Police say a Jessamine County burglary suspect who likely hurt himself after falling through the ceiling of a pawn shop early Monday has been arrested, and police say he is the same man who went through the ceiling to burglarize a Lexington business earlier this year.
Officers responded to a burglar alarm at Sam's Check Cashing and Pawn Shop on Lexington Road around 1 a.m. Monday. They say they found a hole in the building roof and a mess inside. Police say infrared surveillance video revealed a man, now identified as Paul Masters, 48, crawling above the store's ceiling, dropping down to the floor, and looking over merchandise. After repeating the process several times, the burglar fell through the porcelain tiles and landed on the floor. Masters allegedly then pried open a door, cut some razor wire over a fence, and hopped over.
It remains unclear if Masters got away with anything.The previous burglary happened in March. Masters allegedly scrambled through the attic of a Lexington store. Police say he also gave them a hard time before they could make an arrest.Police say Masters was sneaking around in the attic of the Roses general store off of Winchester Road hadn't gotten around to doing whatever it was he planned to do from up there, when employees heard him moving about from above the tile ceiling, and called police.
Police swarmed the shopping center, and chased Masters through the attic. Police say Masters ran probably about 50 yards through the attic area before the ceiling gave way and he fell about 12 feet through the tile ceiling to the ground.
The original design of the (Newfoundland & Labrador) building featured slate tiles adorning the intricate roof structure. However, the stone tiles became a problem when they began falling off during windy weather shortly after the building opened in 2010.At one point, a falling tile nearly struck a person attending the courthouse. The Department of Transportation and Works had to erect safety fencing around the entire perimeter and build wooden structures around the entrances to the building.
The department also asked the original roofing contractor, Allied Constructors, to determine if there had been a flaw in the initial design or in the installation of the roof. Government also threatened to take legal action against the contractor if it didn’t remediate the problem.In the meantime, action is being taken (in late July) to put fibreglass shingles that resemble the original slate tiles. The tender for that was issued this past spring and has been awarded to a different contractor, BDW Roofing based in Stephenville.
“So, you will have a similar effect (as slate tiles), but with a fibreglass shingle,” said Davis. “We know that’s what is widely used in many buildings and houses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. They are sort of time-tested.”More importantly, Davis said completing this work will mean the unsightly safety fencing and polished tiles will finally be removed.“That’s the plan,” he said. “We hope to have it all done, completed and cleaned up this year and have it back to a finished condition like we hoped to have back in 2010.”
The Culver Archaeological Project (CAP), supported to the tune of ￡90,900 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has also discovered a circular kiln, possibly for firing tiles, and a sunken tile-lined basin – which the team is struggling to find anything to compare it to in Britain.
The six-week dig at the Roman settlement began last month and smaller discoveries include glass beads, coins, lead weights, a stylus for writing on a wax tablet, a ceramic spindle whorl and a complete lower quern stone.Also brooch and glass vessel fragments, Samian pottery with a maker’s mark and hundreds of pieces of pottery and tile fragments from the Roman period.
CAP Deputy Archaeological Director David Millum said it appeared the urn could possibly very late Romano British or even post-Roman as it sat above the main Roman features – and was caught by the bucket of the mechanical digger when clearing away the topsoils.
2013年8月12日星期一
2013年8月7日星期三
Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman Lists Townhouse for Sale
Trohman bought the interior unit in the Embassy Club development in 2006 for $685,000, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Tim Salm, the Jameson Sotheby’s agent representing the condo, declined to discuss the sellers but said they had “re-done the entire space, top to bottom” before moving in. The eventual buyer, Salm said, will “basically get a brand-new unit within the original Embassy Club,” which when built in the late 1980s was thought of as bringing a London-style mews to the rapidly gentrifying West DePaul area.
In 2007, Trohman led MTV’s Cribs on a tour of the home, where he showed off such design flourishes as a living room rug made of treated Barbie hair, the spring-loaded drawers in the kitchen, Space Invaders decals on the wall behind his bed, and tree-themed wallpaper in the polished tiles. “Get lost in the forest, you know,” he said about that last one. Trohman also pointed out how some “terrible, terrible” white built-ins got converted into additional closet space.
On a tour of the home Wednesday afternoon, I saw most of what Trohman had pointed out on Cribs, except for his guitars, his toy collection and a wall of moss surrounding a crucifix. “That was taken down” for showings to potential buyers, Salm said.
In the renovations and decorating, led by Lisa Ewing, a wall that concealed the staircase was opened up and given a more open and industrial look, the master bedroom fireplace got a glass mantel, and the kitchen became a sleek showpiece. Appliances and cabinetry behind crisp espresso-finish doors, white tops, and a stylized tile backsplash make it “five times the kitchen that the original developers put in here,” Salm says. “You have cabinets for days.”
The main living floor is one flight above ground and contains living, dining, and kitchen. There are two bedrooms and two baths upstairs, all finished in the same glamorous style as the main floor, and on the ground floor is the garage, another full bath, and the family room. Out back is a fenced garden of lawn, stone, and succulents.
Louis Parrinello, the school's principal at the time who now heads Briarcliff Elementary, said the time capsule was a way to retain memories from Miller Avenue School's 50th anniversary celebrations from over the past year as well as to recollect how life has changed since the school opened in 1963.
Supervisor Ed Romaine said in a release, "So much history has passed since Miller Avenue School opened in 1963. We've been to the moon and back, have had 10 presidents and technology has put the world in the palm of our hands with smart phones. For the students who attend this school today, the future is full of possibilities and the opportunity to make the world a better place to live."
In describing the capsule's contents, Parrinello said, "There were recent events, articles, students writing about what's happening right now in the world and what they predict will happen 50 years from now. There was also information about the iPhone and Facebook and those things that are so prolific in our society right now."
The time capsule, although sealed and protected against moisture, could not be buried in the ground because of the soft soil, but was instead placed in the main office above a ceiling tile. A plaque was put in place to mark the capsule's location, with instructions to open it on Flag Day in 2063. "We wanted it to be as simple as lifting up a ceiling tile," said Parrinello.A 50-year anniversary committee was set up to plan events throughout the year like a 1950s dance — in keeping with the "50" theme — and a photo taken by the Shoreham branch of the Rocky Point Fire Department showed all of the students arranged in the shape of the number 50.
While current students at Miller Avenue participated in activities and contributed to the capsule, former students reflected on the anniversary.Edward Gaias was in the first Ceramic tile, moving up from Miller Avenue's sixth grade in 1964. He said the 50-year anniversary was "amazing" because of the rich history and memories surrounding the school.
