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andrewhunt1155 · 8 months ago

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The Role of Non-Profit Organizations in Saginaw, Michigan's Community Development.

Non-profit organizations play a crucial role in Saginaw, Michigan's community development, addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental issues. These organizations work collaboratively with local governments, businesses, and residents to improve the quality of life in the area. Here are some key roles and examples of non-profits contributing to Saginaw, Michigan community development:

1. **Social Services and Support**-

**United Way of Saginaw County:** This organization funds and supports various programs addressing health, education, and financial stability. They offer services such as emergency assistance, literacy programs, and youth mentoring.-

**First Ward Community Center:** Provides social, educational, and recreational services to residents, including after-school programs, senior services, and community events.

2. **Economic Development**-

**Saginaw Future Inc.:** A non-profit economic development organization that works to attract new businesses, support existing businesses, and create job opportunities. They provide resources for business financing, site selection, and workforce development.-

**Neighborhood Renewal Services of Saginaw:** Focuses on revitalizing neighborhoods through housing rehabilitation, home ownership programs, and community beautification projects.

3. **Education and Youth Development**-

**READ Association of Saginaw County:** Promotes literacy by providing reading programs and volunteer tutors to help children improve their reading skills.-

**Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region:** Offers after-school programs, summer camps, and leadership training to help youth develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life.

4. **Health and Wellness**- **Covenant HealthCare Foundation:** Supports the local healthcare system by funding medical equipment, patient care programs, and community health initiatives.-

**Great Lakes Bay Health Centers:** Provides comprehensive healthcare services, including medical, dental, and behavioral health care, regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

5. **Environmental Conservation**-

**Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy:** Works to protect and restore natural areas in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. They engage the community through conservation projects, educational programs, and volunteer opportunities.-

**Friends of the Shiawassee River:** Focuses on the conservation and restoration of the Shiawassee River, promoting clean water and healthy habitats through community clean-ups, educational events, and advocacy.

6. **Arts and Culture**-

**Saginaw Art Museum:** Provides art exhibitions, educational programs, and community events that enrich the cultural life of Saginaw.-

**Temple Theatre Foundation:** Preserves and promotes the historic Temple Theatre, hosting a variety of cultural and entertainment events that contribute to the vibrancy of the community.

7. **Community Building and Advocacy**-

**Saginaw Community Foundation:** A philanthropic organization that provides grants to local non-profits, supports community projects, and fosters collaboration among various stakeholders to address community needs.-

**East Side Soup Kitchen:** Offers meals and support services to individuals and families in need, fostering a sense of community and providing a safety net for vulnerable populations.

8. **Housing and Homelessness**-

**Habitat for Humanity Saginaw-Shiawassee:** Builds and renovates affordable housing for low-income families, helping them achieve home ownership and stability.

**Restoration Community Outreach:** Provides shelter, support services, and case management to homeless individuals and families, helping them transition to permanent housing.

These non-profit organizations, among others, are instrumental in driving positive change in Saginaw. They address immediate needs, promote long-term development, and create a more resilient and vibrant community through their dedicated efforts and programs.

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dalmiacementpost · 4 years ago

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Types of cement in India

Cement is the most crucial raw material in the construction process. It is imperative to know all about it before we make bulk purchases. So a thorough understanding of its quality, type, and brand is necessary. Read on to know about the types of cement available in our country and are suitable for use in the Indian subcontinent.

While finalising a type of cement, it is the grade that matters. Now you may ask, what is ‘grade’? Well, grade indicates the compressive strength of the cement and it eventually affects the strength of your structure. Let’s have a look at the grades and types for a better understanding.

Types of cement:

1. Ordinary Portland Cement – Grade 33

Used for general civil construction where high-grade concrete isn’t required. It is used in plastering, masonry and flooring. Due to its low compressive strength, its availability in the market is low and is the less preferred cement.

2. Ordinary Portland Cement – Grade 43

This cement is being used widely for general construction work in the industry. It is readily available in the market and accounts for one of the highly demanded cement.

3. Ordinary Portland Cement – Grade 53

This grade is used in the construction where higher strength is paramount initially. OPC 53 is ideal for structural purposes as in reinforced cement concrete. Bridge, roads, multi-storied buildings etc. are constructed with the help of this type of cement.

4. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC Grade)

A greater degree of fineness and corrosion-resistant quality of PPC is ideal for the construction of dams, bridges and the like where strong resistivity is required. The denser concrete allows a smoother surface finish

5. Portland Slag Cement (PSC Grade)

It is high strength cement that imparts protection against chloride and sulphate attack. Thus it is ideal for structures that are near the sea, water treatment plants and marine structures. This cement is also known for its economical and environmental benefits.

6. Coloured Cement (White Cement)

It is used for non-structural works such as beautification including tiles, ornamental concrete decor, terrazzo tiles, idols etc. The physical properties are similar to the ordinary Portland cement but are more expensive.

7. Sulphate Resisting Cement

This type of cement is advisable for areas where the concrete is in contact with the soil, groundwater and exposed to sea water. It is not very readily available and is used only for construction at certain port cities.

8. Rapid Hardening Cement

This cement is used for repairs and rehabilitation works where the speed of construction is required. Its setting time is less than OPC as it sets rapidly, as the name suggests.

9. Hydrophobic Portland Cement

It is manufactured in accordance to the high rainfall areas to increase the strength of construction. The extra chemical coating on the cement imparts water-repelling properties and the cement stays unaffected due to rains even for a longer time.

10. Low heat Portland Cement

It is suitable for making concrete for dams and water retaining structures, bridge abutments, piers and slabs etc. It is made on specific orders for specific requirements.

These 10 are the usual types of cement that have a demand for in India. However, there are a few more specific ones like the Quick Setting Cement, Air Entraining Cement, Masonry Cement, Expansive Cement Oil Well Cement, Radiset Cement, High Alumina Cement etc. that have specific properties and varied USPs.

There are a few renowned brands in India that should top the list of your cement purchase. Ultratech Cement, ACC Cement, Dalmia Cement, Birla Cement and Ambuja Cement are some of the most trusted brands. It is best to compare the prices of these brands and pick the best that suits your requirement the best. Be certain that brands like Dalmia Cement go out of their way to assist the customers and guide them through the range and usage of cement in the most personalised manner possible. You can contact them online as well as brick and mortar stores and centres present in your city as well. In most cases, your architect, mistri would guide you to the cement types, quality, price and availability but it is always better to go the extra mile and find out about every investment you are going to make in your construction project. After all, everyone wants nothing but the best!

#Types of cement in India #types of cement

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homeplantationinc · 5 years ago

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Establishing A Non-Profit Real State Company

According to the 2018 CityLab report, not one state has enough house for rent. The disaster is severe because almost 9.7 million very low-income tenants (ELI) spend more than 30% of their lease. However, across the country, oppression is driving communities and housing shortages, and businesses have risen here to face the struggle.

As the failed U.S. housing sector needs business and support to meet the needs of would-be entrepreneurs, communities in need are demanding that companies must build according to plan. Leaders should consider taking several measures to create effective and sustainable organizations:

Purchasing Social Services

The Kresge Foundation offers them opportunities for freedom and responsibility. This home for a social service platform contributes to the balance of families with an income. There is a long way to go for services that are integrated. Non-profit organizations can help promote and discourage factors by integrating asset management and taxpayer services. Businesses can provide training and employment, but they create a path to progress. Services or training, if provided, can help to hinder the achievement of freedom.

Community Involvement

Community support and involvement are essential to building a home-based business. Learning to understand and interact keeps leaders in control. Towards integration Throughout the planning process, community perspectives will build sustainable housing projects and consider housing as part of the region. Research by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that non-profit organizations need to interact with and invest in local communities.

It should focus on these areas of community involvement:

The agents of the community should be the board of directors educated. Ask Church members to serve in leadership positions in your development team.

Use surveys and neighborhood councils to find feedback during the preparation and development phase and in the final stage (and beyond).

Collaborate and promote organizations such as chambers of commerce

Plan community meetings to develop innovative and clean ways to communicate with community members

As the objectives consolidate, provide workers in specially built community facilities that are part of the programs.

Private-Public Partnerships

Working together is essential for their suppliers and their families, which is why funding is necessary. Some developers are working together to create affordable housing units that can help provide resources and skills. Partnerships using an approach, for example, are typical, depending on the vice president of the Bank of America Community Development Corporation.

But partnerships are powerful when each party brings a certain amount of experience in which the partner and provides a background in real estate, skills. Because the market and government cannot make housing a success if combined with community solutions and social programs focused on quality housing, both maintenance and rehabilitation are ensured through a corporate partnership.

Partnerships are based on the principles for successful implementation. Both parties must establish one of these principles, align with the objectives and mission, align their cultures, and work together to organize the tasks. During the development phases, strategic approaches to managing operations and responsibilities must be developed. It is essential to hold costs by deciding the distribution of the benefits of the exit program, determining and fixing its duration, and finalizing each partner’s share of staff capital.

Thinking About The Future In A Sustainable Way

Development creates benefits for your company and also for the neighborhood. Housing expansion is an investment and a component. Construction brings many advantages. For parts that are attractive and durable, the short term is done by land management. The real estate sector promotes these prospects.

It is essential to invest resources and methods, as it is considered the best way to create something. Restoration and conservation programs improve the beautification, safety, and health of neighborhoods and properties. Green initiatives promote fitness, health, and an environmental footprint that improves efficiency and keeps construction costs low. For example, in Seattle’s 120-hectare mixed-income projects, the cost of using green elements has been estimated at $1.5 million, which is only 3 percent of the 43 million levels one rental home. It says, “If your income is meager and you also live in an apartment that has a lower electricity bill and can be healthier, then you have a substantial disposable income.

There are also reports that the number of renewable and cheap houses with electricity and natural gas is decreasing. Management is more affordable so that homeowners can pay more—sustainable paving. Do the same, which is specific to your business, if you include value and purpose.

Everything you do is an investment. Gather and maintain the reputation of your non-profit organization. Whether it’s building community institutions or making investments, it’s critical to focus on the line that is double. If your non-profit maintains the importance of a strategy, it could pave the way for health and community work.

The post Establishing A Non-Profit Real State Company appeared first on Home Plantation Inc.

