Market Ready

A large walk-in shower could be a selling feature, but the answer really depends on your home’s size and the existing features.

“I see people wrestle with this question regularly,” said Michael Shapot, a senior vice president with the New York office of Keller Williams Realty. “The industry trend is to have walk-in spa showers.” However, he said, “There are people out there who need bathtubs.”

If you plan on renovating only one bathroom, and there is at least one bathtub somewhere else in the home, then “go for it,” Mr. Shapot said. But if you’re contemplating replacing your only tub, you should carefully consider the types of buyers who might be interested in your property.

“If the target market is empty nesters or the elderly, a walk-in shower is great,” Mr. Shapot said. A large luxury shower would also appeal to many single professionals.

“But if it’s a family-sized apartment that would appeal to a young couple that could grow into the apartment and have a child there — like a convertible two-bedroom — you need a tub.”

Robin Elmslie Osler, an architect in New York, said that her residential clients frequently request large walk-in showers. “I think it’s because the idea of taking a bath, in urban areas, carries a connotation of leisure and time,” she said. “And it doesn’t seem like that is something that New Yorkers, in particular, have much of.”

Bathrooms in urban apartments are also often quite cramped, she added, and a generously sized shower can be more appealing than a tiny bathtub — one of the reasons Ms. Osler hopes to replace her own tub with a shower someday soon.

If you do decide to convert your tub into a shower, she recommends using a glass panel to separate the shower stall from the rest of the bathroom, rather than a solid tiled wall. “If the shower is located somewhere near the window, and it’s glass, you can bring the light in,” she said. “We’ve used a lot of translucent glass, but I think clear glass is also a really nice way to go.”

To create an even greater sense of openness, she suggests forgoing a shower door — unless you plan on adding a steam generator or body sprays — and leave an opening at one end of the glass panel, which “visually extends the space of the bathroom.”

For a seamless look, she also recommends using the same type of flooring you have in the shower in the rest of the bathroom, whether it’s concrete, stone or ceramic tile.

The shower can then be finished off with high-quality fittings (Ms. Osler prefers Dornbracht controls for modern or traditional bathrooms), and maybe a rain showerhead, “if there’s enough water pressure in the building.”

Bardane villa model opens in La Caille at Quail West

McGarvey Custom Homes' Bardane villa model is now open and available for immediate purchase in the La Caille neighborhood of Quail West, the 1,180-acre master-planned private golf course community in North Naples.

The two-story great room floor plan offers 3,788 square feet under air and includes an oval-shaped foyer, four bedrooms, a study, staircase that leads up to the loft, three-and-a-half baths, a gourmet kitchen, a free-form pool, spa and landscaped pool deck and a covered outdoor living area.

The model includes an optional outdoor kitchen and fireplace as well as an optional wine cooler in the kitchen. The master suite has a sitting area that opens to the outdoor living area and offers golf course and water views.

The Bardane's interior was designed and executed by Tina Margrander, ASID, NCIDQ of KVS Interior Design.

Margrander's classic-transitional design style features a color palette that includes light, creamy backgrounds with pops of chocolate browns and aqua blues as well as gold and white contrasts. Tropical style art selections, including a piece by Quail West resident Carol Weber, brings additional color to the setting. A combination of classic and cleanlined furnishings mixes wood tones with painted pieces.

Ceramic tile floors, crown molding, distinctive ceiling treatments and other elegant features and finishes are found throughout the Bardane. The kitchen includes raised panel wood cabinetry, granite countertops, under-cabinet accent lighting and a Bosch stainless steel appliance package. Granite countertops are also found in the master bath along with his-and-her vanities, a tiled walk-in shower, a separate tub and his-and-her walk-in closets with built-in cabinets. The two second-floor guest suites include separate private baths.

The fully-furnished Bardane residence is priced at $1.536 million. The unfurnished Bardane floor plan is base priced at $1.195 million.

The Bardane is one of six La Caille single family villa floor plans at Quail West. Two additional models are under construction and nearing completion.

The 3,546-square-foot under air Florencia model is a courtyard home that is ideal for Southwest Florida's outdoor lifestyle. The fully furnished Florencia villa model is priced at $1.516 million, with options. The unfurnished Florencia floor plan is currently base priced at $1.215 million,

A third villa model under construction, the Avarone, is the first model to be built in La Caille Phase II. The 3,237-square-foot under air floor plan features a tower entry over a grand foyer that opens to the great room. The fully-furnished model with optional features is priced at $1.341 million. The floor plan is base priced at $1.04 million.

