Home Improvement is Back in Business | Design Build Team

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Despite what some would say, the home improvement and remodeling business is doing well right now. On Sunday, jacksonville.com posted the article, ?Home improvement business improves for contractors, customers?. The article features empty-nesters?Steve and Myrna Persampieri, who were eager to sell their home and settle into their condiminum in Jacksonville Beach, however, not before a complete remodel.

The main reason for the couples desire to remodel: because they wanted to make the condo up-to-date and work for their wants and needs. It is for that reason that the remodeling industry is thriving in the U.S. Empty nesters and other?couples?are finding the?value in improving existing properties.

One remodeler, when asked about why he thought the remodeling business has picked up, answered??I think people are tired of waiting. There?s been this tremendous pent-up demand that?s been on hold now for the past four or five years of all these projects that people have wanted to do.??

Are you currently waiting to make improvements to your Kansas City area home? Why are you choosing to wait?

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Photo Credit:?evasd.com

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Google I/O 2012 is this week - here's what we expect to see

Google I/O kicks off Wednesday morning at Moscone West in San Francisco, and we're all looking forward to a giant bucket of awesome getting dumped on our heads from the good folks from Mountain View. It's the biggest show of the year for Android lovers, one where we see what may be coming up, what is under development, and how it all works together. Because Android and Chrome have grown so popular, and other platforms like Google TV are seeing growth as well, I/O has been bumped to three days instead of the two day events we've seen in the past. We still get our two big keynotes (some of the best in the industry) but we get another full day to meet with developers and designers, as well as dive into the developer sessions. We think it's going to be a great conference, and we'll be there to keep you abreast on everything Google and Android. Hit the break and let's talk about what we expect to see at Moscone West.

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Chicago-Area Wounded Veteran and Family Surprised With New Mortgage-Free Home: Anonymous Donor Contributes More Than $200,000

Thanks to the kick-start of an anonymous donor, today a Chicago-area severely wounded U.S. military veteran and his family learned at a surprise announcement that they will move into a beautiful new mortgage-free LIFEhouse? home.

(PRWEB) June 24, 2012

Thanks to the kick-start of an anonymous donor, today a Chicago-area severely wounded U.S. military veteran and his family learned at a surprise announcement that they will move into a beautiful new mortgage-free LIFEhouse? home.

Built with award-winning universal design principles, the LIFEhouse accommodates the unique needs of a wounded veteran. The home is in the Newport Cove community, created by home builder/developer New American Homes near Antioch, Ill., on suburban Chicago?s Chain O? Lakes. The anonymous donor approached Susanne Tauke, owner of New American Homes, with more than $200,000 toward the home.

U.S. Army Spc. Nick Mapson is the recipient of the LIFEhouse. Mapson suffered debilitating injuries in Afghanistan in July 2004 and is the deserving recipient. He was driving a truck that was blown up by anti-tank mines. In the explosion?s aftermath, Mapson was trapped in the truck, became drenched in diesel fuel and caught on fire. He forced open a door to escape the burning truck, put out the fire that engulfed him, and without medication endured the wait for a helicopter pickup and subsequent hour-long ride to a hospital.

He was placed in a medically induced coma, stabilized and flown to Germany, where his parents were asked to come to say goodbye because of Mapson?s critical injuries. But he survived and was flown to Texas for medical treatment. The explosion and subsequent fire left him with third-degree burns to his face, arms and hands, much hearing loss, reduction in eyesight, back-disc bulging, herniation and other injuries.

Just as bravely as Mapson defended his country he has fought through his injuries, undergoing numerous skin grafts and continuing rehabilitation during months in hospitals. He experiences constant pain, especially in his hands, which lack a range of motion. He earned a Purple Heart and other U.S. commendations for his meritorious service. Mapson is one of the more than 48,000 U.S. veterans who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mapson and his wife and two children presently live in Sugar Grove, Ill.

