Lankershim / North Hollywood Station building shortly after its refurbishment project was declared complete on October 30, 2014. There was a civic ceremony to confirm the completion. I hadn't seen any advance announcements for the event and missed the opportunity to attend.

 

Unfortunately, another person unable to attend the event was Guy Weddington McCreary, scion of one of North Hollywood's founding families; his ancestors had provided the land for the station's original construction and he'd been a major force in the redevelopment of the "NoHo" area and for the preservation of the station building. He'd passed away on October 12 at the age of 77.

 

According to Metro's The Source, although the $3.6-million project was finished, the building would "remain unoccupied until Metro determines the best use for the property and finds a future tenant. The chosen tenant will then make its required renovations to the interior, as well as plant landscaping around the depot’s perimeter. Additional work upon occupancy will include the restoration of an adjacent park and rebuilding railroad tracks next to the station to provide the proper context for the building."

 

The building also would not be available for occupancy until after the completion of the just-commenced North Hollywood Station Underpass Project, that will connect the Orange Line Busway boarding area to the north of the building with the Red Line subway station on the other side of Lankershim Blvd. via an underground passageway.

 

Today (December 7, 2015), la.eater.com has broken the news that the building will be occupied by Groundworks Coffee, which will be very convenient for riders of the subway, the Orange Line buses, and the various local bus lines that converge at the Red Line station across the street, who won't be allowed to drink their coffee aboard the public conveyances.

Eclipseのカッコの設定

Heres information about central florida broadcast stations

 

Broadcast Tower,WFTT-TV is the Telefutura affiliate for Tampa Bay, owned by Univision and operated by Entravision, owners of WVEA-TV. The station, which broadcasts on UHF channel 50, is based at WVEA's studios on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, and transmits from Riverview. WFTT can be seen on cable throughout the Bay Area on Bright House channel 5, and on Comcast in Sarasota County on channel 23.

 

With the completion of the 442.550 repeater in Riverview at 805ft in January, the western pointing antenna on the 442.825 repeater caused a expected overlap that was unnecessary. Since 442.550 now blankets Hillsborough County, we have as of April 11th taken the antenna off the west leg of the Pebbledale tower site at 800ft and moved it to the east leg of the tower. What does mean for users? The tower has a 7 foot wide face, which creates a null that is created behind the antenna. This null used to face a huge portion of Polk County. By moving this antenna to the east, the null is now facing essentially Brandon/Riverview, where 442.550 is now located at 805ft. So far we have gotten incredible results from users in eastern Polk County. Some users in Sebring reporting almost full scale signal, and mobile users with hand helds on 27 at 5 watts can use 442.825 now. None of this was previously possible. So with this move, expect to hear more Polk, Osceola and I-4 corridor area users making it into the network.

 

A nother tower WVEA (channel 62) is Tampa Bay, Florida's first Spanish-language TV station, which had its start in the early-1980s as low-powered W50AC ch.50, which offered programming from the Spanish International Network (SIN), the forerunner of today's Univision. In 1988, to make way for new HSN flagship WBHS (now WFTT-TV), the station relocated to channel 61 and became W61BL. In the mid-1990s, the station was re-called "WVEA-LP". In 2000, WVEA's parent company, Entravision, acquired Sarasota English independent WBSV channel 62, with the intent of moving the transmitter from Venice to the antenna farm at Riverview. WBSV signed on May 3, 1991 as the Sarasota area's own independent station, designed to compete against WWSB and the other stations in the Tampa Bay and nearby Ft. Myers markets. Licensed to Venice, Florida the call letters stood for Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, the three cities it primarily served. WBSV had a variety of syndicated and local programming, plus infomercials and home shopping programs. early on, they also had its own newscast. But, WBSV was eternally in red ink, and relied more on home shopping and infomercials to keep the station afloat....

 

And then,WTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsdiary of the News Corporation. WTVT's studios are located in Tampa, and its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.

 

Overall the WUSF (89.7 FM) is an NPR-member radio station licensed to Tampa, Florida, USA. The station is currently owned by the University of South Florida. WUSF signed on in 1963, seven years after USF's founding in 1956.

 

WOPX channel 56 is a television station based in Orlando, Florida, USA. An affiliate of the ION Television network, it transmits its analog signal on UHF channel 56 and its digital signal on UHF channel 48, both from a transmitter located near Holopaw. The station signed on the air in 1986.

 

WIWA (1160 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish language Christian format. Licensed to St. Cloud, Florida, USA, it serves the greater Orlando area. The station is currently owned by Centro De La Familia Cristiana Inc.

 

WAFZ-FM (92.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Immokalee, Florida, USA, the station is currently owned by Glades Media Company LLC. WAFZ's programming is also heard on WAFZ AM 1490 in Immokalee.

 

WTVY or WTVY News 4 is a CBS-affiliated television station broadcasting on channel 4 in Dothan, Alabama, owned by Gray Television. The station's signal, originating from a transmitter in Holmes County, Florida, reaches large portions of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. WTVY is also the designated CBS affiliate for the Panama City, Florida market, where Gray also owns that city's NBC affiliate, WJHG-TV. In exchange, WJHG is available in Dothan on cable since Dothan does not have its own NBC affiliate. In fact, WTVY's transmitter is located within the Panama City market. WTVY-DT uses digital subchannels to operate MyNetworkTV affiliate My 4 and CW affiliate Dothan's CW.

 

WJED (91.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Dogwood Lakes Estate, Florida, USA. The station is currently owned by Bethany Bible College.

 

WTVJ, channel 6, is the NBC owned-and-operated television station for South Florida, licensed to Miami. Its analog transmitter is located in Redland. The station's digital transmitter is located near Dolphin Stadium in north Miami-Dade County. Owned by NBC Universal, the station is sister to South Florida's Telemundo owned-and-operated station, WSCV. The two share studios at Peacock Plaza in Miramar.

 

WOIR (1430 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish News/Talk format. Licensed to Homestead, Florida, USA, the station serves the Miami area. The station is currently owned by Amanecer Christian Network, Inc..

 

WTLH is a Fox television affiliate licensed to Bainbridge, Georgia and serves the Tallahassee, Florida television market. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 49 and its digital signal on UHF channel 50. The station began operations on November 25, 1989. Its transmitter is located in Metcalf, Georgia. The Station is owned by CP Media, LLC. The station runs a duopoly with WFXU, The CW station in Tallahassee. WTLH programming is also seen on a low-powered, Class-A repeater, WBVJ-LP channel 35 in Valdosta.