"It makes me feel pretty old," said the 61-year-old Gaias. "We did a lot of things in Miller Avenue. They had Boy Scouts there and I had my Eagle Scout ceremony there."Jo Napolitano, president of the Miller Avenue Parent Teacher Organization, was involved with organizing the 50-year anniversary celebrations at the school, though she said a lot of credit goes to Parrinello.
"He's the dynamic person who put it all together," said Napolitano.Napolitano has been president for the past two years and has four children who have gone through Miller Avenue, two of whom are still enrolled.
She said the school has always stood for "community-building and the children," both of which she said were reflected in the celebrations and the time capsule. "I think Miller Avenue has stayed very much a community. It's not just my children or my neighbor's children. It's all of Miller Avenue's children."
Read the full products at http://www.tilees.com/.
In 2007, Trohman led MTV’s Cribs on a tour of the home, where he showed off such design flourishes as a living room rug made of treated Barbie hair, the spring-loaded drawers in the kitchen, Space Invaders decals on the wall behind his bed, and tree-themed wallpaper in the polished tiles. “Get lost in the forest, you know,” he said about that last one. Trohman also pointed out how some “terrible, terrible” white built-ins got converted into additional closet space.
On a tour of the home Wednesday afternoon, I saw most of what Trohman had pointed out on Cribs, except for his guitars, his toy collection and a wall of moss surrounding a crucifix. “That was taken down” for showings to potential buyers, Salm said.
In the renovations and decorating, led by Lisa Ewing, a wall that concealed the staircase was opened up and given a more open and industrial look, the master bedroom fireplace got a glass mantel, and the kitchen became a sleek showpiece. Appliances and cabinetry behind crisp espresso-finish doors, white tops, and a stylized tile backsplash make it “five times the kitchen that the original developers put in here,” Salm says. “You have cabinets for days.”
The main living floor is one flight above ground and contains living, dining, and kitchen. There are two bedrooms and two baths upstairs, all finished in the same glamorous style as the main floor, and on the ground floor is the garage, another full bath, and the family room. Out back is a fenced garden of lawn, stone, and succulents.
Louis Parrinello, the school's principal at the time who now heads Briarcliff Elementary, said the time capsule was a way to retain memories from Miller Avenue School's 50th anniversary celebrations from over the past year as well as to recollect how life has changed since the school opened in 1963.
Supervisor Ed Romaine said in a release, "So much history has passed since Miller Avenue School opened in 1963. We've been to the moon and back, have had 10 presidents and technology has put the world in the palm of our hands with smart phones. For the students who attend this school today, the future is full of possibilities and the opportunity to make the world a better place to live."
In describing the capsule's contents, Parrinello said, "There were recent events, articles, students writing about what's happening right now in the world and what they predict will happen 50 years from now. There was also information about the iPhone and Facebook and those things that are so prolific in our society right now."
The time capsule, although sealed and protected against moisture, could not be buried in the ground because of the soft soil, but was instead placed in the main office above a ceiling tile. A plaque was put in place to mark the capsule's location, with instructions to open it on Flag Day in 2063. "We wanted it to be as simple as lifting up a ceiling tile," said Parrinello.A 50-year anniversary committee was set up to plan events throughout the year like a 1950s dance — in keeping with the "50" theme — and a photo taken by the Shoreham branch of the Rocky Point Fire Department showed all of the students arranged in the shape of the number 50.
While current students at Miller Avenue participated in activities and contributed to the capsule, former students reflected on the anniversary.Edward Gaias was in the first Ceramic tile, moving up from Miller Avenue's sixth grade in 1964. He said the 50-year anniversary was "amazing" because of the rich history and memories surrounding the school.
"It makes me feel pretty old," said the 61-year-old Gaias. "We did a lot of things in Miller Avenue. They had Boy Scouts there and I had my Eagle Scout ceremony there."Jo Napolitano, president of the Miller Avenue Parent Teacher Organization, was involved with organizing the 50-year anniversary celebrations at the school, though she said a lot of credit goes to Parrinello.
"He's the dynamic person who put it all together," said Napolitano.Napolitano has been president for the past two years and has four children who have gone through Miller Avenue, two of whom are still enrolled.
She said the school has always stood for "community-building and the children," both of which she said were reflected in the celebrations and the time capsule. "I think Miller Avenue has stayed very much a community. It's not just my children or my neighbor's children. It's all of Miller Avenue's children."
Read the full products at http://www.tilees.com/.
Vinyl windows need different care
First, don’t use paper towels or household cleaners such as bleach or ammonia, as you have noted. Here’s what is recommended on most of these sites: Use a clean, soft terry cloth or cotton rag to wash your windows. Wipe the windows from left to right or right to left to clean them. Use a clean, soft terry towel or cotton rag to dry the entire surface after washing. Rinse thoroughly to completely remove whatever cleaning agent you’ve used. Apply a protectant.
Our master bath has a 6-inch ceramic-tile floor that needs to be replaced as the result of a less-than-stellar renovation that left a large scar on the floor. A Jacuzzi-style step-in bathtub was removed and replaced with a 60-inch shower. The replacement floor tiles were not matched up correctly, more like a cut and patch, and the result is not acceptable. Home Depot claims 12-inch vinyl tile squares can be laid over the existing ceramic floor by a professional, which would save us the cost of having all the China ceramic tile removed first. I am a little hesitant to go cheap for a second time. What is your opinion?
First, when you decide down the road to sell the house, buyers will universally pan your decision to go cheap — that’s if the vinyl floor is intact. Obviously, the person who scarred the floor when the Jacuzzi was removed and the shower was installed is not willing to return to redo his or her shoddy work. Or, am I to understand the person who did the work was homegrown, as we say? I’d redo the ceramic tile (I’ve done it myself a couple of times over the years) because you want a bathroom that is long on quality and short on shortcuts. Hire a professional and ask what he or she recommends.
Removing the current tile floor to replace it with new would be difficult if the underlayment was wet-bed but not if it was exterior plywood or WonderBoard or Durock. Even if the tile person were to lay something on top of the existing tile, he or she would likely use thinset or some other compound to level it. If you add another layer of anything to an existing floor, you raise it, even slightly, meaning thresholds and trim need to be adjusted. I’d spend the money to have it done correctly. You’ll be able to enjoy something that looks good and add to the value of your house instead of detract from it.
We have a 100-plus-year-old twin house. We recently got a new neighbor next door who has a treadmill which he has placed on the second floor. When in use, the house shakes slightly and items on shelves on the first floor rattle slightly. We do have wall mounted shelves with some expensive items on them. Our fear is that the vibration from the treadmill may not be good for the structure of an old house. We put our exercise equipment in the basement for that reason. Is it likely to do any damage?