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manilatour-fm2b · 5 years ago

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📍 LA MADRE FILIPINA STATUES

1. PROGRESS

This La Madre Filipina is the third statue namely Progress. Located on the front of the Court of Appeals. But, before it was transferred there it was located on the northwest Binondo side of the bridge. The statue is depicted with an exhausted man holding a hammer. It symbolizes labor, and a child who is holding an orb, which represents power. The La Madre holds a torch which symbolizes truth and education, while looking at the child. The statues really imply a strong message upon the Filipinos, the children will have power over their future through the hard work of their elders who provides them with the education that they needed. Like what Rizal said, the youth are the hope of this country. On the other hand, since the Jones bridge is under the rehabilitation and beautification under the governance of Isko Moreno, It is now awaiting for its legal confirmation on returning the statue back to its original place.

REFERENCE:

Limos, M. A. (2015) “ These La Madre Filipina Statues Were Returned to Jones Bridge, But What Do They Mean? “ retrieved from the website https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/meaning-of-la-madre-statues-a00293-20191125-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR1YURwO6kZG8oVYNmWAIjP2FGOdtWR4kLDq2Ir48V8eszysnjCh1X-zJVM

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charlesccastill · 7 years ago

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WinnCompanies Announces Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing Community in Southern New Jersey

Bridgeton, NJ– WinnCompanies broke ground on an $18.7 million rehabilitation of Bridgeton Villas Apartments in Bridgeton, N.J., a project that will modernize the community, improve energy efficiency and expand the services available to residents.

“Our purchase and rehabilitation of Bridgeton Villas will not only significantly improve the quality of life for residents, but also will preserve it as affordable housing for the next three decades,” said WinnDevelopment President Larry Curtis. “We could not be more pleased to team up with Gateway Community Action Partnership, the City of Bridgeton, and the State of New Jersey to transform this property into a high-quality community with modern amenities and services.”

Larry Curtis

WinnCompanies purchased Bridgeton Villas in March 2017 in a deal brokered by Heidi Burkhart of Dane PCG. Constructed between 1966 and 1969, the property consists of eight buildings housing 28 one-bedroom, 92 two-bedroom, and 36 three-bedroom units with an on-site leasing and management office.

WinnDevelopment will oversee Phase I of the rehab, which will improve five buildings consisting of 100 units. Interior work will include mechanical system upgrades along with complete kitchen and bathroom overhauls, including the installation of EnergyStar appliances and sustainable plumbing fixtures. Exterior improvements include the beautification of building facades, new entryways, complete roof replacement, landscape work, and parking lot repair.

In conjunction with the comprehensive physical rehabilitation, five of the units at Bridgeton Villas will be brought up to ADA compliance and 10 units will be set aside as Special Needs housing for homeless individuals and families. WinnCompanies will partner with Gateway Community Action Partnership to deliver supportive services for residents these units.

“This project stands out for a number of reasons that are good for Bridgeton, its residents and the South Jersey community,” said Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney. “It starts with putting men and women to work in good paying jobs that will be an immediate benefit for the economy. The longer-term benefits include the quality of life for the individuals and families who will live here, the availability of affordable housing and the modernization and improvement of the housing infrastructure.”

“Today, there is a perception that affordable or public housing means inferior housing. Working with WinnDevelopment, I am confident that our collaboration on the Bridgeton Villas project will show this perception to be wrong,” said Bridgeton Mayor Albert B. Kelly. “WinnDevelopment has shown a commitment not only to quality housing, but also improving the quality of life for residents at the complex and they have the track record to prove it. I’m looking forward to final product.”

“Gateway has a long history of housing and community development in the City of Bridgeton and throughout South Jersey. In fact in 2006, we built the Orchard Glen Homes, eight affordable, first-time homeownership properties,” said Edward Bethea, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Gateway Community Action Partnership. “While obtaining a home is a part of the American Dream, not everyone is ready nor desires to own a house. However, everyone should be entitled to have a safe, efficient and high quality living environment. We applaud WinnDevelopment’s planned investment in Bridgeton Villas. This development is overdue for a major infusion of capital and we are happy to partner with them to make this happen.”

“Our Multifamily Conduit Bond Program enables well-capitalized developers to issue bonds through the agency on a pass-through basis at the most competitive interest rates available in the marketplace,” said New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta. “The program is very attractive to developers, and the result is expanded opportunities to create housing for New Jersey working families and also to help homeless residents. We have issued well over a billion dollars in conduit bonds since the program began in 2012.”

“The preservation of affordable housing is a priority at our agency and I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide Section 8 rental subsidies making this development affordable for Bridgeton low-income families,” said Maria Maio-Messano, HUD New Jersey Field Office Director. “I congratulate WinnCompanies for setting aside 10 units for homeless families, alleviating homelessness in the Garden State.”

“Citi is pleased to play a role in the acquisition and rehabilitation of Bridgeton Villas apartments,” said Bryan Dickson of Citi Community Capital. “We assisted WinnCompanies by providing acquisition and subordinate financing earlier in this year and we are excited to move to the preservation aspect of this transaction. The end result will be a wonderfully upgraded place to live that will benefit the residents and the Bridgeton community for many years to come.”

The work will create 40 full-time construction jobs with a special focus on local employees and subcontractors. Phase I is scheduled to be substantially completed by year end. DiMarco Constructors of Rochester, NY, is the general contractor and The Architectural Team of Chelsea, MA, is the architect.

Financing for the project is being provided by HUD; by NJHMFA, through Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund dollars, and construction and permanent tax exempt bond financing directly purchased by Citi; by a Multifamily Catalyst subordinate loan from Citi; by equity provided by Aegon Capital Management; and, by tax abatement provided by the City of Bridgeton.

This is WinnDevelopment’s third New Jersey acquisition in the 18 months. Occupied rehabs have been completed on City Crossing (formerly Brunswick Estates), a 131-unit affordable community in Jersey City, and The Cove at RiverWinds, a 199-unit market rate community in West Deptford.

“WinnCompanies is thrilled to have another opportunity to bring together state, federal and private capital resources in order to finance the comprehensive rehabilitation of a critical affordable housing asset in South New Jersey, where the need is tremendous and the private capital markets are not able to do it alone,” said WinnDevelopment Senior Vice President Brett Meringoff, who leads development efforts in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Heidi Burkhart, President of Dane Real Estate, said, “Preserving and maintaining affordable housing units is our top priority at Dane Real Estate. As a brokerage company, we are the catalyst to the final product of the preservation of the housing units. Collaborating with such an accomplished, dedicated team of affordable housing industry professionals is not only rewarding but inspiring. The great work WinnCompanies is doing will give so many, including the residents of Bridgeton Villas, the opportunity to live better lives.”

The company’s property management arm, WinnResidential, now operates 19 New Jersey properties totaling more than 2,320 apartments in every income category, as well as more than 30,100 square feet of commercial space. In addition to Bridgeton, Jersey City and West Deptford, other Winn-managed properties are located in East Orange, Glassboro, Newark, Orange, and Trenton, N.J.

Nationally, the company manages more than 100,000 units at more than 580 properties.

from Boston Real Estate http://bostonrealestatetimes.com/winncompanies-announces-acquisition-and-rehabilitation-of-affordable-housing-community-in-southern-new-jersey/

#boston #condos #boston condos #boston luxury condo #boston condominium #boston rentals #boston condo

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phgq · 4 years ago

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Gov't envisions Marawi as tourist destination

#PHinfo: Gov't envisions Marawi as tourist destination

MARAWI CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) - The ongoing infrastructure development in war-torn Marawi is seen to transform the city into a vibrant tourist destination.

In a Virtual Presser hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office through the Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs and Philippine Information Agency, TFBM chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said the infrastructure development in Marawi City will help attract tourists which can trigger more economic activities in the city.

This, he said, will boost the city's competitiveness in the future.

"Ang kailangan lang natin ay maensure na wala nang mga teroristang makapasok at ma-entice natin ang local as well as foreign tourists na magpunta, makita at mafeel nila kung gaano kaganda ang Marawi City," he said.

(All we need to do is to ensure that terrorists won't enter and entice local as well as foreign tourists to come, see and feel how beautiful Marawi City is.)

Del Rosario noted that the distinct Maranao culture and traditions will also lure foreign tourists to visit Marawi City.

In the same presser, City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the establishment of different infrastructures in Marawi is geared towards the beautification of the city especially in the most affected area so that it will draw tourists.

"Sa pamumuno ng TFBM ay puspusan na ginagawa natin na matapos ang ating mga infrastructure projects within the ground zero including the road networks," he further said.

(Under the leadership of TFBM, we are working hard to complete the infrastructure projects within the ground zero including the road networks.)

"Napakaimportante na maayos din natin ang ating mga kalsada, even outside the ground zero, nang sa ganon ay magkaroon ng connectivity at maengganyo ang mga tourists na pumasok," the mayor added.

(It is very important that we also fix our roads, even those outside ground zero so that we can have connectivity and entice tourists to come in.)

Currently, the construction of road networks, Peace Memorial Park, Marawi Museum, and School of Living Tradition inside the most affected area are in full swing.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were also conducted to start the construction of Torogan (ancestral house of Maranao royalties) and the rebuilding of the Dansalan Bato Mosque.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario said the government needs the cooperation of everyone to achieve the objectives of Marawi rehabilitation - namely make it a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, a trigger for good governance, and a template of a peaceful environment.

He also reiterated that TFBM, with the support of the 56 member-government agencies, local government units of Marawi and Lanao del Sur, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and non-government organizations, is certain and committed to ensure that the rehabilitation will be completed by December 2021.

"I am certain that with the support of everybody we will be able to ensure that Marawi will rise as a prosperous city again as committed by our beloved President," he said. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

***

References:

* Philippine Information Agency. "Gov't envisions Marawi as tourist destination." Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1056860 (accessed October 23, 2020 at 05:52PM UTC+08).

* Philippine Infornation Agency. "Gov't envisions Marawi as tourist destination." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1056860 (archived).

#Philippines #News #Filipino #Pinoy #Tourism #Politics #Culture #Editorial #Environment #Society #History

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csrgood · 5 years ago

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Western Pennsylvania Homeownership to Get $3.3 Million Boost

Wells Fargo and Company (NYSE: WFC), NeighborWorks® America, and its network members NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Greater Berks today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT program will expand to Allegheny County this fall. With a $3.3 million philanthropic commitment by the Wells Fargo Foundation, the NeighborhoodLIFT program will create about 175 homeowners by offering $15,000 down payment assistance grants that require completion of HUD-certified homebuyer education.