McGarvey Custom Homes' six La Caille floor plans range from 2,700 to 3,600 square feet and are priced from $895,000 to $1.589 million. A variety of layouts include single-story residences, two-story homes with balconies and terraces, and a courtyard design with a outdoor living area and cabana.

"The La Caille villas are a perfect selection for luxury homebuyers who are seeking a modestly sized single-family home that provides a maintenance-free and prestigious country club lifestyle," said McGarvey Custom Homes' Jim Hamilton. "We have designed and executed our villa residences to meet the expectations of sophisticated luxury buyers. The villa sales we've experienced to date at Quail West are an excellent measure of the degree to which we have met those expectations."

Three additional fully-furnished La Caille villa models are currently available for viewing.

The recently completed Cadera model is a great room design with 2,702 square feet under air, three bedrooms, a den, three-and-a-half baths, a tower entry, wet bar and an outdoor living area with a free-form pool, spa, landscaped pool deck, fireplace and outdoor kitchen. The interior was designed and executed by Faith Fix, ASID of Freestyle Interiors. Stone floors, crown molding and other features and finishes are found throughout the home.

The Cadera model is priced at $1,139,500 fully-furnished. The unfurnished Cadera floor plan is base priced at $895,000.

The Cipriani villa model features 2,965 square feet under air, three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a study. A gated entry opens to the courtyard, a space that serves as an entrance and an outdoor living area. The tropical style interior was created by Edgar and Tiffany West The unfurnished Cipriani base floor plan is priced at $1.035 million.

The Domani villa model is a two-story residence with 3,612 square feet under air, three bedrooms, a study, three-and-a-half baths, an optional pool bath, two-and-a-half car garage, verandas on both levels and an outdoor living area. The interior was designed by KVS Interior Design's Kelli Sultan, ASID, NCIDQ. Her eclectic, traditional theme caters to comfort and ease as indicated by the see-through views of the pool, lake and golf course from the foyer. The unfurnished Domani floor plan is base priced at $1.23 million.

Quail West's featured builders include Castle Harbour Homes, Diamond Custom Homes, Florida Lifestyle Homes of Fort Myers, Imperial Homes of Southwest Florida, London Bay Homes, McGarvey Custom Homes, Robert D'Angelo Jr. Construction Company and Stock Construction.

In addition to the La Caille Villas, Quail West's mix of single-family luxury homes includes 4,500-square-foot and larger custom estate residences priced starting at $2 million and the Tamworth Collection, 24 floor plans and models ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 square feet.

The Club at Quail West is a member-controlled, debt-free club. The club's two 18-hole golf courses were designed by Arthur Hills. The club also offers a full-service spa and beauty salon, fitness center and a lagoon-style solarium pool. Tennis enthusiasts enjoy eight lighted red-clay, Hydro-Grid tennis courts. The Quail on the Beach Club provides right to use beach access and dining privileges at the facility. Quail West will be shared by 600 members.

Violations mar Chinatown apartment

Yet another Chinatown building has been hit with a slew of violations — ranging from rodents, leaks in ceilings and toilets to broken windows and floor tiles — and more residents could be on the streets as new inspections have found possible structural problems, the Herald has learned.

Records show the city’s Inspectional Services Department stormed into 15 Beach St. on Feb. 7 and found dozens of violations, including broken lights, faulty hot-water heaters, ceiling leaks, broken bathroom fixtures and malfunctioning windows. Meanwhile, residents have complained of pests.

“There are a number of problems with the building,” said Mark Liu, deputy director of the Chinatown Progressive Association. “It has really old windows. There’s a rodent problem. Leaky ceilings.”

The building owner, Chinagate Housing Associates, has repaired some problems but new inspections revealed cracks in the foundation that threaten the stability of the building, records show.

The “substandard” condition of the building threatens the removal of more Chinatown residents and has led the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to take steps to terminate its contract with Chinagate, Liu said.

“There could be a structural issue that could make it unsafe for the tenants,” Liu said.

Attempts to reach a Chinagate manager yesterday were unsuccessful.

The problems at 15 Beach St. come just days after the city evacuated a run-down rooming house at 25 Harrison Ave. that was littered with code violations, including broken fire escapes, poor ventilation, no fire alarms and structural problems. The building’s 49 residents were removed and put up in shelters or public housing in South Boston.

City Councilor Bill Linehan, who represents Chinatown, called for a crackdown on slumlords.

“If these sort of things are popping up around Chinatown, then we certainly have to be more vigilant,” Linehan said. “We have to stand by the residents and make sure all landlords are compliant.”

