complete, it will be brought before the select board for approval.

The project will also need to be submitted to MassHousing and file for a comprehensive permit for the towns Zoning Board of Appeals.

If approved, construction could begin in about a year.

Reach Donna Whitehead at dwhitehead@wickedlocal.com

Excerpt from:
Easton to begin talks with 40B developer to add 108 affordable apartments on Brockton line - Enterprise News

The Gazette is working with the Linn Landowner Forum to present a weekly series of columns about elements landowners should consider when replacing trees and plants lost in the Aug. 10 derecho. The series will focus on recovery, the importance of native plants and other topics. Fourth in a series.

Many property owners in Linn County are seeing the light literally.

With trees and shrubs downed or damaged, properties are looking a lot sunnier these days. The now-ample sunlight proved an unforeseen benefit to the Aug. 10 derecho: the opportunity for property owners to transform their yards possibly now a blank canvas into a bird- and pollinator-friendly habitat. Or, at the very least, into a functional space that allows the household to live more lightly on the earth.

Before jumping in to transform your green space, we advise starting with a plan. This will save you time, money and energy in the end.

Commit to a spring planting and make your plan this fall or winter. Map out the green space in your yard. Know the amount of space available to work with and set a budget. Put key dates on the calendar (like local plant sales, predicted last frost date, ideal planting times). Research keystone species of trees and shrubs that is, trees and shrubs that historically have grown and thrived in our area for centuries rather than those introduced in recent years. Keystone species are more likely to provide the habitat that pollinators and birds in our area need to thrive. Learn more about keystone plants at the centers website, indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Add a variety of bird feeders. Local farm stores carry an impressive variety of bird seed in bulk, which eliminates the need for plastic bags. Bring an empty container from home, have it weighed at the cash register (this is called the tare weight), fill it with one variety of bird seed, write down the corresponding PLU number and have the full container weighed at checkout, subtracting the tare weight of just the container.

For those looking for an educational opportunity for the whole family, consider making a tray bird feeder or bird house. Turn that tree stump in the backyard into a bird bath. Creating a bird or pollinator habitat not only adds functionality, but also beauty.

Spring is the perfect time to plant wildflowers, prairie plants, berry bushes and other shrubs to create an ideal pollinator habitat. Lucky for you, the Indian Creek Nature Centers Plant and Art Sale on the first Saturday in May features dozens of varieties of these plants, both perennial and annual, at an affordable price.

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Also available at the plant sale will be vegetable seedlings. While vegetable gardens arent the best habitat for pollinators, they are ideally suited for sunny backyards and dont only feed yourself and your family, but also significantly lower your carbon footprint by reducing the overall amount of fossil fuels used to transport food to your dinner table.

For first-time vegetable gardeners, a raised bed with nutrient-rich soil is essential to a productive garden. Spend the winter months reading books and blogs written for our plant hardiness zone, which is 5a, and order a Seed Savers Exchange catalog (seedsavers.org). Research topics like succession planting and companion gardening to maximize production in a smaller space.

Lastly, if youre not already taking advantage of the city of Cedar Rapids progressive curbside compost program, consider starting now. Kitchen and yard waste can be composted easily in your Yardy or in a small space in the backyard. If done correctly, there should be little to no odor or pests.

Nutrient-rich compost provides fertilizer with no chemicals (perfect for your new garden) and avoids adding to unnecessary waste to the landfill.

We hope Linn County homeowners take advantage of these tips, and continue to look on the sunny side of the derecho. While this storm has no doubt been devastating not only to us, but to the wildlife that resides in our shared habitats the destruction also has ecological benefits that will help our natural environment grow back stronger than before.

Nature is resilient, and so are we.

Kelli Kennon-Lane is the director of education at Indian Creek Nature Center, where she oversees programming and educational initiatives related to the centers mission to create champions of nature. She was raised in raised in northeast Iowa and has lived in Linn County for the last 15 years.

Read more here:
Replanting the landscape: Turn the derecho disaster into opportunity - The Gazette

Ken McMillan|Times Herald-Record

WEST POINT Its been an eventful two days for the Army football team.

On Friday, the team learned it would serve as host of the Dec. 12 Army-Navy football game, being played at West Point for only the fourth time, and first since 1943.