Built for a wounded veteran?s needs

The ranch-style LIFEhouse, at 1,992 square feet plus a finished basement, features an open floor plan with wide doorways and circulation areas. The specially designed entrances, kitchen and bathrooms are accessible for a physically challenged veteran.

Among the features adding to livability are multi-level cabinetry, lever door handles, stair handrails with lighting beneath, alternating colored low-pile carpet on stairs, hardwood flooring, no-slip porcelain tile, accessible light switches and outlets, and appliances accessible from a sitting level. The home incorporates predominantly made-in-America products, such as easy-maintenance engineered wood siding. Wausau Supply, one of the Midwest?s largest building supply companies, is donating the siding?s prefinishing, which is advertised to have a virtually maintenance-free finish and a 30-year no-fade warranty.

The LIFEhouse team

The site of the LIFEhouse announcement was The Highlands of Elgin, in Elgin, Ill., at the annual golf event of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC) and Residential Construction Employers Council, Chicago.

This home is part of the national Touchdown for Homes project and locally involves the HBAGC, the Chicago NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Former Players Chapter (of which Reggie Smith is president) and New American Homes.

Susanne Tauke, president of New American Homes Inc., said, ?LIFEhouse began when our company collaborated with the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA) at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York, which is a pioneer in architecture and design work in accessibility. Our first LIFEhouse won the 2012 Best of 50-Plus Housing Award from the National Association of Home Builders. This led to the anonymous donor providing the seed money to build the LIFEhouse for a Hero.

?The anonymous donor was overwhelmed with emotion after reading Nick Mapson?s story. The donor chose Nick for the LIFEhouse, and like everyone associated with this effort is extremely grateful for his sacrifices.?

Tauke will meet with Mapson to determine if the LIFEhouse can be customized even more to serve his needs.

Mapson, in his application for the LIFEhouse, wrote, ?Life would be a lot easier with handles and grips to hold onto, and the user-friendly equipment would greatly help as well. Just being able to have a sense of security to give my family would mean the world to me. I am very grateful to have organizations like yours available for us severely wounded veterans. It truly means the world to us.?

Rita Unzner, executive director of HBAGC, learned of Mapson with help from the Veterans Administration. Also aiding in selecting Mapson was Operation Finally Home (OFH), a national 501(c)(3) that provides custom mortgage-free homes to wounded and disabled veterans and the widows of the fallen. Many manufacturers have contributed to the LIFEhouse. LP? Building Products, which helps wounded veterans around the country, has provided organizational support and donated LP SmartSide? engineered wood siding and trim.

Tauke said, ?We are so grateful to the companies who are donating great easy-maintenance products for the home ? companies like LP Building Products and Wausau Supply.?

Smith said, ?It?s a privilege for the NFLPA to support Nick and his family with the LIFEhouse. We have been delighted to participate in this effort, helping bring attention to the needs of wounded veterans and to create visibility about the LIFEhouse. Former NFL players are devoted to giving back in the communities that have supported us. We honor the great sacrifices of our wounded veterans.?

Unzner said, ?It?s a unique honor to benefit Nick and his family. HBAGC members, many of whom are U.S. veterans, are indebted to veterans for their sacrifices and are very pleased to support Touchdown for Homes. We plan to continue to reach out to Nick after he gets settled in his new home to help with the transition to his new community.?

Paul Sowacke, Chicago-based channel manager for LP Building Products, said, "LP Building Products recognizes the tremendous commitment our veterans make to keep us free. Nick perfectly exemplifies this commitment and sacrifice. We hope Nick and his family enjoy the LP SmartSide Trim and Siding for its beauty and durability."

Newport Cove is an award-winning planned community of 67 homes located on 42 waterfront acres along Bluff Lake, one of 15 lakes in the Chain O? Lakes. Forty percent of the community is dedicated open space, including an eight-acre waterfront park and 100-plus-slip marina.

*****

To obtain a 300 dpi visual of Mapson being surprised at the home announcement, please email pkunklier(at)teamhfa(dot)com or call 888.376.7601, ext. 6963.