The NeighborhoodLIFT program for Allegheny County follows Wells Fargo’s announcement in June of an evolution in the company’s philanthropic strategy, which includes a $1 billion commitment over the next six years to address the U.S. housing affordability crisis. Supported by a $500 million combined investment, Wells Fargo has conducted 76 program launches in the U.S. since 2012 that have created more than 22,400 homeowners.

Grants available for reservation starting Nov. 4

The Wells Fargo Allegheny County NeighborhoodLIFT program will begin offering $15,000 down payment assistance grants on Monday, Nov. 4, to eligible homebuyers. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, visit www.neighborworkswpa.org/lift or visit a local Wells Fargo Home Lending office. Participating homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any participating lender, and NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and NHS of Greater Berks will determine eligibility and administer the down payment assistance grants.

“The NeighborhoodLIFT program is a terrific example of our commitment to Allegheny County and our efforts to bring housing affordability solutions to communities across the U.S.,” said Nicholas Bruno, Wells Fargo Private Client Group market manager. “The program will help hardworking local families and individuals get on the path to achieve successful and sustainable homeownership.”

To be eligible, annual incomes must not exceed 80% of the local area median income in Allegheny County, which is $63,900 for an individual up to a family of four. In addition, there are special parameters for veterans and service members, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, who may earn up to 100% of the area median income in Allegheny County, which is $79,900 for up to a family of four, and reserve $17,500 down payment assistance grants.

“This innovative collaboration is critical to creating more affordable and sustainable housing opportunities in Allegheny County,” said Joanie Straussman Brandon, senior vice president, Northeast region, NeighborWorks America. “The required homebuyer education classes provided by certified professionals better prepare NeighborhoodLIFT homebuyers to achieve their goal of sustainable homeownership.”

Homebuyers must be approved for financing with an eligible lender and be in a contract to purchase a home in Allegheny County. To reserve the full grant amount, participants buying a primary residence with the NeighborhoodLIFT program must commit to live in the home for five years.

“The NeighborhoodLIFT program will provide homebuyer education and down payment assistance to help families achieve the dream of homeownership,” said Colin Kelley, CEO of NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania. “We are pleased to team with Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America and NHS of Greater Berks to make this opportunity available to so many deserving families.”

NeighborhoodLIFT local initiative grants to support neighborhood revitalization, beautification and complimentary credit counseling

As part of the NeighborhoodLIFT program for Allegheny County, the Wells Fargo Foundation will provide $350,000 in grants to support housing affordability solutions, including:

$150,000 in NeighborhoodLIFT local initiative grants to support housing affordability and financial health resources in Allegheny County with nonprofits Mon Valley Initiative, Inc., Pittsburgh Housing Development Corporation, and Sisters Place, Inc., each receiving a $50,000 grant.

$100,000 in “LIFT the Block” Wells Fargo volunteer efforts in collaboration with nonprofits focused on neighborhood beautification. Through the “LIFT the Block,” a $25,000 grant will be made to Military Warriors Support Foundation and Wells Fargo team members will volunteer to rehabilitate a home for female veterans attending college or a trade school. Additionally, a $75,000 grant will be made to Pittsburgh Housing Development, Inc. in support of the Pittsburgh Roof-A-Thon; over a two-week period the roofs of low-income homeowners will be repaired in collaboration with Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund Department.

$100,000 for NeighborhoodLIFT Home Ownership Counseling grants, which will provide up to 200 interested homebuyers an opportunity for complimentary face-to-face credit counseling by participating HUD-approved agencies. The Home Ownership Counseling grants are an additional resource and do not meet the homebuyer education requirement for NeighborhoodLIFT program down payment assistance grants.

A video about the NeighborhoodLIFT program is posted on Wells Fargo Stories.

About NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania, NHS of Greater Berks and NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and NHS of Greater Berks are chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 245 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.neighborworkswpa.org/, www.nhsgreaterberks.org, or www.neighborworks.org to learn more.

About Wells Fargo

Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,500 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com). With approximately 261,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. With its corporate philanthropy, Wells Fargo aims to pave a path to stability and financial success for underserved communities by focusing on housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health, among other local community needs. In 2018, Wells Fargo donated $444 million to nearly 11,000 nonprofits. For 10 consecutive years, Wells Fargo has held the honor of No. 1 in workplace giving by United Way Worldwide. Wells Fargo team members also actively support communities by donating more than 2 million hours of volunteer time in the last year. News, insights and more information on the company’s overall corporate responsibility are available at Wells Fargo Stories and www.wellsfargo.com/impact.

CONTACT

Jim Baum

+1 (610) 397-2650

[email protected]

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/42977-Western-Pennsylvania-Homeownership-to-Get-3-3-Million-Boost?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

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awkwardlyamusing-blog · 5 years ago

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Entertainment & Life - Savannah Morning News

New Post has been published on https://doggietrainingclasses.com/volunteer-opportunities-entertainment-life-savannah-morning-news/

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Entertainment & Life - Savannah Morning News

Submit your event at savannahnow.com/calendar. Events printed in chronological order as space allows. Info: 912-652-0365.

Girls on the Run coach: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Aug. 3, 7 and 10; Sylvan Learning, 340 Eisenhower Drive #10; Free; 912-349-1528 or gotrcoastalgeorgialowcountry.org/coach. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based youth development program that teaches life skills to girls from grades 3-8. Girls on the Run is designed for elementary school and Heart & Sole is designed for middle school.

Voter registration: The League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia seeks volunteers to register citizens to vote or confirm their registration status. The League sets up at various places and events to show people how, where, and when to vote and why everybody’s vote is important. Contact [email protected].

ONGOING

Hospice Thrift Shoppe: Help sort through donated items and clothing in preparation for sale. May involve light lifting. Contact 912-629-1122 or HospiceSavannah.org/Thrift.

Rape Crisis Center: Volunteer advocates help with crisis line and hospital accompaniment; Tony Wells, 912-233-3000, [email protected].

AARP: Volunteer instructors teach the AARP Senior Drivers Safety Program (55 ALIVE) classes. Covers Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties; Bob Carson, 912-748-2758.

St. Joseph’s/Candler: Volunteer in gift shops, waiting rooms and service desks on either campus, as well as the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. Adults 21 or older who can volunteer at least four hours a week. Evening and weekend opportunities available; 912-819-6185.

The First Steps Parents of Newborns: Program provides emotional support, parenting education materials and referrals to community resources. Training, all materials provided; Margaret Marie Miles, 912-819-6910, [email protected].

Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center: Volunteers provide visitation, share their talents, or assist with group activities; Rachel Grier, 912-354-8225, ext. 226.

Keep Chatham Beautiful: Volunteer board members attend monthly daytime meetings and volunteer hours for educational programs, litter pick-ups, recycling events, beautification projects, environmental concerns, more; [email protected], Eisenhower Recycling Center at 912-790-1647.

Habitat Savannah needs construction, ReStore volunteers: 8:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tools provided. Shifts flexible. Must be older than 18 to assist at construction site; ReStore volunteers needed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; 912-353-8122, [email protected].

Honor Flight Savannah seeks war veterans, volunteers: WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans living in southeast Georgia and southeastern South Carolina have a chance for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to visit their war memorials. Register for a trip or volunteer to serve as a guardian on a trip; honorflightsavannah.org, 912-367-9020.

Tybee Island Historical Society, lighthouse: Gus Rehnstrom, 912-786-5801, [email protected], tybeelighthouse.org.

Affinis Hospice: Hospice Angels share time with patients; 130 Canal St., Suite 102, Pooler; 912-748-6000, [email protected].

Project EverGreen: Volunteer for GreenCare for Troops. Volunteers tend to lawns and landscape for families of servicemen and -women who are serving overseas. Call 877-758-4835 or projectevergreen.com.

Georgia Regional Hospital: 1915 Eisenhower Drive; Patient interaction with various crafts, or administrative. Apply at dbhdd.georgia.gov/volunteer-opportunities-grhs, Jessica Mathis, volunteer services coordinator, [email protected].

Drive veterans to medical care: Charleston VA Hospital; Drive veteran patients in the Savannah area (in a DAV van) to Charleston and back for medical care. Drive veterans in Hinesville and Savannah to Hinesville and Savannah clinics. Receive free physical, hearing and eye exam and lunch; Voluntary Service Office at 843-789-7230 or charleston.va.gov/giving.

Westview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: 100 Dorset Road, Port Wentworth. Volunteer weekends to conduct games, arts and crafts, sing-alongs and other activities with residents; Melissa McGurk at 912-964-1515.

Ronald McDonald House: Assist preparing and serving meals in the Family Room and as house volunteers; 912-350-7641.

River’s Edge Retirement Residence: Run fun activities for seniors; Joni Lukes, 912-354-6146.

Wesley Community Centers: Teach crafts and/or ceramic classes and to teach basic computer classes Tuesdays and Thursdays; Valeria Flowers at 912-447-5711.

Georgia Rescue, Rehabilitation & Relocation: Needs dog crates and construction material. Also need a couple of hours from a carpenter, volunteers, and fosters. Food donations of Purina One, Pedigree canned. Lynn at 912-656-9792, www.g-r-r-r.com.

Tabby Tales cat rescue: Foster parents, event volunteers, caregivers for cats residing at PetSmart and behind-the-scenes operations to help with fundraising, social media and a myriad of other tasks; tabbytalesrescue.org

Savannah African Art Museum docents: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. volunteer shifts Wednesdays-Saturdays; 201 E. 37th St.; Coordinator Danielle Christian at 912-721-7724; savannahafricanartmusuem.org/volunteer. Will train to lead tours for diverse groups from children to the elderly. Learn and teach about the history and art of West and Central Africa.

Volunteer tax preparers needed: volunteers needed to help low- to moderate-income working families prepare at no charge federal and state income tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Training provided to become IRS-certified. Also need help with front desk, intact process. Sign up with Johnetta Ferguson at 912-447-5577 or [email protected]. A Neighborhood Improvement Association project.

One Love Animal Rescue: Foster animals, help with daily operations, adoption follow-ups, paperwork behind the scenes, fundraising events, and raise funds; oneloveanimalrescue.com or [email protected].

Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Help monitor water quality with regular water testing in a waterway near you. You do not need to be a member to volunteer. Info: ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/volunteer or contact Luke Roberson at [email protected].

Save-A-Life: Short-term fosters for dogs to fill in when regular fosters have an emergency, illness, etc. Cat lovers to foster timid cats for one or two months to help ready them for permanent adoption. 912-598-7729, leave a message or fill out volunteer application at savealifepets.org.