Mozaico, a leader in custom mosaic tiles for nearly 50 years, announced today that the company has retained 80 mosaic artists to cater to its growing global customer base. Notable artists added to the company’s impressive roster of talent include Amir Fares, John Farra, John Messina, Nada Khoury, Sola Baz and Yulia Stebris.
The company has employed a diverse group of designers that possess tremendous talent and professionalism. They leverage their expertise to create custom crafted mosaics based on photos, illustrations and descriptions submitted by Mozaico.net customers. Mosaics have been created to replicate family portraits, corporate logos, famous symbols and icons and notable figures, and to commemorate special milestones and memories. Custom mosaics are commonly installed in kitchens, baths, foyers, yachts or pool areas, or on walls for added color and style.
“Handcrafted custom works of art, especially custom mosaics, have not always been available to mainstream consumers,” said Rim Mecherkany, marketing executive at Mozaico.net. “There have been a number of barriers ranging from price to access. We’re now riding a growing trend of bringing together some of the world’s best polished tiles talent in one place on the web to make it easier for consumers to gain access to these works and do so at a price that they can afford.”
“We anticipate that mainstream consumers will gravitate toward Mozaico.net for custom mosaics that are truly an expression of their interests and lifestyle rather than opting for mass market décor that doesn’t speak to who they are,” Mecherkany continued.
While mosaics continue to top the lists each year of colorful design trends, the tradition goes as far back as 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by the use of terracotta cones and their application onto structures as a means of decoration. Mozaico.net has upheld this tradition since 1963. The company first began production in a facility in Lebanon, and has since expanded their operations to various strategic international hubs.
The company now exports custom mosaic tiles to more than 70 countries, catering to a worldwide client base that includes both residential and commercial customers. High profile clients include the State of Hawaii, the President of Chile, Le Gray Hotel in Beirut and Casino Spielbank Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Mozaico’s custom mosaics are made from natural stone, ceramic or glass tiles. Mosaics come honed with avarnish that gives the design a wet look, but can also be antiqued or polished for an additional fee based on the customer’s preference. Self-installation is simple and comparable to installing a ceramic tile purchased from a home improvement vendor. Directions are included for the customer’s convenience.
Mozaico.net does offer installation of custom mosaics in Florida and Orange County, Calif. Installation in other areas requires additional fees to cover the cost of travel and accommodation.
“This is an exciting time in the life of our company,” said Mecherkany. “Our mosaic artists have apprenticed in Spain and Italy; they’ve studied classical arts in Paris; they’ve exhibited in galleries – you name it, they’ve done it. Having such an amazing depth of talent is a great achievement for our company, but it’s also a tremendous advantage for our customers. We’re delighted to be able to continue to share the tradition of mosaic artistry with the world and help art lovers bring dynamic mosaic pieces into their homes and places of business.”
Our master bath has a 6-inch ceramic-tile floor that needs to be replaced as the result of a less-than-stellar renovation that left a large scar on the floor. A Jacuzzi-style step-in bathtub was removed and replaced with a 60-inch shower. The replacement floor tiles were not matched up correctly, more like a cut and patch, and the result is not acceptable. Home Depot claims 12-inch vinyl tile squares can be laid over the existing ceramic floor by a professional, which would save us the cost of having all the China ceramic tile removed first. I am a little hesitant to go cheap for a second time. What is your opinion?
First, when you decide down the road to sell the house, buyers will universally pan your decision to go cheap — that’s if the vinyl floor is intact. Obviously, the person who scarred the floor when the Jacuzzi was removed and the shower was installed is not willing to return to redo his or her shoddy work. Or, am I to understand the person who did the work was homegrown, as we say? I’d redo the ceramic tile (I’ve done it myself a couple of times over the years) because you want a bathroom that is long on quality and short on shortcuts. Hire a professional and ask what he or she recommends.
Removing the current tile floor to replace it with new would be difficult if the underlayment was wet-bed but not if it was exterior plywood or WonderBoard or Durock. Even if the tile person were to lay something on top of the existing tile, he or she would likely use thinset or some other compound to level it. If you add another layer of anything to an existing floor, you raise it, even slightly, meaning thresholds and trim need to be adjusted. I’d spend the money to have it done correctly. You’ll be able to enjoy something that looks good and add to the value of your house instead of detract from it.
We have a 100-plus-year-old twin house. We recently got a new neighbor next door who has a treadmill which he has placed on the second floor. When in use, the house shakes slightly and items on shelves on the first floor rattle slightly. We do have wall mounted shelves with some expensive items on them. Our fear is that the vibration from the treadmill may not be good for the structure of an old house. We put our exercise equipment in the basement for that reason. Is it likely to do any damage?
Mozaico, a leader in custom mosaic tiles for nearly 50 years, announced today that the company has retained 80 mosaic artists to cater to its growing global customer base. Notable artists added to the company’s impressive roster of talent include Amir Fares, John Farra, John Messina, Nada Khoury, Sola Baz and Yulia Stebris.
The company has employed a diverse group of designers that possess tremendous talent and professionalism. They leverage their expertise to create custom crafted mosaics based on photos, illustrations and descriptions submitted by Mozaico.net customers. Mosaics have been created to replicate family portraits, corporate logos, famous symbols and icons and notable figures, and to commemorate special milestones and memories. Custom mosaics are commonly installed in kitchens, baths, foyers, yachts or pool areas, or on walls for added color and style.
“Handcrafted custom works of art, especially custom mosaics, have not always been available to mainstream consumers,” said Rim Mecherkany, marketing executive at Mozaico.net. “There have been a number of barriers ranging from price to access. We’re now riding a growing trend of bringing together some of the world’s best polished tiles talent in one place on the web to make it easier for consumers to gain access to these works and do so at a price that they can afford.”
“We anticipate that mainstream consumers will gravitate toward Mozaico.net for custom mosaics that are truly an expression of their interests and lifestyle rather than opting for mass market décor that doesn’t speak to who they are,” Mecherkany continued.
While mosaics continue to top the lists each year of colorful design trends, the tradition goes as far back as 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by the use of terracotta cones and their application onto structures as a means of decoration. Mozaico.net has upheld this tradition since 1963. The company first began production in a facility in Lebanon, and has since expanded their operations to various strategic international hubs.
