Ideas Sought To Protect The Broads

Families and business leaders could hold the key to protecting the environment on the - and officials are seeking new ideas which could be backed up with a share of a ï¿¡200,000 grant.

The Broads Authority has today called on local people, companies and organisations to come forward with solutions which could help protect wildlife and reduce the carbon footprints of the tens of thousands of tourists who visit the Broads every year.

Each year since 2002 the government has provided ï¿¡200,000 to each of the UK’s National Parks to inspire communities to come up with bright ideas which will benefit the area.

The Broads Authority has used the to form a , helping promote , with green business, boating, biking and canoeing projects, education programmes and projects to help disadvantaged people.

Funding has also now been given for a study and carbon audit of the Broads to be carried out by the Cred programme, based at the .

The study will provide a picture of where come from and how much is produced, so the Broads Authority can draw up a plan to comply with government targets.

In the past the cash has helped launch the ’s Go Electric! campaign which gave grants for eight from diesel to electric.

Subsidies have also been given to help fund the only Green Boat Show in the UK, held on Salhouse Broad in September last year.

The in Norwich has also been given an ï¿¡8,000 grant to pilot a project, landscaping the grounds and building , an amphitheatre and a .

A spokeswoman for the Broads Authority said: “The projects we fund are wide-ranging but have several things in common. They are all innovative, sustainable, and improve the life of people living in and working in the area. The Broads Authority is keen to help young people and which do not qualify for other public funding. No project is too large or too small.”

Some of the organisations which have benefited from funding in the past include the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association which was awarded a ï¿¡15,200 grant to buy five new Wayfarer dinghies to help introduce schoolchildren to sailing.

The boats will replace 20 year old boats which were beyond repair.

David Wrenn, commodore of the association, said: “The help and support we have been given from the Broads Authority is brilliant. It is fantastic that they are helping projects like ours that bring a benefit to the community.

“Everyone who works here is a volunteer and gives their time for free so having the grant and being able to upgrade the boats has been a big boost for us.”

A leaflet, Bright ideas wanted, explains who and what qualifies for funding. It is available from the Broads Authority office at 18 Colegate, Norwich and at information centres.

The project follows the launch of the Broads Tourism Forum 2008 A Day in the Broads campaign with Visit Norwich, supported with funding from the Broads Authority’s sustainable development fund.

The focus of the campaign this year is to encourage green tourism with prominence being given to activities such as cycling, walking and nature spotting.

In December last year, the Evening News revealed how The Broads Authority had been awarded an extra ï¿¡1.3m of government funding over three years to be spent on important conservation projects.

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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

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Experts Give Tips On What To Consider Before Buying A Pool

Jeff Erkfritz, owner of Clearwater Pools and Service of , says he likes to talk to his customers about their expectations before he begins work.

“We ask what the needs are for the and we design the to fit those needs,” says Erkfritz, whose company specializes in in-.

A well-designed should also flow with the backyard’s landscaping and home’s , he adds.

Pointing to the , Erkfritz says he’s been doing a lot more high-end work, and there have been fewer about in- from middle-class homeowners.

Whatever style of you choose, Erkfritz says, keep in mind it’ll require an investment of time as well as . But it’s worth it, he says, because you’ll get instant entertainment without leaving your home.

“With the , they can create something in their that they can actually enjoy,” Erkfritz says. “You get what you put into it. If you put time in testing the water, you’ll get a lot out of it.”

Chemicals to keep the water clean usually range from $200 to $500 annually, depending on the ’s size.

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Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

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Taconic Investment restores hope with Eastchester Heights

Sometimes, real estate development is about more than buying and selling properties Landscaping Rock. , for example, transforms neighborhoods.

Nowhere perhaps in the entire is this better executed than in the North of Baychester, where the Manhattan-based Taconic purchased a mammoth five-block, 114-building, 1,416-unit apartment complex, riddled with drugs and prostitution.

“It’s part of a focused strategy to buy properties that can turn around an entire area,” says Charles , a founder of Taconic, who also owns the full-block-size 111 ., between 15th and 16th Sts., and the building in the . “With large projects, you can create value by re-creating entire neighborhoods. Everyone benefits - the residents, us as owners as the asset appreciates in value, and the community.”

While this might sound like idealistic developer-speak or masquerade for profit-driven long-term planning, Taconic’s immediate impact through , renovations and has given new life and a new name - Eastchester Heights - to this residential complex that locals once nicknamed “Homicide Homes.”