*****

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE LIFEhouse.

*****

About Touchdown for Homes

Touchdown for Homes is a nationwide charitable outreach program of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the NFLPA that brings together local home builders associations and former NFL players to strengthen communities by building or renovating homes for children or families in need and veterans. For more information visit http://www.nahb.org/touchdownforhomes.

About New American Homes

New American Homes is an award-winning builder specializing in distinctive custom and semi-custom homes, in Chicago and its north/northwest suburbs. For more information on Newport Cove and the LIFEhouse, visit http://www.newportcoveonline.com or contact New American Homes at 847.772.2772.

About the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago

HBAGC is a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 2,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other segments of residential construction. HBAGC provides its members with networking and educational opportunities and represents them in matters related to government relations and advocacy. Founded in 1939 and located in Rolling Meadows, Ill., the HBAGC covers Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. It is the oldest affiliate of the NAHB, whose headquarters are in Washington, D.C. For more information visit http://www.hbagc.com.

About LP Building Products

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is a leading manufacturer of quality engineered wood building materials including OSB, structural framing products, and exterior siding for use in residential, industrial and light commercial construction. From manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Chile and Brazil, LP products are sold to builders and homeowners through building materials distributors and dealers and retail home centers. Founded in 1973, LP is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under LPX. For more information, visit http://www.lpcorp.com.

About Operation Finally Home

OFH is an award-winning program created as a nonpartisan/nonprofit organization in 2005 by Bay Area Builders Association (Houston) Support Our Troops. OFH supports as many wounded veterans as possible via home builds and advocacy. OFH partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, developers, individual contributors and volunteers to help severely wounded heroes and their families? transition from the battlefront to the home front and help them succeed in their challenging new world so they may ultimately enjoy a productive and rewarding life. For more information visit http://www.operationfinallyhome.org.

LIFEhouse CONTRIBUTORS:

1.????Land Technology, surveyor

2.????Fox Valley Services, excavator

3.????Parksite?, house wrap

4.????Alexander Lumber, building supplies

5.????T&A Builders, carpenter

6.????L&R Plumbing, plumber

7.????Pete's HVAC, heating and ventilating

8.????Bright Zone, electrician

9.????Astro Insulation, insulation

10.????Halverson Overhead Doors, garage doors

11.????W.D. Blake and Sons, well

12.????Andersen? Windows, windows

13.????LP Building Products, LP SmartSide siding and trim, public relations support

14.????Wausau Supply Company, Diamond Kote? siding finish

15.????Resysta?, decking

16.????Moen?, faucets and sinks

17.????Toto?, toilets and sinks

18.????Smart Cabinetry?, cabinets

19.????Waudena Millwork?, interior doors & trim

20.????Illinois Brick? Company, brick pavers

21.????Cinemation?, low voltage wiring

22.????Mohawk Industries?, carpet, tile, wood flooring

23.????Balanced Environments, landscaping

24.????Cutting Edge Carpets & Floors, flooring installation

25.????H&H Custom Countertops, countertops

26.????Stahl Cowen, attorneys

27.????Bluff Lake Venture/New American Homes Inc., land/construction management

28.????First American Title, title insurance

29.????Chrysalis/HBA of Greater Chicago, management

Media Contacts:

Rita Unzner, Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago????????

630.780.7490 ????????????????????????????????

hbagreaterchicago(at)gmail(dot)com ????????????????????????????????????

Susanne Tauke, New American Homes Inc.

847.772.2772

mstauke(at)newamericanhomes(dot)us

Patrick Kunklier, hfa

888.376.7601, Ext. 6963

pkunklier(at)teamhfa(dot)com

Rita Unzner
Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago
630.780.7490
Email Information

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Assad forms new cabinet as violence flares in Syria

President Bashar al-Assad formed a new cabinet with key posts unchanged as more than 100 people were reported killed in violence across Syria.

