Homeowners Warned To Beware Of ‘deals’ For Repairs

The is warning homeowners to beware of who offer “good deals” on air-conditioning service, roof repairs, painting and remodeling, driveway sealing, and cement work, landscaping and various other types of .

Homeowners, especially , are routinely approached by door-to-door looking to make a quick sale. These usually say they are in the neighborhood and can give you a great price on leftover materials. Often, they ask for full or up front.

All Nevada licensed contractors have a five- issued by the . Either call the contractors board or go online, and reference this five-, to make sure a contractor is licensed and in good standing with the board.

Work that is less than $1,000 which does not require a city or county and does not involve electrical, plumbing, air conditioning/heating or does not require a contractor’s license.

However, the contractors board advises homeowners not to use because their work is generally , they are often uninsured and may not maintain workman’s for their employees, and the homeowner may be liable for all injuries to workers. Homeowners who use are not eligible for the Residential Recovery Fund, and by law their contracts are null and void.

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Friday, June 20th, 2008

Hillside Landscaping No Comments

But do you remember your second first kiss?

Sue will never forget their first kiss. Bob, on the other hand, forgot it almost as soon as it happened.

They were high school sweethearts. In the backseat of his dad’s ‘56 Chevy. On a dirt road. In the fall of 1957. Hormones were flying that night and apparently cancelled out Bob’s brain cells.

But he will never forget their “secondfirst” kiss: This time they were . Standing in a parking garage. At the open door of a Cadillac. On a spring night. Nearly 50 years later.

Bob and Sue became an item in the ninth grade back in their hometown of Bayport, Minn. They swayed to Johnny Mathis at The Canteen, went to drive-in movies (with Sue’s little brother Craig crunching popcorn and slurping sodas in the backseat) and practiced kissing - for four years straight. By 1961, Bob was tired of just kissing. “Marry me,” he asked Sue.

But Sue thought they were much too young; adventures surely awaited them. So they threw their graduation caps into the air and said a tearful, heartsick goodbye. Sue left for the University of Minnesota and Bob left for the Army.

It was just puppy love, their parents promised.

As the years passed, Bob found a wife. And Sue found a husband. They built careers and raised kids. Bob wound up retired in San Clemente, Calif. Sue wound up retired in Iowa.

And that might have been how this story ended. Except that in early 2003, Sue’s cousin Maureen Paulson tracked Bob down through Classmates.com. She had some bad news: Mike Kilkelly, Maureen’s high school sweetheart and Bob’s old buddy, had been killed in a car wreck. Maureen and Mike used to double date with Bob and Sue.

Bob sent an e-mail back, confiding that his wife of , Lucie, had died of cancer a few months before. In fact he was heading back to Bayport in a few weekends to find some comfort in a visit with his sister and 97-year-old mother. Maybe they could meet for lunch?

Well, isn’t that interesting, Maureen e-mailed back. Her cousin Sue happened to be swooping in from Iowa the very same weekend for a quick visit. She was going through a divorce after 37 years of marriage and needed a break. A plan was made to meet for dinner.

It was a spring night. Bob slipped into a Navy sport coat, borrowed his sister’s Cadillac and set out for Maureen’s house. “I was kinda shakin’ in my boots,” he says. The James Dean curl that had hung down his forehead the last time he saw Sue was long gone, replaced by a neat white comb over. “I didn’t know where her mind was, or even where my mind was.”

Maureen greeted him at the door. “I walked in, and there was my girl standing on the other side of the room,” Bob says. She looked just like he remembered her, only her long dark hair was short and blond now and her girlish figure was just a little curvier. “Ooooo, I get a chill when I think about that,” Bob says, reliving the moment. “I tell you, when our eyes met, it was `Wow.’”

Maureen bowed out of dinner. Taking her cousin aside, Sue told Maureen she didn’t think she should go alone with Bob because her divorce wasn’t final. “And Maureen was like, `Oh get with it; it’s the 21st century.’”

The car ride was 30 minutes of nervous small talk. When they arrived at the parking garage of the restaurant they had reservations at in St. Paul, Minn., Bob got out of the car and ran around to open Sue’s door.

“And as she stood up we found ourselves very close. And with that, I gave her a kiss. And with that, she gave me a kiss. And then I knew, ya know, there was still love there. I just had to find out how much.”

That kiss, which later became known as their “secondfirst” kiss, took Sue’s breath away. “It wasn’t a French kiss or anything like that,” she says. “It was just a kiss. But…I thought, ‘Man, I can’t believe this.’ It was magic.”