Live Oak Public Libraries: Volunteer with fun projects and flexible hours. 912-927-4082; liveoakpl.org/connect/volunteer/.

Humane Society for Greater Savannah: Volunteers in a variety of roles within the shelter, in Pick of the Litter Thrift Store, at special events in the community and more. Apply online at humanesocietysav.org.

American Red Cross: Transportation specialists deliver blood products to hospitals. Volunteer shifts originate in Savannah, include travel around the region. Training, use of Red Cross vehicles provided; administrative office support and for help during disaster. Disaster Action Team provides immediate needs to families affected by house fires and other local disasters. Licensed health and mental health professionals needed to assist with replacement of medications, medical equipment and meeting the emotional needs of clients. 912-651-5321 or redcross.org/local/georgia/locations/southeast-coastal-georgia.

Maritime Bethel at Savannah: Volunteers board ships in port, help welcome international seafarers on board, and ask how MBS might be of service. Must be at least 25 years of age, in good physical condition and possess or willing to obtain transportation workers identification card. OJT and classroom training available. Send brief bio and resume to M.B.S., Port of Savannah, P.O. Box 884, GA 31326.

United Way: Explore various volunteer opportunities on projects for individuals, families and companies throughout the year. Visit uwce.org/volunteer.

Savannah Association for the Blind: Volunteer opportunities include office work and during events. Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision, 1141 Cornell Ave.; Lesley Eatherly, 912-236-4473.

Meals on Wheels: Senior Citizens Inc. needs volunteer drivers in Chatham and Bryan counties to deliver meals to homebound seniors once a week for one hour. Substitute drivers also needed. Training provided. Lily McCormick, SCI’s director of volunteers, 912-236-0363.

Road to Recovery: The American Cancer Society, 4849 Paulsen St., Suite 102. Volunteer drivers transport cancer patients to hospitals or doctor’s offices for treatment. Requires a safe driving record, a valid driver’s license, some free time and a vehicle in good working condition. 912-355-5196, ext. 3.

Donate medical supplies: Donate lightly used medical equipment to The Lending Room, a volunteer nonprofit that lends the equipment to individuals regardless of income, age or insurance status for a $1 donation. Operating in Beaufort since 1961, the organization accepts and loans items in good condition. To arrange to donate or borrow items, 843-524-2554, [email protected]

Donations needed for low income families: Life Bridge Inner City Ministries in Savannah is seeking to raise funds and collect food items for the homeless and families living below poverty level. Need donations, such as non-perishable items, can goods, toiletries, turkeys, hams, blankets and more to help in this cause. Contact Pastor Jonathan Brown at 912-856-0663.

Spanish Oaks Hospice: 8510 Whitfield Ave.; Training and orientation, volunteer opportunities at all interest and ability levels. Medical training or experience not necessary. Contact Heather at 912-508-0911 or visit spanishoakshospice.com.

Islands Farmers’ Market volunteers needed: Market at 401 Quarterman Drive at the corner of Hwy 80 E & Quarterman Drive; contact [email protected]. Formerly Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market.

Old Savannah City Mission: At 2414 Bull St., volunteers needed for Thrift Shop, warehouse and kitchen. Call 912-232-1979 for more information. Help provide Savannah’s homeless with shelter, food, rehab and training.

Gentiva Hospice: Patient care volunteers provide companionship and assistance. Administrative volunteers assist with light office work, community outreach, special projects and local events. Contact Brenda Eason, 912-352-8200.

Compassionate Care Hospice: Volunteers assist in the office, provide respite for caregivers and companionship for patients in the greater Savannah statistical metropolitan area. Orientation provided. Info/apply: Micheal Elliott at 912-665-5035 or cchnet.net.

Mended Hearts: Be trained to visit heart patients in the hospital and organize support groups. Chapter meets at 11 a.m. on the third Wednesday of every month in the Cardiac Rehab Conference Room, Heart & Vascular Institute, Memorial Health University Medical Center; 912-350-2328.

African American Museum docent: The Savannah African art Museum is looking for volunteer docents with good communication skills to lead tour groups. For more information, email [email protected] or call 912-721-7724.

Summer Junior Interpreter Program: students in grades 9-12, train to be a Davenport House tour guide. Earn community service hours, public speaking experience. On scheduled evenings from 6-8 p.m. beginning June 6 through July 31. Contact: 912-236-8097 or [email protected]; davenporthousemuseum.org.

One Love Animal Rescue board: Seeking board members for nonprofit animal rescue group. Looking for people with experience in the following areas: legal, financial, media and veterinary care. Interested volunteers contact OLAR President Pam Bebon at [email protected].

Hospice Savannah: Volunteers offer respite care for patients in their homes in Chatham, Effingham, Bryan and Liberty counties. Training provided. Call 912-355-2289 or apply under the volunteer pages of hospicesavannah.org.

Hospice Savannah nurse volunteers: Retired registered nurses with Georgia licensure needed to provide assessment and evaluation assistance to staff RNs at Hospice House. Volunteer training the second Monday of every other month and competency check-off’s subsequently offered. Volunteer with patients and families three to four hours one day a month. Call Volunteer Services at 912-355-2289.

PruittHealth Hospice: Volunteers provide companionship to patients and their families, administrative office help, veterans visiting veterans; Chaplain Stephen Lee, 912-925-9183.

THA Group’s Island Hospice: Volunteers provide companionship and support to patients and families in their homes. Also for special events. Training provided; 912-721-5111.

Telfair Museums: At Telfair Academy, Owens-Thomas House, and Jepson Center for the Arts, docents inform visitors about Telfair Museums’ architecture, permanent collection and traveling exhibits. Abigail Stevens, [email protected], 912-790-8827.

Harper Fowlkes house: Docents share stories about the house, the former home of one of Savannah’s premier preservationists, and now owned by the oldest patriotic society in America; Richard Kack, 912-234-2180, leave message.

Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum: 460 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; 912-231-8900.

Fort Pulaski National Monument: Learn Cockspur Island’s history, help visitors learn about the significant natural and cultural resources in the park. Participate in special events, give guided walks, join the historic weapons program, work in the park’s Visitor Center and experience the fort from behind the scenes; Contact Margo Blewett, 912-786-8182 ext. 1113, [email protected].

Bonaventure Cemetery: Tour guides provide three hours of service per month, primarily as a host at the Visitors Center. Serve as a tour guide, work with Master Gardeners to enhance the camellias and azaleas, lend a hand in cleaning and maintaining the historically important grave sites declared “abandoned” by the city and turned over to us for care-taking; Bonaventure Historical Society, 912-412-4687, bonaventurehistorical.org.

The Dolphin Project: Volunteers photograph and collect data on Coastal Georgia dolphins. Captains and their boats, photographers, team leaders and assistants needed for research; 912-657-3927, [email protected], thedolphinproject.org.

Royce Learning Center: Tutor adult learners with GED prep and literacy needs. Classes from 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet at Royce Learning Center, Wesley Community Center and Whitebluff United Methodist Church. Tutor training offered; Khani Morgan, 912-354-4047, [email protected].

Source link Dog Training Information

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hellofastestnewsfan · 6 years ago

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Now in its 40th season, the PBS home-improvement show This Old House feels like the TV equivalent of New England clam chowder: hearty, wholesome, and old-school. The cast—headed up by the master carpenter Norm Abram and rounded out by the contractor Tom Silva, gardener Roger Cook, plumber Richard Trethewey, and host Kevin O’Connor—returns autumn after autumn, as consistently as uncles you might see every year at Thanksgiving dinner. The look and feel of the series hasn’t changed much since its debut in February 1979. Each episode still zeroes in on a few elements of home construction, such as installing a skylight or shoring up a foundation. In one of the rare, subtle signs that four decades have passed, Silva appears to be wearing an Apple Watch in a recent episode.

Every program on HGTV arguably owes its existence to This Old House, which first turned home renovation and real estate into television. Without it, viewers might never have gotten Property Brothers, or Fixer Upper, or probably even House Hunters International. All the same, it can be difficult to locate the similarities between This Old House and its descendants. These newer programs often unfold like reality TV–esque hero’s journeys, with the hosts figuring as creative geniuses who marshal old or otherwise sad houses through a rapid-fire rehabilitation and beautification process. This Old House, meanwhile, has no single star and little concern for dramatic narrative arcs. Its chief goal is, as it always has been, to put skilled tradespeople and the work they do in front of the camera.

On This Old House, workers solve technical problems that seldom merit a mention on programs of the HGTV variety. In a recent episode, the crew is briefly flummoxed over where to install electrical outlets in a modern, minimalist kitchen that has prioritized windows over usable wall space. The building code mandates that outlets should be placed every few feet, but O’Connor clarifies the problem for the audience, asking, “Where do you put an outlet when there’s no wall?” The supervising electrician, Heath Eastman, devises an ingenious solution: He conceals the outlets in receptacles that can be pressed down into the countertop. The homeowner, Sunil, isn’t enthused about the prospect of disrupting the clean lines of the counter with pop-ups, but he takes a sensible view of the matter. “I personally wouldn’t want anything on the surface, but code is code and we have to have it,” he says.

The scene is quintessential This Old House. What could’ve been framed as a melodramatic battle of the wills is instead presented as a teachable moment between the tradesman and the homeowner. The show is fairly unusual among home-renovation programs in allowing workers like Eastman to speak at length and explain their craft to a national audience. This Old House keeps them at the forefront of the action, perhaps realizing that, without them, there’d be no action at all.

When This Old House first launched, there was little to suggest that it would be the progenitor of a new genre of TV. That inaugural, 13-episode season from 1979 initially seemed to be a Boston-area curiosity, accessible only to local residents via WGBH. But it struck a chord with viewers, almost 250,000 of whom tuned in every week to watch the titular house—a struggling Victorian in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood—undergo its gradual metamorphosis. The surge of interest allowed This Old House to vault into the primary PBS lineup a year later, where it has remained ever since.

Since the 1980s, the show has developed into a multiplatform media powerhouse. In addition to the flagship program, viewers can tune in to the spin-off TV show Ask This Old House, in which the cast helps homeowners with smaller-scale repairs and upgrades. Fans can also read This Old House magazine or follow the brand on Twitter, where the account cheerfully dispenses home-maintenance advice to 198,000 followers.