 

WTXL-TV is the ABC affiliate station for Tallahassee, Florida, Thomasville, Georgia, and Valdosta, Georgia, broadcasting on channel 27. The station is owned by Calkins Media, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based mass media company that owns several small newspapers in Pennsylvania and two other television stations: WWSB in Sarasota and WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama. It was previously owned by Media Ventures Management, and operated by the Sinclair Broadcast Group pursuant to an outsourcing agreement (See: [1]), the first of its kind in the United States. This agreement merged virtually all of WTXL-TV's operations with that of Sinclair's NBC affiliate WTWC. Denis LeClair, General Manager of WTXL-TV and WBXT-TV at the time, was made General Manager for WTXL, WBXT and WTWC under this agreement. He would be followed by Chris Butterick and then Bob Franklin. Eventually, Kim Urbuteit (who was fired in May, 2007) would be named General Manager of WTXL only as Bob Franklin (now in Mobile, AL) oversaw WTWC. Gary Wordlaw is the current General Manager of WTXL-TV.

 

WFSU is the callsign (or variations thereon) for public radio stations operated by Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. WFSU also operates 3 radio stations that serve northern Florida: * WFSU-FM 88.9 FM: Tallahassee-based news/talk/public affairs station carrying several NPR programs and overnight BBC World Service programming. Also heard on these low-powered repeaters: * 97.1 - Carrabelle * 106.1 - Marianna * 96.7 - Apalachicola * 93.7 - Downtown Tallahassee (necessary because the main WFSU transmitter must conform its signal to protect WTSU in Troy, Alabama) * WFSQ-FM 91.5 FM: Tallahassee-based classical music station. Also heard on WFSL-FM 90.7 in Thomasville, Georgia, and on low-powered 92.7 FM in the northeast portion of the city of Tallahassee. * WFSW-FM 89.1 FM: Panama City-based news/talk/public affairs station. Offers many of the same programs as WFSU. Also heard on low-powered 91.1 FM in the Port St. Joe area along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as 94.5 FM in Fort Walton Beach.

 

WESH is the NBC affiliate in Orlando, Florida. It is licensed to Daytona Beach, with studio facilities in Winter Park. It transmits its analog signal on VHF channel 2 and its digital signal on VHF channel 11, when viewed over the air PSIP will display 2.1 for WESH DT and 2.2 for WESH Weather Plus. It is currently owned by Hearst-Argyle Television along with the area's CW affiliate, WKCF. WESH's transmitter is located in Orange City, Florida. The tower is the tallest man-made structure in Florida, at 1,740 feet (530 m). The station also serves as the default NBC affiliate for the Gainesville market, and can be seen on the fringes of the Tampa Bay and Jacksonville markets. WESH was the first station in Orlando to carry an on-site RADAR facility, SuperDoppler 2 as opposed to relying on National Weather Service RADARs. It is installed on top of the tower located at the Winter Park broadcast studio. Today it also promotes a VIPIR 3D RADAR system, taking advantage of the fact that the RADARs at Melbourne, Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami can all reach Orlando, in addition to SuperDoppler 2. The primary news anchors at WESH are Martha Sugalski and Jim Payne....

 

WOMX is a radio station located in the Orlando, Florida area and broadcasts at 105.1. WOMX 105.1 plays the "Best MIX of the 80s, 90s and Today," though the station programming focuses mostly on rock and modern rock music from the 90's and 2000's. Every Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Mix 105.1 presents Friday Night 80's. The "Saturday Night Party MIX" airs every Saturday night from 7 p.m. to midnight. The "Saturday Night Party MIX" replaced the Orlando heritage show "Seventies Saturday Night" in 2005.

 

WOTF-TV Channel 43 is the TeleFutura station serving the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, Florida television market. It is owned by Univision and managed by Entravision which owns Univision affiliate WVEN-TV 26 and radio station WNUE 98.1 FM and offers a Spanish language entertainment format featuring movies, dramas, comedy shows, and kids shows. The studios are located in Altamonte Springs which is also shared by WVEN.

 

WOFL, "Fox 35", is the Fox owned-and-operated television station serving the Orlando, Florida metropolitan area. It is licensed to Orlando, with studios located in Lake Mary. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 35, and its digital signal on UHF channel 22. Its transmitter is located in Bithlo, Florida. Its Digital TV transmitter has a power of 1,000 kW. Its Analog TV transmitter has a power of 2,570 kW. WOFL and sister station WTVT of the bordering Tampa market commonly share reporters and footage, as other station groups do.

 

WFTV channel 9 is a television station based in Orlando, Florida, affiliated with the ABC network. It transmits its analog signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter located in Bithlo, Florida, and its digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter located in Christmas, Florida. It is owned by Cox Enterprises along with independent station WRDQ TV 27. The primary news anchors at WFTV are Bob Opsahl and Martie Salt. They anchored the main afternoon newscasts from 1984 through 1994, when Ms. Salt transferred to WFTS, a TV station in Tampa (where she was known as "Martie Tucker"). She returned to anchor WFTV's news again with Opsahl in 2003. Opsahl is one of the longest-serving (at one station) local news anchors in Florida. Barbara West, a 20 year veteran at WFTV and the station's medical reporter is paired with Opsahl at 5:30. Marla Weech, a former anchor for WFTV, was paired up with Bob Opsahl during most of Salt's absence. Weech currently works for WKMG. Tom Terry is the "Chief Meteorologist". WFTV's Severe Weather Center 9 includes WFTV's own doppler weather radar station located at Joint Venture TV Tower Bithlo. Its radar has features that are...

 

WRBW-TV is the MyNetworkTV owned and operated station serving the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, Florida television market. It is owned by the Fox Television Stations Group, along with Fox station WOFL Channel 35. Known on-air as "My65", the station offers sitcoms, cartoons, court shows, and talk/reality shows. Its transmitter is located in Christmas, Florida.

 

WNTF (1580 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Bithlo, Florida, USA, it serves the Orlando area. The station is currently owned by Rama Communications, Inc.

 

WBCC is an educational television station serving the Orlando television market. It broadcasts on UHF channel 68, with a digital signal on channel 30. It is one of the Orlando market's PBS member stations. WBCC's digital signal, on channel 30, offers programming from the University of Central Florida (channel 68.2) and BPS-TV from Brevard Public Schools (channel 68.3), in addition to WBCC's standard programming.