In the restaurant a man was playing guitar and singing Neil Diamond songs, the slow ones, songs like “September Morn.” “His name was Lucky, believe it or not,” Bob says. “And there was a small, little dance floor. But we used every bit of it.”

As they gabbed, “the 40 years that had interrupted our lives together was gone,” Sue says. “It was back when we were in love in high school.”

The next day, Bob flew back to California and Sue flew back to Iowa. She didn’t have e-mail at home, so Bob sent e-mails to her cousin who then read them to Sue over the phone. In one, he confessed he still loved her. She called him on the phone. They began talking nightly, and laughing, sometimes for hours.

“Marry me,” Bob said one day in June, for the in nearly half a century. They wed the next month. Sue packed up her house in Iowa and moved to Bob’s house in San Clemente (where a convertible T-bird awaited her - a 60th birthday present). Hanging on a wall in their hallway are framed photos she had kept all these years from their high school formals, Bob wearing white sport coats with pink carnations.

Sometimes they wonder what it would have been like if the “giddy, goofy in-love teenagers” Sue says they once were hadn’t taken a 46-year detour; but they have no regrets. Each has two grown children they wouldn’t trade for the world. And Bob says his marriage to Lucie was a good one - even if thoughts of Sue often slipped in.

It’s the way she looks, Bob says. The way she smiles. The way she is always up for going out dancing. “Her sexiness,” he says, cracking Sue up.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says. “That’s what I like about him: He looks at me and sees the girl I was years ago and I’m not that girl at all.”

At 64, both Bob and Sue are retired, he from sales and she from property management. They spend their days puttering around the yard, driving into town for a coffee at Starbucks and walking along the beach.

“We just find wonderful things in the simplest things,” she says, like “practicing” kissing. “You have to do it again, ’til you get it right.”

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Saturday, March 8th, 2008

Landscaping Stone No Comments

Earth Day Celebrations To Span Florida Keys Island Chain

FLORIDA KEYS — Earth Day is officially celebrated April 22, but in the Florida Keys, surrounded by a national marine sanctuary and paralleled by North America’s only living coral barrier reef, celebrations take place all month.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, mile marker (MM) 103 oceanside in Key Largo, is to celebrate by hosting a native plant day Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with guest speakers, activities for children, guided tours and plant giveaways. Mention Earth Day at the park entrance for free admission. For information, call (305) 451-2102.

One of the Keys’ biggest Earth Day celebrations is set for Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bahia Honda State Park, MM 36.8. Park entry is free, and attractions include live music, a sand sculpture contest and more than 20 environmental education booths. For information, call (305) 872-9807.

Dolphin Research Center, MM 59 bayside on Grassy Key, plans to host its annual Ocean Celebration Day Thursday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Geared toward school-age children, the event includes dolphin behavior demonstrations, environmental exhibits and puppet shows. General admission is $19.50 for adults, $16.50 for and $13.50 for children 4 to 12. For information, call (305) 289-1121.

Marathon’s Crane Point Hammock Museum and Nature Center, MM 50 bayside, is planning an Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can enjoy an environmental art show and fair, tours of the property, guest speakers and a kids’ angling challenge. Crane Point admission is $8 per adult, $7 for , $5 for students and free for anyone younger than 6. For information, call (305) 743-3900.

Cheeca Lodge and Spa, MM 81.8 oceanside in Islamorada, is hosting its 15th annual Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19. Highlights are to include a beach sand sculpture event where “sculptors” spell out an environmental message in gigantic letters that are visible from the air. The 2008 message is “Living Green is the Key.” The schedule also includes a kids’ fishing tournament and sand castle contest, a kiteboarding demonstration over the Atlantic, environmental education exhibits, live music and a beachfront grill. For information, call (305) 517-4411.

For more Florida Keys information, including accommodations and a complete event calendar, visit the Florida Keys %26 Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com

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Thursday, February 21st, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Independent Senior Housing Time To Have Fun

As we all age and approach our retirements most of us look to change our living arrangements to reflect our senior status and our changing suite of needs and requirements. Once we stop working we start to look at how we intend to spend our retirement, particularly what activities and hobbies we intend to pursue. We also consider our living arrangements and often take the opportunity to downsize our suburban homes and relocate to more appropriate accommodation, whist still maintaining our independence.

There are literally tens of thousands of independent senior housing projects that we can move to, each offering the alternative living arrangements, either as couples or as individuals. These facilities have been specifically designed with the resident’s needs in mind and often provide a range of services, including health and related support .

Many of the independent senior housing facilities are designed to allow the residents to maintain their individualistic lifestyles whilst at the same time providing a level of security that they may not otherwise be able to enjoy in a typical home. These housing communities draw their residents based on the type of offered, thus allowing the occupants the option of choosing whether or not he or she wants to participate in the or programs offered by the facility.