Many of the displaced residents, as well as those from 15 Beach St., spoke yesterday about the devastating impact of the housing woes. Many don’t speak English and are worried about being forced out of Chinatown for good.

Maple Zou, a Chinese interpreter, said of one elderly couple displaced from the Harrison Avenue building: “Neither she nor her husband speak the (English) language. They want to move back into the building or somewhere nearby.”

More than 1,000 new luxury units are under construction in Chinatown and Liu fears working-class residents are being forced out by gentrification.

“What we want to figure out with the city ... is how do we keep those units in the community in good condition and still affordable for folks?” Liu said.

NSF International offering environmental certification

NSF International, an independent global organization that writes public health standards and certifies products for food, water and consumer goods, now offers Green Squared Certification for sustainable ceramic tiles, glass tiles and installation materials.

NSF’s Sustainability division is a leading developer of sustainable standards and certification programs for building and furnishing products such as furniture, wallcoverings, and furnishing fabrics, carpets and flooring.

Developed by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), Green Squared certification provides accurate, third-party verified information on the environmental impacts of certified tile products.

Green Squared certification through NSF Sustainability helps manufacturers and suppliers of tiles and installation materials distinguish their products from competitors, earn preferred vendor status by environmentally-minded consumers and companies, and demonstrate compliance to state and federal purchasing requirements.

The NSF certification process includes a comprehensive documentation review and onsite facility audit to verify conformance to the standard upon which the Green Squared certification program is based -- ANSI A138.1 American National Standard Specifications for Sustainable Ceramic Tiles, Glass Tiles and Tile Installation Materials.

This consensus-based standard requires an evaluation of products in five categories of performance: product characteristics, manufacturing, corporate governance, innovation, and end-of-life.

“Green Squared provides a standard of excellence in sustainability for the entire industry as it covers not just tile products but also the materials required for their installation,” says Bill Griese, TCNA standards development and green initiative manager. “We are pleased that the certification bodies we have participating in Green Squared are leaders in the realm of developing sustainability standards and certification programs for interior furnishing products, and these organizations have the expertise and industry experience necessary to provide high quality certifications under the Green Squared program.”

Tiles covered by the Green Squared program may include mosaic, quarry, pressed floor, glazed wall, porcelain, specialty, cast glass, fused glass, and low-temperature coated glass tiles.

Installation materials may include mortar adhesives, mastic adhesives, reactive resin adhesives, grouts, tile backer units, crack isolation membranes, waterproofing membranes, water containment membranes, and sound reduction membranes.

Shaw Achieves LEED Gold Certification for Georgia Facility

Shaw Industries Group, Inc. today announced it has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for Plant 95, an administrative facility on its corporate campus in Dalton.

Plant 95 is the first building in Dalton to achieve certification under the LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system, and the second Shaw facility to achieve LEED certification. The 32,335 square foot facility was previously first privately owned building in Dalton to achieve the US EPA Energy Star rating.

“The social and environmental responsibility of all our facilities is a fundamental part of our commitment to sustainability. We are continually assessing the infrastructure and processes at all our facilities to find new ways to increase water and energy efficiency, and to reduce the overall impact of our buildings,” Shaw Corporate Facilities Director Jason Bowling said. “Plant 95 is a great example of this commitment – our consistent investment in improving the environmental responsibility of this facility made LEED certification a logical next step.”

According to Bowling, the high level of energy efficiency that helped the building garner Energy Star also made a significant contribution towards the building’s LEED rating. Shaw Corporate Facilities Manager Rhonda Allen, one of the project leaders, agreed. “Thanks to the building’s already high efficiency, achieving LEED certification did not require extensive capital investment; instead, we simply had to work with USGBC to provide the appropriate documentation and tracking for the work we had already done,” Allen said.

In addition to energy efficiency, the building scored very highly in several other areas of the rating system, including water efficiency, water efficient landscaping, environmentally responsible sourcing and purchasing, green cleaning, waste reduction and recycling, and lighting, according to Allen.

“Plant 95 is now serving as a model for moving other Shaw facilities towards the LEED standard,” she said.

“Sustainable organizations require sustainable facilities,” said Shaw Vice President of Sustainability Paul Murray. “Achieving LEED certification for our key buildings is one of the many ways we are working to ensure we’re upholding the most rigorous standards for environmental efficiency in all facets of our business – from product to manufacturing to our physical infrastructure.”