This Old House, of course, competes for eyeballs with a slate of newer shows hosted by highly telegenic and charismatic individuals. Audiences marvel at the gracious collectedness of Fixer Upper’s Joanna Gaines (who alone has 1.4 million Twitter followers), and wonder how she puts up with her goofy husband, Chip, as she floats around imposing a neutral-hued elegance on recalcitrant domestic interiors. Drew and Jonathan Scott hold together each episode of their various Property Brothers shows with their banter, fraternal competition, and identical good looks. It’s not for nothing that the Gaineses and the Scotts regularly feature on the covers of tabloids. These stars are their shows, because they seemingly carry the entire weight of the production on their shoulders.

All the celebrity attached to home-improvement show hosts means that little attention is paid to the skilled tradespeople who improve the homes in question. When these workers do appear on camera, it’s usually in montages. Their movements are often sped up for the sake of time, so they scuttle around like chipmunks, hammering, carrying, plastering, painting. Their work, whether intentionally or not, is positioned as secondary to the dynamism of the main stars.

We see this clearly on HGTV’s new show Windy City Rehab, which recently ended its first season. The title suggests that the show is about renovating homes in Chicago, but it’s really about Alison Victoria, the star, who poses with a sledgehammer in promotional shots. Victoria is a professional home flipper, and it’s hard not to admire her style. She evaluates properties with a caustic realism that brings to mind Simon Cowell: “The windows are a mess, the awning is awful, the glass block is disgusting.” As a home flipper, Victoria chiefly aims to turn the largest profit possible from selling her creations, and we watch her battle against time, weather, and occasional bureaucratic red tape to accomplish it.

Victoria has an edge to her, which is likely a requirement for a woman trying to succeed in a field that is still dominated by men. “It’s not for the weak,” she says of her chosen profession in a March episode. Understandably, she strives to control as many aspects of the project as possible. “If you want something done right, you do it yourself,” she remarks, after a set of kitchen cabinets turns out too short due to a measuring error on the part of a contractor. When she sources vintage pieces at a furniture restorer’s workshop, the exchange largely consists of her telling the craftsman what she wants. Workers only fleetingly appear in the usual construction montages. This overlooking of tradespeople is certainly not unique to Victoria’s show—it’s only the latest manifestation of a pattern that has come to define home-renovation TV as a whole.

If skilled workers are largely written out of television shows that rely on their expertise to function, it’s not surprising that fewer young people than ever are pursuing careers in trade. There is a genuine shortage of skilled labor in the United States, caused by, according to The Washington Post, lingering effects of the Great Recession, the retirement of veteran laborers, and “the fact that many high-school graduates are not interested in blue-collar jobs.” This issue is undoubtedly a complex one, but media representations of trade might bear at least some scrutiny. Who wants to be reduced to the backdrop while the true drama takes place in the foreground?

This Old House stands apart from its competition by keeping its workers in the spotlight—young apprentices included. The 16th episode of Season 40, titled “Apprentice Sill School,” features the great Norm Abram instructing two apprentices, Carly and Erick, in how to install a “sill,” or layer of wood, on the foundation of a home. This hidden piece keeps our walls from falling in on us—it supports a building’s frame and floor joists. As viewers watch, they see Carly and Erick learning exactly how a house comes together. Their movements are a little awkward as they use hammers to smooth the edges of the foundation before the sills can be installed. Their work is slow and hesitant. The only noticeable sounds in these scenes are Abram’s voice and the clink of metal on concrete.

It’s no accident that This Old House devotes so much time to apprentices like Carly and Erick. They’re on-screen as part of the show’s “Generation Next” initiative—a broad program aimed at recruiting more people to the trades. In launching this initiative, the show is attempting to counter the U.S. labor shortage by making carpentry and other hands-on professions seem more accessible to young men and women alike. Generation Next has been putting apprentices on the show since 2017, providing them with training and national-television exposure. “There’s every reason to go into the building trades today,” Tom Silva has said. “If you are good, you will absolutely have work.” He’s not exaggerating: The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts enticing job prospects for workers in a variety of fields, including plumbers, glaziers, and masons.

Generation Next is a natural offshoot of what was already present in the structure and priorities of This Old House from the beginning, especially in the way that it provides a voice and visibility to skilled tradesmen and women. As the series moves into its fifth decade, its investment in younger workers signifies a promising new direction: a way for this admittedly old show to reach the audience that most needs to absorb its message.

from The Atlantic http://bit.ly/2ElJipN

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pressurewashersconnect · 6 years ago

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Reopening of Painter Park West Haven CT

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More than 100 happy children, parents and volunteers came out Oct. 15 for the dedication and reopening of the refurbished Painter Park playground on Kelsey Avenue. On a beautiful autumn day, Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, joined by other city officials, dedicated the wooden playground in honor of Kelsey Avenue resident and former city schoolteacher Maureen Blake. Moments later, O’Brien signaled the reopening of the newly named “Maureen’s Dream” playground to the throng of anxious children, who immediately scampered into the fenced-in area to play on the castle-themed structure’s arsenal of swings and slides for the first time in six months. O’Brien lauded Blake for leading a grass-roots movement to bring a playground to the neighborhood more than two decades ago. He also praised the volunteers from four area Lowe’s stores, most of whom were accompanied by their families, for “your extraordinary dedication and selfless contributions” to the structure’s extensive rehabilitation. O’Brien, who was surrounded by many of the Westies who constructed the original playground and many of the Lowe’s employees who restored the aging structure, also thanked the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the West Haven Fire Department for working together “to help the children of West Haven and this beloved playground.” Blake, accompanied by her husband and three children, said the playground was a community and team effort that included the aid of numerous residents, including John Sullivan, a longtime ironworker who is now deceased. “I want to thank my husband and my children for being my inspiration,” Blake added. The dedication also featured remarks from city recreation program coordinator Tom Conroy, who organized the renovation project and helped O’Brien unveil the playground’s new sign, Maureen’s Dream. Conroy said the playground was erected over five days in May 1994 by a group of about 100 volunteers with a shared vision for building for West Haven’s future. The event was attended by commission Chairman David Coyle, Commissioner Richard Beirne and Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, who supervises the Park-Rec department. They were joined by Park-Rec Director Bill Slater, Public Works Commissioner Dominic Perrotti, state Rep. Stephen D. Dargan, D-West Haven, and Lowe’s representatives, including Milford store manager John Cipriano and Derby store manager Peter Ouellette. During the late morning ceremony, O’Brien presented plaques enshrined in appreciation to Blake and Lowe’s: “This playground is dedicated to Maureen Blake in recognition of her perseverance, dedication and organization in the construction of this playground in May 1994. Her inspiring role was supported by scores of fellow residents who also devoted their time, talents and energy to the project. “A special thanks to Lowe’s of Derby, Milford, New Haven and Orange for their extraordinary volunteerism and invaluable donations to the renovation and restoration of this playground 22 years later.” For five weeks, starting Aug. 26, dozens of Lowe’s employees painstakingly restored the playground for their annual “Lowe’s Heroes” community service project. As part of their labor of love, the stores donated about $10,000 worth of materials, said Cipriano, who at the event applauded his fellow employees for their service and commended the city for its hospitality throughout the project. According to city officials, the playground had fallen into disrepair and was ordered closed in April by West Haven’s insurance carrier due to safety concerns. Two months later, Park-Rec received an estimate of $150,000 to $180,000 to rehabilitate the popular playground. Thankfully, over the summer, Cipriano answered the call for help and contacted O’Brien through Marilyn Wilkes, chairwoman of the city’s Beautification Committee, about taking on the playground restoration for Lowe’s community outreach project. The company previously helped Wilkes with her Community Garden project behind the former Molloy Elementary School. Cipriano, assisted by Ouellette, then mobilized a four-store team for the ambitious undertaking. The work, done at no cost to city taxpayers, included replacing all swing set equipment and hardware, beams and boards and benches. It also included restabilizing the wooden retaining wall, adding picnic tables and fresh mulch and re-staining the playground. West Haven firefighters pitched in by power-washing the playground before it was stained by Lowe’s. The company, headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, has been “improving home improvement” for more than 60 years.

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southeastblog · 6 years ago

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Gov. Ugwuanyi moves to complete Enugu Int’l Conference Centre, takes possession of Hotel Presidential

The administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, in keeping with its vision to protect legacy projects of past administrations, has directed the state’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to “immediately” initiate and commence the evaluation of outstanding builders works and other contractual requirements for the completion of the Enugu International Conference Centre.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting of the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, who described the centre as “a legacy project”, disclosed that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration is desirous to put in place mechanism to complete the edifice in view of its inherent socio-economic benefits to the people of the state.

Also at the briefing, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Rita Mbah, informed newsmen that the state government has taken full possession of the Hotel Presidential, Enugu, and consequently “approved the immediate renovation of the recreation section” of the hotel, following the recent striking out of the court case against the government by an interested party.

Hon. Mbah explained that the renovation exercise will be carried out “in the premier garden, the swimming pool arena, wedding arena and the four tennis courts, among others, stressing that the present administration “is really poised to make sure that the hotel is brought back to a functional state”.

The Culture and Tourism Commissioner also disclosed that the council approved the sum of N77 million for the upgrade and rehabilitation of water supply in Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, pointing out that the decision was in addition to other interventions earlier made by the government to improve the standard of the three star hotel, such as “the procurement and installation of 500KVA and 650KVA generators”.

On road infrastructure, the Works Commissioner stated that the council awarded contract for the construction of Enugu Eke-Ogui-Oma Eke road near Amah Brewery in Udi Local Government Area to Willangy Nig. Ltd at the cost of N202 million.

He added that the council approved the designing and scoping of selected rural roads and 25 river crossings (bridges and culverts) across the state under the phase two of Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP II).

Equally approved, according to Engr. Nnaji, was the sum of N250 million for the immediate repairs of identified emerging potholes on urban and intercity roads in the state, such as the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka road and Ugwuogo-Ikem road, covering close to 40,000 square meters, which translates to 4.5 kilometers.

He further explained that “what we have done is to commence the first phase to ensure that these projects are rehabilitated simultaneously now the rains are reducing”, revealing that the state government agency in charge of road maintenance, NCFC, will work with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to deliver on the project.

The Works Commissioner also stated that the council after the evaluation of the status report on the ongoing rehabilitation works at the Governor’s Lodge in Nsukka, approved a variation cost of N45 million for enhancement of works, and the sum of N62.2 million for further upgrade of the facilities to include external works and beautification, such as landscaping, multi-culture, procurement of generator, water boreholes, among others.