On Saturday, following a 49-3 win over Mercer, head coach Jeff Monken revealed a secret he had been keeping under wraps from his players.

Frank Auer, chairman of the Independence Bowl, made a surprise visit to the locker room and extended an invitation to the late-December bowl contest in Shreveport, La., setting off a wild celebration.

Army became the first team in the nation to receive a postseason bowl berth, even before a number of major conference programs had even played their first contest in a season tossed about by the COVID-19 pandemic.Ironically, Army, with seven games already played, will face a Pac-12 Conference foe, which doesnt even start play until Nov. 7.

I'm just really proud of our team to be at this point in the season and being able to accept a bid to a great bowl game,"Monken said. Thats one of the exciting experiences in college football, being able to play in a bowl game."

Armys players celebrated in the locker room after Auer made a short address to the team.

Just going down to the Independence Bowl, that is amazing,"said senior Sandon McCoy, who had three 1-yard touchdown runs against Mercer. We didnt go to a bowl game last year (with a 5-8 record) and that kind of twisted our stomachs a lot, and we made sure that was not going to happen again."

It will be Armys ninth postseason berth since its first appearance in 1984s Cherry Bowl and a win over Michigan State. It is also the fourth in the past five seasons on Monkens seven-year watch.

"We are absolutely delighted to extend a bowl invitation to the Army West Point Black Knights football team,"Auer said in a prepared release. "The Independence Bowl celebrates the independence and freedoms we enjoy in America, and we are well aware that those freedoms are protected by our Army and the other armed forces. We deeply appreciate the role they play in our national landscape and will roll out the red carpet for them for their trip to Shreveport."

The plans for Army to play in the Independence Bowl were actually made a year ago, with a six-year bowl contract deal signed with ESPN Events. Between 2020 and 2025, Army if it could meet NCAA-mandated wins requirements would play in even-numbered years in the Independence Bowl, and odd-numbered years in another ESPN-owned and -operatedbowl. Army also signed a deal with the Charlotte Sports Foundation to accept an invitation into the Belk Bowl twice within the next six seasons should one be offered.

The minimum requirements used to be posting six wins against Division I-A schools, or Football Bowl Subdivision as it is known today. But with the college football world turned upside down in the year of COVID, the NCAA Division I Council did away with any wins requirements for 2020 two weeks ago, so Army was probably wise to secure the bid.

Four 2020 college bowl games have already been canceled, including a recent decision by the Holiday Bowl.

It will be Armys second appearance in the Independence Bowl. The first was a celebrated 32-29 loss to Auburn on New Years Eve 1996. In that contest, Army roared back with 22 fourth-quarter points but J. Parker pushed a 27-yard field goal try wide right with 30 seconds left that would have tied the contest.

We want to thank the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl,chairman Frank Auer and the entire bowl committeefor this incredible opportunity to play in this outstanding bowl game,"said Army director of athletics Mike Buddie. We are very excited to accept the first bowl invitation of the 2020-21 season and to make our first trip to Shreveport since 1996."

Army had a three-year victorious bowl run from 2016-18, beating North Texas State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl and Houston again in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Notable

Hat tricks: McCoy posted the third three-touchdown performance of his career. He did so against Massachusetts last season and in the 2020 season opener against Middle Tennessee. He has 16 touchdowns for his career.

Four quarterbacks: Monken started Cade Ballard for the second consecutive week and filled in with Tyhier Tyler much the way he did a week ago at Texas-San Antonio. Christian Parrish entered with a minute left in the third quarter and got five snaps. Maurice Bellan got the final snap of the third quarter and all but four during a 17-play, 91-yard scoring drive in the final period.

Injury front: Center Noah Knapp went down midway through the third quarter. He had been splitting time with Connor Bishop. Running back Anthony Adkins hurt himself late in the UTSA contest and did not play. Defensive lineman Kwabena Bonsu returned after missing two contests.

Defensive leaders: Spencer Jones and Jon Rhattigan each posted seven tackles to lead Army. Rhattigan returned an interception 50 yards just before halftime. Cameron Jones made a diving interception to short-circuit Mercers second series. Jabari Moore returned a pick 29 yards, marking the second time hes taken a turnover for a score (he had a TD off a fumble recovery at Cincinnati).