“When this housing complex sneezes, the entire area catches a cold,” says , Taconic’s residential , spearheading tenant-landlord relations and Eastchester’s makeover. “If each household spends $100 per week on nearby , that’s $140,000 per week spent right in this neighborhood. That’s a lot of .”

The history and architecture: This massive development is an architectural gem. Designed by , one of America’s most of the 1930s, Eastchester Heights was built as a planned community for middle-income city residents. Stein Rock, involved in the design of Sunnyside Gardens in Queens, studied planning and in England.

His work at Eastchester Heights, originally called Hillside Homes, complements the with large interior spaces across a series of four- and six-story brick buildings that rise with the hilly landscape. The streets act as terraces. Plush interior courtyards that look more like meadows harmoniously coexist with dark red-brick buildings accented by arched passageways and serving as paths.

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Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

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Palestine Public Librarys Landscape Gets A Facelift

Some very are being made to improve at the this week — changes that will make the library more convenient and pleasing to its .

“Our new look is fresh, attractive and inviting,” library director Carol Herrington said. “Every day, at least one library to me about how much they like it.”

The project includes the construction of steps and a paved walkway from the rear parking lot, the removal of shrubs around the building and the addition of butterfly and to the library’s landscaping.

A new irrigation system also has been installed; and the removal of the bushes in front of the building created four new much-needed near the library’s main entrance.

“Since I have been director here, about 90 percent of the suggestions I have received included the need for additional ,” Herrington said. “So I know will appreciate getting those additional spaces out of this change.”

The new set of steps and pavestone also have been a long- at the library — providing directionality to its .

“We have had people park in the rear lot and not know where to come in,” Herrington said. “The and new signs will make a big difference.”

To give its a sense of ownership, Anderson County included the “,” in their landscaping design. That garden, located at the front of the building, will be filled through a bulb set for June 7.

“We want patron to bring bulbs from their garden to plant here at the library and to exchange with other gardeners,” and landscape Nancy Waggoner said Wednesday. “The goal is to have people to walk by and say ‘that bulb was from my garden.’

“We want them to have a sense of pride and identity when they visit the library,” she added.

The , located at the rear of the library, will be included as a means to educate the about plant and animal life. A new curved pavestone will allow visitors a full view of the area.

“We have designed the so that there will be something blooming all season,” Waggoner said. “And as the plants mature through the years, I think it is only going to get better.”

According to Herrington, the project came about after learning about the cause of the library’s ongoing flooding problems — the large shrubs around the building were holding water against the walls.

“The Library Board decided to go forth and develop a new landscape design for the library,” Herrington said. “The library board took bids for the design, which was developed and won by the Anderson County .”

Also winning bids for the project were Jo Ann Pigeon , Blackstone and Palestine Concrete &; Tile. A community work squad from the local Gurney Unit has provided much of the labor.

“ Ron Sullivan was able to bring the Gurney crew in, which saved us a significant sum of ,” Herrington said. “Warden Karen Brown and her crew have done and great job. We could not have done this without them.”

Funding for the project has been provided by a $15,000 matching grant from the Palestine Economic Development Corporation, with the Friends of the Library and the Library Memorial Board contributing the initial funds.

“The library appreciates the efforts and cooperation of all the participating to make the project come to fruition,” Herrington said. “It is amazing what can be accomplished when people work together for a common goal.”

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Saturday, May 31st, 2008

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Its Hot Again This Year Eco Chic Gardening

the average household spent more than $400 for garden-related items. Landscaping grew by 19 percent, water gardening by 49 percent, planting by 26 percent and by 1 percent. Experts watch sales and several other areas to distinguish trends.

Why are they important? Garden and landscape trends shape for the next year and years to come.

I mentioned last year after returning from the International Conference in Little Rock that green gardening was the undertone of many of the speakers. For 2008, the Garden Media Group identified going green as the No. 1 , professional trend-watchers for the gardening industry.

“Environmentally savvy homeowners know that it’s not just good enough to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle; you’ve got to be environmentally responsible ” said Garden Media’s Susan McCoy.

Gardeners want to find , use locally produced or recycled materials and use environmentally responsible .

Eco-chic is the for gardens designed and maintained in an ecology friendly manner. Gardeners are recycling plastic pots, composting and using to catch rainwater. To restore balance in nature, they are creating feeding spots for birds and so that bees, ladybugs and have fruit and nectar to eat.

Water gardening is still trendy. However, it is not necessary to have a huge . In fact, is out. New smaller scale fountains and ponds are . They use less water, require less maintenance and can be more interesting in a home . Pondless waterfalls are an option as are tabletop and recirculating fountains.