The company now exports custom mosaic tiles to more than 70 countries, catering to a worldwide client base that includes both residential and commercial customers. High profile clients include the State of Hawaii, the President of Chile, Le Gray Hotel in Beirut and Casino Spielbank Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Mozaico’s custom mosaics are made from natural stone, ceramic or glass tiles. Mosaics come honed with avarnish that gives the design a wet look, but can also be antiqued or polished for an additional fee based on the customer’s preference. Self-installation is simple and comparable to installing a ceramic tile purchased from a home improvement vendor. Directions are included for the customer’s convenience.
Mozaico.net does offer installation of custom mosaics in Florida and Orange County, Calif. Installation in other areas requires additional fees to cover the cost of travel and accommodation.
“This is an exciting time in the life of our company,” said Mecherkany. “Our mosaic artists have apprenticed in Spain and Italy; they’ve studied classical arts in Paris; they’ve exhibited in galleries – you name it, they’ve done it. Having such an amazing depth of talent is a great achievement for our company, but it’s also a tremendous advantage for our customers. We’re delighted to be able to continue to share the tradition of mosaic artistry with the world and help art lovers bring dynamic mosaic pieces into their homes and places of business.”
2013年8月5日星期一
Officials Duck and Cover
As Talk of the Sound has previously reported, investigations by the New York State Department of Labor Asbestos Control Bureau and the New York State Education Department were initiated last week based on reporting by Talk of the Sound.Talk of the Sound had received information that asbestos tiles and material may have been improperly handled and disposed of illegally. The test results confirm this to have been the case.
By failing to stop work and seal off the area when workers found what they believed to be asbestos in the office of Principal Michael Galland on July 16th, a number of New York State and Federal laws were violated.The asbestos material was confirmed in tiles, dust and pieces of tile and dust stuck to a carpet ripped up by employees of district contractor George Wood Plumbing working at the direction of John Gallagher, Director of Buildings and Grounds. Gallagher is a contractor, employed by Aramark.
Asbestos in schools is heavily regulated by New York State and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.Staff and students in the building from July 16th to July 20th, may have been exposed to the cancer-causing material. School officials did confirm that students were in the building that week until noon each day along with staff and porcelain tiles.
By law, staff and students at a school must be notified immediately of possible exposure to asbestos. That has yet to happen.Talk of the Sound has reported for years on problems within the Buildings and Grounds Department including kickbacks, no-show jobs and shady contractors. This is just the latest example.
Assistant Superintendent John Quinn, the New Rochelle Board of Education cabinet official responsible for Buildings and Grounds, first became aware of the asbestos incident at Davis last Thursday from an email from Talk of the Sound seeking comment on the incident.
The tiles and contaminated carpet was carried from the principal's office, through the hallway, to the school lobby and out the front doors of the school, according to one source. The material was then transported in an open garbage truck to the district yard at 51 Cliff Street, co-mingled with other district trash and delivered to a waste transfer station in Mount Vernon.
By contrast, asbestos material taken from a second that was properly abated after Poretta and Sinkfield complained about asbestos exposure from the Principal's office, was sealed and removed in a special vehicle and carted to a special asbestos dump site in Pennsylvania.
“If a building was a superhero, that’s it,” said Helfrich, the team’s former offensive coordinator who was promoted to head coach when Chip Kelly left for the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year.
The Ducks have an ever-growing national profile on the field, but the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex, as it is officially named, is undeniably world-class. Estimated conservatively at $68 million, the six-story, multi-wing football building was funded by Oregon alum and Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny.
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home originally was constructed as a hunting lodge and given its name for a prominent Philadelphia family, the Cadwaladers, in the early part of the 1900s.
“The culmination of this whole project is this great room that has a first-story window that’s in the front facing the road, and a balcony around the whole room so that you can stand up on the second China ceramic tile and look out the big window,” Mrs. Spalter says. “That’s really the special feature.”
The fireplace in the great room has Mercer tiles that tell the story of the Cadwalader family, which is said to have been present at the signing of the Treaty of Penn and hails from Wales in the United Kingdom. Mercer tiles also tell the story of Rip Van Winkle. The tiles were handmade for a relative of Henry Mercer as a wedding gift, and afterward the molds were broken, Mrs. Spalter says.
“When he (Harry Cadawalader) built it, he built the fireplace in such a way that he had vents to every room so that he could warm the whole place with just the fireplace,” Mrs. Spalter says. “And then later a furnace was added and electricity and all the other things for today’s person.”The second fireplace is located in the library, in the oldest section of the house. The earliest iteration of the home was a two-room structure used by a farmhand that predates the Cadwaladers’ construction of the lodge.
Read the full products at http://www.tilees.com/.
By failing to stop work and seal off the area when workers found what they believed to be asbestos in the office of Principal Michael Galland on July 16th, a number of New York State and Federal laws were violated.The asbestos material was confirmed in tiles, dust and pieces of tile and dust stuck to a carpet ripped up by employees of district contractor George Wood Plumbing working at the direction of John Gallagher, Director of Buildings and Grounds. Gallagher is a contractor, employed by Aramark.
Asbestos in schools is heavily regulated by New York State and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.Staff and students in the building from July 16th to July 20th, may have been exposed to the cancer-causing material. School officials did confirm that students were in the building that week until noon each day along with staff and porcelain tiles.
By law, staff and students at a school must be notified immediately of possible exposure to asbestos. That has yet to happen.Talk of the Sound has reported for years on problems within the Buildings and Grounds Department including kickbacks, no-show jobs and shady contractors. This is just the latest example.
Assistant Superintendent John Quinn, the New Rochelle Board of Education cabinet official responsible for Buildings and Grounds, first became aware of the asbestos incident at Davis last Thursday from an email from Talk of the Sound seeking comment on the incident.
The tiles and contaminated carpet was carried from the principal's office, through the hallway, to the school lobby and out the front doors of the school, according to one source. The material was then transported in an open garbage truck to the district yard at 51 Cliff Street, co-mingled with other district trash and delivered to a waste transfer station in Mount Vernon.
By contrast, asbestos material taken from a second that was properly abated after Poretta and Sinkfield complained about asbestos exposure from the Principal's office, was sealed and removed in a special vehicle and carted to a special asbestos dump site in Pennsylvania.
“If a building was a superhero, that’s it,” said Helfrich, the team’s former offensive coordinator who was promoted to head coach when Chip Kelly left for the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year.
The Ducks have an ever-growing national profile on the field, but the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex, as it is officially named, is undeniably world-class. Estimated conservatively at $68 million, the six-story, multi-wing football building was funded by Oregon alum and Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny.
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home originally was constructed as a hunting lodge and given its name for a prominent Philadelphia family, the Cadwaladers, in the early part of the 1900s.
