Shorefront mural gives Newport a river view

For boaters cruising the Mississippi River, there’s now little doubt they’re floating past Newport.

A Newport volunteer group recently put the finishing touches on a riverfront mosaic that its members hope will serve as a welcome sign to those boating the Mississippi River between St. Paul and Hastings.

Located at the Grove Street Overlook Park at the end of 10th Street, the mosaic is made up of hundreds of pieces of painted ceramic tile put together last month by nearly 20 Newport kids aged 6 to 16 and another dozen adult volunteers. It was dreamed up and carried out by Newport on the Move, a group of Newport women who also helped launch the city’s first community gardening space this summer.

Linda Michie, one of the group’s founding members, spearheaded the mosaic project after she said she and other boaters noticed there was no way to tell it was Newport’s shores they were floating past.

The new mural clears that up, spelling out Newport in large pieces of tile, as well as offering the location’s river coordinates.

“I love it,” Michie said. “But I’m a little biased.”

Newport on the Move is beginning to plan its 2012 projects, Michie said, and she said she hopes to see another mosaic project in the future. The group’s next moves include expanding the growing community garden and launching an after school program for Newport kids.

With the mosaic project and community garden, Michie said, “I think we all feel that we picked two good projects that the scope wasn’t out of our reach. I think we’re proving ourselves by being successful with those two projects.”

Biceps & Elbow Grease!

"On a beautiful day in May 2004, while volunteering for the first time on a rooftop in Grace Grove, Andy Bowler,

executive director of Indian River Habitat for Humanity approached me with a challenge to begin a Women Build,"says Sue

Croom. "With lots of help from others, two hurricanes and a major surgery, the Women Build was off and running Jan. 5,

2005 under the supervision of Bryant Knapp, Habitat’s construction superintendant at that time.”

Habitat for Humanity International established Women Build to promote the involvement of women in the construction of

Habitat homes.

An excellent attempt to start the local Women Build here actually dates back to 1999, with the first Women Build home

constructed in 2000 under the direction of Jill Jones. Then in 2005, the program got its footing and - literally - grew

to a level where National Habitat awarded Sue Croom and the program a high honor within the organization.

To date, Indian River Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build crew has constructed 11 homes in Indian River County and has

provided funding for seven ohter Habitat homes. Currently there are at least 100 Women Build members working on Habitat’

s Oslo site and 50 working in the Fellsmere site.

Women Build volunteers are skilled in every aspect of Indian River Habitat construction: building walls, laying floors,

installing windows, roofing, siding and finish work.

"The therapeutic nature of rough carpentry appeals to me the most,"says Sue. "Learning how to hold the hammer properly

driving a 16-penny nail into a 2 x 4 is amazing and not as hard as one would think.”

Hyacinth Brown, a member of the GFWC Sebastian Woman’s Club, says, "I would say siding is one of my favorite tasks.”

Members of the GFWC Sebastian Woman’s Club answered the call to be ‘food angels.’ Every Saturday for nearly six

months, Hyacinth and other members took sandwiches and snacks to volunteers on the Habitat job sites.

"Seeing the work these strong women did with smiles on their faces inspired me to join Women Build on Feb. 9, 2005,"says

Hyacinth.

Lanie Frame started around the same time. "I love hammering, framing, blocking, sheeting and siding,"she says. "It’s a

terrific feeling to work, learn and laugh with these wonderful women of varied backgrounds who combine individual skills

and endless enthusiasm to help Habitat homeowners achieve their dreams.”

Leslie Balcerak started with Women Build four years ago. "I like almost every task that goes into building these

homes,"she says. "We use China ceramic tile on the counter tops and vinyl tiles on the floor. I like the challenge of figuring

out the perfect layout that will result in a near perfect execution.”

"Roofing."That is what petite Cynthia Hazlewood prefers most. She was one of the first to join the group in 2005. "When

Sue Croom was recruiting people to volunteer to build a home sponsored by Women Build, I thought it would be fun, because

I love using tools and building things."

Darlene Redfoot says, "I like the variety. The rewards have been many: meeting and working with so many wonderful people

and the friendships that have developed; the feeling of having a purpose; the pleasure of learning new skills; the

increased competence I feel to handle chores at home; the satisfaction of having a job to do and doing it to the best of

my ability; and last but not least, the people here make me feel appreciated. "

Post Flood Red Flags

The first signs that a company could be a fly-by-night outfit are poor personal appearance, shoddy tools, filthy or broken equipment, and vehicles in poor repair. Not every good construction company will have uniforms, new trucks, cell phones and laptops. Some super-dependable contractors don’t even have fax machines! But how a contractor presents himself and takes care of his truck, tools and equipment is a good indication of how well he’ll take care of you and your job.

When you are re-viewing bids, if a contractor says he will give you a “special low price” that you must keep secret, move on to the next guy.

The same is true for a bid that comes in far below all the others, such as when you get three bids and two of them are around $5,000 and one is $3,200. The low-bidding contractor either is clueless or he never intends to finish the work. Another scam is to bid low and then start charging you extra for materials you thought were included in the price once the job begins.

Finally, pay attention to how carefully the contractor looks at your job before bid-ding. If a bidding contractor just eye-balls the job and says, “Yeah, we did a job like this and I’ll charge you the same,” or if he doesn’t take notes and measurements and make material and labor calculations, you may be dealing with a contractor who isn’t thorough enough to do a good job.

Second-Rate Materials – If a contractor claims he’s already got materials he wants to pass along to you at a discount, watch out. Usually these materials are seconds, ungraded, or below grade minimums for code, or they “fell off a truck”. Small contractors rarely buy in volumes that yield these big discounts, and con-tractors rarely carry large inventories of material. If they do, they severely misjudged quantities on a previous job, which doesn’t speak well for their estimating skills.