 

WRDQ, channel 27, is an independent television station in Orlando, Florida. Its analog transmitter is located in northeastern Osceola County. The station's digital transmitter is located in Christmas. Onwed by Cox Enterprises, WRDQ is sister to ABC affiliate WFTV. The two stations share studios on East South Street in downtown Orlando. WRDQ offers the Retro Television Network on its second digital subchannel. It can also be seen on Bright House digital channel 1028. Syndicated programming on WRDQ includes: South Park, Scrubs, Merv Griffin's Crosswords, Oprah, According to Jim, and George Lopez. The station can be considered an alternate ABC affiliate. As such, it may take on the responsibility of airing ABC programs whenever WFTV may not be able to do so as in a news-related emergency.

 

WXPX is a television station licensed to Bradenton, Florida. Operating on channel 66, it is an ION Television affiliate, owned and operated by ION Media Networks (formerly Paxson Communications), which has owned the station since its founding in 1994. Current programming on WXPX is virtually the same as other ION affiliates -- infomercials throughout the day and during the overnights, plus ION programming in the evenings. WXPX also shows Tampa Bay Lightning hockey, Orlando Magic basketball, some college football and Tampa Bay Rays baseball, though most of these games are in the evenings only, as WXPX tend to reserve non-prime-time hours for infomercials. Rays games air in high definition on WXPX in the 720p format, the same format as FSN Florida, the producers of the games (See: [1]). The only local programming on WXPX is i on Tampa (public affairs) and the aforementioned Rays and Magic games. The station once aired Miccosukee Magazine along with WPXM Miami and WPXP West Palm Beach, but no longer airs the program. (the latter two stations still do, along with WOPX Orlando) WXPX started in 1994 as WFCT, which featured infomercials at all hours under...

 

Wesh News Cast Bay News 9 Cast Weather Channel

Kristina

 

Abernathy

 

Stephanie

 

Abrams

 

Natalie

 

Allen

 

Tetiana

 

Anderson

 

Adam

 

Berg

 

Mike

 

Bettes

 

Vivian

 

Brown

 

Jim

 

Cantore

 

Jennifer

 

Carfagno

 

Kelly

 

Cass

 

Betty

 

Davis

 

Kristin

 

Dodd

 

Jorma

 

Duran

 

Dr Marcus

 

Eriksen

 

Paul

 

Goodloe

 

Ryan

 

Goswick

 

Rich

 

Johnson

 

Bill

 

Keneely

 

Danny

 

Lipford

 

Warren

 

Madden

 

Mark

 

Mancuso

 

Dr Anna

 

Marie

 

Julie

 

Martin

 

Jeff

 

Mielcarz

 

Jarod

 

Miller

 

Nicole

 

Mitchell

 

Samantha

 

Mohr

 

Jeff

 

Morrow

 

Carl

 

Parker

 

Kim

 

Perez

 

Sharon

 

Resultan

 

Kevin

 

Robinson

 

Marshall

 

Seese

 

Mike

 

Seidel

 

Alexandra

 

Steele

 

Heather

 

Tesch

 

Nick

 

Walker

 

Alex

 

Wallace

Dr Steve Lyons

 

Dr Greg Forbes

 

Dr Heidi Cullen

 

Stu Ostro

Aixa Diaz (NEWS ANCHORS

Jen Holloway

Al Ruechel

Leigh Moody

Erica Riggins

Rick Elmhorst

 

(METEOROLOGISTS)

Mike Clay

Juli Marquez

Josh Linker

Diane Kacmarik

Brian McClure

Alan Winfield

 

(NEWS REPORTERS

Jennifer Anderson

Dalia Dangerfield

Laurie Davison

Melissa Eichman

Samantha Hayes

Chuck Johnson

Troy Kinsey

Jason Lanning

Emily Maza

Carol Minn Vacca

Jonathan Petramala

Josh Rojas

Summer Smith

Kathryn Simmons

Melanie Snow

Melissa Sogegian

Anna Tataris

Ferdinand

Zogbaum

 

(EN ESPANOL

Lydia Guzmán

Roy De Jesús

Sandra Pinto

 

Jim Payne

Syan Rhodes

Martha Sugalski

Scott Walker

Eryka Washington

  

Weather:

Jason Brewer

Tony Mainolfi

Malachi Rodgers

Amy Sweezey

 

WESH.com Web Staff:

Jeff Cousins

Managing Editor

Jessica Seeley

   

Washington Reporters:

 

Sally Kidd

Nikole Killion

Laurie Kinney

 

Orlando Sentinel:

Roger Moore

Movie Critic

 

Sports:

 

Pat Clarke

Guy Rawlings

   

Reporters:

Danielle Bellini

Dan Billow

Greg Fox

Bob Kealing

Jeff Lennox

Craig Lucie

Dave McDaniel

Michelle Meredith

Claire Metz

Amanda Ober

Kendra Oestreich

Gail Paschall-Brown

Tim Trudell

Todd Wilson

 

Other Talent:

Jason Chepenik

Financial Analyst

Dr. Todd Husty

Dan McCarthy

Chopper 2 Pilot

Kimberly Williams

Traffic Reporter

From www.slossfurnaces.com:

 

In the years following the Civil War, railroad men, land developers and speculators moved into Jones Valley to take advantage of the area’s rich mineral resources. All the ingredients needed to make iron lay within a thirty-mile radius. Seams of iron ore stretched for 25 miles through Red Mountain, the southeastern boundary of Jones Valley. To the north and west were abundant deposits of coal, while limestone, dolomite, and clay underlay the valley itself. In 1871 southern entrepreneurs founded a new city called Birmingham and began the systematic exploitation of its minerals.

 

One of these men was Colonel James Withers Sloss, a north Alabama merchant and railroad man. Colonel Sloss played an important role in the founding of the city by convincing the L&N Railroad to capitalize completion of the South and North rail line through Jones Valley, the site of the new town. In 1880, having helped form the Pratt Coke and Coal Company, which mined and sold Birmingham’s first high-grade coking coal, he founded the Sloss Furnace Company, and two years later “blew-in” the second blast furnace in Birmingham.

 

Construction of Sloss’s new furnace (City Furnaces) began in June 1881, when ground was broken on a fifty-acre site that had been donated by the Elyton Land Company. Harry Hargreaves, a European-born engineer, was in charge of construction. Hargreaves had been a pupil of Thomas Whitwell, a British inventor who designed the stoves that would supply the hot-air blast for the new furnaces. Sixty feet high and eighteen feet in diameter, Sloss’s new Whitwell stoves were the first of their type ever built in Birmingham and were comparable to similar equipment used in the North. Local observers were proud that much of the machinery used by Sloss’s new furnaces would be of Southern manufacture. It included two blowing engines and ten boilers, thirty feet long and forty-six inches in diameter. In April 1882, the furnaces went into blast. After its first year of operations, the furnace had sold 24,000 tons of iron. At the 1883 Louisville Exposition, the company won a bronze medal for ‘best pig iron.’