Shaw’s Patcraft brand achieved LEED Gold certification for its Chicago showroom in early 2010, and several other Shaw facilities are currently at some stage of the LEED certification process, including two additional facilities in Dalton and the Shaw Contract Group showroom in Shanghai, Murray said.

Shaw Industries, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world's largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $4 billion in annual sales and approximately 24,000 associates. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications worldwide.

What to know about what is overhead

The roof on a house is the first line of defense homeowners have against the elements. A damaged roof will experience leaks, which can lead to a number of problems beyond the obvious water pouring through the ceiling.

Rotting wood, cracked and peeling paint, mold and electrical shorts are just a handful of the potential disasters that could lie ahead. Keeping up with a roof and making sure it stays in good condition can be a chore. To keep it in pristine condition, it is important to know how to maintain a roof, the signs of damage and the various types of roofing available:

- Fiberglass-based asphalt shingles are probably the most common in use today. Although durable, extensive exposure to heat, cold and moisture can take a toll. Signs that indicate repair may be in order include cracked shingles, a loss of granules on the shingles themselves, granules piling up in gutters and shingles with curling edges. The average life expectancy is somewhere between 15 to 30 years for this type of roof. More often than not, repairs usually call for an entire roof replacement.

- Cedar shingle or shake roofs are most often made from split Western red cedar logs. You can expect a good 40 years out of this type of roof, and replacing individual shakes or sections due to individual shingle damage is fairly simple and inexpensive.

- Limestone, sandstone, slate, fired clay and ceramic tile roofs are less common than asphalt shingle roofs, but tend to last longer generally the lifetime of the house. Heat and sun can leave them dry, and they will crack easily when stepped on, resulting in water seepage. However, repairing them can be a relatively easy job: If only one or two tiles are broken or cracked, that's all that needs to be replaced.

- Today's metal roofs are nothing like the old-style "tin roofs," as they were usually called, that were commonly found on farmhouses of the early 20th century. Laid directly over spaced beams, they did allow for the beloved sound of rain patter, but provided next to nothing in terms of insulation and tended to rust quickly. Modern metal roofs are light weight and durable, resistant to fire, wind and hail, and come in a variety of attractive colors. They are expensive (about three times that of an asphalt shingle roof) but can last as long as 100 years or more with little or no maintenance.

- A sod or dirt roof tends to be a rarity in the U.S., although interest in green technology has spawned somewhat of a comeback. They are more complicated to install, but they are the least expensive of just about any type of roof in existence. Comprised of sod overlaid on multiple layers of birch bark, they tend to last about 30 years.

Regardless of what kind of roof you have, here are a few general rules to keep in mind:

- Build-ups of leaves, snow and water can add extra weight to a structure, causing significant damage or even collapse.

- Working on or near a roof line can be dangerous. If you suspect roof damage, check it out from the ground with a pair of binoculars.

- Clogged gutters and damaged flashing only spell trouble. Make sure they're always kept in perfect condition.

When the time comes to have a roof repaired, avoid potential disaster. An inexperienced do-it-yourselfer can end up with broken bones or even worse from unexpected falls. An experienced team of bonded and licensed professionals can handle the job quickly and efficiently, with no danger to the homeowner.

Most Music City Center contract money goes out of state

More than 85 cents of every dollar being spent on the Music City Center construction job is going out of Middle Tennessee, with out-of-state firms winning the six largest contracts.

But project leaders say two-thirds of the money has wound up back in the region’s economy as subcontractors have hired hundreds of local firms to help them do the work while buying much of their material here, as well.

“Sixty-six percent of every dollar we spend ends up coming back,” senior project manager Larry Atema said at a convention center authority meeting Thursday. “You can’t buy air handlers here. But you can buy concrete.”

After the new convention hall was sold to the public and the Metro Council as a local economic stimulus, questions arose early in the project about 90 percent of the construction money being awarded to out-of-state companies. Newer data show the percentages haven’t changed much over the past year.

A procurement log indicates that more than 93 percent of the approximately $350 million that will be awarded for construction items or packages has now been spent. Of the $326.7 million awarded to date, just $48.2 million has gone to Middle Tennessee-based subcontractors. (An additional $10.8 million has been awarded to two Memphis companies.)

A slight majority of the 42 contracts awarded so far have gone to Middle Tennessee firms: 21 in Nashville and one in Spring Hill. But the largest of those awards has been $11.6 million to Acousti Engineering for ceiling work, while six larger contracts, each worth $17 million to $51.9 million, have gone to companies from Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and Missouri. Those top half-dozen contracts account for more than$210 million by themselves.