My fault: Brandon Salyers pushed a 39-yard field goal attempt to the left on the final play Monken blamed himself for not centering the ball with one more play and two timeouts available.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

Original post:
Army will play Pac-12 team in Independence Bowl - Times Herald-Record

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Snippet Octobers gardening to-do list. Preparing landscapes for winter. Keeping the Fall garden healthy through Autumn. Easy Fall maintenance for a healthy yard.

October is a critical month in landscape maintenance and should not be ignored. As we transition into Autumn and the first frosts in November, these key steps keep our landscapes healthy, weed-free, and ready for their long slumber through winter. These strategic steps also will provide a rich harvest from the vegetable garden through the holidays. Broccoli at Christmas is possible with task #5, weed prevention with # 6, and vibrant green evergreens right through the coldest winter days with #1. So here are the essential October gardening tasks that should be completed by the end of the month.

#1 Feed the Yard The most critical job of fall is also the easiest: feeding everything in your landscapes. The entire yard should be fed within the next few weeks. Stay away from synthetic winterizer plant food. Much safer results are delivered with Watters 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food. This organic blend plant food is safer for pets and people, and less likely to poison your drinking well than MiracleGro or Scotts 20-20-20 chemical foods. Evergreens will keep their vibrant green color through winter with this October feeding. Its a must for spring bloomers like lilacs and forsythias. Native pinion and ponderosa pines should receive this meal to fend off bark beetles, scale, and aphids.

#2 Evergreen Pine Health This is the month to treat pinion pines for scale, and it doesnt take an arborist. Each evergreen is treated with Watters Plant Protector, Diluted with water in a 2-gallon watering can and applied at the base. The roots absorb this bug antibiotic and do the rest. Reapply in March, and you will have superior, pest-free trees all of 2021.

#3 Tree Aphids Watch for large aphids. If the leaves and rocks are glistening like a mornings dew, aphids have begun their assault. Get on them right away by hosing down these pests with Watters formulated Multi-Purpose Insect Spray. It also eliminates spiders and ants from coming into your home for winter when sprayed as a barrier around doors and windows.

#4 Insulate Irrigation -This move saves more money over the years from froze water pipes. Every fall, I buy next springs mulch, manure, and shredded bark products and use them as insulating bags. They are the perfect size for cold protection over inground value lids, around the well house, and around backflow preventers. The garden needs them next spring anyway, so why not get double duty out of those bags of soil amendments?

#5 Add Winter Blooming Flowers By the end of October, trees are bare and summer flowers dead. Strategically place some blooming autumn plants in your landscape, containers, and vegetable gardens. Pansies, kale, mums, violas, broccoli, cabbages, lettuces, and cauliflowers all look bright through the shortest winter days.

#6 Kill Winter Weeds Weeds like foxtail and dandelions emerge and become a severe problem by the end of the year. Spread Weed Beater Complete at 1 bag per 5200 sq.ft. for total weed control. Go ahead and apply your plant food and Weed Beater Complete simultaneously, just make sure this critical task is done in October.

With these minimal maintenance tasks, youll find winter-blooming flowers brighter, evergreens greener, all with vigorous spring growth. If you have questions about any of these six tasks, please stop by the garden center where the Watters staff is here to assist.

Latest Garden News Its been seven months in the making, and the first edition is now online. Watters digital garden center just makes researching local plants easier. Plant organization is precisely how a designer investigates them in the landscape. Trees are broken up into Evergreens, Shade and Fruit Trees to narrow down your search. This is an active list of plants that often changes as crops are harvested and brought to Watters Garden Center.

Top10Plants.com is for locals of central Arizona only. Amazon will not be delivering a 300-pound tree to your doorstep. We have local delivery and planting teams hired to install plants or pick plants up yourself here at Watters Garden Center. Take a look and let me know how to make this new digital garden center even better.

Until next issue, Ill be here at Watters Garden Center helping local gardeners with their October gardening list.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his web site at WattersGardenCenter.com or FB.com/WattersGardenCenter.

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6 Gardening Tasks You MUST Complete this Month - Signals AZ

Some players are lucky enough to have their exploits reach iconic status. Some are even luckier and have that happen when they are at their best.