“The culmination of this whole project is this great room that has a first-story window that’s in the front facing the road, and a balcony around the whole room so that you can stand up on the second China ceramic tile and look out the big window,” Mrs. Spalter says. “That’s really the special feature.”
The fireplace in the great room has Mercer tiles that tell the story of the Cadwalader family, which is said to have been present at the signing of the Treaty of Penn and hails from Wales in the United Kingdom. Mercer tiles also tell the story of Rip Van Winkle. The tiles were handmade for a relative of Henry Mercer as a wedding gift, and afterward the molds were broken, Mrs. Spalter says.
“When he (Harry Cadawalader) built it, he built the fireplace in such a way that he had vents to every room so that he could warm the whole place with just the fireplace,” Mrs. Spalter says. “And then later a furnace was added and electricity and all the other things for today’s person.”The second fireplace is located in the library, in the oldest section of the house. The earliest iteration of the home was a two-room structure used by a farmhand that predates the Cadwaladers’ construction of the lodge.
Read the full products at http://www.tilees.com/.
Blast Away Grime With Baking Soda
It works in conjunction with an air compressor to clean dirty parts and surfaces. But instead of using sand as the cleaning abrasive, a soda blaster shoots out sodium bicarbonate, which is commonly known as baking soda though what's used in blasters is composed of larger particles than those found in standard household baking soda.
The advantage of using baking soda, as opposed to sand, crushed walnut shells, coal slag, or any other abrasive, is that it's environmentally safe, less aggressive, relatively affordable, and easily rinsed away with water. In fact, the first large-scale industrial use of soda blasting occurred during the 1986 centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty. It was the only safe and effective way to remove coal tar, paint, and corrosion from the statue's soft copper skin.
Soda blasters can be used to remove paint, grease, indelible stains, and caked-on dirt from virtually any surface, Ceramic tile, aluminum, wood, sheet metal, brick, concrete, granite, chrome, glass, and even fiberglass.
Today soda blasters are often used to remove rust from metal, strip paint from wood doors and moldings, clean graffiti from masonry surfaces, blast hard-water deposits from ceramic tile, and power-strip industrial machinery. I recently used one to blast four coats of paint off a sheet of diamond-plate steel. It took less than 2 minutes to clean a 1-square-foot area down to bare steel.
A soda blaster itself is composed of a steel storage tank for holding the sodium bicarbonate, a spray nozzle and hose, manifold, and water separator that helps to prevent clogging. When shopping for a soda blaster, check its air requirement to ensure that your air compressor can provide the necessary pressure.
Soda blasters come in various sizes, based on the their storage-tank capacity. I bought a compact 15-pound Central Pneumatic soda blaster from Harbor Freight Tools for less than $100. The company also offers a larger 40-pound unit for about $160. Sodium bicarbonate is commonly available in medium- and extra-large grit. A 50-pound bag costs between $38 and $43. When operating a soda blaster, always wear protective eye goggles or a face shield, and a dust mask or dual-cartridge respirator. And be sure to follow the safety precautions outlined in the instruction manual.
Fylde's largest independent retail showroom, Artisan Tiles and Interiors is owned and managed by Marcus and Julia Eastwood. With nearly 25 years of combined experience in the UK tiles industry, the husband and wife tandem have advised clients on both domestic and commercial projects, both large and small. The Eastwood couple has recently helped in the design of a number of local businesses including Henry's Bar and Grill, Capri Bar, Moshina's Indian, Kensington Developments Lytham Quays site and Floor tiles.
At ArtisanTiles.co.uk, visitors will find a diverse range of tiling products for home and commercial needs. The website features each of the interiors and tiles in large image galleries for visitors to take a closer look at the design that may suit their taste or meet their tiling requirement.
Satisfied clients Ken & Elaine Beer from Blackpool talk about Artisan Tiles &Interiors: "What a fantastic range of tiles for walls and floors! The owners Julia and Marcus were extremely helpful and obliging, keen to offer advice with 'samples' and help with colour and design choices. The 'in store' home interiors section specialising in wallpapers and fabrics has an excellent service. Overall, it was a pleasant shopping experience."
ArtisanTiles.co.uk also displays Porcelanosa bathroom suites, the latest addition to the Artisan Tiles and Interiors showroom featuring two Porcelanosa bathroom and tile settings. The website also features the showroom's interiors department, which specialises in wallpapers, fabrics, wall covering and blinds. The website offers tile design advice and assistance, as well as quotations and insulations on curtains and all soft furnishings.
Kayser-Roth Corporation is seeking incentives from Burlington and Ala mance County to help create 50 new full-time jobs and invest $18 million in new capital as part of an expansion plan for its Burlington location.
Mac Wi lliams, Ala mance County A r ea Chamber of Commerce president, revealed the name of the textile company seeking incentives on Monday during an Alamance County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Kayser-Roth is based in Greensboro with a mailing address of 714 W. Interstate Service Road in Graham. County Manager Craig Honeycutt said the business is located in Burlington; he sent a letter regarding the company’s expansion plans to Williams on July 29.
“ Ala mance County ’s local ind ustrial development incentive is to provide a cash grant to the Company of a maximum of $360,000 based upon the initial new taxable valuation increase of building and equipment of $18,000,000 once the above job and investment thresholds have been met,” the letter stated. “This would be paid over a five year period, $72,000 annually for five years.”
The advantage of using baking soda, as opposed to sand, crushed walnut shells, coal slag, or any other abrasive, is that it's environmentally safe, less aggressive, relatively affordable, and easily rinsed away with water. In fact, the first large-scale industrial use of soda blasting occurred during the 1986 centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty. It was the only safe and effective way to remove coal tar, paint, and corrosion from the statue's soft copper skin.
Soda blasters can be used to remove paint, grease, indelible stains, and caked-on dirt from virtually any surface, Ceramic tile, aluminum, wood, sheet metal, brick, concrete, granite, chrome, glass, and even fiberglass.
Today soda blasters are often used to remove rust from metal, strip paint from wood doors and moldings, clean graffiti from masonry surfaces, blast hard-water deposits from ceramic tile, and power-strip industrial machinery. I recently used one to blast four coats of paint off a sheet of diamond-plate steel. It took less than 2 minutes to clean a 1-square-foot area down to bare steel.
A soda blaster itself is composed of a steel storage tank for holding the sodium bicarbonate, a spray nozzle and hose, manifold, and water separator that helps to prevent clogging. When shopping for a soda blaster, check its air requirement to ensure that your air compressor can provide the necessary pressure.