Some types of work require a large initial payment from the home-owner because the contractor will have to leave this as a de-posit when ordering. This applies to products like cabinets and special-order ceramic tile. It does NOT apply to commodity materials like roofing and lumber, which are bought “on ac-count” by any legitimate contractor with at least 30 days to pay. Be very cautious if a contractor asks for more than 20 per-cent of the total cost of the job upfront – some states set the limit at just 10 per-cent.

“I’ll do the job cheaper if you pay me in cash” is another big red flag. A contractor who works on a cash-only basis is probably not paying taxes, and almost certainly not paying for insurance. The same goes for a contractor who wants to be paid each day. Drop him like a hot potato!

If your contractor has nothing more than a pager and a post office box, call the Better Business Bureau, your state licensing bureau, or your local consumer protection office to see if there are any complaints lodged against him. Also, check all his references and visit some recent jobs. A contractor should have an office somewhere, even if it is just a room in his home, and a reference at a local bank and accounts with local suppliers.

Versatile spaces in McLean

In front of the foyer, a double door opens into the formal living room, which has a wood-stove insert in the fireplace and French doors to the deck. Double doors open from the living room into the formal dining room, which has dentil crown molding, wainscoting and a stained-glass chandelier. French doors link the dining room with the deck, a swing door links the room to the kitchen, and a second set of French doors opens from the dining room into the family room. The family room has a beamed ceiling, an oversized gas fireplace and French doors opening onto the deck.

At the front of the home is the renovated gourmet kitchen, accessible from the foyer, dining room and family room. Remodeled in 2010, the kitchen includes sleek black-painted wood cabinets, open shelving, granite counters, ceramic tile flooring, upgraded stainless steel appliances and an oversized skylight. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and opens to a breakfast area with windows facing the front courtyard. Adjacent to the kitchen is a powder room with crown molding and ceramic tile flooring.

Past the kitchen is almost a separate wing of the main level that includes three large rooms with flexible uses. The first room is being used as a home office and includes a double-door closet plus French doors that open into the sunroom.

The sunroom has ceramic tile flooring, a wall of windows, a free-standing wood stove and a second set of French doors that open into a card room or sitting room. The sunroom has transoms above all the windows and doors and is currently used as an exercise room.

An exit to the front of the home allows this space to function well as a home office for people who have visitors to their office. Alternatively, the area can be used as a playroom or children’s study, an art studio or simply for additional rooms for entertaining friends and family.

The upper level originally had four bedrooms and easily could be reconfigured to that floor plan. For now, the master suite includes a separate sitting room with a ceiling fan and a double-door closet, along with a window overlooking the backyard. The owners will replace the wall between the master bedroom and master sitting room to re-create the fourth bedroom if the buyers prefer.

The master bedroom has a glass door to a private balcony overlooking the front courtyard. The suite includes a dressing room with a door to an oversized walk-in closet with built-ins. The luxurious master bath has ceramic tile flooring, a glass-enclosed shower with a seat and a granite counter on the vanity.

The upper level has two more bedrooms, each with a double-door closet. These bedrooms share a renovated full bath with ceramic tile flooring. The hall includes a linen closet and a storage closet.

The finished lower level includes a spacious bedroom with two double-door closets and a walk-in closet. This level also has a recreation room with French doors to the patio, a gas fireplace and plenty of space for a seating area and two separate game areas. Adjacent to the recreation room is a kitchenette with granite counters, a dishwasher, a wine cooler, a refrigerator, a microwave and multiple cabinets.

The lower level also has a sauna, a full bath with a deep soaking tub, a cedar closet and an oversized laundry room with ceramic tile flooring, a sink and cabinets. At the opposite end of this level is a workshop and storage room with French doors to the patio.

Versatile spaces in McLean

It may seem necessary to drive dozens of miles outside the District’s city limits to find a hidden oasis of privacy and

quiet - but sometimes, the most serene places can be found within minutes of the city’s borders.

The home at 1707 James Payne Circle in McLean, on the market for $1,197,500, offers a peaceful retreat from daily life

hidden beneath a canopy of trees. Built in 1968 and meticulously maintained and modernized, this home provides seemingly

endless places to enjoy outdoor living along with flexible rooms indoors for myriad activities. The owners have

landscaped the property for low-maintenance living as well as maximum privacy.

Just minutes from downtown Washington and the shops and amenities of McLean, this all-brick home in the Chesterbrook

Hills area easily blends traditional style and contemporary flair. Sited on .35 acre, the home has a landscaped front

yard with mature trees and a meandering stone path that leads to the two-car garage and the brick front courtyard, which

sits low enough below the street for privacy and is semienclosed by brick walls. The courtyard has a brick patio and an

Italian-style water fountain.

A wood deck wraps around the back and two sides of the main level, while a wood balcony off the master suite provides a

private outdoor space for the owners. Another brick patio is located off the back of the lower level.

Double front doors open from the courtyard into the home, which has hardwood flooring throughout most of the main level.

To the right of the foyer is a library with built-in bookcases and cabinets on two walls. The windows in the library and

the rest of the main level have custom-built plantation shutters.

In front of the foyer, a double door opens into the formal living room, which has a wood-stove insert in the fireplace

and French doors to the deck. Double doors open from the living room into the formal dining room, which has dentil crown

molding, wainscoting and a stained-glass chandelier. French doors link the dining room with the deck, a swing door links

the room to the kitchen, and a second set of French doors opens from the dining room into the family room. The family

room has a beamed ceiling, an oversized gas fireplace and French doors opening onto the deck.

At the front of the home is the renovated gourmet kitchen, accessible from the foyer, dining room and family room.

Remodeled in 2010, the kitchen includes sleek black-painted wood cabinets, open shelving, granite counters, ceramic tile

flooring, upgraded stainless steel appliances and an oversized skylight. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and opens

to a breakfast area with windows facing the front courtyard. Adjacent to the kitchen is a powder room with crown molding

and ceramic tile flooring.