Elbert Holbert, business manager for the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association’s Local 909, said the numbers are disturbing. He said his union’s members haven’t been able to get work laying concrete for the 1.2-million-square-foot, $585 million facility, the biggest construction project Nashville has ever seen.

Ceco, a St. Louis-based company, won a $42.5 million structural concrete contract from Bell/Clark, the project’s general contractor.

“We didn’t get any of it,” Holbert said. “I’ve got men who haven’t worked for three years.”

Metro Councilman Robert Duvall, who voted against the project 20 months ago, said he’s disappointed that more of the money isn’t staying in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

“If they say 66 percent is coming back, that’s better than 15 percent,” Duvall said. “But I’d rather it be much, much higher than that. I think taxpayers would prefer that more of the money stay with our friends and neighbors.”

But Atema and others working on the project say the big contract numbers are misleading.

Holly McCall, the convention center authority’s spokeswoman, said there were no local bidders for the painting, ceramic tile, millwork and window washing jobs, which are worth more than $11 million combined. The only Tennessee bidder for the $39.5 million structural steel job was from Knoxville.

“There aren’t a lot of companies that do some of this stuff,” McCall said. “Nashville is not a known center of steel production work.”

But much of the money in the steel contract has still trickled down to Middle Tennessee. The local ironworkers union has worked with a Minnesota steel erection firm, which is working, in turn, with Indianapolis-based Lenex Steel Co., which won the steel fabrication job.

Also, subcontractors and the companies they contract with are required to post bonds as insurance against the possibility that they won’t complete the work. Some of them simply don’t have the financial wherewithal to put up the amounts needed for the work that has to be done, officials said.

“Sometimes it’s just the nature of the beast as to what they can financially support,” said Patrick Holcombe, a project manager for the convention center authority.

Holcombe said several factors go into choosing the best firm for a particular job. They include cost, the time it will take to do the work, bonding capacity, projected local participation and use of minority-owned businesses.

“We don’t always have the luxury of picking the local guy,” he said.

Holcombe provided a list of 317 local firms working with each of the prime subcontractors, including about 75 associated with Ceco, the structural concrete subcontractor. Ceco expects to spend 84 percent of its $42.5 million contract on local materials, labor and equipment, according to the procurement log.

Julian Wilson And Jordy Smith In South Africa | Surfing

Following the Australian's win at the Quicksilver Pro Portugal, Wilson cut some fine lines in the pristine tubes rolling in and placed an impressive joint third. He lost out to only John John Florence in the semi-finals, who eventually finished second to California's Patrick Gudauskas in the final.

'I’m definitely happy with my result,' said Wilson after his semi-final. 'That little bit of wind came up and it was hard to come out of the barrel. John John was by far the standout of this whole contest and that was pretty much like surfing a final. He’s the one to beat at this event for sure and I hope he goes all the way.'

Wilson moves up to 16 in the ASP world rankings with his finish.

Defending Mr Pro Price champion Jordy Smith (above), riding home surf, also finished  joint third. He climbs from world number five to world number two in the ASP world rankings.

'It was a bunch of fun but it’s just a pity there weren’t any waves in that heat,' said Smith afterwards. 'You win some and you lose some and it’s still a great result that I will be looking to take into the next event in Jeffreys Bay.'

Waves softball teams all finish second

All three Half Moon Bay Wave softball teams finished second in their respective age divisions at the Salinas Tournament, held over the weekend.

The 16-and-under team fell to San Carlos, 10-4, in the title game.

The Waves scored all of their runs in the sixth inning. Abbey Donovan knocked in one run with a triple. She scored moments later on Katie Carlevaris' single.

The Waves made it to the finals with a 3-2 win over Fremont. Fremont entered the game undefeated, including an 8-3 win over Half Moon Bay at the start of pool play Saturday. Harlee Donovan's run-scoring triple scored Carlevaris with the game-winning run.

Morgan Jones picked up the win. She retired the final five batters to get the win.

Half Moon Bay rolled San Jose, 10-2, in the quarterfinals.

Lead-off hitter Chandra Anderson was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Stevie Hallgren singled twice and scored three runs.

Harlee Donovan hit a three-run homer. Cassidy Brazil doubled. Monica DiMartino scored twice.

Half Moon Bay went 1-2 in pool play. Its lone win was a 4-2 win over Cabrillo in the final pool game Saturday night. The Waves picked up three hits, but took advantage of five errors and two walks.