Soda blasters come in various sizes, based on the their storage-tank capacity. I bought a compact 15-pound Central Pneumatic soda blaster from Harbor Freight Tools for less than $100. The company also offers a larger 40-pound unit for about $160. Sodium bicarbonate is commonly available in medium- and extra-large grit. A 50-pound bag costs between $38 and $43. When operating a soda blaster, always wear protective eye goggles or a face shield, and a dust mask or dual-cartridge respirator. And be sure to follow the safety precautions outlined in the instruction manual.
Fylde's largest independent retail showroom, Artisan Tiles and Interiors is owned and managed by Marcus and Julia Eastwood. With nearly 25 years of combined experience in the UK tiles industry, the husband and wife tandem have advised clients on both domestic and commercial projects, both large and small. The Eastwood couple has recently helped in the design of a number of local businesses including Henry's Bar and Grill, Capri Bar, Moshina's Indian, Kensington Developments Lytham Quays site and Floor tiles.
At ArtisanTiles.co.uk, visitors will find a diverse range of tiling products for home and commercial needs. The website features each of the interiors and tiles in large image galleries for visitors to take a closer look at the design that may suit their taste or meet their tiling requirement.
Satisfied clients Ken & Elaine Beer from Blackpool talk about Artisan Tiles &Interiors: "What a fantastic range of tiles for walls and floors! The owners Julia and Marcus were extremely helpful and obliging, keen to offer advice with 'samples' and help with colour and design choices. The 'in store' home interiors section specialising in wallpapers and fabrics has an excellent service. Overall, it was a pleasant shopping experience."
ArtisanTiles.co.uk also displays Porcelanosa bathroom suites, the latest addition to the Artisan Tiles and Interiors showroom featuring two Porcelanosa bathroom and tile settings. The website also features the showroom's interiors department, which specialises in wallpapers, fabrics, wall covering and blinds. The website offers tile design advice and assistance, as well as quotations and insulations on curtains and all soft furnishings.
Kayser-Roth Corporation is seeking incentives from Burlington and Ala mance County to help create 50 new full-time jobs and invest $18 million in new capital as part of an expansion plan for its Burlington location.
Mac Wi lliams, Ala mance County A r ea Chamber of Commerce president, revealed the name of the textile company seeking incentives on Monday during an Alamance County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Kayser-Roth is based in Greensboro with a mailing address of 714 W. Interstate Service Road in Graham. County Manager Craig Honeycutt said the business is located in Burlington; he sent a letter regarding the company’s expansion plans to Williams on July 29.
“ Ala mance County ’s local ind ustrial development incentive is to provide a cash grant to the Company of a maximum of $360,000 based upon the initial new taxable valuation increase of building and equipment of $18,000,000 once the above job and investment thresholds have been met,” the letter stated. “This would be paid over a five year period, $72,000 annually for five years.”
2013年7月31日星期三
Turns out thieves are economists
Last week’s Economist magazine carried a headline reading, “The Curious Case of the Fall in Crime.” It seems that all around the industrialized world – including in Canada – all kinds of criminal activity is on the decline. Contrary to the belief that evil thugs lurk around every corner, we are actually safer than we have been in decades.
The magazine’s editorial offers only guesses as to why crime rates are falling. Aging demographics may play a role, along with better theft-prevention technologies. Stiffer punishment and “get tough on crime” policies might make for good political posturing, but they seem to have little impact: Crime rates are falling in countries where sentencing has become tougher as well as where it has been loosened.
The Economist failed to mention the most obvious reason for the change – economic incentives. Thieves are simply doing what most of us do every day. They are responding to market signals.
This is particularly true of property crimes such as residential break-and-enter, car theft and armed robbery. The possible payoff for stealing from a home is dwindling. What is there worth taking? Electronics are increasingly less valuable – a computer or a television in the 1980s would have been worth thousands of dollars on the street; now they would fetch a few hundred bucks. Why buy a stolen iPod dock out of the back of some guy’s truck when you can get a new one for less than $100?
Car theft is down dramatically, too. According to Statistics Canada, car theft in Ontario plunged to 141 per 100,000 people last year, down from 443 in 1998. Better technology, car alarm systems and anti-theft devices have deterred most would-be thieves. And lower-priced cars without car alarms probably are not worth stealing anyway. The bad guys aren’t less bad, they’re just good economists.
Muggings and purse-snatchings are increasingly less common as well. But let’s not over-think the reasons why fewer thieves are snatching purses. It has nothing to do with the culprit’s age or job situation. Whether there was a father present in the thief’s childhood, or whether he or she played violent video games is irrelevant. The reason is that there’s just not much of value inside purses or wallets anymore. Cash has been largely replaced by debit and Ceramic tile, and as long as the PIN is secure, the thief makes away with nothing more than plastic cards and chewing gum. Cellphones are more costly, but stolen ones are difficult to wipe and resell.
Criminals, like all of us, respond to market signals. If the potential payoff for any activity is too low, we weigh the risks and decide it isn’t worth it. For non-criminals, the question isn’t “Should I steal this car?” but something along the lines of “Should I put in new bathroom tile before I list my house?” People are quite good at reading and responding to market signals.
Still, we shouldn’t think that poor economic incentives are making crime go away. Crime is simply morphing. Traditional crime statistics tend to focus on activities such as robbery, property theft and murder. Fewer long-term trend statistics are available for crimes that are doubtless increasing, such as identity theft and cyber-crime. Not only are they potentially more lucrative, they are global in scope and much more difficult to track.
Thieves are also getting smarter, using technology for evil deeds. Internet scams abound, and bank-card skimming and credit-card fraud is a serious problem. Banks have had to fight back with their own technology and it has been costly.
Economic incentives play a huge role motivating us in almost everything we do. Certain actions are no doubt spurred by altruism and generosity, such as helping our neighbour shovel snow or donating to charity (although we still want the tax receipt). Weighing the financial incentives against the potential risks is the basis of our economy. Criminals may not know they’re doing it, but they’re just responding to market signals – and doing a good job of it.
Today, the OS is a self-funded, civilian organisation with ￡100 million in turnover. While the OS is best known by the public for its paper maps, data accounts for 90% of that turnover.When it started its digital business back in the 1990s, the OS simply scanned in its paper maps. It used these scans to build a system called Landlines, which was simply a digital recreation of the maps.
In 2001, though, it launched a more powerful platform, called ‘OS MasterMap’. Instead of simply recreating the maps in digital form, OS MasterMap is a spatial database of 450 million geographical features, from rivers to roads to post boxes.“The difference was that instead of having what we call ‘spaghetti data’, the lines and points on the mapsheets actually represent physical features,” explains Andrew Howles, chief architect at Ordnance Survey.