 

During the 1880s, as pig iron production in Alabama grew from 68,995 to 706,629 gross tons, no fewer than nineteen blast furnaces would be built in Jefferson County alone. Per Dr. W. David Lewis, author of Sloss Furnaces and the Rise of the Birmingham District, Sloss Furnaces was born at a time when the “doldrums of the postwar era had ended and the South was feeling a measure of confidence for the first time since the opening years of the Civil War.”

 

Town planners, railroad magnates, and industrialists such as, Sloss received, as one Alabama newspaper stated, “a degree of adulation previously reserved for military heroes.” In November 1881, the Birmingham press promoted Sloss as a candidate for governor. “His excellent business qualifications, brilliant intellect, splendid character, and fine executive ability, all combined, make him the grandest man in Alabama today for our chief executive. He is the very personification of Christian manhood and integrity, possessing the qualifications of head and heart which we should emulate.” Inspired by such rhetoric, Alabama, not surprisingly, eagerly embraced what was being called the "gospel of industrialism."

 

James W. Sloss retired in 1886 and sold the company to a group of financiers who guided it through a period of rapid expansion. The company reorganized in 1899 as Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron, although it was never to make steel. With the acquisition of additional furnaces and extensive mineral lands in northern Alabama, Sloss-Sheffield became the second largest merchant pig-iron company in the Birmingham district. Company assets included seven blast furnaces, 1500 beehive coke ovens, 120,000 acres of coal and ore land, five Jefferson County coal mines and two red ore mines, brown ore mines, and quarries in North Birmingham. By World War I, Sloss-Sheffield was among the largest producers of pig iron in the world.

 

In the late 1930s World War II expanded the market for iron and steel and created jobs for Birmingham workers. By 1941 when America entered the war, nearly half the labor force was employed by the iron and steel and mining industries; more than two-thirds of the industries’ workers were African-American.

 

Despite being dominated by black labor, the industrial workplace was rigidly segregated until the 1960s. Workers at Sloss bathed in separate bath houses, punched separate time clocks, attended separate company picnics. More important was the segregation of jobs.

 

The company operated as a hierarchy. At the top there was an all white group of managers, chemists, accountants, and engineers; at the bottom an all black “labor gang” assisted, (until its demise in 1928, by the use of convict labor). Sloss utitlized the convict leasing system only in its coal mines. As Lewis noted in Sloss Furnaces, “....convict labor, mostly black, was an important weapon in the district’s economic warfare with northern manufacturing.” Slavery had not died but merely been transformed.

 

In the middle a racially mixed group performed a variety of skilled and semi-skilled jobs. Even in the middle-group, however, white workers held the higher paying, higher status “title” positions–stove tenders, boiler-makers, carpenters, and machinists. Black workers were restricted to such “helper” roles as carpenter helper, machinist helper, and stove tender helper.

 

By the 1960s and 1970s technological changes transform Birmingham’s industrial economy. The introduction of ductile iron and plastic pipe, combined with the foundry trade’s increasing reliance on scrap iron, helped undermine the merchant pig iron industry. Stricter air pollution standards, competition from foreign imports, and mismanagement in the industry resulted in a general decline of the American iron and steel industry. Sloss too was affected by the industry’s downturn. U.S. Pipe and Foundry, which had purchased the plant in 1952, was acquired by the Jim Walter Corporation in 1969. Less than two years later, Sloss Furnaces, the oldest remaining blast furnaces in Birmingham, were shut down.

 

The Jim Walter Corporation donated the property to the Alabama State Fair Authority with the hopes that it could be developed as a museum of industry. After several years, the State Fair Authority determined that preservation of the plant was not feasible and announced plans to demolish it. The threatened demolition of Sloss stirred a great public controversy. Proponents of preservation organized the Sloss Furnace Association to lobby for saving the site, resting their arguments on Sloss’s historic and cultural importance to the City and its role as a symbol of the technology that once made Birmingham the foremost industrial center of the South.

 

Since preservation of an industrial site the scale and complexity of Sloss had never been attempted, the project drew national attention. In 1976 the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), the Department of the Interior, and the City of Birmingham funded a survey of Sloss which documented its national historic significance. The State Fair Authority transferred control of Sloss to the City of Birmingham and in 1977 Birmingham voters passed a $3.3 million bond to begin the work of preserving the old ironmaking plant.

 

Sloss received National Historic Landmark designation in 1981 and opened its gates in September 1983, as a museum of the City of Birmingham. Its collection consists of two 400-ton blast furnaces and some forty other buildings.

 

Nothing remains of the original furnace complex. The oldest building on the site dates from 1902 and houses the eight steam-driven “blowing-engines” used to provide air for combustion in the furnaces. The engines themselves date from the period 1900-1902 and are a unique and important collection—engines such as these powered America’s Industrial Revolution. The boilers, installed in 1906 and 1914, produced steam for the site until it closed in 1970.

 

Between 1927 and 1931 the plant underwent a concentrated program of mechanization. Most of its major operation equipment—the blast furnaces and the charging and casting machinery–was replaced at this time. In 1927-28, the two furnaces were rebuilt, enlarged, and refitted with mechanical charging equipment, doubling the plant’s production capacity.

 

While the site strongly reflects the changes made from 1927-1931, some of the technology is more current. The company built a dehumidification plant during World War II to reduce consumption of coke. Use of the system was discontinued when the war ended, but the building and equipment remain. In the late 1940s the company two slag granulators to produce the “expanded slag” needed to make structural concrete, mineral wool and other products. Finally, in 1949 and 1951 the company replaced the old blowing engines with two-turbo blowers.

 

About two-thirds of the historic structures on the site were stabilized using the bond funds approved by Birmingham voters in 1977. Parts of the site were also adapted for use as a center for community and civic events and for an innovative program in metal arts. Sloss now hosts concerts, festivals, and conferences, as well as workshops and exhibitions of metal art. By helping people form new attachments to the old furnaces, these programs keep Sloss an active and important part of the community, as it was for almost a hundred years.

 

Sloss is currently the only twentieth-century blast furnace in the U.S. being preserved and interpreted as an historic industrial site. The dramatic scale and complexity of the plant’s industrial structure, machines and tools make the Sloss collection a unique contribution to the interpretation of twentieth-century ironmaking technology and presents a remarkable perspective on the era when America grew to world industrial dominance. At the same time, Sloss is an important reminder of the hopes and struggles of the people who worked in the industries that made some men wealthy, and Birmingham the “Magic City.”