The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Ogbuagu Anikwe, who was also at the briefing, further revealed that the state government through the observation of due process, in line with its commitment to fiscal discipline, accountability and transparency, has saved the sum of N1.82 billion from expenditures, which he said were now being used for the provision of other development needs of the people of the state.

Hon. Anikwe said that the council approved in principle to establish three model driving schools in the three senatorial zones of the state for proper training of vehicle drivers. He added that the EXCO’s decision was sequel to a memo to the governor by the state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), which revealed that the majority of crashes in the state were traceable to poor driving habits.

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blueprintnewspapers-blog · 7 years ago

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Giant strides of Ibrahim Dankwambo in Gombe

New Post has been published on http://blueprint.ng/giant-strides-of-ibrahim-dankwambo-in-gombe/

Giant strides of Ibrahim Dankwambo in Gombe

By Bidemi Adeniyi

Gombe state may not have measured up to her slogan of “Jewel of the Savannah”, but for Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. The state was rustic and lacked the basic infrastructure befitting of a state before the incumbent governor came into power on May 29, 2011. The giant strides of the governor has practically led to the rebuilding of Gombe state. It must be noted that despite the fact that Gombe is at the bottom of states on the ladder of statutory federal allocations, yet Dankwambo has succeeded in achieving much with the meagre resources. The electoral promise of Dankwambo to revolutionize agriculture in Gombe state has since been fulfilled. He has so far procured 225 units of tractor for the use of farmers in the state and this has been followed up with the training and retraining of poultry farmers. He has ensured regular distribution of fertilizer and other farm implements to farmers in Gombe state. This architect of development has constructed several markets in the state in his quest to encourage and boost cotton farming in Gombe state. The Dankwambo led administration has successfully established a Groundnut Processing Mill in Gombe which has thus far provided 4,600 direct jobs. The company now boasts of 326 heavy duty machines used for milling 150 tons of groundnut, 80 tons of groundnut oil and 70 tons of groundnut cake respectively on a daily basis. Alhaji Dankwambo has equally proven himself as a promise keeper with his strides in the educational sector of Gombe state. The fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria has so far constructed more than 502 classrooms across the state. He has likewise ensured the recruitment of well over 1,000 degree and NCE graduates into the educational sector of Gombe sate. Dankwambo has likewise sanctioned the training of over 5,000 teachers in Gombe state to enhance their productivity. He has established the School of Basic and Remedial studies in Kumo as well as the College of Education in Billiri. The chartered accountant has equally established the Gombe State Polytechnic in Bajoga and the College of Legal and Islamic Studies in Nafada. It is to the credit of Dankwambo that 25 Students of the State have been sponsored to India and United kingdom for Maritime Studies. It is most heartwarming that virtually all schools in Gombe are now well equipped with modern facilities such as e-learning centres, e-libraries, ICT centres, laboratories, expansive and conducive classes, modern furniture, conducive ambience and well motivated staffers. All of these have contributed to the successes recorded so far by primary and secondary school students of Gombe in their external examinations. Dr. Dankwambo has set new record of achievement in the heath sector of Gombe state. He has upgraded the Urban Maternity in Idi to Children and Women Hospital. He has delivered a newly constructed Dialysis Centre within the Gombe Specialist Hospital. He has again followed up these achievements with the construction of College of Nursing and Midwifery, Dukku as well as the Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre, Kaltungo. It is noteworthy that patients are being brought from across the state and even as far as Cameroon for treatment in the health facility. Dankwambo has thus far delivered on the supply and installation of 4 dialysis machines and 2 dialysis chairs in Gombe. It is incontrovertible that no sector of Gombe has been left undeveloped by Ibrahim Dankwambo since he came into power as the governor. He has so far constructed and delivered close to 2000 units of 3 and 2 bedroom flats that are already being occupied. His flagship performance is the construction of 3000-seater International Conference Centre which is undoubtedly the best in Nigeria and one of the best on the African continent. The governor has likewise constructed a big ultra-modern motor park in the state. He has also constructed a state of the art tankers parking bay. This facility can conveniently house 300 articulated trucks. The project was necessitated by the hitherto regular occurrence of accidents in the state as a result of indiscriminate parking of articulated petroleum trucks on the roads. Poverty alleviation and youth empowerment have been of prime importance to the PhD holder. He has thus far trained more than 3200 youths in six different trades at the four skills acquisition centres located within Gombe state. Dankwambo has also trained 330 supervisors at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre in Jos. He has recruited well over 1500 youths as traffic, environmental and security marshals in Gombe state. The youths that now live responsibly were hitherto entrenched in thuggery and other social vices before Dankwambo gave them new lease of life. The governor has equally trained a different category of 1000 youths in welding, fabrication, P.O.P and tiling. He has also trained another set of youths numbering over 1200, now known as Kalare, under the Talba Youths Reorientation and Rehabilitation Programme. Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has taken advantage of his vast experience in financial management to empower more than 1500 poorest of the poor indigenes and residents of Gombe through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). He has again ensured the disbursement of loan obtained from the Bank of Industry (BOI) to 150 Cooperatives Societies in Gombe state. The former Accountant General of Gombe state and of the federation has also ensured the release of N500 million to traders in the state through the Trade Intervention Funds. Dankwambo recognizes the necessity of potable water in Gombe state and he has even gone the extra mile to ensure that all residents of the state have access to clean and hygienic pipe borne water. In view of this, he has thus far ensured the rehabilitation and reticulation of water pipelines across Gombe state with particular focus on extension to Kwami and Gadam. He has likewise delivered on the extension of water supply to Baure, Dangar and other towns of Gombe state. The Accounting graduate of Ahmadu Bello University has commendably delivered on the construction of earth dam at Boh in Shongom local government area of Gombe state. The judicial sector of Gombe state has also benefitted from the transformational impacts of the Ibrahim Dankwambo led administration. Not less than 162 laws of the state have been reviewed, aside the codification of the existing ones. Gombe state judiciary headquarters have been tastefully renovated by the administration of Dankwambo. The governor has likewise delivered the construction and furnishing of law courts in the state as well as magistrates, upper and area courts. Judges in Gombe judicial system are regularly being sponsored to national and international conferences in a bid to broaden their intellectual horizons and enhance service delivery in the sector. Building and upgrading of infrastructure in Gombe state have been another area of major concern to Ibrahim Dankwambo. He has so far constructed not less than 13 major gully erosion sites, each of which is more than 4 kilometers long in his determination to curtail erosion problem in Gombe. He has equally ensured the establishment of 30 hectares of woodlots in 5 local government areas of the state. The governor also deserves credit for the establishment of roadside plantations in Gombe metropolis. Also to his credit is the procurement of over 200 electricity transformers to ensure regular power supply in Gombe state. The government has ensured the provision of information communication technology equipment in Gombe state. Civil servants in Gombe could not have wished for any better leader than Ibrahim Dankwambo. The governor has so far transformed the Gombe state Civil Service. He has approved the promotion of over 2000 civil servants in both the senior and junior cadres of Gombe state Civil Service. Not less than 1000 graduates have also been recruited into the public service of Gombe State through other programmes of the government. The governor truly deserves credit for the establishment of Gombe State Employee Management Information System (GEMIS) to provide authentic staff data in the state. Payment of workers salaries in Gombe state as and when due is another area where Dankwabo stands very tall. Ibrahim Dankwambo was adjudged the best Northern governor in 2017 largely because of his performance in the area of road construction. The governor has so far constructed over 3000 kilometers of roads with solar powered lightening of the state. Beautification of the capital city of Gombe has also been achieved by Dankwambo. He has delivered in the upgrading and maintenance of all sporting infrastructure in the state while regular funding of the state football clubs has been made a priorit. Competent leadership ability of Ibrahim Dankwambo is beyond doubt. His political career has been enjoying steady progression on account of his integrity, intellectual wizardry and vast experience in both private and public sectors. A disservice that could be done to this nation is to deny this proven sterling performer the opportunity of administering the badly needed solutions to the myriad of problems confronting Nigeria today. He has undoubtedly proven his mettle at the state level and he is best positioned to take Nigeria out of the woods. Adeniyi wrote from Akure