Past the kitchen is almost a separate wing of the main level that includes three large rooms with flexible uses. The

first room is being used as a home office and includes a double-door closet plus French doors that open into the sunroom.

The sunroom has ceramic tile flooring, a wall of windows, a free-standing wood stove and a second set of French doors

that open into a card room or sitting room. The sunroom has transoms above all the windows and doors and is currently

used as an exercise room.

An exit to the front of the home allows this space to function well as a home office for people who have visitors to

their office. Alternatively, the area can be used as a playroom or children’s study, an art studio or simply for

additional rooms for entertaining friends and family.

The upper level originally had four bedrooms and easily could be reconfigured to that floor plan. For now, the master

suite includes a separate sitting room with a ceiling fan and a double-door closet, along with a window overlooking the

backyard. The owners will replace the wall between the master bedroom and master sitting room to re-create the fourth

bedroom if the buyers prefer.

The master bedroom has a glass door to a private balcony overlooking the front courtyard. The suite includes a dressing

room with a door to an oversized walk-in closet with built-ins. The luxurious master bath has ceramic tile flooring, a

glass-enclosed shower with a seat and a granite counter on the vanity.

The upper level has two more bedrooms, each with a double-door closet. These bedrooms share a renovated full bath with

ceramic tile flooring. The hall includes a linen closet and a storage closet.

The finished lower level includes a spacious bedroom with two double-door closets and a walk-in closet. This level also

has a recreation room with French doors to the patio, a gas fireplace and plenty of space for a seating area and two

separate game areas. Adjacent to the recreation room is a kitchenette with granite counters, a dishwasher, a wine cooler,

a refrigerator, a microwave and multiple cabinets.

The lower level also has a sauna, a full bath with a deep soaking tub, a cedar closet and an oversized laundry room with

ceramic tile flooring, a sink and cabinets. At the opposite end of this level is a workshop and storage room with French

doors to the patio.

Auburn Adult Education taking registrations

GED classes are offered every Monday and Wednesday at Edward Little High School and Auburn Hall. No appointment is necessary, but call 333-6661 for class times because they vary by location.

High school diploma classes begin Aug. 29; registration is required.

A CNA class is projected to start Sept. 6 and a second is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Medical billing/coding, terminology and CPC begins Sept. 22. Medical transcription certificate program begins Sept. 22. Certified medical administrative assistant begins Sept. 20 and pharmacy technician training certificate program begins Sept. 21. Call today for registration instructions and price.

Adult, child, infant CPR and first aid will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks beginning Sept. 20. This course is presented by the American Red Cross.

Alpaca School, Andes Alpaca Farm, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 17, for session one of four. Get outside and learn about sustainable fiber farming and fiber arts in Maine at four alpaca farms. Participants may attend one or all four sessions.

Applique will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. for six weeks beginning Sept. 1. Learn to applique in three ways.

Ballroom dancing will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. for five weeks beginning Sept. 29. Learn the basics of three popular ballroom dances: foxtrot, waltz and swing. Come with a partner for a fun night out.

Ballroom review will run from 7 to 8 p.m. for five weeks beginning Sept. 29. The class is for those who have taken a basic beginner class in fox trot, waltz and swing and want to brush up or review. New dance steps will be learned as time permits. Partners are required.

Beekeeping: An Introduction, will run from 6 to 8 p.m. for six weeks beginning Sept. 13. Learn about bees, their life in a colony, building a beehive, protective clothing, equipment, hive maintenance, hive management, how to work with bees, diseases and pests.

Cardio fitness boot camp will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for seven weeks beginning Sept. 13. This course is designed for adults at all levels of fitness.

China ceramic tile installation begins Sept. 6 and is held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. for six weeks. Ceramic, marble and granite tile from design and layout to finished projects. Participants will design their own project.

French for beginners, Sept. 21, 7:30-9 p.m. for eight weeks. Open to both absolute beginners and people that have spoken a bit of French in high school or abroad, or who have heard their grandparents speak it.

German new medicine, Sept. 27, 6-8 p.m. This class will present an overview of an entirely different medical model, different from Western medicine and different from alternative medicine as we now know it.

Ghosthunting 101, Thursday, Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m. for eight weeks. Presented by Central Maine Paranormal Investigations.

Intro to hula hoop, Sept. 7, 6-7 p.m. for four weeks. This light-duty class will get your hips moving to learn the basics of hooping and how to incorporate the hula-hoop into your daily exercise routine.

New Blog From Carpet Corner to Answer Tricky Floor Care Challenges

Kansas City, KS (Evans Media Group) August 23, 2011 - From cleaning vinyl, to keeping your Sisal rug as grassy as the day you brought it home. Whitening grout, polishing bamboo flooring or caring for Italian China ceramic tile, a new blog from the flooring experts at Carpet Corner will answer all your questions, share some tips and remedies and help you keep your floor showroom ready.

The new blog at carpetcorneronline.com is just one of many reasons to visit the website run by one of Kansas City’s oldest flooring companies. Carpet Corner is second generation family owned and has been serving customers since 1968. Now six area locations and several hundred thousand yards of carpet later, the blog serves to answer the needs of today’s mobile and connected customer.

The first blog can be seen at with weekly installments expected. Topics may enlighten, amuse or surprise the reader, but will definitely be worth bookmarking for future reference. Carpet Corner has been Tweeting for a year at  but this blog is the first forum providing customer interaction beyond the 140 character limitations of Twitter.

Customers are urged to comment, send tips and personal solutions to their own tricky floor cleaning challenges. For more information, visit the Carpet Corner website, call any one of the six area locations or the corporate offices.

About Carpet Corner: Carpet Corner sells for less because being in business since 1968 means their warehouse is paid for. No overhead costs means lower costs to the customer.

A pair of aces

Convenient to grocery stores, coffee shops, parks, restaurants and transportation, the building at 4366 West Pine Boulevard is in the heart of the Central West End. Both units, A and C, provide off-street, garage parking, a finished lower level, and a monthly condos fee of only $179. That's hard to beat.