 

Please visit the Sloss Furnaces Website at www.slossfurnaces.com. The preceding text came from this site.

Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station, a station which is shared with the normal gauge Conwy Valley Line and the Ffestiniog Railway Narrow Gauge Railway. Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales.

 

The first railway to be built in Blaenau Ffestiniog was the Festiniog Railway, which opened for slate traffic in 1836. The main line terminated at Dinas to the north west of the town (now buried under the spoil tip) with a branch line from a junction near Glanypwll to Duffws near the town centre. The first passenger trains ran from Porthmadog to Dinas on 6 January 1865 and the passenger station at Duffws opened in January 1866. Until 1870 alternate trains ran to Dinas and Duffws but by the end of 1870 Dinas passenger station had closed and all passenger services from then on terminated at Duffws. An interchange station with the LNWR (known as Stesion Fein) was opened in 1881, and an interchange with the GWR opened in 1883. In 1931, Duffws closed as a passenger station, and the GWR exchange station became the terminus. The main Duffws station building survives as a grade 2 listed building, now serving as a public toilet block on the central car park.

 

Meanwhile, the narrow gauge Festiniog and Blaenau Railway had opened from Llan Ffestiniog to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 29 May 1868. Its station was located where the FR foot access gate is now located. The line was initially worked by the Ffestiniog Railway and all slate traffic on the F&BR throughout its existence was carried in FR owned wagons. The FR and F&BR stations were both called Duffws although they were several hundred yards apart and passengers walked between the two. On 1 September 1882 the standard gauge Bala Ffestiniog Line reached the Llan Ffestiniog from the south. The following year the narrow gauge line was converted, with the station re-opening on 10 September 1883.

 

The first standard gauge railway reached the town in 1879. It was the London and North Western Railway Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno Junction, which established its slate yards at the northern end of Blaenau Ffestiniog and built its passenger station near Glanypwll and across the road from the Ffestiniog Railway on which an interchange station was built in 1881. The LNWR had built this line in order to seek a share of the Ffestiniog slate traffic (including that then being carried by coastal steamer from Porthmadog to ports on the Irish sea and elsewhere). To this end they established a slate wharf at Deganwy and a feature of early LNWR operation of the line was the carriage of slate in narrow gauge wagons from Blaenau to Deganwy pick-a-back on standard gauge wagons. So highly did the LNWR rate the commercial prospects of Blaenau Ffestiniog that in the 1880s they established their own hotel in the town, now demolished; it features on LNWR publicity of the period.

 

The last major change in the 19th century was the construction of the Great Western Railway line from Bala to Llan Ffestiniog and the conversion of the Festiniog and Blaenau line to standard gauge in 1883. The Ffestiniog Railway provided an interchange platform adjoining the GWR station. From 1883 until 1930 there were therefore five railway passenger stations in use in Blaenau Ffestiniog (GWR, LNWR, FR Duffws, the FR-GWR interchange, and the FR-LNWR interchange Stesion Fein). Duffws station closed in 1931 and the two remaining FR stations closed at the outbreak of war in 1939. A feature of GWR operation of this line from 1883 to 1945 was the carriage of slate in narrow gauge wagons from Tanymanod to Blaenau (about ¾ mile) pick-a-back on standard gauge wagons.

 

Following nationalisation, the LMS (LNWR) station was renamed Blaenau Ffestiniog North and the GWR station became Blaenau Ffestiniog Central. The construction of the Tryweryn reservoir from 1958 brought the closure of the former GWR line to passengers on 2 January 1960 and to freight trains on 27 January 1961. Later, the construction of the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in 1963 led to the extension of the Conwy Valley line to the Central station site in order to provide rail access to the power station. Passenger services continued to terminate at Blaenau Ffestiniog North.

 

In 1982, with the completion of the rebuilding of the Festiniog Railway back to Blaenau Ffestiniog, the new Ffestiniog Railway/British Rail Joint Station was opened on the site of the Festiniog Railway/GWR Joint Station of 1883. British Rail trains first used the new station on 22 March 1982 and Festiniog Railway services to Blaenau Ffestiniog were resumed on 25 May 1982. The former LNWR "North" station on the Conwy Valley line was therefore closed. The FR Stesion Fein station was not rebuilt.

 

The new joint station was officially opened on 30 April 1983 by George Thomas, Speaker of the House of Commons, who unveiled a plaque at the station recording his visit. The Royal Oakeley Silver Band and the Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir led the celebrations.

 

Between 2022 and 2026, the SR 167 Completion Project will build the first 2 miles of new SR 167, directly connecting I-5 to SR 509 and the Port of Tacoma. The project includes a new interchange over I-5 and shared-use path alongside the highway.

Caiti Baker, a vocalist and front woman raised on the sounds that birthed popular music, released her debut album ZINC on October 6 2017. Born into a household filled with vinyl, CDs and tapes of blues, soul, gospel, jazz, big band and rock & roll, Caiti’s father, a blues musician himself, made sure that she was raised amongst music. Whether it was playing on the stereo, in the car, at a concert or attending week long festivals – music was everywhere.

 

As a child, Caiti developed a love and appreciation for the pioneering music but was drawn obsessively to Hip Hop, R&B,

New Jack Swing and Neo soul. After being given an 8 track digital recorder, she learnt how to write and record songs on

her own from the age of 12. Inspired by the greats like Aretha Franklin, Big Mamma Thornton, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James and Little Walter; Caiti began to take notes on Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill,

Janet Jackson and Faith Evans.

 

She got better at writing and singing and formed an electro-soul act with bass player and producer James Mangohig in her early 20s called Sietta. Together they toured nationally and internationally, supported some great acts, played many festivals, released 2 EPs and 2 albums which had a few songs that got some air play on a few great radio stations.

 

In the later months of 2014, Caiti decided to step out on her own. A catalyst for doing so began with the reunion between

Caiti herself and her father after a 4 year falling out. Upon this reunion, Caiti’s father gave her a USB sample bank of his original guitar licks, harmonica ideas and riffs which were recorded on his mobile phone.

 

Passing the USB key to James Mangohig, who is now an ARIA nominated producer (Daniel Johns, Briggs), Caiti and James teamed up with ARIA award winning double bassist and producer Michael Hohnen (Dr G. Yunupingu, Tom E Lewis) to become a production force that no one can mess with. Together, the three of them have been writing, honing and recording songs that link 2 eras and a plethora of genres together to form a sound that is only unique to Caiti Baker.