Half Moon Bay was limited to three hits in a 9-3 loss to Carmel. In the loss to Fremont, Harlee Donovan collected two hits, including a triple, and scored.

12 Waves

Scotts Valley rallied for two runs in the seventh to beat the Waves, 8-7, in the title game.

Madison Rice paced the offense. She scored and drove in a run.

Allyson Sarabia singled and drove in two runs. Angela Brazil collected two hits, including a triple, and scored three runs. Olivia Hedding singled and scored twice.

Half Moon Bay knocked off Hollister in the semifinals, 7-3. Hedding paced the Waves with two hits. She scored along with Sarabia, Rice, Alexis Gonzalez, Willow Gelphman, Sophia Padua and Brigitte Canty. Padua keyed the five-run rally in the fourth with a two-run single.

Half Moon Bay powered past the Renegades, 10-3, in the quarterfinals.

Brazil was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Canty and Sarabia each collected two hits, with Sarabia driving in two runs. Carolyn Inglis scored twice.

Half Moon Bay went 1-0-1 in pool play. The Waves knocked off Spirit of Morgan Hill, 9-3. Brazil was once again 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Hedding and Sarabia both went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Sarabia tripled twice.

Half Moon Bay concluded pool play with a 6-6 tie with Cabrillo.

Gelphman got two of Half Moon Bay's nine hits. Grace Falvey hit a run-scoring triple. She scored on an infield out by Brazil. Sarabia added a two-run triple.

10 Waves

Half Moon Bay's offense was in evidence until a 2-0 loss to Quicksilver in the title game.

The Waves were limited to a base runner in that game.

In the first four games of the tournament, Half Moon Bay had 38 hits.

Half Moon Bay picked up nine hits in a 10-0 win over the Chaos. Winning pitcher Grace Garcia helped her own cause with two hits, including a home run. Kathryn Caravalho added two hits. Lily Moffitt doubled. Garcia fired a no-hitter, striking out nine and walking one.

The Waves biggest explosion came in the quarterfinals, where they pounded out 14 hits and their way to a 16-0 win over Hollister.

Garcia picked up three hits with Myranda Rivera, Marissa Terra and Riley Donovan each getting two hits. Terra homered and doubled, Riley also doubled, as did Jerika D'Acquisto.

Garcia threw a non-hitter, striking out seven, while walking two and hitting a batter. Garcia caught a pop and threw to Caravalho at first for a double play.

Pool play began with an 11-1 win over the Pleasant on Phantom. Donovan paced the offense with two hits.

That was followed by a 7-2 win over the Chaos. Terra, Garcia and Moffitt combined to get seven of Half Moon Bay's nine hits.

Science specialist a winner

Debby West, Oak Park Unified School District’s science specialist, will be honored at the Friends of Oak Park Schools Education Foundation’s “Friends Play Together” game night.

West led a team of Medea Creek Middle School and Oak Park High School students to victory in two science competitions earlier this year—the Ventura County Idea to Impact Challenge and the USC/Quicksilver QuikSCience program.

Oak Park teams won first place in both school divisions. An Oak Park High School team entered a project called “A is for Algae,” which focused on learning about marine algae and growing a potential biofuel.

Team members for the QuikSCience competition were Michael Ebert, Steffan Kim, Nirupam Nigam, Avyay Panchapakesan, Vivian Rotenstein, Amos Too and Tiffany Wu.

First place in the high school division for the Idea to Impact Challenge was awarded to an Oak Park High School team project called “The Whale.”

The project looked at ships that strike and kill whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and threats to whales around the world. The team raised $1,500 for the American Cetacean Society by selling ceramics made at the OPHS lab, conducting bake sales at elementary schools and through other activities.

Rebecca Gordon, Kathleen McGeegan, Kayla Sadwick, Sam Hirsch, Justin Orens and Jacob Wyner competed in the high school Idea to Impact project.

Medea Creek Middle School students in the Idea to Impact competition also won first place for their project “Paper or Plastic? Neither!” The team examined the hazards on the marine environment associated with plastic bags and how people should use to reusable bags.

Middle school team members honored were Jessica Ji, Yael Karoly, Katherine Kim, Paula Martin, Irena Yang and Jianna Zeolla.

Other Oak Park middle and high school teams won honorable mentions in both competitions. Members of the 14 teams gave lessons to other students, which engaged more than 1,500 students in Oak Park schools. All teams also performed community service related to their projects.

Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Tony Knight expressed gratitude to West and to Friends of Oak Park Schools for funding the science specialist position and supporting science education in Oak Park.