You might know me as the plant lady who for years has attended the Village meetings requesting better services, with scant results.

I have been told by a Village department. head to “plan charity luncheons” instead of calling attention to Village eyesores and volunteering expertise. Is this the way our Village deals with resident participation?

Emails on questionable code enforcement, construction and plant health are not answered. Customer service should be prioritized ASAP.

The deterioration in Village infrastructure and landscaping is evident and worries some. Council members, (the Village) manager and department heads have allowed this for years instead of budgeting and prioritizing maintenance.

Now we must pay for NEW infrastructure and landscaping – like the Village Lake Gazebo, the newly planted Beach Park shrubbery – and much more spending. So, we invest in new, not maintain it, and then buy new again.

Can Village list the “must do” improvements with a price tag, and prioritize? I believe our Village should tend to its sizable investment first before continuing to add projects that would require what they have not been capable of providing.

Let’s end past practices and make a new start.

Ceci Sanchez

Originally Appeared Here

Carrollton apartment developer seeks landscaping exception

Published 2:05 pm Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Developers who’d received after-the-fact permission to build a taller-than-allowed Carrollton apartment building now say a condition of that approval is unworkable.

Jerry and Lucy Kooiman got Isle of Wight County’s approval in 2018 for urban residential zoning to permit the construction of Heritage Apartments, a three-story, 12-unit multifamily building on Sugar Hill Road. Though they’d submitted plans calling for a 34.5-foot-tall building, putting them just under the 35-foot maximum specified in the county’s zoning ordinance, county officials ordered work to stop in January when they discovered the building was in fact 37.25 feet in height.

The Kooimans appealed to county supervisors in March and were granted an exception on the condition that they plant a row of trees at the property line at least 12 feet tall at the time of their planting to create a landscape buffer.

Now, the developers say they’ve been unable to find a sufficient number of 12-foot trees, and are requesting that the specified height at planting be lowered to 10 feet. They’re proposing to instead plant 34 Thuja “Green Giant” trees.

“It’s a temporary change,” Jerry Kooiman said. “Trees grow, and these trees grow 3 to 4 feet per year.”

According to the Kooimans, the tree species they’ve chosen can grow up to 40 feet, nearly double the minimum 25-foot-at-maturity requirement the county had imposed as a condition of the building height exception.

With construction now complete, the couple is hoping to have the trees in place by the end of October and receive their occupancy permit and begin accepting tenants before the end of the year.

“Next month is the time to plant,” Jerry Kooiman said. “We’re really in a time crunch.”

The Planning Commission ultimately voted to recommend approval of the Kooimans’ request to modify the conditions of their height exception, despite having received one letter in opposition from Steve Turner, a resident of the adjacent Carrollton Meadows housing development.

The commissioners, reading Turner’s letter into the record, noted Turner had written that “it was agreed upon by the builder that this would take place.”

The trees, he argued, are “needed to block out the noise of six compressing units facing the Carrollton Meadows side of the project” and to block visibility of the apartment building from the residents of four homes on Spring Crest Drive located adjacent to the Kooiman lot.

Despite the couple’s plea for immediate action, Commissioner Thomas Distefano initially motioned to table the matter until after the Kooimans had submitted a revised site plan. But the motion failed in a 5-5 tie, with himself and Commissioners Jennifer Boykin, George Rawls, Rick Sienkiewicz and Matthew Smith voting in favor and Commissioners James Ford, Cynthia Taylor, Raynard Gibbs, Bobby Bowser and Brian Carroll voting no.

Distefano noted that the original agreement specifying the 12-foot trees had been negotiated with the Carrollton Meadows homeowners association, of which Turner is currently president. Ford, however, said it wasn’t clear from Turner’s letter whether he was speaking for himself or on behalf of the homeowners association.

“If Mr. Turner is representing the HOA then he should have noted that in his letter,” Ford said.

Bowser then motioned that the commission recommend approval of the Kooimans’ request, conditioned on a new discussion occurring between the developers and the homeowners association. It passed 9-1. Carroll cast the dissenting vote, telling The Smithfield Times after the meeting that he would have preferred the developers to adhere to the conditions to which they had initially agreed.

The matter will head back to the supervisors for a final vote on Oct. 20.

Originally Appeared Here

PADUCAH — Beautiful Paducah, the beautification organization that organized this year’s Barbecue on the River, says the votes are in, and part of the proceeds from last week’s festival will be used to develop a proposal to improve landscaping downtown. 

During the festival, Whitney Ravellette Wallace with Beautiful Paducah told Local 6 that the organization’s goal is to raise money for various beautification projects through the festivals it hosts. At Barbecue on the River, attendees could go to Beautiful Paducah’s tent and vote from among three initiatives by buying a $1 ticket.  

In a news release sent Wednesday, the group says the initiative that received the most votes was to create a proposal to improve landscaping in areas of downtown Paducah and a continued maintenance plan. Beautiful Paducah says the goal is to begin the initiative sometime next spring. 

