Square Stirs Discrimination Case
Square Stirs Discrimination Case
0 Comments | Intelligencer Journal Lancaster New Era; Combined Saturday edition, Jun 16, 2010 | by Jed Kensinger
Staff Writer
Designed to bring people together, a streetscape project in Marietta Borough has become a source of controversy rising to the level of a federal discrimination complaint.
Marietta’s town square at Gay and Market streets was spruced up last summer with a new coat of paint for the flagpole, new street lights and landscaping. In addition, two stamped concrete walkways replaced crumbling flagstone.
The project budget was $31,000, and half of that amount was paid with a grant from the Urban Enhancement Fund approved by Lancaster County commissioners.
Before the concrete was dry, resident Bruce Gibson noticed there were no curb ramps to allow people with mobility impairments to pass through the square, an oval island measuring 82 by 36 feet.
Gibson said earlier this month the square is inviting because curb cuts already exist at sidewalks bordering the square and aligning with the two new walkways through it.
Gibson, who has physical and hearing disabilities, expressed his concern to Jody Shaffner, borough secretary-treasurer, while contractor Doug Lamb was still on the job. Gibson suggested that the square be accessible to all or no one and presumed she would understand that compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act was the only option.
“It’s a civil rights issue, so it’s not multiple choice,” Gibson said.
However, he said he suspected borough officials hastily decided to close the square to pedestrians after he raised the ADA issue with Shaffner.
Two memorial plaques donated by Marietta Restoration Associates were removed from the square. Four no-pedestrian crossing signs were erected. And a contractor cut and removed 18 inches from the ends of the new walkways where they abut the curb. Now the square – which was to become the focal point of the community and promote tourism in advance of the borough’s bicentennial celebration in 2012 – remains closed to all.
That’s not the solution Gibson and other borough residents wanted.
Stacey VonStein, a Marietta resident, filed a discrimination complaint on Oct. 5 with the Department of Justice under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Title II prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in services, programs and activities provided by state and local governments, according to the website www.ada.gov/smtown.htm.
> The Department of Justice will not comment on complaints because they are confidential between the agency and the complainant. VonStein gave the newspaper a copy of his complaint which states that discrimination occurred upon completion of the square project announced at the July 14, 2009, council meeting.
In the ADA complaint, VonStein named council president Miriam Fletcher as an individual responsible for acts of discrimination. VonStein said Fletcher signed her name on the county grant application certifying that Marietta “will not discriminate on the basis of handicap under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, Section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.”
Fletcher has not returned a reporter’s phone calls during the past two weeks.
“Why did they go to great length to destroy what they got grant money to improve?” Gibson said two weeks ago while standing on the front porch of his home.
“I’m tired of taxpayer money spent on projects done incorrectly,” VonStein said.
Both men wondered how much money was spent on alterations to ban pedestrians from the square.
Borough officials on Friday applied for a 2010 Lancaster County Urban Enhancement Fund grant for $31,622 toward an estimated cost of $95,826.50 to install ADA-compliant handicapped ramps and defined crosswalks. Locations include the borough’s business district and Gay and Market streets surrounding the town square. Under the plan, the square would remain closed to the public.
Lucinda Hampton, a county employee who administers the Urban Enhancement Fund, confirmed grant money, if awarded, may be used for a different phase of the same project for which funds were disbursed in previous years.
Shaffner said Friday the borough will construct new ramps and crosswalks at Gay and Market streets regardless of whether the borough receives a grant.
In a letter to the Lancaster County Planning Commission, dated Sept. 10, Shaffner told Hampton she met with borough solicitor Mike Davis after two residents raised concerns about the square not being handicapped-accessible
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CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) (C.A.R.) Launches 2010 Consumer Advertising Campaign
Market Wire, April, 2010
The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) today launched its 2010 Consumer Advertising Campaign. The campaign raises awareness of the REALTOR brand and reinforces the professionalism of California REALTORS, while addressing concerns home buyers and sellers may have about today’s market. The campaign’s theme, “Your Piece of California. Your Peace of Mind,” will be heard or seen across the state nearly 130 million times via television, radio, and online.
The “Your Piece of California. Your Peace of Mind” consumer advertising campaign features an engaging television ad , radio spots , online components , and search engine marketing. The television ad will run on cable shows including “Sell This House,” “House Hunters,” “My First House,” and others. Another key component of the 2010 ad campaign is a new three-minute video that will air on all Virgin America flights in July and August.
“As we enter the traditional home-buying season, C.A.R.’s ad campaign will serve as an excellent reminder of the expertise, professionalism, and knowledge REALTORS bring to real estate transactions,” said C.A.R. President Steve Goddard. “The campaign also reinforces the message that now may be an ideal time to buy a home. Buying and selling a home typically is the largest financial transaction anyone will make, and REALTORS are best suited to guide home buyers and sellers through this process.”