Typically these housing communities revolve around specific activities or such as swimming pools, gymnasiums or maybe bike and walking paths. Additionally they make offer facilities such as day spas, chapels, beauty salons, retail shops as well as libraries. There are many that incorporate a central dining room which allow residents the opportunity to have prepared meals as well as providing interaction with fellow lodgers. A number of housing communities offer in-house health , or they may be affiliated with a health care provider that visits the site to provide assistance and related such as counseling or physiotherapy to those residents in need.

Whilst it is typical that the residents purchase their own housing within the complex there are some facilities that offer long term rental plans. Along with the purchase of the housing there are regular monthly payments required to contribute towards the offered by the facility as well as for the upkeep and maintenance of common property and facilities such as gardens and swimming pools. Often, if the resident requires daily health care or home assistance such as housework, meal preparation, personal care, shopping or transportation then these are provided on a user pays basis.

The most positive aspect of an independent senior housing facility is that it provides the opportunity to live independently and not have to rely on others for their welfare until it is actually required. As a senior citizen, the selection of the type of community housing that you want will ultimately depends on the you intend to lead, together with the range of you require in order to live comfortably as well as maintaining your health. Additionally, your financial situation has a large influence as to the affordability of which senior housing projects you are able to move to.

If you are approaching retirement age and feel that this style of living arrangement is what you are looking for then it is in your best interest to start researching the independent senior housing communities that are located near to you. Visit the facilities and ask them to provide full details of the costs involved so that you can determine which are best suited to your needs for now and in the future, as you age and require additional assistance from a health and ongoing care perspective.

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Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Landscaping Idea No Comments

Investments in the realty sector to harness rich capital gains


The

realty sector in the country is all set to enter into a new era in 2008 with a

plethora of investment options lined up in the coming months. Investors may

invariably be in a dilemma as to where to invest and what percentage should be

earmarked for each category in the investment portfolio.

It is one area where both

yield and capital appreciation is assured for investors. What is more, today,

one can use the asset acquired over the years to raise short term funds for a

rainy day through multiple options like mortgage loan against immovable property

, loans against rental income and reverse mortgage for .

Residential

property

Those looking

at residential property should remember there are three pertinent factors which

are beyond investors’ control like increase in land cost, input cost and

registration fee. They are moving up at regular intervals irrespective of the

government in power and its policies to supplement the revenue for the exchequer

. Though the return on investment may not be relatively lucrative in the short

term, capital appreciation in the long-term will compensate the investors well.

However, caution should be

exercised to ensure that every family member in the house should own one

residential property in his or her name so as to derive maximum tax benefit.

This is because one self-occupied house is completely exempt from income tax and

wealth tax.

Also

read

à

Get your

dream house at an affordable cost

à

Realty market

may see major growth till April ‘08

à

Kochi’s the

new realty hotspot

à

Realty market

may see major growth till April ‘08

à

UBS to expand

India, China property business

à

Realty firms

raise maximum through IPOs in 2007: Assocham

Tax

advantage

It is not

sufficient to just include the names of joint family members in the conveyance

deed but there should be a clear mention about the percentage of ownership and

the funds should flow pro rata to their ownership from their respective bank

accounts.

From the taxation

point of view, even if one has investible surplus, it is better to opt for home

loans while investing in residential property as he is entitled for exemption

upto Rs 1.5 lakhs per annum towards home loan interest paid. Further, an

individual can claim deduction upto Rs 1 lakh towards repayment of principal

amount.

With the benefit of

full exemption on sale of residential property and cost inflation index for

computing taxable longterm capital gains, smaller units already owned by the

investors can be consolidated for larger premises both for self-occupation and

leasing.

This is because with

the entry of integrated township projects, investors can look forward to global

standards in housing in the coming years. Land in suburban and peripheral areas

appreciates much faster than in city areas. One has to look at the ground

realities like zoning, government’s proposal for acquisition, and whether

conversion would be feasible here. Plot loans are available and if availed,

would relieve the investors of the need for scrutiny of title deeds.

To encourage rental housing,

it is hoped that the forthcoming Union Budget would provide more stimulus to

investors . Even otherwise, exemption from wealth tax is already available if

the house is let-out for a minimum period of 300 days in a calendar year.

Moreover, a deduction of 30% from the rental income on account of repairs and

collection charges besides exemption from the purview of wealth tax is

available.

For commercial

property, developers themselves want to retain the premises and are keen on

leasing.