The organization says the event supported 59 local charities. As for how much money was raised, Beautiful Paducah says it will publicly announce the total once it has all the information from the vendors who participated. 

In the news release, the organization says it knows many of the elements of this year’s festival were a big hit, and that there’s room for improvement. Beautiful Paducah says it looks forward to making those improvements for the 2023 festival, and organizers with the group plan to meet with the other parties who helped make the event possible to analyze what worked and what adjustments need to be made. 

This was the first year Beautiful Paducah took on Barbecue on the River, and the organization says it was “an incredible learning experience.” 

“We can’t wait to see what 12 months of planning, as opposed to 5-6 months of planning, will bring for 2023,” the news release says. 

Originally Appeared Here

SEAL BEACH, CA — This gorgeous remodeled home is nestled in the quiet enclave of Bridgeport and has all of the amenities for comfortable living. Plus, the perimeter of the property is lined with California native and drought-friendly landscaping.

Inside, no expense was spared to remodel this two bedroom abode, which has a den. Beautiful custom white cabinetry is featured throughout the living room, kitchen and two bathrooms, which have countered accented by luxurious quartz counter tops.

The home is going for $1,499,000.

• Address: 520 Galleon Way, Seal Beach, CA
• Price: $1499000
• Square feet: 1435
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Listing Description: Enjoy this professionally designed beach home which is located in the wonderful quiet enclave of Bridgeport. No expense has been spared in completely remodeling this 2-bedroom plus den single story. Beautiful custom white cabinets are featured in the living room, kitchen and two baths with counters accented by luxurious quartz counter tops. The backsplash in the kitchen add to the beauty of the room. A desk area has been added to the kitchen, again, with tastefully done custom cabinetry. Vaulted in the loving area and bedrooms give this home a large and airy feel.

Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate

For more information click here. See more photos of the listing below, courtesy of First Team Real Estate:

For more real estate news, follow Patch on Facebook

Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate Listed by: Ann Tuler, First Team Real Estate



Originally Appeared Here

Williamsburg Police cruiser (WYDaily file)

WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Police Department (WPD) is seeking the public’s assistance regarding an investigation into the recent burglary of landscaping equipment from the Colonial Williamsburg area. 

On Sept. 7, at approximately 6:45 a.m., officers arrived at the 100 block of Visitor Center Drive to investigate the theft which occurred between 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 and 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 7, police said.  

According to WPD, the initial investigation revealed that approximately $39,500 worth of landscaping equipment and tools were stolen from inside a shed and enclosed landscaping trailer.

Equipment stolen in the burglary included:

• 2 Exmark lawn mowers
• 1 STIHL gas string trimmer
• 1 ECHO gas string trimmer
• 1 Greenworks electric string trimmer
• 1 Greenworks battery-powered blower
• 1 DeWalt impact driver, and angle grinder

WPD asks anyone who has further information on this or any other crime to contact WPD at 757-220-2331. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Peninsula Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or online. Those who provide tips may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. 

For more updates and information from Williamsburg Police Department, check out its Facebook page. 

Originally Appeared Here

Closer Look with Rose Scott

September 28, 2022

On this edition of Closer Look: Voting rights advocate, Gregory Moore explains how the nation’s past is tied to modern day challenges to voter suppression laws. Sustainable landscaping is on the rise. Jaime Rosenthal of Roots Down talks about how Dekalb libraries are modeling the practice. And a deep dive into the numbers in Georgia’s latest elections poll with demographer, Fred Hicks.  

Subscribe

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Stitcher

Originally Appeared Here

The beauty of our nation is beyond what words can convey. Do not worry if you haven’t visited these locations yet. You can take a virtual tour to these places through Netflix shows and movies. Be prepared to be magically transported to the magnificent Indian destinations captured in these originals.

Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein

Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein is a dark humour mixed with thrilling elements. The series is set in the fictional town of Onkara, but shot all over India — Mumbai to Madhya Pradesh. It features the stunning city of Bhopal with its beautiful lakes, rich architectural heritage lining, making for a delightful view. The Omkareshwar temple and many other centuries-old temples lined on the banks of Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh are a complete visual treat.

The Fabulous Lives of the Bollywood Wives Season 2

Maheep Kapoor, Neelam Kothari, Bhavana Panday and Seema Sajdeh showcase the essence of friendship and plan a jungle safari to Jawai, the hills of leopards, in the Pali district in Rajasthan which is among the very few places in India where you can easily admire these fantastic animals. A picturesque area that is also home to other wild animals and various migratory birds. The area is rich in prairies, riverbeds, and pastures.

Haseen Dilruba

Starring Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Harshvardhan Rane, Haseen Dilruba is the perfect murder mystery. Parts of the movie are shot in picturesque mountainous landscapes and on the sacred banks of the Ganga and Birla Ghat at Haridwar. This film will surely make you want to visit Haridwar.