Messaging in the campaign directs consumers to www.yourpieceofcalifornia.com , and the Spanish-language version at www.lallavedetutranquilidad.com . The sites feature current real estate news, median home price data, links to connect consumers with REALTORS in their area, and information on the home-buying and – selling processes.
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The Journal Record Money Movers: February 19, 2010
Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Feb 19, 2010
Mobile home park in Yukon sold
Neumayer Mobile Home Park in Yukon has been purchased by a northern California couple for $2.8 million.
The buyers, Bo and Susan Thorenfeldt, own several other mobile home parks around the country, said Keith Wilson, who announced the sale Thursday.
The property was formerly owned by the Henry Keith family, listed as Hank & Frank LLC and Georgie Girl LLC, which has purchased 14 mobile home parks in the Oklahoma City area and in Stillwater in the past three years.
The park, at 400 S. Ranchwood, sold for $12,671 per space.
It has 194 mobile home spaces, which rent for $180 a month, and 25 RV spaces, which range from $210 to $325 a month.
Its amenities include an office, clubhouse, swimming pool, curbs, storm shelter and mature trees.
Thorenfeldt plans to make some improvements, primarily the roads, said Wilson, of Keith Wilson Co.
Terms of the sale included Neumayer MHP Yukon LLC’s assumption of a $1.4 million loan with Citibank.
The closing agent was Marcia Chappelear of First American Title & Trust in Oklahoma City.
Landscape design company receives award
Caviness Landscape Design of Edmond won a silver medal for a pool in a natural setting from the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.
Caviness Landscape Design won the award for a residential pool project in north Oklahoma City.
Caviness designed and constructed the award-winning pool in about 10 months. The process began by removing the original pool and replacing it with a natural setting pool, waterfall and grotto.
The man-made grotto has three streams and an 8-foot natural boulder waterfall. Features of the pool include a swim-up bar and a wireless remote system to control the Color Kinetic lighting, sound system and outdoor television.
“The most challenging aspect of this pool project was supporting the weight of the man-made rocks because the scale of the design was so large,” said Kelly Caviness, owner of Caviness Landscape Design. “It was also difficult to effectively transition the man-made and natural rocks inside the grotto.”
It was the third consecutive year Caviness has received an award from the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. In 2007, Caviness received a gold medal for enclosed pools and a bronze medal for a pool in natural setting and two silver medals in 2008 for the Oklahoma Centennial Waterfall and Twin Creek Farms water feature.
Video competition to promote first season at Oneok Field
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and the Tulsa Drillers have created the ShortShooter Film Festival, a student video competition to promote the upcoming inaugural season at Oneok Field.
Students from OSU-Tulsa’s Creative Marketing course were challenged by Tracy Suter, associate professor of marketing in OSU’s Spears School of Business, to create an original video production for the Tulsa Drillers about their move to Oneok Field, which is just south of OSU-Tulsa.
“The move to Oneok Field creates a variety of new entertainment options for Tulsa Drillers’ fans,” Suter said. “We look forward to the work of OSU-Tulsa students being one of those options and a part of that entertainment experience.”
The ShortShooter Film Festival is an online Facebook competition that allows the public to choose their favorite of the students’ videos. The winning student group will have their original video featured at a Tulsa Drillers game during opening weekend in April. Facebook users can vote for the videos through Feb. 26 at tinyurl.com/shortshooter.
The video competition is part of the TAS-sel Project, a class project in which Suter challenged his students to co-create, explore and interpret the creative experience. Suter said there are plans to continue the partnership with the Tulsa Drillers for a second festival next year.
Tulsa Port of Catoosa reports drop in January shipments
Shipments to and from the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in January totaled 222,448 tons, down from 236,340 tons for January 2009.
Inbound shipments for the month totaled 40,231 tons. Outbound shipments totaled 182,217 tons
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There it was explained to us that
There it was explained to us that research is finding that the difference in language acquisition of one child compared to another is very large. Some children speak sooner, some speak later. And the range of language acquisition of bilingual children is just as large as the range for monolingual children, statistically speaking.
Although these research results are relatively recent, I was able to find an article on the internet about it, written by Professor Fred Genesee of McGill University at http://www.earlychildhood.com/Articles/index.cfm?FuseAction=Article&A=38, confirming what we had been told verbally. In addition, instead of seeing bilingualism as the minority exception to the rule, Professor Genesee suggests that there many be as many children growing up bilingually as there are growing up monolingually.
So rest assured that the myths are wrong and the following are true:
Bilingual children do NOT have delayed language acquisition.
Learning more than one language at a time is NOT difficult for small children.
Bilingual children DO master both languages just as well as one.
More and more parents are convinced of the benefits of exposing their small children to foreign languages.
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LEGAL – NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER FOR SALE
LEGAL – NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER FOR SALE
0 Comments | Roanoke Times & World News, Jul 8, 2010
GEORGE WASHINGTON-JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS The Gold Bond Sale is located within Compartments 1044 & 1056, Eastern Divide Ranger District, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Giles County, Virginia.