This is because they can

realise substantial investments through rent discounting scheme offered by

various banks. Leased commercial properties are sought-after and ideal for high

net worth individuals. The yield varies from 10 percent and more, depending on

the location, amenities offered, specification and proximity to landmark areas.

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Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Yard Landscaping No Comments

Benefits Of Wall Fountains In Senior Centers

Old age catches up with everyone and sometimes, it catches up with a vengeance. As a result, more and more are going into assisted care environments, like senior centers. Senior centers provide a restful environment to their denizens and one of the details that makes for a soothing and relaxing senior center is a wall fountain. In addition to providing a soothing background noise, wall fountains offer a wonder visual experience and hydrate the air at the same time!

What are Wall Water Fountains?

Generally, a wall water fountain is installed in a common area, entrance or walkway in senior center facilities. This lets the water flow provide soothing background noise and visual enjoyment for individuals. They also serve to catch dust and other irritants from the air. Several wall fountains are designed for health service use, which come with solid state (metallurgical) anti-fungal agents that also help reduce the risk of bacteria and viruses from spreading. They work by pollutants that are captured by the water. Pollutants are then run over a set of plates where piezoelectric charges pull the spores down and keep them from re-circulating. So, in addition to being pleasant and attractive, they serve as sort of a renewable HePA filter, and help to keep the residents safe.

Wall fountains are attractive - they come in a variety of sizes, from small, discrete bubblers to ones that cycle through twenty gallons per minute and are meant for display walls in reception areas. It can project a certain distinction or even time period. Often displaying a modus of professionalism and classical styling to what could otherwise be an austere environment.

Water Wall Fountains in Senior Centers

In senior centers, wall fountains often promote a sense of life reflection in quiet moments, which allows seniors to reflect on their life in past years and what the future may possibly hold. Not to mention the new research of the healing properties of flowing water. Wall fountains are becoming very common for outpatient care facilities. Several styles of can be found to match the d%26eacute;cor of any senior center, ranging from rough-hewn styles of stone, to classical marble facades, to more modernist steel and coated copper varieties. View more styles of wall fountains at http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Fiberglass+Wall+Fountains. The fountain bed materials can be pebbled, slate, or even filled with glass beads.

Installing one is not very difficult at all. Any handyman type person on staff at the senior center should have no problems installing a new wall fountain. Remember that water weighs 8 pounds per gallon when situating your fountain - make sure it has proper support in the wall structure and make sure it’s placed near an electrical outlet as most come with a self contained electrical pump. Good locations for wall fountains in senior centers include in the lobby, the communal recreation areas and even the dining hall. The aim is to provide the soothing benefits of flowing water to seniors residing in the senior center, including the ability to look at them and hear them.

If you are looking at renovating a senior center, don’t overlook the obvious benefits of installing wall fountains for your residents and their visitors. They are delightful additions which make your senior center more attractive, offer pleasing ambience to center residents, and provides air filtration and anti-microbial benefits. To view a distinctive selection of wall fountains visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Wall+Fountains.

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Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Landscaping Idea No Comments

Estate Planning and Funerals Advice From a Licensed Funeral Director

Estate planning can be a complicated endeavor if you try to do it alone. As a funeral director I’m often asked estate planning questions while making funeral plans with families. Due to the nature of our meeting the questions usually will center on “final estate planning” and what should they be doing to prepare? My response is always the same “seek the advice of a professional estate planning specialist.”

Regardless of a person’s phase of life, estate planning is something I believe should begin as early as possible. Having heard untold numbers of horror stories from families about losing inheritances due to poor estate planning, I’m convinced the earlier a person starts planning their estates, the better condition their “final estate” will be in.

Estate planning can encompass many areas of a person’s life. Planning for each phase of life can be a daunting task. Many things must be taken into consideration. It is very easy to become overwhelmed just thinking about it and why I believe many people just never get around to doing it formally. Hence, adding problems that many times will surface at the worst time, which is at or near the end of a person’s life. This of course only adds to the stress of loved ones who must then also deal with these estate issues.

Rules and regulations on issues related to estate planning change frequently in my observations. Particularly, those involving such as Medicaid and asset allocations. Taxes and inheritance issues involving a person’s estate can be complex also. For this reason, I would advise anyone considering a proactive approach to planning their estate, to discuss these issues with your attorney or CPA first. They should be able to help with these important issues or refer you to the appropriate people who specialize in these areas. If you don’t have an attorney or accountant to ask, call your state bar association for a referral. They should be able to provide you with names and addresses of attorneys in your area who specialize in estate planning matters.