#federal allocation #revolution

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dmvalerts · 8 years ago

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Bowie E-News

Bowie: Bowie E-News Bowie News Flash June 2017NewsFox 5 Zip Trip Will Showcase Bowie on Friday, June 2Fox 5 News will broadcast its morning show live from Bowie Town Center on the morning of Friday, June 2 from 6 to 11 a.m. Throughout the morning, various Bowie organizations and businesses will be featured in different segments. Come out, enjoy the fun, meet some of their on-air personalities, and help us show the region why Bowie is such a great place to live, to work, or to visit!Bowiefest is Saturday, June 3rdCelebrate Bowie at Bowiefest on Saturday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Allen Pond Park. Enjoy three stages of entertainment along with food, children’s rides and over 250 vendors. Bowiefest is a long-standing tradition in the City bringing the best of Bowie’s civic organizations, entertainers, and businesses to one place for a single day. Visit http://bit.ly/2qGRhca to view the event program. Admission to Bowiefest is free. Park at Allen Pond Park or take the free shuttle from the Park and Ride lot on Northview Drive.Statement on Death of Bowie State University Student Richard CollinsThe City Council offers condolences to the family and friends of Second Lieutenant Richard Collins, III. He was the Bowie State University student who was killed while visiting the University of Maryland in what is being investigated as an apparent hate crime. Lt. Collins was set to graduate this May and enter the US Army. His senseless death underscores the importance of embracing diversity and respecting the civil rights of all individuals. The Council encourages those who wish to honor his young life to contribute to a fund that has been set up in his memory at Bowie State University. Visit www.bowiestate.edu for details. County Hearing on Bowie Marketplace Apartments – June 8, 10 a.m.The Prince George’s County Planning Board will review the Detailed Site Plan for the 225-unit, multi-family apartment project proposed at Bowie Marketplace on Thursday, June 8. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro. Low-Cost Rabies Shots Cats, dogs, and ferrets must receive their first rabies vaccine by four months of age and they require regular booster shots every one to three years. There are many low-cost shot clinics held in our area with costs between $5 and $20. Prince George’s County Animal Services has shot clinics the first Thursday of every month from 12 to 2 p.m. and the Prince George’s SPCA offers vaccination clinics on the first Sunday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. View a list of these clinics at http://bit.ly/2rpQYQi. Request a copy of the list by calling 301-809-3002 or emailing [email protected]. Fiber Art ExhibitThe City Hall Art Gallery is featuring an exhibit of textile and other fiber art from June 19 to September 17. It is free and open to the public during City Hall hours. Meet the artists at a reception on June 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. National Pollinator Week is June 19 to 25Pollinators are an integral part of our ecosystem. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 75% of our flowering plants and nearly 75% of our crops depend on pollinators. Celebrate National Pollinator Week by planting native plants and eliminating the use of pesticides. For more information, visit www.pollinator.org. Register Your Rain BarrelThe City tracks the numbers of rain barrels across the City for its Federal and State stormwater permits. Do you have a rain barrel (or two, three or more) installed at your house? If so, please let us know the number and volume of them by contacting City Watershed Manager, Tiffany Wright at 301-809-3043 or [email protected]. City Beautification Awards The City, in cooperation with Soroptimist International of Bowie-Crofton, is accepting nominations for the annual Beautification Awards. Anyone can nominate a home or townhouse, business, school, or specialty garden that reflects the beauty of Bowie. All nominations must be for locations within the corporate limits of Bowie. For more information or to obtain a nomination form, visit http://bit.ly/1TIxy4m, or contact Matt Corley at 301-809-3078 or [email protected]. The nomination deadline is June 23, 2017.Community Paper Shredding and Styrofoam Recycling EventThe Public Works Department has scheduled a paper shredding and Styrofoam recycling event in the Bowie High School parking lot on Saturday, June 24, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can bring up to five tall kitchen bags or five archive boxes for shredding. Documents may be observed while they are being shredded. Styrofoam must be free of any debris (glue or tape). For information, contact the Public Works Department at 301-809-2344.Skip the Mess, Secure Your TrashWhile not required, it is strongly recommended that refuse placed outdoors for collection be kept in a plastic or metal container with a secure locking lid. Trash placed out in plastic bags may attract wildlife in search of food, which can result in bags being ripped open and the contents scattered. If you must use a plastic bag, we suggest placing your refuse at the curb the morning of collection, by 7a.m., rather than the night before, which will limit the time that wildlife might have access to it. Space Available for New ProducersTV studio space is available at the Kenhill Center for five-camera productions including the use of a teleprompter, green screen, and virtual sets. No experience required. Files are provided for YouTube and Bowie Cable TV (Comcast 77/Verizon 11). For information, email [email protected] with “new producer” in the subject line.Need Help With Odd Jobs?The Youth Job Bank connects residents with local youth who are interested in earning extra money. Registered teens are available for babysitting, yard work and other household tasks. Please call Youth Services at 301-809-3033 for more information. The resident and the teen determine the particulars of the job and the fees per hour. Visit http://bit.ly/1OWxBWC to download forms or call 301-809-3033 for assistance.Visit the Bowie Farmers’ Market Sundays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.The Bowie Farmers’ Market is open for the 2017 season. Market vendors offer fresh locally grown produce, fruit, cut flowers, plants, breads, pastries, jams, jellies and more. The market operates in the parking lot of the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts at Bowie High School, 15200 Annapolis Road on Sundays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., through October 29, 2017. For more information, contact Matt Corley at 301-809-3078 or [email protected] for Camp and Lessons at the Ice ArenaThe Ice Arena is currently closed for annual maintenance. It will reopen July 8, 2017 for summer skating, camps, and group lessons. For information and registration, visit http://bit.ly/1IRkWN4 or call 301-809-3090.Become a Mentor The Bowie Youth and Family Services Teen Mentoring Program is accepting Mentor applications for the 2017 - 2018 school year. For more information or to apply, please contact Community Coordinator Rhonda Simon at [email protected] or 301-809-3033.Input Sought as Development Review Guidelines and Policies are UpdatedThe Planning Department is currently updating the City’s Development Review Guidelines and Policies, which are intended to provide clear, understandable direction to citizens, developers and builders, government officials and other interested parties on what the City Council has stated about the desired character and physical development of the City. The text is a useful collection of development review considerations that aim to encourage and promote a carefully planned and sensitively designed community.A draft of the updated Guidelines and Policies will be presented to City Councilmembers at their meeting on July 3, 2017 and then the Council will conduct a public hearing and vote on the draft document at its August 7, 2017 meeting. The public is invited to attend these two meetings and to provide input on the draft plan. Comments may be made in person at the August 7 meeting or shared with Planning Department Director Joe Meinert via email at [email protected]. To obtain a copy of the draft document, please contact the Planning Department at 301-809-3047, visit the office at City Hall or go to http://bit.ly/2rpPDZA Available to Improve Your Home’s Energy EfficiencyThe City of Bowie is participating in two different programs to help residents improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Both programs have income eligibility requirements.• Senior Green Housing GrantsThe City of Bowie’s Office of Grant Development and Administration is now accepting applications through July 31, 2017 for the Senior Citizen “Green” Housing Rehabilitation Program. The Senior Citizen Green Housing Rehabilitation Program is a federally funded grant program that provides financial assistance to single-family senior citizen homeowners with limited financial means. The purpose of the grant is to provide energy efficiency related upgrades and repairs to correct hazardous conditions, eliminate safety hazards, repair or replace major systems, correct interior and exterior deficiencies, eliminate lead based paint hazards, and perform modifications for persons with disabilities. For more information, please contact George Jones in the Office of Grant Development and Administration at 301-809-3051 or [email protected]. View details about the application process and income limits at http://bit.ly/2qGc6Vr Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Program AvailableIn collaboration with the Town of Bladensburg and other Prince George’s County municipalities, the City of Bowie is offering grant funding to approximately 20 low to moderate income homeowners. The funds can be used to pay for improvements that reduce utility bills, such as adding insulation or repairing a furnace. If you are interested in this program, please contact the City’s Sustainability Planner Kristin Larson at 301-809-3044 or email [email protected] to see if you meet eligibility requirements and to fill out an application. Don’t wait to apply. Walk WednesdaysBowie Green Team’s Food, Health and Wellness Subgroup is hosting weekly community walks on Wednesday evenings in June. It is a fun and social opportunity for Bowie residents to get together for light to moderate exercise and see some of the many beautiful local walking trails in the City. See the schedule of upcoming walks at http://bit.ly/2akjQmd. Community Outreach Grants GrantsThe City awards grant money to individuals, groups and/or organizations to assist in facilitating programs that benefit Bowie residents in a variety of ways. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded in the areas of social services, youth, senior citizens, and mental health. Individuals, groups or organizations who will provide a program or project that will benefit residents of the City of Bowie are eligible to apply. Grant applicants need not be City residents; however, whenever possible, the programs should be conducted within the city limits of Bowie. The complete application, including letters of recommendation, and all attachments, must be received no later than August 4, 2017 at 5 p.m. This program is a project of the City’s Community Outreach Committee.$20 Compost Bins for Sale at City HallPurchase a $20 discounted compost bin at City Hall and start composting. City residents may purchase up to two bins per household. Payment can be made by cash or check at the Finance window during the City’s business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and by check only at the reception desk during City Hall’s night and Saturday hours (Monday to Thursday until 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon). Learn more about compost bins at http://bit.ly/2qGHG54 Express ClassesThis summer, the Senior Center is offering 50 free “express” classes. Topics include Laughter Yoga, Social Security, the Windows 10 Operating System, Photography, the History of Belair at Bowie, and much more! These short classes (1 – 1 ½ hours) can be fun and a great way to learn a new skill, meet some new people, or in some cases, to get some exercise. If you are at least 55 years old and have not joined the Senior Center yet, this could be just what you need to get started. Visit http://bit.ly/2rpW66M to view the full list of offerings.JobsThe City of Bowie has the following job openings:• Bus Driver (open)• Business Operations Manager (closes 6/9)• Concrete Worker – Streets Division (closes 6/16)• Equipment Operator – Streets Division (closes 6/16)• Police Officer - Entry Level & Lateral (open)• Senior Code Compliance Officer (closes 6/9)• Temporary Laborer (closes 6/9)Visit http://bit.ly/1zzVBTI for more information.MAGLEV High Speed Train Briefing to City Council – Monday, July 10 at 8 p.m. High-speed train service of up to 300 miles per hour has been proposed for the DC/Washington corridor. Some of the routes under consideration would pass through or very near Bowie. Baltimore Washington MAGLEV Project Director David Henley will attend the July 10 City Council meeting to brief Council and residents on the status of the project. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this important meeting about a project that could potentially affect the City of Bowie. The meeting will also be broadcast on the Bowie Government Channel (Verizon 10/Comcast 71) and on the City website. Visit http://bit.ly/2pYoFqr for links to more information about this project.City Council Meeting UpdateItems of note at upcoming City Council meetings include the following:• June 5 – There will be an update provided on the Bowie Business Innovation Center, a report by the City’s lobbyists, and a discussion about proposed County legislation that would allow a medical cannabis dispensary as a permitted use in the Major Activity Center (M-A-C) zone. Bowie Town Center has this zoning designation and a company has already proposed the use at 4201 Northview Drive.• June 19 – The Bowie Indoor Sports Facility and a proposed change to the types of uses permitted in the “flex space” buildings at Melford are on the agenda for discussion and review.For information on the development items, please contact the Planning Department at 301-809-3047. For details on the other items, please call the City Manager’s Office at 301-809-3030.Events6/2 - 7/1 – “Mary Poppins” (Disney Musical) at Bowie Playhouse For tickets and information, visit http://bit.ly/1IRkVbY or call 301-832-4819.6/3 – Bowiefest 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Allen Pond Park. For information about Bowiefest, and the full schedule, go to http://bit.ly/2qGRhca. 6/4 – Sunday Sunset Concert Series – 4TheRoad 7 - 8 p.m. at Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, Allen Pond Park. These family friendly concerts are free. They are canceled in case of inclement weather. For more information about summer concerts, please contact Matt Corley, Special Events Coordinator, at 301-809-3078 or [email protected]/5 – City Council Meeting 8 p.m. at City Hall.6/6 – Bowie Senior Center Celebrates 40 Years! 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. All seniors are invited to the celebration featuring the Guava Jelly Band. For more information, please contact the Senior Center at 301-809-2300.6/7 – Walk Wednesday at Whitemarsh Park 7 p.m. The group will park in the parking lot by the head of the trail and will plan to walk for approximately 40 minutes.6/7 – Kenhill Center Stormwater Retrofits Stakeholders Meeting 7 p.m. at the Kenhill Center. The City will be constructing four stormwater retrofits at the Kenhill Center. They include three bioretention facilities adjacent to the athletic field and a rain garden with educational signage adjacent to the southern entrance at Kenhill Drive. At this meeting, the City's contractor will explain their designs and show photos of similar completed projects. There will also be an optional tour of the site. Residents will be able to make comments on the designs and ask questions about the proposed work. For more information contact Tiffany Wright at 301-809-3043 or [email protected]/8 – County Planning Board Hearing on Bowie Marketplace Detailed Site Plan 10 a.m. at the County Service Building in Upper Marlboro.6/10 – Saturday Concert Series – Graydog 4 - 6 p.m., Town Green Park, 9th Street (MD Route 564), Old Town Bowie. Concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/11 – Sunday Sunset Concert Series – U.S. Air Force Max Impact 7 - 8 p.m. at Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, Allen Pond Park. Concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/12 – SAGE Summer Classes Begin - Senior Center For more information, please contact the Senior Center at 301-809-2300.6/14 – We All Scream for Ice Cream 1 - 3 p.m. at Belair Mansion. Make and sample ice cream. Free. Reservations required. For reservations and more information, please contact 301-809-3089 or [email protected]/14 – Walk Wednesday at the WB & A Trail 7 p.m. (on Racetrack Rd near Kimberwick Drive). The group will meet in the parking area and will walk for about 40 minutes.6/17 – Saturday Concert Series – Off Track 4 - 6 p.m., Town Green Park, 9th Street (MD Route 564), Old Town Bowie. Concerts are canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/18 – Sunday Sunset Concert Series - The Baywinds Band 7 p.m. at Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, Allen Pond Park. Concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/19 – Summer Indoor Walking 7:30 - 9 a.m. weekdays at the City Gym, beginning this week. For more information, please contact the City Gym at 301-809-2388.6/19 – City Council Meeting 8 p.m. at City Hall.6/20 – Kids Kaboose 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Bowie Railroad Museum. Railroad fun and games for youngsters ages 1 - 10. Free. For more information, please contact 301-809-3089 or [email protected]/21 – Walk Wednesday at the Governor Bridge Trail 7 p.m. (7600 Governor Bridge Rd). The group will meet by the sign in the parking area before proceeding onto the trails. The walk will take 30 - 40 minutes at this location.6/24 – Paper Shredding and Styrofoam Recycling 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Bowie High School parking lot. For information, contact the Public Works Department at 301-809-2344.6/24 – National Capital Radio & Television Museum Open House 3 - 5 p.m. at Radio and Television Museum, 2608 Mitchellville Road. Free. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 301-390-1020.6/24 – Saturday Concert Series – Days of Vinyl 4 - 6 p.m., Town Green Park, 9th Street (MD Route 564), Old Town Bowie. Concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/25 – June Jam Skateboard Competition at Allen Pond Park 12 to 6 p.m. All ages, all abilities can compete. Prizes of up to $1,000 will be awarded. Free to spectators. Competitors must pay $10 for Beginner and Intermediate Skaters and $20 for Advanced Skaters.6/25 – Sunday Sunset Concert Series – The Young Senators Reloaded 7 - 8 p.m. at Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, Allen Pond Park. The concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. 6/27 – Time Travellers - Drop-In – Games From the Past 12 - 3 p.m. at Belair Mansion. Free. For more information, please contact 301-809-3089 or [email protected]/28 – Walk Wednesday at Acorn Hill Park/Whitemarsh Park 7 p.m. (3209 Stonybrook Drive) - The group will meet at Acorn Hill Park and then walk up Stonybrook Drive to the entrance to the Whitemarsh Park trail. They will walk for about 40 minutes.6/29 – Stable Stories for Little People 1:30 - 3 p.m. at Belair Stable. Ages 3 - 7. Free. For more information, please contact 301-809-3089 or [email protected]/30 – Deadline for Public Comment on Draft Updated Development Review Guidelines & Policies. The updated document will be presented to City Council at its July 3, 2017 meeting.7/1 – Saturday Concert Series – Alan King 4 - 6 p.m., Town Green Park, 9th Street (MD Route 564), Old Town Bowie. Concerts is canceled in case of inclement weather. 7/2 – Sunday Sunset Concert Series – Big Band Theory of Baltimore 7 - 8 p.m. at Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, Allen Pond Park. The concert is canceled in case of inclement weather. If you would like to edit your subscriptions or the way you receive these messages, please LOGIN to your account to manage your information or call 301-809-3032 for assistance.

