Shorefront mural gives Newport a river view

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biceps & Elbow Grease!

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

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

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

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

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

Habitat homes.

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

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

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

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

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

s Oslo site and 50 working in the Fellsmere site.

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

installing windows, roofing, siding and finish work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hyacinth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I love using tools and building things."

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

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

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

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

Post Flood Red Flags

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Versatile spaces in McLean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Versatile spaces in McLean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Italian-style water fountain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and ceramic tile flooring.

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

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

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

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

used as an exercise room.

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

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

additional rooms for entertaining friends and family.

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

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

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

bedroom if the buyers prefer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a refrigerator, a microwave and multiple cabinets.

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

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

doors to the patio.

Auburn Adult Education taking registrations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Blog From Carpet Corner to Answer Tricky Floor Care Challenges

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

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

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

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

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