Remember to incorporate some form of funeral preplanning in your “final estate” plans. Many people go to great lengths to have their estates planned out, only to neglect to prepare for the most final of plans, their own funeral. Of all planning done, this will be among the most important and remembered by your family and loved ones.

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Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Landscaping Idea No Comments

Get involved Landscaping Services

For more opportunities, see the Volunteer Center Web site, www.volunteerinfo.net.

You can make a difference and help the community in which you live and work. The Volunteer Center has hundreds of opportunities; listed here is a sampling. Call the Center’s Agency/School Volunteer Program at (847) 228-1320 or Retired %26amp; Senior Volunteer Program at (847) 228-1006.

Alzheimer’s/ related disorders

%26bull; Assist the director on dementia unit floor with reading, storytelling and other activities on weekends, weekdays with other scheduled activities. Flexible schedule. Age 55 %26amp; over #325

Animals

%26bull; Ginger, Bailey %26amp; Duke, be a volunteer! Are you a certified/therapy trained dog to visit area nursing home for one-hour visit? Best times are from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Need proof of pet’s vaccinations. Age 18 %26amp; over #1266

Cancer societies

%26bull; Wanted: people with heart who are willing to alphabetize and file information for an agency that provides support to siblings of children with cancer. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Commit to four hours per day or one full day. Please help! Age 14 %26amp; over #1746

Child care

%26bull; Provide childcare while parents participate in support groups or workshops. Hours are from 4 to 6 p.m., Mondays and Fridays at the Prospect Heights location and 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesdays at the Mundelein location. Spanish speaking ability a plus. Age 14 %26amp; over #21

Children’s activities

%26bull; Saturday Surprise. Come out and play with special needs children, 3 to 7 years of age. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Activities include swimming, crafts, fine motor skills and playground activities. Age 14 %26amp; over #1543

Citizenship program

%26bull; Teacher assistants for citizenship classes, three locations, 11 weeks, to help students do mock interviews and prepare students for history and government questions. Thursday and Friday, evening hours, Saturday, afternoon hours, Age 18 %26amp; over #1576

Computer/data entry

%26bull; Office help needed for clerical work, data entry, bulk mailings, filing, and to sort/organize press clippings and photographs for agency serving special needs adults and children. Office is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Age 16 %26amp; over #60

%26bull; Provide administrative support for transitional women’s shelter. Data Entry, typing, labeling, prepare mailings and a host of other tasks. Time commitment is flexible and the assignment will be in Schaumburg or Mount Prospect. Age 18 %26amp; over #1760

Conservation/nature

%26bull; Assist ground staff with restoring of native prairie, oak savannah, march and riparian woodlands. First and third of month, 2 to 5 p.m., or fourth Saturday of the month, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Age 55 %26amp; over #1686

Disaster relief

%26bull; Join the Mass Care Response Team and respond to disasters by providing shelter operations, mass feeding and bulk distribution of supplies. Four to eight hours per month required. Training provided. Community disaster responders also needed. Age 21 %26amp; over #518

Food pantry

%26bull; Self Help Closet and Food Pantry is in need of assistance 10 to 15 hours a week registering clients, preparing reports and record keeping. Must be good with numbers and statistics. Knowledge of and/or willingness to learn computer is preferred. Age 21 %26amp; over #1490

Fund-raising projects

%26bull; Area elementary school for children with disabilities are in need of games, supplies for the games and workers for their Halloween Fun Fair on Oct. 27. Prizes will be supplied. Age under 16 w/parent #1376

Homeless

%26bull; Eighteen shelter sites are open one night per week, October-April. Trained volunteers needed to help set-up, check-in guests, serve dinner, oversee site, etc., second and third shift workers are needed in Northwest suburbs. Training to begin in September. Age 16 %26amp; over #808

Hospital volunteers

%26bull; Area hospice can use you for non-patient assistance with mailings, filing, word processing, making bereavement packets, crafts, holiday activities or special projects. Put your talent and skills to work. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Training provided. Age 55 %26amp; over #1998

Literacy programs

%26bull; Share your knowledge of the English language and your ability to read with foreign or American born adults two mornings, afternoons or evenings a week or on Saturday mornings. Program runs approximately 10 weeks. Training dates starting in September. Age 18 %26amp; over #97

Maintenance

%26bull; Provide assistance to an agency serving adults who are developmentally disabled. Duties include general repair, painting and landscaping at client’s independent living home. This can be a one-time or ongoing project. Age 21 %26amp; over #409

Nursing homes

%26bull; Assist priest at Mass at area nursing home with distribution of the Holy Eucharist and reading scriptures. Age 18 %26amp; over #1815