#MD

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al32richards · 8 years ago

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Next Up For Some CTA Love: Green Line Garfield Station

Over the last ten years or so, the Chicago Transit Authority has embarked on a number of significant infrastructure improvements, from new trains, to new stations, to the Pink Line. While it can be argued that the only reason this is happening is because the feds have been hauling dumptrucks full of money into Chicago that can only legally be spent on building things, not operations or personnel; it can’t be disputed that all that work is having a significant impact on Chicago’s urbanization patterns and the public.

Next up on the CTA’s list: We’re back to the South Side Green Line, with a complete overhaul of the — yes, I’ll call it scary — Garfield Station.

Rendering of the CTA Green Line Garfield Station renovation

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the transit agency’s brass made a big announcement about the station renovation Sunday, dubbing it the “Garfield Gateway Project.” For all the hoopla, we’ve known about this for eight months. Senator Dick Durbin announced it back in July when he allocated 25 million of your tax dollars for it. That’s about half of the money the city now says it’ll need to complete the project. But don’t get too attached to any of the images you see floating around. The design isn’t done.

Still, it’s a timely project. The original Garfield station went into service 125 years ago, and according to Chicago-L, was last renovated in 2001. But with just 11 days left in President Obama’s term, sooner or later the dirt is going to start turning on his nearby presidential library. And that means gaggles of tourists are going to start finding their ways to this station as they seek out whatever it is that draws people to presidential libraries. A “gateway” to the neighborhood is a good place for the city to start the wayfinding effort.

Ordinarily, we’d include the press release from the Mayor’s Office below, but lately it takes many days for hizzonor’s web site to be updated. So here’s Senator Durbin’s press release from back in July announcing this project.

Rendering of the CTA Green Line Garfield Station renovation

Durbin, Emanuel, Members Of Illinois Delegation Announce $25 Million TIGER Grant For Garfield Green Line Gateway

Improvement Project Will Upgrade Operational Garfield Green Line Station And Restore Historic “Alley L” Station

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-7) and Bobby Rush (D-IL-1), and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced $25 million in federal funding to create an updated, convenient transit gateway at the Garfield Green Line ‘L’ station in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood. This investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER grant program, will support improvements to the existing operational Green Line station and restore the historic 1892 former ‘Alley L’ station and track structure.

“This announcement is good news for Washington Park. Today’s funding preserves the rich history of the Washington Park neighborhood and takes important steps to improve safety for area residents, many of whom rely on public transit to get to and from work,” said Senator Durbin. “I was proud to support this revitalization project, and I will continue to advocate for strong investments in Illinois’ transportation systems.”

“This Federal Department of Transportation grant will help renew, and re-energize the community surrounding the Garfield Green Line station with new job opportunities, new public spaces, improved accessibility to public transit and an exciting new partnership between CTA and Arts Block – the University of Chicago’s Arts + Public Life Initiative led by artist Theaster Gates,” said Representative Davis. “Community activists have been advocating for this type of development for years and they deserve to share in the credit for this significant investment.”

“I am very happy to learn of the $25 million TIGER grant award going to the CTA’s Garfield Green Line Station project. The Green Line is a critical link between my constituents in South Side neighborhoods and downtown Chicago, connecting people to employment centers and educational institutions and providing access to essential services,” said Representative Rush. “In addition, the upgrades and beautification plans for the station support the larger community’s revitalization efforts that spur economic growth; and improve quality of life for those residing nearby.”

“All across Chicago, we are investing in our city’s infrastructure – from roads to runways to rail so that every Chicagoan is connected to a better future. With this federal grant for CTA’s Garfield Station, we are able to build a new transit gateway to propel our vision for the vibrant Washington Park neighborhood,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This also represents the latest in our ongoing investments to bring economic and cultural opportunities to Chicago’s South Side. I want to thank our federal partners for this funding, and for supporting Chicago’s continued investments in our world-class transit system.”

The new station will complement current revitalization efforts by community groups, property owners and the University of Chicago along Garfield Boulevard. The Garfield Gateway station is a key component of the University of Chicago’s Arts + Public Life Initiative’s Arts Block project, led by renowned Chicago artist Theaster Gates. A $1.8 million Arts Incubator was constructed in 2013 adjacent to the historic station house in an abandoned, historic two-story terra-cotta building.

The existing Garfield ‘L’ station was built in 2001 and serves nearly 475,000 riders each year and provides connections with the #55 Garfield bus, a route with more than 3 million riders annually that provides direct connections to the University of Chicago and Midway International Airport. The project will improve the environment for commuters by extending platform canopies; upgrading platform accessibility, including elevator and escalator improvements; and installing public art and landscaping to transform the customer experience.

In coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Garfield Gateway project will also include architectural enhancements to make the streetscape next to the station a stronger community focal point—including improved pedestrian street crossings, eco-friendly paving materials, median landscaping including sustainable native grasses and plants, bike lanes, benches and bike racks at the station.

The $50 million project will also make improvements to the original Garfield station house on the south side of Garfield Boulevard. The station was built as part of the South Side Rapid Transit’s extension to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1892—the historic Alley ‘L’—making it the oldest ‘L’ station facility and one of the oldest intact public transit stations in the country.

The station house, which earned City of Chicago landmark status in 2001, will be restored to its original turn-of-the century look, and will receive improvements to allow it to serve a public purpose, such as a community space.

The Garfield Gateway station is just the latest large-scale investment in the CTA and the communities it serves under Mayor Emanuel. Since 2011, several major station projects have been completed or are under way, including completely rebuilt stations at 95th and Wilson on the Red Line, and new stations at Morgan (Green and Pink Lines) and Cermak-McCormick Place (Green Line). As the new Morgan station demonstrates, the renovation of the Garfield station also represents how these types of investments help spur economic activity in surrounding neighborhoods.

The CTA is still finalizing designs for the Garfield rehabilitation. Work is expected to begin in 2018 and be completed by the end of 2019.

from Chicago Architecture http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2017/01/09/next-up-for-some-cta-love-green-line-garfield-station/

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