Unit A is a totally updated two-bedroom, two full bath condo that has never been lived in. The kitchen comes with solid surface countertops, a cool black under-mounted sink, breakfast bar, and China ceramic tile flooring.

Two nice-sized bedrooms both offer oversized walk-in closets. The huge open great room features a three-pane bow window with window seat and a gas fireplace. The second floor master bedroom suite boasts a private luxury bath.

Oversized double hung thermal windows give this unit a bright, open feel. The finished lower level has a cedar closet and washer dryer hook-ups. Amenities include: six-panel doors, extensive mill work, 6-inch base molding, 9-foot ceiling on first and second floors. The total living space is approximately 1,246 square feet. Unit A list for $219,000.

Intersesting architectural details highlight Unit C, a three-level condo with open loft areas overlooking the main floor.

A huge skylight on the second level pours natural light though an open staircase with stained glass and glass block accents to the main level. The main floor great room, with a wood-burning fireplace, opens to second floor over a half-round balcony, and accesses a large, private deck ideal for entertaining.

Double closets, a private balcony, and a master bath with double sinks highlight the second floor master suite.

A professionally finished lower level offers a rec room, as well as private laundry and storage areas. There's almost 1,600 square feet of living space in this great location, just a short walk to the the CWE with sidewalk cafes, MetroLink, BJC Hospital, or Forest Park with golf, tennis, art museum, zoo, horse back riding, theater and more. Don't miss this one, listed at $189,900.

The condos both enjoy a level rear yard with a privacy fence and a garage with opener for secure parking.

Small home renovations will buy you time until you get the entire budget

It’s a reality of our fragile economy: Many homeowners who dream of the perfect kitchen or master bath are putting full-scale renovation on hold in favor of more limited changes.

“What’s on everyone’s minds is making the space feel and function a little better until you can reach the ultimate kitchen or bath that you want,” says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated home-improvement radio show “Homefront with Danny Lipford.” He says he often hears from listeners planning smaller redecorating projects to tide them over until real renovation fits in their budgets.

But which small projects are worth it if you’re going to remodel the space within just a few years?

Choose projects that offer big change at little cost, or that serve as first steps toward eventual full-scale renovation, says Sabrina Soto, designer and host of HGTV’s new series “The High Low Project.”

Look to the largest surfaces: Lipford suggests making changes to the biggest surfaces in a room, such as countertops or floors. Old laminate countertops can now be painted for less than $50, he says, and the results look surprisingly good. Using a type of paint sold in a kit (Lipford recommends one found at Gianigranite.com), homeowners can paint over the old countertop and then seal it with a coating that mimics the look and solid feel of laminate.

Tanya Memme, host of A&E’s “Sell This House,” agrees that big surfaces are a good place to start. “Any room will look bad if the floors aren’t in decent shape,” she says.

Cover a soon-to-be-replaced wood or tile floor with a colorful new rug, or put down peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. Good quality vinyl tiles resembling granite can cost several hundred dollars if you’re covering a full kitchen floor. But the change is dramatic, so it may be worthwhile even for just a few years of use.

Old China ceramic tile floors and tile walls can get a facelift for just a few dollars if you use grout stain, Lipford says. You can make dingy grout a pristine white again or change it to a new color that contrasts with your old tile.

Memme suggests adding a tile backsplash to a kitchen wall for a burst of new style. Do it yourself to save money. “It might seem difficult to put up tile,” she says, “but actually it’s very easy to do.” Small tiles come on a mesh sheet, so you’re not placing each one.

Another way to bring big change to walls: Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, suggests painting with different textures. Try a faux finish like granite or marble, or buy the same shade of paint in two different finishes – one shiny and one matte – and paint alternating stripes in each.

Shed some light: Installing under-cabinet or over-cabinet lighting probably isn’t wise if you’ll be removing the cabinets in a year or two, Hydeck notes. But a new ceiling light can be installed now and still be used when kitchens or bathrooms are renovated.

Changing window treatments also can change a room’s lighting and bring in fresh color. “Everybody gets used to what’s up on their windows,” Memme says, “because they’ve been living with it. They don’t see the wear and tear.” Remove old blinds or shades and replace them with inexpensive curtains.

Upgrade appliances: Soto suggests phasing in new major appliances ahead of a full kitchen renovation. If need be, they can be relocated elsewhere in the room once the remodeling is done. She also suggests buying new countertop appliances, such as microwaves or toaster ovens, now, with the anticipated redesign of the kitchen in mind.

If you can’t replace appliances now but are craving change, Lipford says appliance paint is available from Rustoleum and other companies. It can give new life to an old refrigerator or dishwasher, and is easy to apply yourself.

Think hard about hardware: Small items such as drawer pulls, electrical switch plates and doorknobs can easily be changed. Swap out old knobs for new door handles, switch from brass to nickel, or bring in jeweled or glass or ceramic pieces for added style.

Faucets also can be changed now and then re-used when you eventually replace the entire sink.

Out with the old: Old glass shower doors can be removed relatively easily and replaced by a stylish fabric shower curtain. Swap out old kitchen chairs with cool, flea-market finds, or recover chair cushions yourself with a few yards of new fabric.

Replace a dated bathroom mirror with an inexpensive framed one, or simply build your own frame with strips of molding.

These projects can give an outdated kitchen or bath enough new life to keep a homeowner happy until true renovation is possible.

Anti-bacterial tiles for the monsoon

The monsoon causes a lot of dampness inside the house and could lead to a sloppy looking wall paper or bad interior finishes, and, when more severe, as blistering of paint and loss of plaster.

Damp walls encourage the growth of molds, which, coupled with high humidity, can lead to health problems for occupants.

Floor and wall tiles are the perfect solution to combat this situation because they offer durability and ensure undamaged colour and texture.