One time events

%26bull; Work at the Haunted Trail from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct 26 with special needs teens and young adults. Event to be held at the River Trails Park District in Mount Prospect. Age 14 %26amp; over #1593

%26bull; Parents’ Night Out, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., on Sept. 28 and Dec. 12 and 14 in the Northwest suburbs. Assist staff in activities such as crafts, videos and sports with special needs children and their siblings to give parents an evening out. Age 14 %26amp; over #1226

%26bull; Enjoy the “Pumpkin Fest” which includes a hay ride, an animated Fun Barn, the action-packed Pig Races, and Corn Maze from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8. Age 14 %26amp; over #1592

Receptionist/ hospitality

%26bull; Reception desk help needed at social service agency, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Answer phones, make reassurance calls to homebound and assist with general office duties. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, help make reassurance calls to homebound. Age 16 %26amp; over #135

Schools/mentors

%26bull; Elementary school has variety of opportunities to help the staff and students. Office helpers, tutors for students, or help on a one-time event. School day hours. Flexible hours. Age 55 %26amp; over #1854

%26bull; Help shape the future of a child. Tutors needed for local elementary school children. Meaningful assignments working one on one with children under the direction of the teacher. Training provided. Volunteers needed for the school year. Age 55 %26amp; over #1412

Senior centers

%26bull; Caf%26#233; assistant needed to take inventory of cafe items and supplies. Restock items, offer suggestions for improvement to cafe and wash coffee pots. Willing to work with your schedule. Great opportunity for someone interested in food service industry. Age 16 %26amp; over #1644

assistance

%26bull; Counsel older adults on health insurance benefits, coverage, Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap insurance. Assist with settling outstanding bills/notices from healthcare providers, 9 a.m. to noon, first and third Wednesday of each month. Training provided. Age 30 %26amp; over #876

Special skills volunteer

%26bull; Female Spanish translators needed, four hours per week, for counseling center for pregnant women, to assist adults in a confidential environment, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays. Willing to work with your schedule. Age 18 %26amp; over #1222

Thrift/gift/ resale shops

%26bull; Need a few strong men to help at thrift shop with donation pick-ups and lifting. Flexible days and times. Help in the Thrift shop needed on Tuesdays days and evenings, Thursdays evenings, Saturdays, 9 30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Age 16 %26amp; over #638

%26bull; Many hands needed to sort, hang, price and work with customers, etc. at a Resale Shop serving individuals and families in crisis. Store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday Age 18 %26amp; over #1763

Transportation services

%26bull; Transport seniors to doctor, hospital appointments or other health related appointments. Valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance. Age 21 %26amp; over #1433

Tutoring

%26bull; Be a reading instructor, Monday-Friday, flexible days and times at an agency serving disabled adults. Commitment of six months. Age 18 %26amp; over #191

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Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Landscaping No Comments

Officials want action on Finch

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One Knox County commissioner said Monday embattled Community Services Senior Director Cynthia Finch should resign after federal regulators identified nearly $34,000 in improperly awarded grant money, while others say they’ve lost confidence in her.

The spokesman for Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, however, said Finch isn’t going anywhere.

“Based on everything we are aware of, there is nothing to suggest Cynthia has ever done anything for her personal gain,” Dwight Van de Vate said. “Unless that changes, we don’t anticipate any reconsideration of her status.”

Support for Finch among commissioners is eroding. Commissioner R. Larry Smith, perceived by many to be a Ragsdale ally, said in an interview that he likes Finch but contends it’s in the best interest of the taxpayers that she give up her post.

“If I was in her position, I would resign for the betterment of Knox County,” Smith said.

Other commissioners considered sympathetic to Ragsdale stopped short of demanding Finch’s resignation but said they need some answers from the administration about the community grants awarded by her office.

“It is very, very difficult to have confidence in Ms. Finch, knowing the rules and regulations haven’t been followed,” Commissioner Mike Hammond said.

Commissioner Tony Norman said he wants a comprehensive review of the county’s grants programs before recommending action.

“You want to be careful before you start casting stones,” Norman said. “I don’t want to condemn Ms. Finch until I get more information.”

Finch couldn’t be reached Monday for comment.

Ragsdale asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to review the county’s federal grant program after the News Sentinel began reporting on Finch’s connections with nonprofit groups that receive grant . Knox County Auditor Richard Walls is auditing the local grants programs.

Van de Vate said commissioners should reserve judgment on Finch until HUD delivers its final report and Walls finishes his review.

According to a letter from HUD’s Knoxville field office director, Mark Brezina, the agency’s review of the county’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs found the county failed to comply with federal conflict-of-interest regulations, verify administrative costs and include required paperwork.