Meanwhile Turkey downplayed the Syrian shooting down of a Turkish plane, acknowledging one of its warplanes may have violated Syrian airspace after Damascus confirmed shooting down the F-4 Phantom on Friday, in comments seen as a bid to cool the latest spat between the former allies.

"An unidentified aerial target violated Syrian airspace, coming from the west at a very low altitude and at high speed over territorial waters," a Syrian military spokesman told the official SANA news agency.

Anti-aircraft batteries hit the plane about a kilometre from the coast and it crashed some 10 kilometres (six miles) off Latakia province, he added.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said it was not unusual for warplanes flying at high speed to cross maritime borders, stressing that such actions were not "ill-intentioned."

Naval forces from both nations were searching for the two missing crew.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 102 people, two-thirds of them civilians, were killed in violence across the country on Saturday as regime forces stepped up attacks on towns.

The Britain-based monitoring group said 69 civilians were killed in bombardment of rebel bastions, including a family of six in Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria.

Nineteen soldiers were killed in fighting with rebels, of whom four also died, the Observatory said, adding that 10 troops were gunned down as they tried to defect to anti-regime forces.

On Friday, at least 116 people were reported killed.

The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the killing of a Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer, in the fourth such incident in the country's deadly unrest.

Bashar al-Youssef, 23, was shot and fatally wounded on Friday in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, the two organisations said in a joint statement.

"This comes at a time when the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are virtually the only organisations able to work in areas affected by the violence in Syria," said Alexandre Equey, deputy head of the ICRC's delegation in the country.

On the political front, Assad announced the formation of a new government with the key foreign, defence and interior ministry portfolios unchanged, less than two months after controversial parliamentary elections boycotted by the opposition.

"President Bashar al-Assad has issued Decree 210 forming a new government under Prime Minister Dr Riad Hijab," state television said.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem remains in his post, along with the defence and interior ministers, Daoud Rajha and Mohammad al-Shaar.

Rajha, in the post since August, was among those sanctioned by the United States for his role in the deadly crackdown on Syrian protesters.

Abdel Basset Sayda, head of the main opposition Syrian National Council, dismissed the new line-up as a sham aiming "to give the impression that reforms have been brought in."

He said there was "no real change," with key posts unchanged.

The new cabinet assumes power amid an intensification of repression and clashes, which last week led to the the halt of the United Nations observer mission.

Britain's Guardian newspaper, meanwhile, reported that Saudi Arabia was set to pay the salaries of the rebel Free Syrian Army, several of whose fighters who defected from the regular army are based in Turkey, to encourage mass defections.

Turkey-Syria relations were already strained by Erdogan's outspoken condemnation of the Assad government's bloody crackdown that rights activists say has killed more than 15,000 people since March 2011.

The downing of the F-4 is the most serious incident between the two countries since then, but Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc played down the tensions.

"We should be calm ... Yes, we accept this is a critical matter but we don't have clear information," he told Anatolia news agency, adding that the results of the ongoing investigation would be publicised "as soon as possible."

In neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned that the Syrian crisis might spill over.

"Our main concern is the spillover of the crisis... into neighbouring countries, and no country is immune from this spillover because of the composition of the societies... the connections, the sectarian ethnic dimensions," he told reporters.

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How would you change the GoPro Hero HD 2?

You can strap the GoPro HD Hero 2 to any number of things to document your extreme adventures in high definition. However, for all of the improvements in the second version, we found it to be distractingly heavy, difficult to mount and with audio that left plenty to the imagination. Still, a few days of testing, even with some aerial combat thrown in, can't match constant use over the last six months. So, why not tell us how you've found using this thing on a daily basis and if you could, what would you change about it?

How would you change the GoPro Hero HD 2? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1994 Acura Legend L in Austin, Texas

Thank you for visiting another one of South Point Dodge Chrysler Jeep's exclusive listings! At South Point Dodge Chrysler Jeep, no matter what vehicle you are looking for, we can find it for you.

Acura Legend L Warranty Information

Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty

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