With the Giants, when you think of Odell Beckham Jr. there is probably one catch that comes immediately to mind. Same for David Tyree. From Bobby Nystroms goal to Derek Jeters flip, our sports landscape is riddled with quick flashes of images that define athletes.

Daniel Jones now sits at the other end of the spectrum. The one reserved for players such as Joe Pisarcik or Ernest Byner or Bill Buckner, whose careers were perfectly fine and worthy of pride but for that one ignominious moment that came to define them.

Jones had an opportunity to be among the first group when he took off with the football midway through the third quarter of Thursday nights game against the Eagles and had nothing but open space between himself and the end zone. Had he wanted to, he probably could have kept going after that, all the way up the Turnpike and right to his front door.

Instead he wound up running maybe a little too fast. He started to turn his head a bit to make sure he was in the clear. His center of gravity started to get out in front of him. And when he reached the 15-yard line, down he went. Splat.

"I just tried to run faster than I was running and I got caught up," Jones said.

That the play, an 80-yard run in which he topped out at a speed of 21.23 miles per hour -- the fastest an NFL quarterback has moved with the ball in his hands since 2018 according to NFLs Next Gen Stats -- quickly became a meme and a viral sensation.

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Maybe he was the anti-Icarus, flying too close to the ground.

Even his teammates on the sideline were pointing at the video board and laughing. A few plays later, the Giants scored a touchdown to take the lead, and Jones was able to smile about it himself.

"That was a relief to me for sure," he said.

But it wasnt over. Because the Giants blew an 11-point lead in the 22-21 loss, it became an instant metaphor for the team and for Jones and for their inability to finish. The biggest winner on the play may have been Josh Norman, the Bills cornerback who was stiff-armed off his feet by Derrick Henry two weeks ago. Norman is no longer the NFLs Photoshop du jour.

Jones is. And for a while now, until the next poor sap comes along with a more grotesque gaffe, he will be a punchline.

"Internally, that will be something that eventually well be able to laugh about," head coach Joe Judge said.

As for the rest of the world, theyve been chuckling since it happened.

"Look, the internet is undefeated," Judge said. "There are funny things all over the place. You just have to have a sense of humor. When someone sends you something or shows you something you have to be willing to laugh at yourself sometimes."

Like most of Jones play throughout his career, there was plenty to be impressed by on the run before it all collapsed. It was the longest carry by a Giants quarterback, breaking the record Jones himself set just five days earlier with a 49-yard dash against Washington. It was the longest run by an NFL quarterback since Marcus Mariota ran 87 yards for the Titans against the Jaguars in 2015 (though Jones, had he scored, would have topped that by a yard at 88).

It was tied for the fourth longest run in Giants history, behind Tiki Barbers 95-yard play against Washington in 2005, Hap Morans 91-yard run against the Packers in 1930, and Ahmad Bradshaws 88-yard play in Buffalo that clinched a playoff spot for the eventual Super Bowl champs in 2007. Eddie Prince also had an 80-yard run for the Giants against the Eagles in 1951.

Morans scamper of 91 was, like Jones, not a touchdown. Moran, who died in 1995, was lucky enough to live in a time when he did not have to watch whatever happened to him on that play over and over again on televisions and social media.

The good news is that Jones career is very young. He has time to replace that lowlight with a highlight. He literally has a chance to get back up.

Heck, some players are even lucky enough to have a couple of great plays they are remembered for. Eli Mannings throws to Tyree, Plaxico Burress and Mario Manningham are interchangeable as the defining moments of his career. Jeter had the flip, but also had the dive into the stands. And the Mr. November home run.

Maybe one day, when people think of Daniel Jones, theyll immediately conjure images of some great achievement on the field when he hoisted the Giants to a victory or made someone else look foolish with his obviously impressive athleticism. Maybe Jones faceplant into infamy, tripped up by the 15-yard line, the turf monster, or, as the old-timers at Giants Stadium used to say, a "tackle by Hoffa," will be a footnote to his sizzle reel.

Just not today.

Today, Jones is the the guy who fell down while the world was watching.

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and has been the Giants beat writer since 2008.

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Jones, for now, on the wrong side of memorable moments - Newsday