Many gardeners are opting for less grass in smart and easy landscapes. They are adding stamped concrete patios, walks and driveways. Turfless landscapes are showing up as gardeners install rocks, shrubs, trees and ground covers rather than traditional . More expensive initially, it will save time, and energy in maintenance, especially if combined with a drip irrigation system. Natives show up frequently in gardens as well as ornamental grasses.

Half of this country’s consumers say that a lack of time is a bigger issue than a lack of . The service industry is exploding as homeowners who have purchased homes with large landscaped lawns just cannot find time to maintain the outdoor aspects. Full-grown plants and trees are hot sellers for homeowners too impatient to wait for smaller ones to naturally mature in the .

Outdoor rooms take center stage in gardening trends. For the past five years, outdoor living and decorating were cited as the top two mega trends. In 2007, $6.2 billion was spent on outdoor furniture, accessories and grills. More than a million outdoor kitchens were constructed, and upscale homeowners opted for construction of gazebos near their outdoor pools. Stylish table lamps, special submersible lighting for fountains and dramatic illumination options are now on the market as a result of interest in outdoor living projects.

Simplicity is in with a new twist on the monochromatic slant. One basic color theme dominates a bed or pot with foliage and succulents, many of them variegated, used as accents. Services A ratio of 60 percent of a primary color, 30 percent of a secondary color and 10 percent of accent color is attractive for a pot or bed. Big is beautiful these days. Big in big containers with big bold color are being used to create stylish pot scapes.

The “slo” food movement is growing, according to and Garden Consultant Adele Kleine.

“This philosophy reduces dependence on convenience and processed fast food. One of the purposes of gardening is to encourage adults and children to feel better emotionally and to inspire them to take more control over what they consume. That’s what slo food does,” Kleine said.

Farmers markets and organic food stands are part of this movement, as well as home . Garden sales via the Internet are increasing dramatically. This year, sales are expected to equal or exceed catalog sales, growing from $7 million in 2007 to more than $10 million.

Consumers jump on the bandwagon for products that are new and hot, so growers will continue to introduce hundreds of new each year to meet consumer demands. Organic pesticides, fertilizers, eco-friendly products and drought tolerant and/or pest-resistant , many of which are container suitable - plus more native options - are expected to be big sellers this year.

Hopefully, these eco-friendly trends are not merely fads that will fade with time Landscaping Services. We all can be responsible caretakers of the environment, but need readily accessible products to help us do so.

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Monday, May 26th, 2008

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Build Your Own Backyard Oasis

For the DiCarlo family in , staying at home is the next best thing to vacation - thanks to their backyard pool and .

said the family had Verbank-based NeJame Specialist Inc. install a and soon after buying the house, about three years ago.

DiCarlo said the is central to his family’s .

“Although we do vacation and take trips, it’s like having a right in the backyard,” he said. “It’s a family-oriented healthy activity our family uses on a virtually . We open the (in May) and don’t close it until after the kids go back to school.”

Building a is a major , a commitment in terms of time and expense. There are often multiple phases, so long-term planning is very important.

“People should be thinking about the whole landscape picture … have a plan for the whole future,” of the property, said Jack Kind, owner-president of -based Kind Pools, a since 1972.

Kind said when he meets with prospective clients, the is often like an interview. He asks about expectations, how the customer expects to use the and the overall budget.
Discuss costs

Chris NeJame, president of NeJame Specialist, a family-run business since 1958, said homeowners must prepare themselves for these discussions and costs.

“The is just a part of the expense. You still need fencing, electrical, water, landscaping, hardscapes, softscapes, etc., to make that overall backyard scene what you are visualizing in your head,” NeJame said

NeJame said his approach to building a backyard oasis is to start with the homeowner’s and working backward to determine what the contractor and homeowner can best do with that number.

First, the homeowner must be sure there is enough property, including setback space, for the and .

Although a will likely apply directly for the required permits, homeowners may want to call their town government and get a sense of the applicable zoning and setback laws very early in the process to be sure it’s permissible.

NeJame drew a distinction between being in-formed and trying to coordinate such a large project yourself, saying it’s much better to find a single builder who can handle several aspects of the project.

“Most homeowners should not be general contractors,” NeJame said. “It’s too involved and they wind up costing themselves too much . They try to save by having Tom do the deck and Paul do the and John do the and then you have one contractor stumbling over another and it can become a problem.”