 

In 2015, Caiti signed to Perambulator Records in Darwin. She released her debut single ‘Heavy On My Heart’ in August 2016 to great acclaim and in January 2017, Caiti released her second single ‘Make Your Own Mistakes’. In August 2017, drawing nearer to the completion of her debut album, Caiti released monster jam ‘Wolf’ to many rave reviews. Following it up with the fourth single ‘I Won’t Sleep’, an energetic driving track about regaining her identity after recovering from having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 6 years.

 

In the winter of 2015, she toured with and supported Dr. G Yunupingu on his Gospel Album Tour. Throughout 2016/17,

Caiti has joined A.B. Original (Briggs and Trials) as a special guest on tour dates (Hilltop Hoods Restrung Tour, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival) and festival gigs. She is also a featured vocalist for A.B. Original, a backing vocalist for Briggs and is heavily affiliated with his record label Bad Apples. After debuting her music at the Darwin Festival (‘16), Caiti embarked on an extensive headline tour over 4 months down the east coast, followed by 2 support runs with Dan Sultan and Son Little (USA) where she was accompanied by guitarist Lindsay “The Doctor” McDougall.

 

So far, In 2017, Caiti played (with great acclaim) at the renown world music festival Womad. She has also supported Australian chart-topper Guy Sebastian and American legend Booker T. Caiti can also be heard and seen featuring on a track with Briggs which was written for the NRL Fox League called ‘Here’. Together, Briggs and Caiti performed the song live at Brisbane’s SunCorp Stadium for the National Indigenous Round Game in May. Caiti also found time to hang out in the studio with Pete Murray to lay down some backing vocals for 2 songs on his long awaited album Camacho. Whilst back home taking a break from touring to finish her album, Caiti attended and performed at the NT Song of The Year Awards. Her first single ‘Heavy On My Heart’ won best Blues & Roots song whilst her second single ‘Make Your Own Mistakes’ won best Pop song as well as ‘Song Of The Year’.

 

Caiti writes songs about what she knows and feels, sings with her soul and unashamedly performs the hell out of them.

But that will all be obvious when you hear her music and watch her perform, which will have you either dancing or chilling

with a grin on your face.

Catching up with recent additions: 20 Fenchurch Street approaching completion, 122 Leadenhall Street taking its place between Tower 42 and the Willis Building, and Three Quays, with its red tower cranes, is slowly gaining cladding.

 

Tidy Thames I and Eileena are moored up in the foreground.

 

Panasonic G2 with 14-42mm kit lens.

The north-east face looking from Crown House - unchanged (apart from fire escape) from 1895

 

Inverness Royal Academy received its "Royal" title by virtue of a Charter from King George III in 1793, the year after it was established in New Street (now Academy Street) in Inverness Town Centre - having removed from Dunbar's Hospital nearby (where the establishement was called Inverness Grammar School).

 

After nearly a century in Academy Street, the town of Inverness (and the adjacent railway station) was hemming it in and larger premises were necessary. Accordingly a convenient site (on the Crown plateau directly above the Town Centre) was acquired - in the grounds of Crown House - and this lovely building was the result. Designed in the form of a Roman villa by the architectural partnership of Alexander Ross and Robert J. MacBeth, the two-story building was begun in 1893 and completed in 1895. Additions were made over the years - notably the Art & Science School block (1911-1913) and a modern annex was added in the 1960s to house an enlarged pupil-base, comprising History/Geography and Technical Subjects along with a new larger Assembly Hall. The advent of comprehensive education in the 1970s rendered the building obsolete and in the wrong place - by then Secondary Schools had designated gerographic catchment areas. Thus a new modern (concrete) school was built at Culduthel on the southern outskirts of Inverness to be the new Inverness Royal Academy from 1977-79. The Midmills Building (as the 1895-1979 one) was called thereafter fulfilled various functions, including acting as primary school overspill, and then temporary home for another out-of-town secondary school till its own building was completed. Thereafter the building was taken over by Inverness College as an annexe. Now that inverness Colelge is part of the University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) whose new campus at Beechwood on the eastern edge of Inverness is nearing completion, Midmills is yet again surplus to requirements and the Scottish Government have put it up for sale. Generations of former pupils (myself included) await with bated breath the outsome of such sale of what is one of the most beatufiul and most interesting buildings in the Inverness area.

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individual memorials attached to trees throughout the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, Staffordshire, England. Sadly, this one is not the newest one, but is a poignant reminder that wars go on, and men and women continue to die serving their country, their names as they fall added to a never ending list.

  

Gunner Cusack was participating in a routine reassurance patrol when he was killed aged 21 during a small arms fire engagement with insurgent forces in an area around Enezai Village.

 

He was born on 16 September 1989 in Stoke-on-Trent. He joined the Army in September 2006, attending the Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

 

Upon completion of his training, he was posted to 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, then based in Osnabrück, Germany.

 

He joined 97 Battery (Lawson's Company) and deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 7 as a member of a light gun detachment. Upon returning from Afghanistan, he moved with the regiment to Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.

 

Having impressed with his fitness, aptitude and enthusiasm, Gunner Cusack was selected to transfer to a Fire Support Team and undertook extensive training in Canada between June and July 2009 before commencing Mission Specific Training for Operation HERRICK 12 in September last year.

 

His Fire Support Team moved under the command of 129 (Dragon) Battery at the beginning of 2010 and he deployed to Afghanistan in March, based in Nahr-e Saraj (South) with Malta Company, 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, supporting 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

 

During his time in Afghanistan, his Fire Support Team conducted dozens of joint patrols with the Afghan National Army to reassure the local population in Nahr-e Saraj and prevent intimidation of villagers by the insurgents.

 

It was on one of these reassurance patrols in an area around Enezai Village that he was killed in action during a small arms fire engagement with insurgent forces.

 

A keen sportsman and fitness enthusiast, Gunner Cusack thrived on life. Whether boxing, playing football or in the gym, he gave his all.

 

He excelled in his position as Fire Support Team signaller and was a key personality within his crew. Socially gregarious, he was an extremely popular member of his battery, and his energy and enthusiasm were contagious.

 

An only child, he leaves behind his mother Tracey, father Sean and step-dad Dave.

       

"Gunner Zak Cusack was a big man with the personality to go with it. Young, fit and with a healthy love of life, he was always close to, or at the heart of, the action."