Take the innovative anti-bacterial tiles introduced by Somany Ceramics Ltd. These tiles are not only hygienic but also have ample add-on features making them perfect for your living space.

Manufactured by using anti-bacterial technology which kills germs, these tiles give you a germ-free environment. They significantly cut some of the most polluting agents present in the air and also reduce the odour in the air. By laying the anti-bacterial tiles, one does not need to rely completely on anti-germ cleaners.

This technology will allow the ceramic material to be treated as active principle that boasts of anti-bacterial properties that are able to reduce pollution and nitrogen oxide present in the atmosphere.

According to Abhishek Somany, JMD, Somany Ceramics Ltd., “The anti-bacterial tiles eliminate the risk of live microbial organisms in your space. This tile is an extremely important asset for maintaining the high levels of hygiene; thereby making a substantial contribution in creating a better atmosphere and a cleaner environment.”

These tiles are ideal for various interior applications like homes, hotels, hospitals, departmental store, other residential and commercial complexes.  Commenting further on why these tiles are can be used for interior and exterior environments, he added, “The material used to manufacture is ceramic but the composition in glaze is slightly different and inhibits the growth of bacteria.”

For the problem of humidity, and smells caused by mold on walls, China ceramic tile provide the solution. Tiles with smooth surfaces make cleaning a quick and easy job and consequently helps keep the house squeaky clean.

Make your home germ-resistant this monsoon by choosing anti-bacterial tiles, available in a plethora of designs and shades, you can choose the one which suits your desired space best, be it indoor application or exteriors.

The entire range of Somany anti-bacterial tiles is available at all Somany display centres, exclusive showrooms and dealers’ showrooms across the country. Available in sizes of 300x600, these tiles are comfortably priced at a range of Rs 35 – 45 per sq ft. There are series like Corum, Frost, Idealwood, Cosmos, Folio, consisting of three-four products in each series.

Lowe's Companies' CEO Discusses Q2 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Lowe's Companies Second Quarter 2011 Earnings Conference Call. This call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions]

Statements made during this call will include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's expectations and opinions reflected in those statements are subject to risks, and the company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Those risks are described in the company's earnings release and its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Also during this call, management will be using certain non-GAAP financial measures. You can find a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other information about them posted on Lowe's Investor Relations website under Corporate Information and Investor Documents.

Hosting today's conference will be Mr. Robert Niblock, Chairman, President and CEO; Mr. Bob Gfeller, Executive Vice President of Merchandising; and Mr. Bob Hull, Executive Vice President and CFO.

I will now turn the program over to Mr. Niblock for opening remarks. Please go ahead, sir.

Robert Niblock

Good morning, and thanks for your interest in Lowe's. Following my remarks, Bob Gfeller will review our operational performance, and Bob Hull will review our financial results. But first, let me share a summary of our second quarter performance, as well as how we're thinking about our near-term and long-term opportunities.

Despite some recovery from the first quarter in our seasonal business, our performance for the quarter fell short of our expectations. Sales for the quarter increased 1.3%, while comparable store sales were essentially flat to last year. Comp traffic increased 0.6% in the second quarter and comp average ticket declined 0.9%. Bob Gfeller will provide more details regarding our comp performance in a few minutes.

Gross margin contracted 37 basis points in the quarter. Our 5% off everyday offer for Lowe's consumer credit card holders impacted gross margin by 11 basis points. However, the gross margin impact of this offer was more than offset by leverage in tender and other costs associated with our proprietary credit program, which are components of SG&A. Bob Hull will provide more detail regarding gross margin in a few minutes.

We had good operating expense control in the quarter. However, as detailed in today's release, we recognized a charge associated with impairment of long-lived assets, including 7 stores that closed on August 14, which reduced pretax earnings for the quarter by $83 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.04. We generated substantial operating cash flow during the quarter, which allowed us to repurchase 59.7 million shares or $1.4 billion, exhausting our share repurchase authorization. Including the impairment charge, we delivered earnings per share of $0.64 in the second quarter.

Our second quarter consumer survey indicates that high fuel prices remain at the top of consumers' minds as they consider future spending plans. However, recent headlines regarding slowing growth and the U.S. credit rating downgrade underscored the continued weakness in the U.S. economy. The volume of negative news and the unsettling impact on equity markets is having a significant effect on already fragile consumer mindset.

More specifically with regard to home improvement spending, consumers continue to focus on small ticket, less than $500 repair and maintenance items and projects. Even after taking into account the challenge of the macro environment, we're still not pleased with our performance this year. For both do-it-yourself and commercial business customers, we must drive more trips, close more sales and build bigger baskets. So what are we doing about it?

Earlier this year, I restructured the executive team and together, we are looking at our business with a fresh perspective. We have critically evaluated our performance over the past several quarters and have identified some gaps. The gaps are in addition to convenience of store location, which we discussed in our first quarter earnings call. We have plans in place to address the gaps we've identified, but we also know that there is no silver bullet, and it's going to take time to see the full benefit of these changes. Bob Gfeller will discuss several of our near-term plans to compete more effectively in the current environment. He will also outline ways in which we will go to market differently beginning in the second half of this year.

We also remain focused on cost-efficient and effective operations. The management team is reviewing how we operate on a cross-functional basis to ensure consistent and connected execution, while also evaluating our organizational structure to streamline decision-making and ensuring that we have the right people in the right roles throughout the organization. We're making tough decisions in order to improve profitability, and I'm confident that the team is focused on the right areas and making the necessary decisions within the parameters of our longer-term strategy.

In ceramic tile, we are resetting 25% of every ceramic floor tile set replacing over 100 SKUs. Additionally, with wall tile sales gaining strength, this month, we have added 50 new SKUs across many stores. Why? Customers want more variety in color, style and size of tile as they freshen the look of their homes by completing bath makeovers and small tile accent projects in kitchens.