The county has to redistribute $33,454.04 awarded to Family-Security Inc. to provide health to low-income families. Family-Security Inc. passed along that to TennCorp Community Volunteers Inc., a nonprofit run by Finch’s sister.

County officials say there will be no net loss of grant funding.

The Community Development Department’s Erik Hoglund said the funds originally given to Family-Security Inc. would go to another HUD-qualified agency. That agency, which has yet to be determined, would transfer an equal amount of county-allocated to Family-Security Inc., Hoglund said.

Brezina also said HUD would review another $840,000 in federal grant funding. HUD, he said, is concerned that the county hasn’t made progress in carrying out activities under the HOME program, failed to properly monitor Family-Security Inc. and hasn’t established proper checks and balances for handling grant .

Commission Chairman Scott Moore, who has repeatedly clashed with the mayor over spending in the executive branch and other issues, said Monday he doesn’t want Ragsdale to take action until he answers commissioners’ questions about the grant programs.

“We’ve got to get this thing straightened out,” Moore said. “This administration is the only office I’ve seen that is out of control. We tried to do something about it because we knew TennCorp and Family-Security Inc. is basically Cynthia Finch’s family. When you’re talking about this kind of , it’s serious.”

Moore didn’t call for Finch to resign. Commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert, who also has butted heads with the administration, said Finch should be reassigned. Lambert said it would be “difficult” for Finch to stay on in her current position.

“She has too many conflicts, and it’s affecting her judgment,” Lambert said. “I’m not saying, ‘Get rid of her.’ I’m saying, ‘Move her.’ She does not need to be in the position she’s in.”

The amount the county must redistribute is what’s left of a $40,000 grant that was cut short when county officials determined the funded program was ineffective. In May, a county compliance officer called the program a “glorified baby-sitting service.”

Though the county said Finch “received no advantage, financial or in-kind” from the grant, officials acknowledged to HUD that Finch has a “direct conflict of interest” because Family-Security Inc. passed the to TennCorp.

The county has asked that HUD exempt several grant recipients from conflict-of-interest regulations, including the Tennessee Conference Community Development Corp., Parkridge Harbor, Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, Housing Assistance and the YMCA. Finch is a member of the AME Zion Church, which operates the Tennessee Conference Community Development Corp., and has served on the board of Parkridge Harbor. Other county officials serve on the boards of the other organizations.

In addition to the federal that went to TennCorp, the county has awarded $54,000 of its own local grant to the organization since Finch went to work for Ragsdale, starting with $10,000 in fiscal year 2004. The county also directly awarded TennCorp $20,000 this fiscal year for a youth program, plus a $75,000 state grant to fund a program for pregnant women, with its performance to be evaluated by Finch’s office.

Van de Vate has said Finch fully disclosed her role in founding TennCorp and running it at the time Ragsdale hired her in 2002. Finch resigned as executive director then, and she is not listed in tax documents as an officer in the nonprofit or a member of its board of directors. However, the mayor’s office has said Finch did not disclose her landlord-tenant relationship with TennCorp until the News Sentinel began reporting on it.

Ragsdale has changed the way grants are awarded by forming citizen panels to review applications.

The mayor also reorganized the mayor’s office after Finch’s role in TennCorp came to light and former Finance Director John Werner resigned because of a probe into the administration’s use of purchasing cards. Two other employees also resigned because of their purchasing-card use, and Finch was reprimanded. Walls also is conducting an audit of the purchasing card program and the use of automobile allowances in the mayor’s office.

Scott Barker may be reached at 865-342-6309.

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Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

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Moore Mayor should suspend all grants programs until fixed

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Knox County Commission Chairman Scott Moore today asked Mayor Mike Ragsdale to suspend the county’s grant funding until officials resolve issues highlighted in a critical federal report.

In a letter delivered to Ragsdale’s office, Moore requested that the mayor appear before commissioners at the panel’s Agenda Committee meeting Jan. 9 to discuss the report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to the HUD report, the county didn’t comply with regulations on five grants to four organizations, including three with connections to Cynthia Finch, the county’s top grants official, according to the HUD report. Those grants total $840,000, according to HUD.

HUD disallowed a $40,000 grant to Familty-Security Inc. According to HUD, Family-Security Inc. tranfered more than $7,700 of the grant money to TennCorp Community Volunteers Inc., a nonprofit run by Finch’s sister. In May, a county compliance officer called TennCorp’s program a “glorified baby-sitting service.”

HUD has told the county it either must repay $33,454.04, the amount spent at the time the grant was terminated, or redirect the funds to another HUD-approved agency.