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Squier

   

Gunner Cusack's family said:

  

"Zak was a courageous, compassionate and charismatic young man. We are justly proud of not only the job that he did, but of the complete person we all knew and loved. For such a young man, Zak's infectious sense of humour, appetite for life and truly romantic heart inspired so many others.

 

"Zak's loss leaves a hole in our hearts, a chasm in our lives and many, many other broken hearts behind. He had a fire in his soul that will burn brightly in all our memories. He is our beautiful boy, loving son and best friend; in Zak's own words, 'he is a ledge' (legend)."

 

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Squier, Commanding Officer, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Gunner Zak Cusack was a big man with the personality to go with it. Young, fit and with a healthy love of life, he was always close to, or at the heart of, the action.

 

"A Stoke City fan in the North East Gunners will always have his work cut out, but his combination of cheeky charm and buoyant character always won out.

 

"As a soldier he had already given more than most in his short life. This was his second tour of Afghanistan having deployed in 2007 on his 18th birthday. True to his character and commitment he fought hard to move from the Gun Line to become a member of a Fire Support Team.

 

"Here his true potential shone through – he was a man made for the role. He fell as he had lived life, in the thick of things and with his mates in 97 Battery (Lawson's Company) and B (Malta) Company 1 MERCIAN.

 

"My thoughts and condolences go out to his parents Tracey and Sean and his many friends at home whose true loss we can only imagine. He will remain Forever Fourth."

 

Major Rich Grover, Company Commander B (Malta) Company, 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) said:

  

"In the short time I had the privilege of commanding Gunner Cusack, he proved to be a highly professional and competent forward observer who carried a ready smile and fun loving attitude.

 

"The measure of the man was the fact that the platoons wanted him with them for the patrols as they trusted him, and he had already proven that when the going got tough, he was able to step up to the plate and deliver; just the type of man required in a tight spot.

 

"His loss will be felt by us all, and our thoughts go out to his family and friends, all those who love him."

       

"Although having only been attached to my Battery for a short time, Gunner Zak Cusack has made a lasting impression on all of us."

Major Nick Constable

   

Major Matt Birch, Battery Commander 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Gunner Zak Cusack was an excellent man and soldier whom I got to know well whilst working in the confines of the same vehicle for a two month exercise in BATUS, Canada, last year.

 

"This was effectively the beginning of our build-up training for the current deployment to Afghanistan; I was immediately struck by his energy and work ethic whilst being in the field. This was Zak at his best, a fit and resourceful soldier who cared and worked tirelessly for the other members of the Battery.

 

"When we were challenged by hard times he would maintain a level head but also lighten our spirits with his enduring wit.

 

"This strength of character and fun loving attitude made him a central character on the Battery's social stage.

 

"His professionalism made him respected throughout the Battery; I already anticipated promoting him during this tour and he was displaying the capability to develop further within the Battery's Tactical Group.

 

"He proved himself on operations during both tours of Afghanistan, as the soldier that you wanted by your side in the face of adversity.

 

"He embodied the Lawson's spirit of professionalism and fun. His loss will affect the heart of the Battery family and we know that the remainder of us will have to work twice as hard to make up for the huge gap he has left.

 

"Zak personified the spirit of an artilleryman at its best and we will miss him deeply.

 

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this most difficult of times."

 

Major Nick Constable, Battery Commander 129 (Dragon) Battery, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Although having only been attached to my Battery for a short time, Gunner Zak Cusack has made a lasting impression on all of us.

 

"He was a young man with tremendous energy, a sharp wit and a zest for life.

 

"His stories of escapades on the town with his many friends were a constant source of amusement.

 

"I knew Zak as a soldier in a job which he loved and focussed on operations. He was an extremely capable forward observer with tremendous potential for the future, a talented radio operator and a courageous individual who would put his team members and friends before himself.

 

"Only one week prior to his tragic death, exhausted, whilst returning from a patrol which received a casualty he relieved a tiring stretcher party of their burden by putting his injured colleague over his shoulders and carrying him through boggy terrain to safety; such was the determined and selfless character of Gunner Cusack."

 

Capt Stu Lennox, Fire Support Team Commander, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"I have never seen Zak without a smile on his face. He was a constant source of morale and cherished not only by his Fire Support Team but the entire Battery.

 

"He had incredible potential and ability and also a thirst for fun and adventure.

 

"Zak was dedicated to his physical fitness, his friends and his job within the Fire Support Team.

 

"He was always a good addition to any social occasion and would often tell me stories of his crazy nights out.

      

"I have never seen Zak without a smile on his face. He was a constant source of morale and cherished not only by his Fire Support Team but the entire Battery."

Capt Stu Lennox

    

"However, at the same time, he would spend many hours a day in the gym ensuring he was both capable of doing his job and ready for the beach on post tour leave."

 

Warrant Officer Class Two (Troop Sergeant Major) Marc Ravenhill, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Zak was a larger than life character in the Troop and indeed within the Battery who made friends easily.

 

"He was always a highly motivated individual who wanted to be involved in everything the Tactical Group took part in and would never shy away from a new challenge.

 

"Zak could always be found wherever the action was, be that at work, on the sports pitch or on a social basis with his friends.

 

"He was a keen, bright and talented soldier who was not scared to stand up for what he believed in.

 

"Zak will be sadly missed by all members of the Troop and the Battery. My sympathies go to his family and friends at this time."

 

Bombardier Paul Madden, Command Post Non-Commissioned Officer, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"He was a well known member of the Battery and the Regiment. He was always happy and making jokes even when times were hard.

 

"It is hard to believe that we saw him just the other week, he was so happy to see the boys, telling us how much he was enjoying himself. He will be sorely missed by his friends and our thoughts go out to him and his family."

   

Bombardier Dougie Collins, Forward Air Controller, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery said:

  

"Zak was the life and soul of the party, always there to make dull situations bright.

 

"Some looked upon him as being a bit of a Jack the Lad, I looked upon him as a man's man.

 

"Zak would always give 100% in everything that he did, be it at work, or at play, and never needing any encouragement, because he was always at the forefront of everything.

 

"As a friend he will be massively missed by all who knew him and he has left a void that can never be filled.

 

"He has written his own page in history and his memory will live on in all of us. Zak has brought us all joy and happiness and for that I am thankful."

 

Bombardier Dave Southern, Joint Fires Junior Non-Commissioned Officer, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery said:

  

"Zak was very much a lad's lad, he was always at the centre of everything, be it socially or professionally.

 

"He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He has left a massive gap amongst his friends in the Regiment and the Tactical Group that knew him best. I will miss the banter whenever Bolton played Stoke.