Now turning to inventory. We ended the quarter with roughly 2% more inventory than last year. We are comfortable with our inventory levels of grills, patio furniture and room air conditioners as we do not expect significant third quarter markdown pressure in connection with second quarter inventory levels.

That completes my review of second quarter performance and some category specific efforts to drive sales in the back half of 2011. Now I would like to more broadly discuss new directions for Lowe's merchandising.

As merchandising looks to attract customers to drive sales and margin dollar growth, we believe that we must present value to the customer every day, and we must differentiate ourselves by providing simple, fresh and innovative ideas and solutions. To the customer, value is price plus something more. It is that simple. So I want to take a moment to discuss how we are reinvigorating our efforts to enhance our price image in the eye of the consumer and to provide the extra something that distinguishes us from our competitors.

Timbers vs. Dynamo: Players to watch

Kenny Cooper: As if a fan in Northeast Portland naming a backyard chicken coop after him wasn't enough, Cooper is gathering fans on the field as well. He broke a 14-game scoreless streak last Saturday against San Jose. In the previous game, against the L.A. Galaxy on Aug. 3, Cooper took six shots and played what coach John Spencer called his best minutes in a Timbers jersey.

Mike Chabala: A fixture in Houston for six years, Chabala has been with Portland for less than a month but already helped the Timbers. The defender/midfielder has started three of four games and struck the first blow in Portland's 3-0 victory over the Galaxy. His theatrical karate chop of a log slice after that score has more than 69,000 hits on YouTube.

Jack Jewsbury: The captain and team leader in goals and assists (six apiece) missed two games with a hamstring injury and is questionable for today. If Jewsbury can't start in his usual midfield position, Peter Lowry -- one of the team's best Twitter follows -- could take his place.

HOUSTON

Carlo Costly: Houston has lacked scoring punch this season and is trying to add it in a bid to make the playoffs. Costly came to the Dynamo most recently via Atlas Guadalajara and played last Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Philadelphia. He has 49 international caps and 20 goals for Honduras.

Luiz Camargo: A less experienced addition came last week, when this midfielder arrived after having most recently played for Parano Clube in his native Brazil from 2009-11. He appeared in 46 games in Brazil's Serie B, scoring one goal.

Geoff Cameron: The midfielder scored his fourth goal of the season last Monday in Philadelphia, giving Houston -- winless on the road this season -- an all-important point. One of three players (the others are Will Bruin and Cam Weaver) who lead the team with four goals.

Man tried to ditch needle after crash

Middle Township Police say a 26-year-old Villas man had his 2-year-old daughter in the car when he lost control and slammed into a parked car at the Grande Center in Rio Grande just after 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 8. Police say he then tried to ditch a syringe and other drug paraphernalia.

Shawn Daily, 26, of the Villas section of Lower Township, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of hypodermic needles, endangering the welfare of a child and a number of motor vehicle violations, according to a press release from Middle Township Police.



Daily allegedly lost control of his vehicle and struck a parked car with enough force to push it across the aisle and into another parked car. According to police, a woman who was a passenger in Daily’s vehicle was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center for minor injuries, but the 2-year-old was not hurt.

Police allege that Daily tried to discard paraphernalia after the crash, but with the help of witnesses officers were able to recover a spoon, a needle and other paraphernalia. Daily was sent to county jail with bail set at $50,000.

Antares Pharma gets positive study results with Vibex MTX in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Antares Pharma, Inc. announced the positive results of a clinical study evaluating Vibex MTX, a proprietary auto injector product designed to give a rapid subcutaneous injection of methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The clinical pharmacokinetic study evaluated several dose strengths of MTX delivered by a healthcare professional to RA patients with Vibex MTX versus subcutaneous or intramuscular injection using a conventional needle and syringe. The primary end points were met with all  three methods of administration providing equivalent performance in the patients studied, together with comparable safety.

Vibex MTX is designed for rapid injection of subcutaneous MTX in three simple steps and is engineered to enable RA patients to self-inject reliably, comfortably, and conveniently at home. Safety for patients is enhanced through the use of an integrated, shielded needle and lockout system which prevents accidental needle-sticks after use. The availability of Vibex MTX could give physicians a new option to optimize both patient treatment and the use of biological agents in RA. Vibex MTX is protected by several issued and pending patents.

Paul K Wotton, president and CEO commented, “I am pleased that we have completed this clinical pharmacokinetic study with positive results and that we remain on track to file a New Drug Application (NDA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. Patient interviews following the studies indicated that the Vibex MTX product was comfortable and easy for patients to use and preferred over a conventional needle and syringe.” Dr Wotton added, “The filing of a new patent application based on findings from the study will potentially fortify our patent portfolio around this product. Moving forward we will continue to focus our efforts on commercializing innovative injectable products designed to improve patient care and provide therapeutic benefits cost effectively.”

Used in an estimated 70 per cent of patients alone and in combination with biological therapies, MTX is a foundational Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) for RA. Generally initiated orally at lower doses and titrated up, published studies have reported as many as 30 per cent to 60 per cent of patients experience gastrointestinal side effects with oral MTX. This can prevent further dose escalation or require discontinuation in some patients which can be avoided by subcutaneous administration.

The extent of oral absorption of MTX varies considerably between patients and has been shown to decline with increasing doses. Studies have also reported that switching patients from oral to parenteral MTX improves absorption providing superior therapeutic response resulting in longer duration of use.

Independent market research commissioned by Antares with 200 rheumatologists has confirmed that physicians, if offered a reliable and patient-friendly method for self-injection, would like to switch many patients to an injectable form of MTX, potentially providing improved absorption, reduced side effects, and a better therapeutic response.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by painful inflammation of the synovial tissues lining the joints. RA generally starts between the ages of 25 and 55 years. Left untreated it often progresses to proliferation of tissues surrounding the joints and destruction of bones and cartilage, which restricts normal movement of the joint. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), RA affects about 1 per cent of the population worldwide, including up to 2.1 million Americans, occurring in women at twice to three times the rate as that in men.