Erik Hoglund, an official in the Community Development department, on Monday said the county plans to redirect the , essentially swapping the federal for county funds granted to another organization.

Moore asked Ragsdale “that no redistributions or reimbursements be made prior to our discussion of the HUD report.”

Moore added: “I believe it is inappropriate to reallocate funds to other agencies and would ask that the grant program and all grant funding be suspended until this entire situation is resolved.”

The 12-page HUD report, released today, details how the county has “failed to insure that staff complies with conflict of interest regulations under the (Community Development Block Grant) program.”

A letter sent from HUD to Ragsdale on Friday prompted one Knox County commissioner to call on Finch to resign. Others said they’ve lost confidence in Finch, but Ragsdale spokesman Dwight Van de Vate said Christmas Eve that her job is secure for now.

Finch shrugged off Smith’s suggestion that she resign.

“They’ve been saying it,” she said today.

HUD identified five organizations receiving the tainted grants: Housing Assistance Services, Family-Security Inc. Parkridge Harbor and the Tennessee Conference of Community Development of the AME Zion Church.

Three of the organizations, Family-Security Inc., Parkridge Harbor and the Tennessee Conference of Community Development of the AME Zion Church, have links to Finch. In addition to her connection with TennCorp, Finch has served as a for Parkridge Harbor and is active in the AME Zion Church.

The fourth organization, the Housing Assistance , is connected to Barbara Cook, an employee in the Community Development Department who serves on the board of the agency.

The county on Friday formally disclosed those relationships, along with two other groups with connections to county officials - the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee and the YWCA. According to the county, federal grant directed to CAC totals $215,000 and the YWCA is receiving $7,000.

The county is seeking an exemption from HUD’s conflict-of-interest regulations for all the organizations except Family-Security Inc.

Linda Rust, an employee in Community Development, has served on the YWCA board. Hoglund, Health Department Director Mark Jones, County Commissioner Thomas “Tank” Strickland and former Commissioner Diane Jordan have served on the CAC board. HUD’s report noted that the county is the fiscal agent for CAC and that Hoglund’s participation on the board is not a conflict of interest.

Moore and Smith aren’t the only commissioners raising concerns about Finch.

“It is very, very difficult to have confidence in Ms. Finch, knowing the rules and regulations haven’t been followed,” Commissioner Mike Hammond said.

Commissioner Tony Norman said he wants a comprehensive review of the county’s grants programs before recommending action.

“You want to be careful before you start casting stones,” Norman said. “I don’t want to condemn Ms. Finch until I get more information.”

Commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert, who has butted heads with the administration, said Finch should be reassigned. Lambert said it would be “difficult” for Finch to stay on in her current position.

“She has too many conflicts, and it’s affecting her judgment,” Lambert said. “I’m not saying, ‘Get rid of her.’ I’m saying, ‘Move her.’ She does not need to be in the position she’s in.”

In addition to the federal that went to TennCorp, the county has awarded $54,000 of its own local grant to the organization since Finch went to work for Ragsdale, starting with $10,000 in fiscal year 2004. The county also directly awarded TennCorp $20,000 this fiscal year for a youth program, plus a $75,000 state grant to fund a program for pregnant women, with its performance to be evaluated by Finch’s office.

Ragsdale asked HUD to review the county’s federal grant program after the News Sentinel began reporting on Finch’s connections with nonprofit groups that receive grant . Knox County Auditor Richard Walls is auditing the local grants programs.

Van de Vate said commissioners should reserve judgment on Finch until HUD delivers its final report and Walls finishes his review.

HUD also said the agency would review another $840,000 in federal grant funding. According to HUD, the agency is concerned that the county hasn’t made progress in carrying out activities under the HOME program, failed to properly monitor Family-Security Inc. and hasn’t established proper checks and balances for handling grant .

Van de Vate has said Finch fully disclosed her role in founding TennCorp and running it at the time Ragsdale hired her in 2002. Finch resigned as executive director then, and she is not listed in tax documents as an officer in the nonprofit or a member of its board of directors. However, the mayor’s office has said Finch did not disclose her landlord-tenant relationship with TennCorp until the News Sentinel began reporting on it.

Ragsdale has changed the way grants are awarded by forming citizen panels to review applications.

The mayor also reorganized the mayor’s office after Finch’s role in TennCorp came to light and former Finance Director John Werner resigned because of a probe into the administration’s use of purchasing cards. Two other employees also resigned because of their purchasing-card use, and Finch was reprimanded. Walls also is conducting an audit of the purchasing card program and the use of automobile allowances in the mayor’s office.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday’s News Sentinel.

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Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

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