Building OS MasterMap allowed the Ordnance Survey to offer a number of new services on top of its wealth of geographical information, and paying customers use the data for a range of application from satellite navigation to flood prevention.
But the first generation of the OS MasterMap platform had a few drawbacks. Firstly, like the maps that preceded it, it was made up of separate ‘tiles’ covering specific areas. This meant data had to be captured on a tile-by-tile basis, slowing down retrieval. “OS MasterMap was built using systems designed for digital cartography,” says Howles.
Also, data was extracted from a number of different source systems. These would evolve over time, so there was an ever-growing integration overhead involved in pulling it all together.
Read the full products at http://artsunlight.com/.
The magazine’s editorial offers only guesses as to why crime rates are falling. Aging demographics may play a role, along with better theft-prevention technologies. Stiffer punishment and “get tough on crime” policies might make for good political posturing, but they seem to have little impact: Crime rates are falling in countries where sentencing has become tougher as well as where it has been loosened.
The Economist failed to mention the most obvious reason for the change – economic incentives. Thieves are simply doing what most of us do every day. They are responding to market signals.
This is particularly true of property crimes such as residential break-and-enter, car theft and armed robbery. The possible payoff for stealing from a home is dwindling. What is there worth taking? Electronics are increasingly less valuable – a computer or a television in the 1980s would have been worth thousands of dollars on the street; now they would fetch a few hundred bucks. Why buy a stolen iPod dock out of the back of some guy’s truck when you can get a new one for less than $100?
Car theft is down dramatically, too. According to Statistics Canada, car theft in Ontario plunged to 141 per 100,000 people last year, down from 443 in 1998. Better technology, car alarm systems and anti-theft devices have deterred most would-be thieves. And lower-priced cars without car alarms probably are not worth stealing anyway. The bad guys aren’t less bad, they’re just good economists.
Muggings and purse-snatchings are increasingly less common as well. But let’s not over-think the reasons why fewer thieves are snatching purses. It has nothing to do with the culprit’s age or job situation. Whether there was a father present in the thief’s childhood, or whether he or she played violent video games is irrelevant. The reason is that there’s just not much of value inside purses or wallets anymore. Cash has been largely replaced by debit and Ceramic tile, and as long as the PIN is secure, the thief makes away with nothing more than plastic cards and chewing gum. Cellphones are more costly, but stolen ones are difficult to wipe and resell.
Criminals, like all of us, respond to market signals. If the potential payoff for any activity is too low, we weigh the risks and decide it isn’t worth it. For non-criminals, the question isn’t “Should I steal this car?” but something along the lines of “Should I put in new bathroom tile before I list my house?” People are quite good at reading and responding to market signals.
Still, we shouldn’t think that poor economic incentives are making crime go away. Crime is simply morphing. Traditional crime statistics tend to focus on activities such as robbery, property theft and murder. Fewer long-term trend statistics are available for crimes that are doubtless increasing, such as identity theft and cyber-crime. Not only are they potentially more lucrative, they are global in scope and much more difficult to track.
Thieves are also getting smarter, using technology for evil deeds. Internet scams abound, and bank-card skimming and credit-card fraud is a serious problem. Banks have had to fight back with their own technology and it has been costly.
Economic incentives play a huge role motivating us in almost everything we do. Certain actions are no doubt spurred by altruism and generosity, such as helping our neighbour shovel snow or donating to charity (although we still want the tax receipt). Weighing the financial incentives against the potential risks is the basis of our economy. Criminals may not know they’re doing it, but they’re just responding to market signals – and doing a good job of it.
Today, the OS is a self-funded, civilian organisation with ￡100 million in turnover. While the OS is best known by the public for its paper maps, data accounts for 90% of that turnover.When it started its digital business back in the 1990s, the OS simply scanned in its paper maps. It used these scans to build a system called Landlines, which was simply a digital recreation of the maps.
In 2001, though, it launched a more powerful platform, called ‘OS MasterMap’. Instead of simply recreating the maps in digital form, OS MasterMap is a spatial database of 450 million geographical features, from rivers to roads to post boxes.“The difference was that instead of having what we call ‘spaghetti data’, the lines and points on the mapsheets actually represent physical features,” explains Andrew Howles, chief architect at Ordnance Survey.
Building OS MasterMap allowed the Ordnance Survey to offer a number of new services on top of its wealth of geographical information, and paying customers use the data for a range of application from satellite navigation to flood prevention.
But the first generation of the OS MasterMap platform had a few drawbacks. Firstly, like the maps that preceded it, it was made up of separate ‘tiles’ covering specific areas. This meant data had to be captured on a tile-by-tile basis, slowing down retrieval. “OS MasterMap was built using systems designed for digital cartography,” says Howles.
Also, data was extracted from a number of different source systems. These would evolve over time, so there was an ever-growing integration overhead involved in pulling it all together.
Read the full products at http://artsunlight.com/.
Never Lose Your Stuff
Here comes Tile! You might have heard about this revolutionary new lost and found device that’s been slinking its way around various online channels and pathways. The concept is simple: purchase the small block-shaped white chip, attach it to an item that you commonly misplace, and using the prescribed Tile app on your smartphone, track the object, utilizing nifty green bars that signal when you’re getting warmer or cooler. Oh, and you can also set your Tile to ring. Additionally, let’s say your bike is stolen. If you’ve been smart enough to attach a Tile to it, you can use the Tile app to alert all other Tile users in the area to your unfortunate plight so they can be on the lookout. Because, y’know, looking for our own lost stuff isn’t confusing enough.
Tile was created by Nick Evans and Mike Farley, two men who worked together for years in the hardware industry. The career jump seems logical; who doesn’t get pissed off when they lose their screwdriver? In a video promotion, Evans and Farley appeal to you, porcelain tiles, to buy a Tile and help them build the Tile community. They smile a lot, which helps. No one wants mean innovators.
So, for $18.95, I bit the bait and pre-ordered a Tile. Apparently, I was the eleventy-billionth person to do so, blowing away Evans and Farley’s initial fundraising start-up goal of twenty thousand dollars. With all the support for Tile, this thing must be amazing, right? To be honest, I’m a little bit skeptical.
First, the app can only pick up a Tiled object that’s within 150 feet. That doesn’t do me much good if, say, I attach it to my dog’s collar and she takes off. Secondly, since one of Evans and Farley’s claims is that it helps track down stolen objects, I can’t help but wonder why a thief wouldn’t just rip the Tile off and throw it away (think original Total Recall where Arnold yanks the tracking brain chip out of his nose and feeds it to a rat). And third, Tiles are only good for a year, at which point, you have to send them back to be recycled and purchase all new ones at the original price. Come on now!