Police: Driver Stabbed with Syringe in Robbery

A driver told Tampa Police that he was robbed Thursday afternoon by two female pedestrians after they approached his vehicle at a red light.

The man was eastbound on Fowler Avenue at 2:25 p.m. and stopped for a red light at 22nd Avenue, according to an incident report. Two women approached on foot asking for cigarettes and change.

The first woman reached into the driver's side window with a knife, stabbing the victim's chin and cutting his cheek, police said. The second woman entered the vehicle, grabbed the man's wallet from the center console and stabbed him in the right side of his torso with a syringe.

The women then ran south on 22nd Street. Police responded to the scene and searched for the suspects but were unable to find them, the report said.

The victim was treated at University Community Hospital and released.

The suspects were described as white women between 30 and 40 years old. The first woman was 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighed 100 pounds and had shoulder-length and wavy, dirty-blonde hair. She had a weathered face and was missing teeth. She also had a tattoo on her right arm and wore a dark shirt and dirty denim shorts. Polic
e did not provide a description of the second woman beyond her age and race.

Awards honor ecofriendly enterprises across valley

Going green is getting easier, and the eight recipients of the Las Vegas Business Press Green Awards have also found it to be a good business move.

Those receiving the awards, at a recent event held at the Springs Preserve, ran the gamut from an environmentally friendly funeral home to a business that finds a way to reuse what can't be recycled.

The fourth annual awards program was highlighted by an unscheduled appearance by Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, who dropped in while in Las Vegas as part of national tour by members of President Barack Obama's Green Cabinet.

Jackson praised efforts such as the Green Awards.

"It will make your local economy stronger, make our air cleaner and make our water cleaner, and water is so important out here in the West," Jackson said. "There is no underestimating a green economy anymore, because the entrepreneurs that do this make our jobs easier."

The organizations and businesses received their Green Awards in front of a crowd of nearly 200 on July 22. The Business Press is a sister publication of the Las Vegas Review-Journal; both are owned by Stephens Media.

Kraft-Sussman Funeral Services was given the Green Award for "Best Green Practices, Resources" for their use of formaldehyde-free embalming and biodegradable caskets.

Founders Wendy Kraft and Laura Sussman said the best reward is being able to comfort the bereaved while preserving the environment.

"For us, not only is it important to help people, but to help the planet," Kraft said.

Sussman said she believes the green practices at Kraft-Sussman Funeral Services are in keeping with the priorities of many of the people's whose arrangements they handle.

"Especially for those who plan (the funeral) in advance, if they've always practiced conservation, this gives them the chance to go all the way," she said.

Vegas PBS took home the award for "Best Green Practice, Building" for its construction of the Vegas PBS Educational Technology Campus. The city of Henderson's Heritage Park Aquatic Complex, which uses a geothermal heat pump system, was named "Best Green Owner."

The Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas, which modernized all its locations with heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, nabbed the "Best Green Nonprofit" award.

Vegas PBS general manager Tom Axtell said going green is no longer just a noble gesture -- sustainability also helps the bottom line.

"In addition to lower energy costs, we have experienced fewer sick days and have a strong sense of employee satisfaction with their work environment," he said.

Debra March, a Henderson city councilwoman, was involved with making Heritage Park Aquatic Complex a strong contender for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification. She said the benefits of conservation go beyond a prize.

"Everyone was a winner today because we are all moving forward, all 270,000 residents of Henderson," March said.Our syringe needle was down for about an hour and a half,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor. "We are very proud, as a city, of our green and sustainable practices."

Award recipients also included the U.there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach.S. Green Building Council's Nevada chapter, which was named "Best Green Advocate." Handbag designer Stella Vittorio Collection was honored with "Best Green Practices, Products" for use of recycled materials.

Repurpose America, which finds new uses for materials that cannot be recycled, was awarded "Best Green Practices, Environmental," while the American Patriot Solar Community won "Best Green Marketing Campaign."

Zachary Delbex, the founder of Repurpose America, said he hopes his Green Award will bring notoriety to his 4-year-old Las Vegas company.

"We've been under the radar, but I think now the community will know of our efforts," he said.

The young company was asked to help the city of Chicago prepare for its bid to host the Olympics a few years ago.where he teaches TMJ in the Central Academy of Fine Arts. But Repurpose America was still too small to take on the Windy City job, Delbex said.

Delbex, who invested much of his own savings to start Repurpose America, said he was very excited after learning his company was a finalist in Green Awards.

"I have just been riding a wave since I found out, and I still am," Delbex said just before receiving his award.

Bob Brown, the publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Business Press, said the publications take recycling to heart, too.

"People look at newspapers as 'tree killers,' but we use 100 percent recycled paper," Brown said,the Hemroids by special invited artist for 2011, while praising everyone's environmental efforts. "At the end of the day, the world is a better place."

Student Union director Mitch Kilcrease doesn't seem worried

With a little less than a month left until school starts at Oklahoma State University, much of the Student Union is still a construction zone.


But Student Union director Mitch Kilcrease doesn't seem worried.

Kilcrease said he expects the bookstore, university store, most food vendors, retailers and the campus life department will be open by Aug. 22 when the fall semester begins.

Textbooks will remain in Utoo, temporary buildings currently housing some student union services.

Work will finish from the bottom up, with the bookstore and businesses located in the basement to be finished first. Then, the first floor with the university store and food vendors will be completed next,the Hemroids by special invited artist for 2011, along with the second floor that will house Campus Life.

The rest of the almost $63 million student union project, which includes offices and meeting rooms on the third and fourth floors, as well as the plaza between the Union and Classroom Building, will be completed by mid-to-late fall.

Renovation of the grand ballroom and west porch was recently approved, and work is expected to begin in December and finish in the spring, bringing the total cost for the Student Union renovations to about $65 million, Kilcrease said.