Decoupled

The story highlights a rich-leisure married couple falling out of love and planning to celebrate a decoupling party in Goa to formally announce their separation. Apart from celebrating their separation, the beauty of Goa, the coastal paradise with its beautiful beaches and amazing nightlife can be a good visual treat to your eyes.

Little Things

Featuring Dhruv Sehgal and Mithila Palkar, the show explores the live-in couples’ subculture in semi-modern India. The final season of the series is filmed in Kerala and features the state’s waterfalls, beach, museums, temples, churches, and synagogue, among others.

Read all the Latest Lifestyle News and Breaking News here

Originally Appeared Here

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “Global Sustainable Innovation in Water Generation and Purification Growth Opportunities” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

This research service focuses on new and disruptive technologies within the water generation and purification industries, highlighting technological attributes and existing as well as emerging solutions.

The study emphasizes the unique technologies being studied and implemented within the water generation and purification industries, and it covers the major drivers and restraints faced by innovators looking to reach large-scale commercial deployment.

More than 4 billion people lack water for at least 1 month every year. Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2025, half the worlds population could potentially face water scarcity.

Factors driving an increase in water scarcity include climate change, climate-related catastrophes, ground-water contamination through the increasing usage of pesticides and fertilizers, the release of untreated municipal waste into water bodies, and population growth with its subsequent need for expansion of industrialization, agriculture, and food production.

At present, water generation and purification technologies suffer from high capital and operational expenditure costs. Innovative process designs that improve efficiency are likely to have a major impact in terms of improving the economic viability of water purification and generation technologies.

Research and development activities in both technology areas are expected to increase in the future, supported by increases in regulatory support and raising awareness of the detrimental effects of climate change and water scarcity.

The study also covers the following topics:

• Water generation and purification technologies – overview and current trends
• Factors driving technology development and adoption
• Key properties, drawbacks, and challenges for deployment
• Technology comparison
• Technology ecosystem – innovation and stakeholders
• Patent landscape of water generation and purification technologies
• Growth opportunities for water generation and purification technologies

Key Topics Covered:

1. Strategic Imperatives

• Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative: Factors Creating Pressure on Growth
• The Strategic Imperative
• The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Water Generation and Purification Industries
• Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine
• Research Methodology

2. Research Context and Summary of Findings

• Research Context: Importance of Water Generation and Purification Technologies in the Face of Threats to Water Security
• Research Scope: Key Topics the Study Will Explore
• Key Findings in Sustainable Innovation in Water Generation and Purification

3. Technology Snapshot: Overview of Water Generation and Purification

• Atmospheric Water Generation: Key Innovative Technologies
• Summary of Key AWG Technologies
• Advantages of AWG in Water-scarce Regions and Crisis Response
• Disadvantages of AWG in terms of Scalability, Cost, and Environmental Concerns
• Growth Drivers, Water Generation
• Growth Restraints, Water Generation
• Water Purification: Key Innovative Technologies
• Summary of Key Water Purification Technologies
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Water Purification (Municipal and Industrial Sectors)
• Growth Drivers, Water Purification
• Growth Restraint, Water Purification

4. Key Innovations in Water Generation

• Solar-powered Hydropanels that Operate in a Wide Range of Climatic Conditions
• Heat Exchangers that Achieve Industrial Scalability to Generate Fresh Water
• Energy-efficient Liquid Desiccation Process for Atmospheric Water Generation
• Carbon Nanotubes for Water Generation in Low Humidity Regions
• Technological Characteristics of Different Water Generation Innovations: Comparative Analysis

5. Key Innovations in Water Purification

• Highly Scalable and Cost-effective Corn Cob Membrane Filtration
• Automatic Variable Filtration System that Effectively Removes a Wide Range of Contaminants
• Low-complexity Advanced Oxidation Photocatalysis for Water Purification
• Energy-efficient Forward Osmosis for Municipal and Industrial Use
• Technological Overview of Innovative Technologies in Water Purification: Comparative Analysis

6. Patent Landscaping

• Global and Regional Patent Analysis for Water Generation
• Global and Regional Patent Analysis for Water Purification

7. Growth Opportunities

• Growth Opportunity 1: Disruptive Water Generation and Purification Technologies
• Growth Opportunity 2: Government Programs for the Development of AWG Technology
• Growth Opportunity 3: R&D Partnerships to Ensure Water Security

8. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bdpfxk

Originally Appeared Here

To beat your mid-week blues, we have brought you a viral video showing a breathtaking view of a thunderstorm sweeping over the landscape of the Grand Canyon in the United States. Posted by the National Park Service, the footage has amazed the internet with its bewitching scene. The clip has also captured a spectacular sunset and a combination of colour tones which are simply fascinating. People Stop Traffic To Click Pictures of Spectacular Sunset on Busy Manhattan Street in New York; Watch Viral Video.

Sunset At Grand Canyon Right After A Thunderstorm: 

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

Originally Appeared Here