Maybe I’m wrong and Tile will be the greatest thing since Al Gore invented the Internet! Quite frankly, I hope I’m wrong. My wife loses her keys like the Phillies lose games right now. I’ll be sure to give you a full report once my Tile arrives and I’ve had a chance to see what it can (and can’t) do. Until then, sit tight with this video…
A yearlong investigation by CNN and The Center for Investigative Reporting found widespread cheating and deception in California's taxpayer-funded drug rehab program for the poor. The problem is exacerbated by weak oversight of Drug Medi-Cal, part of the nation's largest Medicaid program.
State officials allowed a man convicted of organized crime to run a clinic despite a state law barring felons from doing so. The state approved another clinic operator even though he officially was blacklisted from billing Medicaid. And time and again, clinics accused of fraud and cited for serious violations have nonetheless managed to draw increasing amounts of government money.
"We are going to be fanning out statewide," Karen Johnson, the department's chief deputy director, said in an interview. "We are not going to stop just with those 16 clinics. We are going to review all of the Drug Medi-Cal providers in the state of California." Officials would not identify the targeted clinics, saying the information would compromise the China ceramic tile.
A California lawmaker said the department's recent actions were a good start, but he advocated for the state auditor to conduct an independent review of the rehab program.
"I want to know how this happened for so long, how pervasive is the fraud, and more importantly what can we do to change laws or regulations so the fraud doesn't occur in the future," state Sen. Ted Lieu, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, told CNN.Lieu said he was motivated by his belief in rehabilitation programs as a crucial tool for reducing crime and the prison population."I became very concerned," he said, "that if we don't fix this fraud immediately, it would undercut the public support for this entire program."
Ilouno said little more than "no, no, no," got in his Mercedes and sped off. His attorney later faxed a letter on Ilouno's behalf saying that counselors acted without the clinic's consent and that GB Medical will work on paying restitution, "if any." The attorney also said Ilouno was a certified counselor "and was thus authorized to bill for medical services rendered."
Los Angeles County authorities said that they were not aware of the arrest and that the clinic notified them that it would close effective July 1. A sign on the clinic door says it is no longer providing Drug Medi-Cal services.
Former employees of Tim Ejindu's clinics in Riverside and Los Angeles counties said they were pressured to falsify documents. A Los Angeles County audit of his clinic, the Pomona Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center, found evidence of what the county considers fraudulent practices.
At his red-tile-roofed counseling center in Pomona, Ejindu declined to answer questions and closed the clinic door on a reporter.
A third operator, Alexander Ferdman, was permitted to open a rehab clinic even after his felony conviction in 2000 for engaging in organized crime in Texas. State law calls for felons to be suspended from running Medi-Cal clinics.
Tile was created by Nick Evans and Mike Farley, two men who worked together for years in the hardware industry. The career jump seems logical; who doesn’t get pissed off when they lose their screwdriver? In a video promotion, Evans and Farley appeal to you, porcelain tiles, to buy a Tile and help them build the Tile community. They smile a lot, which helps. No one wants mean innovators.
So, for $18.95, I bit the bait and pre-ordered a Tile. Apparently, I was the eleventy-billionth person to do so, blowing away Evans and Farley’s initial fundraising start-up goal of twenty thousand dollars. With all the support for Tile, this thing must be amazing, right? To be honest, I’m a little bit skeptical.
First, the app can only pick up a Tiled object that’s within 150 feet. That doesn’t do me much good if, say, I attach it to my dog’s collar and she takes off. Secondly, since one of Evans and Farley’s claims is that it helps track down stolen objects, I can’t help but wonder why a thief wouldn’t just rip the Tile off and throw it away (think original Total Recall where Arnold yanks the tracking brain chip out of his nose and feeds it to a rat). And third, Tiles are only good for a year, at which point, you have to send them back to be recycled and purchase all new ones at the original price. Come on now!
Maybe I’m wrong and Tile will be the greatest thing since Al Gore invented the Internet! Quite frankly, I hope I’m wrong. My wife loses her keys like the Phillies lose games right now. I’ll be sure to give you a full report once my Tile arrives and I’ve had a chance to see what it can (and can’t) do. Until then, sit tight with this video…
A yearlong investigation by CNN and The Center for Investigative Reporting found widespread cheating and deception in California's taxpayer-funded drug rehab program for the poor. The problem is exacerbated by weak oversight of Drug Medi-Cal, part of the nation's largest Medicaid program.
State officials allowed a man convicted of organized crime to run a clinic despite a state law barring felons from doing so. The state approved another clinic operator even though he officially was blacklisted from billing Medicaid. And time and again, clinics accused of fraud and cited for serious violations have nonetheless managed to draw increasing amounts of government money.
"We are going to be fanning out statewide," Karen Johnson, the department's chief deputy director, said in an interview. "We are not going to stop just with those 16 clinics. We are going to review all of the Drug Medi-Cal providers in the state of California." Officials would not identify the targeted clinics, saying the information would compromise the China ceramic tile.
A California lawmaker said the department's recent actions were a good start, but he advocated for the state auditor to conduct an independent review of the rehab program.
"I want to know how this happened for so long, how pervasive is the fraud, and more importantly what can we do to change laws or regulations so the fraud doesn't occur in the future," state Sen. Ted Lieu, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, told CNN.Lieu said he was motivated by his belief in rehabilitation programs as a crucial tool for reducing crime and the prison population."I became very concerned," he said, "that if we don't fix this fraud immediately, it would undercut the public support for this entire program."
Ilouno said little more than "no, no, no," got in his Mercedes and sped off. His attorney later faxed a letter on Ilouno's behalf saying that counselors acted without the clinic's consent and that GB Medical will work on paying restitution, "if any." The attorney also said Ilouno was a certified counselor "and was thus authorized to bill for medical services rendered."
Los Angeles County authorities said that they were not aware of the arrest and that the clinic notified them that it would close effective July 1. A sign on the clinic door says it is no longer providing Drug Medi-Cal services.
Former employees of Tim Ejindu's clinics in Riverside and Los Angeles counties said they were pressured to falsify documents. A Los Angeles County audit of his clinic, the Pomona Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center, found evidence of what the county considers fraudulent practices.
At his red-tile-roofed counseling center in Pomona, Ejindu declined to answer questions and closed the clinic door on a reporter.
A third operator, Alexander Ferdman, was permitted to open a rehab clinic even after his felony conviction in 2000 for engaging in organized crime in Texas. State law calls for felons to be suspended from running Medi-Cal clinics.
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