Kind said to allow at least 40 feet by 60 feet or more for the area itself and suggests this is best in a backyard of at least a half-acre.

The shape, style and size of the is obviously a fundamental decision. Included with this choice is the material. Common choices for pools include fiberglass and polymer prefabricated pools, gunite (sprayed and shaped cement forms) and steel-wall pools. The finishing surfaces for each type vary.

Contractors may specialize in one or all of these forms, and opinions vary on suitability for the local climate and soil conditions.

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Monday, May 19th, 2008

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All Fixed Income Investments Come With Risks

Investors relying on fixed income investments for income have been hit with the double whammy of rising inflation and lower interest rates. In the search for higher income, they often overlook the many risks associated with fixed income .

The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about a Philadelphia mortgage lender, American Business Financial Services Inc. The company raised capital for lending by touting a “24 month investment yielding 9.14 percent annually” in newspaper and direct mail ads, at a time when the two-year Treasury notes were paying 3 percent.

For additional capital, ABFS also securitized their mortgage loans and sold them off to investment banks. When mortgagees began to refinance, the loans were paid off and ABFS found itself owing both its noteholders and the investment banks. By January 2005, ABFS was out of and forced into bankruptcy. The noteholders ended up with nothing.

The lesson we can draw from this vignette: All fixed-income carry some sort of risk, and investors must be able to recognize the risks when lending their .

The most common risk, and most easily understood, is the risk of not being paid back. Is the lender reputable? How strong is its balance sheet? Does the lender have a viable business that will earn the to pay back the loan on time? Is the lender’s business in an industry that is stable?

As is typical of most corporate loans, the ABSF notes were not secured by collateral. Investors had to rely strictly on the creditworthiness of the borrower. Creditworthiness of corporations, banks and governments can be checked through one or more of the seven reporting agencies that provide business and government credit reports.

Moody’s and Standard &; Poor’s are the most commonly quoted reporting agencies. Both use a letter system to rate borrowers. Their respective highest ratings are Aaa or AAA. Ratings lower than Baa or BBB are considered speculative and not investment grade.

Some municipal bonds may be insured for repayment of principle and interest, offering a higher degree of safety for the investor. Bank deposits are also protected up to $100,000 per depositor by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC).

Finally, in the event of bankruptcy, bond holders have preference over stock holders when it comes to the assets. However, if the borrower has secured other loans with those assets, the bond holder is second behind the other secured interests.

More subtle risks that are not considered by credit reporting agencies include interest rate risk, reinvestment risk and purchasing power risk. A maturing investment has to be reinvested in order to continue the income stream. If interest rates have fallen, the new CD or note will carry a lower interest rate and generate a lower income stream. If interest rates go up, the noteholder’s note is worth less and, if forced to sell, the holder may not get back the entire investment. Purchasing-power risk means simply that a dollar of income tomorrow may not buy as much as a dollar today.

In the ABSF case, we have investors who were lured by the 9.14 percent return and ignored the risks. They bought into a complex financial engineering scheme laid out in a 230-page prospectus by ABSF that supposedly spelled out the risks. Landscaping If this had been a truly low-risk investment, the world’s capital markets should have drowned the company in cash. The high spread between the two-year Treasury and the 9.14 percent offered was too good to be true. Even my brother-in-law looks good compared to those guys!

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Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

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City Backs Plan To Reduce Water Use

The rapid storming of assets in the thoroughbred industry by Queensland miner Nathan Tinkler has raised eye brows over the significant amount that Tinkler Patinack Farms has outlaid over the past six months.

Once Tinkler commenced buying yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd Karaka Sale Series in January the public face of the operation was revealed to the industry. Tinkler, Landscaping Stone an unpretentious man not given to flamboyance just because he is wealthy, had an aim to invest in the industry and build a business that spanned both bloodstock and racing.

The costs of buying yearlings rose as the sale went past, along with stallions, horses in training, stud farms and broodmares. The total to-date is could be in the vicinity of $50-60 million.

While it all seemed somewhat unreal, Landscaping Stone it was actually a real demonstration of the mineral wealth that the world commodities boom has created in Australia.

Stone And it seems that Tinkler is not going to run out of anytime soon. Finance media reports over the past 24 hours say that Macarthur Coal might be about to receive a takeover offer.

Macarthur Coal produces pulverised or coking coal, which is used in the production of steel, and thermal coal, which is used to generate power stations.

The company’s two operations, Coppabella and Moorvale, are located in Queensland Bowen Basin, and they are surrounded by the other major mining giants.