The project is being paid for with student fees, funds from businesses in the Student Union and fundraising.

The renovation and construction added about 38,000 square feet to the building, once called the largest student union in the world.

It's a distinction Kilcrease and other university administrators continue to argue.

"We are one of the largest, if not the largest,An Cold Sore of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. but we're the most comprehensive," he said, remarking on the number of services offered under the Student Union's roof. "1.5 million go through our doors each year. This building touches every past, present and future student's life.who was responsible for tracking down Charles RUBBER MATS . I don't know if any other building on campus can say that."

Students had a big impact on the renovation, Kilcrease said, with student representation on the steering committee and interior design teams, as well as architecture, engineering and landscape architecture students getting real-world experience working on designs and plans for the building and plaza.

One aspect of the renovation most people will never see is the new mechanical infrastructure that was replaced for the first time since the building was constructed more than 60 years ago.

Kilcrease said every system in the building, including plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, was replaced,he led PayPal to open its platform to Cable Ties developers. and the student union is now certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and will save the university thousands of dollars each month.

Work is progressing now that those mechanical systems have been replaced, and the pace of work being done is impressive, Kilcrease said.

"This was originally scheduled to be a 2 1/2-year project. We knocked a year off it and saved millions of dollars," he said, noting it's been a logistical challenge. "I call it my giant Jenga puzzle."

The bookstore, university store, food court and post office were relocated to Utoo, and campus life was relocated to the basement of the Classroom Building.

The challenge now will be moving all those entities back into the building.

"It's like moving a small city," said Carrie Hulsey-Greene, associate director of communications.

Because of the size limitations, seating was set up outside Utoo and has been a popular addition for students, Hulsey-Greene said.

"That area... has really set people up for what's going to happen here in the plaza," she said.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose .

The plaza, which will be completed in phases until mid-to-late fall, will have outdoor seating and an amphitheater.

Students and staff have been patient during construction and are eager to start operating again.

"We have a great group of people both in this building and on campus," Kilcrease said. "We have a very forgivable campus, a very understanding campus. The gratifying part for me will be the students. It's the Student Union. It's their building. It will be cool to see how the space will work for them."

Canadian Solar Inc. Enters India Solar Market

Though the dollar amount of the transaction was not released, Canadian Solar said that it will deliver the solar modules in the third and fourth quarter of 2011. Cirus, which is backed by Indian energy giant Indu Group, will employ the solar panels in three solar farms: a 20 MW plant and two government sponsored solar parks in Gujarat, India with generating capacity's of 8 MW and 5 MW respectively.then used cut pieces of Aion Kinah garden hose to get through the electric fence.

With this sales agreement Canadian Solar touches down in India, tapping what is expected to be one of the hottest solar markets in the world. The Ontario-based company, already one of the largest solar module manufacturers in the world, is following competitor First Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) to enter a market poised to errupt.

Last month,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im) said it will provide a US$16 million loan to Azure Power Rajasthan Pvt.They take the plastic card to the local co-op market. Ltd. in New Delhi to purchase solar modules from Arizona-based First Solar. Ex-Im expects India to be its largest market in 2012.An Cold Sore of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby.

In January 2010 the Indian government launched the National Solar Mission which sets solar installation targets of 20,000 MW by 2022. The Solar Mission is part of India's plan to add 35 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2015.

"We are very pleased to initiate a business relationship with Cirus Solar Systems to participate in the development of the solar energy market in India," said Dr. Shawn Qu, Canadian Solar's Chairman and CEO.

He added,who was responsible for tracking down Charles RUBBER MATS . "We believe India has the potential to become one of the largest solar markets in the world and we expect it will make a meaningful contribution to the growth of our business in the quarters ahead."

IKEA Buys Scottish Wind Farm

IKEA UK has purchased a wind farm in Scotland and is planning to install 39,000 solar panels on the roofs of its stores, as it strives to get all of its power from renewable sources.

The 12.An Cold Sore of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby.3 MW wind farm (pictured) in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, north Scotland, consists of seven turbines, each generating 1.75MW. The farm can produce 24,700,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of five IKEA stores, or 30 percent of the company's total electricity consumption in the UK,They take the plastic card to the local co-op market. according to IKEA.

This is the first wind farm purchased by IKEA UK. The acquisition has increased the total number of wind turbines owned by the IKEA Group worldwide to 67.

The company is also investing close to 4 million ($6.5 million) in fitting over 39,000 photovoltaic panels to the rooftops of 10 IKEA stores. This will provide, on average, five percent of each store's electricity needs.

In total, 31,000m2 of roof space will be covered by solar panels, which will generate around 1,600,000 kWh per year, enough to power 492 homes.who was responsible for tracking down Charles RUBBER MATS .

The panels are designed to operate effectively for 25 years. IKEA UK says that the solar panels will reduce its CO2 consumption on average by 662 tonnes per year during this first 25 years of the installations' operation.

IKEA UK aims for all installation work to be complete by March 2012.

The measures form part of the company's global 'IKEA Goes Renewable' project ¨C a long-term goal for the furniture retailer to get all its energy from renewable sources. The windfarm and solar panels combined will allow the company to offset on average more than 10,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, IKEA says.

The solar panel initiative follows news that installing energy efficient measures has helped the home furnishings company reduce energy consumption by 19 percent. Since 2005 the company has opened six new UK stores with only a 10 percent increase in the combined energy use of all their UK stores, IKEA says.

"As part of our global 'IKEA Goes Renewable' program, we are committed to heavily investing in making IKEA buildings more energy efficient and use more renewable energy," said Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer,then used cut pieces of Aion Kinah garden hose to get through the electric fence. IKEA Group. "For example, our most recently built [British Isles]-based stores in Coventry, Southampton and Dublin have been designed to incorporate measures that will have a major impact on these areas, including geothermal heating and cooling systems,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . biomass boilers and improved insulation."