The Forest Service will receive sealed bids in public at Forest Supervisor’s Office at 3:00 PM local time on 08/12/2010 for an estimated volume of 372 CCF of Oak sawtimber, 183 CCF of Yellow Poplar sawtimber, and 535 CCF of Hardwoods pulpwood marked or otherwise designated for cutting. The Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids. A prospectus, bid form, and complete information concerning the timber, the conditions of sale, and submission of bids is available to the public from the Eastern Divide Ranger District, 110 Southpark Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060- 6648 or the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019- 3050. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.(12236816)
You decide to run
You decide to run
de-fragmentation of your hard drive and add more virtual memory
to the system. No luck! May be, it?s probably some viruses, you
reckon turning on your virus scanning software. Even after
running the anti-virus program you notice that the problem won?t
resolve. Not understanding what?s happening frustrated you pick
up the phone. It?s time to call your tech-support. Sounds
familiar? You are not alone! Each day, thousands of users are
facing similar problems caused by malicious software called
Spyware. According to Dell technical support, nowadays 12
percent of their support calls involve problems related to some
kinds of Spyware.
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You need to allow
You need to allow your
abdominal muscles to recover..this equates to 24-48 hours of
rest time between workouts. Increase the intensity of your
workouts gradually. If you overdo it, not only will you be
excessively sore (a little soreness is a good thing, it signifies
that you have worked the muscle enough for it to repair itself
and become stronger in the process), but you may discourage
yourself because you will need more rest time than normal and it
will be harder to do your ab exercises.
Myth: The more situps you do, the better.
Truth: Doing hundreds of situps will not help you lose abdominal
fat! Situps actually do little to increase strength because they
focus on edurance and are inefficient; it is hard to overload the
abdominal muscles doing situps.
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Vanguard Fire & Casualty in Production with Portal Powered by Duck Creek’s EXAMPLE Platform
Business Wire, April 27, 2005
BOLIVAR, Mo. — New online portal enables agents and underwriters to easily and efficiently quote Homeowners and Dwelling Fire products
Duck Creek Technologies, Inc., a provider of rating and policy administration software for the insurance industry, today announced that Maitland, Florida-based Vanguard Fire & Casualty has moved into production with their new online Point Of Sale (POS) system, built on Duck Creek Technologies’ EXAMPLE Platform(TM). The Platform products utilized include: EXAMPLE Author(R), EXAMPLE Server(TM), EXAMPLE Express(TM) and EXAMPLE Forms(TM).
The new POS system provides Vanguard’s agents and underwriters with a web-based system, enabling them to quote, bind and issue Homeowners and Dwelling Fire products faster and more efficiently.
A unique feature of the new Vanguard POS System is the “stop-light” functionality, which provides real-time feedback on the premium and the eligibility of an account as the agent steps through the quoting process. The agent is alerted if a response requires the account to be referred to an underwriter or is ineligible, saving significant time and effort.
Martin Bobek, Chief Underwriting Officer at Vanguard, commented, “We selected the EXAMPLE Platform because of the degree of flexibility and functionality we found in the system as well as Duck Creek’s ability to effectively integrate with legacy systems. We were also extremely pleased with the speed of implementation
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However, most of these solutions failed
However, most of these solutions failed to remove the foul odor.
To solve the problem, here are some simple steps:
1. Try to use some solutions that will effectively remove urine odor
Even if most solutions fail to resolve the problem, there are some ?bio-enzymatic? solutions that have been proven to be effective in eliminating urine odors in carpets. These products were known to remove even the past urine odors that had long been soaked in the carpet.
?Bio-enzymatic? refers to the ability of the solution to work its way in removing bacteria or cleaning the enzyme material present in the urine. These are the things that create stinking odors.
2. First aid remedy
Once you have spotted urine material in your carpet, it is best to dab several layers of paper towels in the area. This will guarantee instant absorption of the urine. Let the paper towel absorb as much urine as it can handle by putting more pressure on it.
Repeat this process for about two to three times until greater amount of urine has been absorbed by the paper towels.
3. Use a car shampoo
After removing the urine and eliminating bad odor by using ?bio-enzymatic? solutions, it is best that you use a car shampoo.
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You have been given
You have been given the seeds for greatness. Out of billions of applicants, only you are qualified, only you have the right combination of what it takes.
Your life makes a difference. Although we’re all different, no mixture is insignificant. Jerry Van Dyke said it best when he said, “The best rose bush is not the one with the fewest thorns, but that which bears the finest roses.”
- John L Mason, from the book You’re Born An Original, Don’t Die A Copy. (to find out more about this book, please go to www.freshword.com/resources)
About the Author:
John Mason is a national best-selling author, nationally recognized speaker and book coach. He has authored fourteen books including An Enemy Called Average, You?re Born An Original-Don?t Die A Copy, Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop, and Know Your Limits-Then Ignore Them which have sold over 1.4 million copies and have been translated into twenty-five languages throughout the world.
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