The reports say that the value of coking coal has soared 200 per cent this year, as demand from Asia continues to support a big lift in coal prices in what is Australia’s biggest export industry. PCI coal is forecast to triple in prices to $200 a tonne for the 2008 contract year, which began April.

KenTalbot, the former chief executive of the company, holds about 50.9 million shares or 24.02% of Macarthur Coal. Chinese group CITIC is the second largest shareholder with a  19.9% stake and Tinkler Investments holds about 10.4% of the coal miner.

Talbot  holding was valued at $750 million in the media on Tuesday, which values Tinkler holding at around $325 million, and that is before any takeover premium is factored into an offer for the strategic shareholding.

If the takeover goes ahead is another matter of course, but Patinack Farms would seem to be well backed by Tinkler mineral .

Mind you, the operation will need some significant cash flow to get through the first couple of years for the yearlings alone. Take 100 yearlings, and multiply by an average $30,000 per horses for metropolitan training per year, and it is a very large sum of to bank roll. That takes winning 80 plus Saturday metropolitan races per year to cover.

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Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

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Gamers Real Brush With The Law

One of the world’s biggest-selling video games, Grand Theft Auto, is getting a Kiwi makeover, though police may yet put the skids under the unauthorised version.

Karori teenager Stacy O’Callaghan has adapted the shoot-’em-up American law and disorder urban adventure game to domestic conditions Landscaping Stone- complete with detailed images of modern New Zealand police cars and uniforms.

Police national headquarters spokesman Jon Neilson said its legal team was investigating whether the modified version - which lets armed vehicle thieves bash and kill police officers - breached regulations concerning the use of police insignia.

Unauthorised use of a police uniform is regarded as an offence under Section 51A of the Police Act, though it was unclear how this related to use in video games.

Since its 1997 launch, the official Grand Theft Auto series of games has sold more than 50 million units worldwide and raked in more than US$1 billion (NZ$1.26 billion). Version No 4 is due out this month.

But Stacy, 17, felt its presentation could still be improved. “I am not doing this in any way to make or sell this modification; it was originally for me because I got sick of all this American rubbish and wanted it to be more realistic.”

He has “re-textured” the livery and uniforms of police and other emergency services, and wants to eventually add recognisable New Zealand landmarks in place of a North American landscape. “We could use major landmarks like the Beehive, the Sky Tower or Cathedral Square.”

His ambition does not stretch as far as trying to make a career out of game design - instead he wants to join the organisation which in the game frequently comes off second-best. “I’d like to join the police. I don’t really see myself as a game designer, I want to get into computer forensics.”

Mr Neilson said any legal questions over the use of police emblems would have to be cleared up first.

Last year, Stacy completed WelTec’s certificate in interactive computing, and has won praise from enthusiasts viewing his posting on YouTube about the overhaul. Stone “It’s really just for fun and a chance to play it as if it was in New Zealand.”

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Sunday, April 20th, 2008

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West Dundees Budget Soars

The preliminary hole in West Dundee’s 2008-2009 general fund budget could get deeper with the addition of for downtown landscaping projects.

Village Finance Director David Danielson presented a revised budget Monday night that included $26,000 for the building and grounds division to spruce up planters along Main Street, as well as the village hall grounds.

The village had anticipated a $347,000 deficit in next year’s budget and now faces a $373,000 shortfall with the inclusion of the monies.

Danielson said at least $20,000 of that would fund downtown work during the summer, while the exterior of village hall would benefit from the remaining balance.

“This is not just sticking a few petunias in planters,” said Danielson, after trustees suggested the sum was exorbitant.

Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said the would include all plantings and maintenance of the .

Initially, village staff had not planned for landscape work in next year’s budget.

In previous years, Danielson said the village had included about $80,000 in expenses.

Furthermore, village staff recommended an additional $120,000 in the capital project fund to pay for needed road patching throughout the town, especially along Boncosky and Huntley roads.

“We will step up the patching project,” Danielson said. “This is significantly higher than what the village typically spends on patching, which is about ($20,000) to $30,000 a year villagewide.”

Trustees again also discussed a proposed real estate transfer tax to overcome the shortfall.

Under the proposal, village officials are mulling a real-estate transfer tax imposed on buyers of residential and commercial property in the village.

The tax, which would be set at a rate of $5 per $1,000 of the property’s value, would generate more than $200,000 annually, village staff said.

A real-estate transfer tax would require resident approval by referendum on the November ballot.

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Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

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