 

"My deepest condolences go to his family and friends back home on their loss; Zak will always be a part of 97 Battery Tactical Group and will never be forgotten."

      

"I have never in my life known a lad like Zak, outgoing, easy to get on with and a wicked sense of humour, his ability to put most of us to shame in PT will stay with me."

Lance Bombardier Nath Mandall

   

Lance Bombardier Nath Mandall, Joint Fires Junior Non-Commissioned Officer, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"I have never in my life known a lad like Zak, outgoing, easy to get on with and a wicked sense of humour, his ability to put most of us to shame in PT will stay with me.

 

"He loved being a soldier and took great pride in his job and everything he did, always a team player and never needed to be asked twice to get something done.

 

"Zak will be sorely missed within the Battery and in the Regiment, as well as on nights out socially.

 

"My thoughts and best wishes go out to you and your family at this time. He will never be forgotten by all those who have had the great pleasure to have known him."

 

Lance Bombardier Paulo Liga, Gun Number, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"A good lad. He was a good bloke, always happy, one of the best guys in the Battery. He had something in him that no one else had – the personality and character he had was so special that I knew he was going a long way in his career.

 

"I was with him on the last HERRICK tour which clearly influenced him and he grew very strong.

 

"A good laugh out on the town in Germany, we will miss him. My condolences go to his family and may the good Lord continue to be with his family in these times.

 

"May his soul rest in peace."

 

Lance Bombardier Scott Casson, Joint Fires Junior Non-Commissioned Officer, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery said:

  

"Zak was a character who was larger than life; he was an extremely popular lad within the Battery, even more so within the Tactical Group.

 

"Zak was always up for a laugh, and the first one up for a party, and never short of a story of his escapades from the weekend.

 

"At work Zak was a very dedicated and professional soldier, always giving 100% all of the time.

 

"Highly respected and looked up to by the junior lads, and an equal amongst his peers, he will be sadly missed by all within the Regiment."

 

Gunner Daniel Pugh, Fire Support Team Signaller, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Zak Cusack, what a guy. Serving alongside Cusack was an honour because he was a professional and selfless soldier who put others before himself, even in his personal life.

 

"He has made times feel so much better than what they have because he had a special way to bring the best out of every situation, bad or good and I will miss him greatly."

 

Gunner Graham Thompson, Joint Fires Signaller, 129 (Dragon) Battery, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Zak was a great friend who will be truly missed. He will never be forgotten; all the lads will remember him. I will miss those fun times we had and especially the nights on the town."

 

Gunner 'Chappy' Chapman, Fire Support Team Assistant, 97 Battery (Lawson's Company), 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:

  

"Zak was a friend in a million, with so many stories that will remain with me forever, thinking of you all at this very difficult time."

 

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:

  

"Gunner Zak Cusack made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of his country. He was killed whilst providing security to the local population following recent attempts by the Taliban to intimidate them.

 

"It is clear that he was hugely valued by his friends and comrades as a professional and selfless soldier, and they all speak highly of his wit and strong spirit.

 

"My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and his colleagues who served with him on this vital mission as they come to terms with his loss."

 

Gates of Bra

The Gates of Bra is a port of Verona built along the walls of the medieval to connect Piazza Bra campaign.

 

History

In a document dated 1257 is mentioned for the first time a port of Braida , in the area where presently there are the gates of the Bra. This port, with adjoining postern, are mentioned for the last time two centuries later, in 1459 . The current gates were built - the second Simeoni - on the occasion of the completion of covered walkway that connected the Citadel at Castelvecchio . The double arch would find explanation in the fact that the West would serve as a port, while the eastern to the moat. As for the construction, it must be attributed to Visconti ( 1389th - 1402nd ), since in 1404 the coming of Carrara already existed connecting covered.

 

Structure

The gates are formed of two arches to all sixth, and between them, at the top, there is an antique clock. The construction materials are the marble to the bottom, and brick red for the top, where it passes a crenellated walkway.

 

To the right of the door is the Pentagonal tower , a defensive tower, dating back to the municipality.

 

The Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy, which is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. Amphitheatre

The building itself was built in AD 30 on a site which was then beyond the city walls. The ludi (shows and games) staged there were so famous that spectators came from many other places, often far away, to witness them. The amphitheatre could host more than 30,000 spectators in ancient times.

 

The round façade of the building was originally composed of white and pink limestone from Valpolicella, but after a major earthquake in 1117, which almost completely destroyed the structure's outer ring, except for the so-called "ala", the stone was quarried for re-use in other buildings. Nevertheless it impressed medieval visitors to the city, one of whom considered it to have been a labyrinth, without ingress or egress. Ciriaco d'Ancona was filled with admiration for the way it had been built and Giovanni Antonio Panteo's civic panegyric De laudibus veronae, 1483, remarked that it struck the viewer as a construction that was more than human. Musical theatre

The first interventions to recover the arena's function as a theatre began during the Renaissance. Some operatic performances were later mounted in the building during the 1850s, owing to its outstanding acoustics.

 

And in 1913, operatic performances in the arena commenced in earnest due to the zeal and initiative of the Italian opera tenor Giovanni Zenatello and the impresario Ottone Rovato. The first 20th-century operatic production at the arena, a staging of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, took place on 10 August of that year, to mark the birth of Verdi 100 years before in 1813. Musical luminaries such as Puccini and Mascagni were in attendance. Since then, summer seasons of opera have been mounted continually at the arena, except in 1915â18 and 1940â45, when Europe was convulsed in war.

 

Nowadays, at least four productions (sometimes up to six) are mounted each year between June and August. During the winter months, the local opera and ballet companies perform at the L'Accademia Filarmonica.

 

Modern-day travellers are advised that admission tickets to sit on the arena's stone steps are much cheaper to buy than tickets giving access to the padded chairs available on lower levels. Candles are distributed to the audience and lit after sunset around the arena.

 

Every year over 500,000 people see productions of the popular operas in this arena.[3] Once capable of housing 20,000 patrons per performance (now limited to 15,000 because of safety reasons), the arena has featured many of world's most notable opera singers. In the post-World War II era, they have included Giuseppe Di Stefano, Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi and Renata Tebaldi among other names. A number of conductors have appeared there, too. The official arena shop has historical recordings made by some of them available for sale.

 

The opera productions in the Verona Arena had not used any microphones or loudspeakers until an electronic sound reinforcement system was installed in 2011.

 

In recent times, the arena has also hosted several concerts of international rock and pop bands, among which Laura Pausini, Pink Floyd, Alicia Keys, One Direction, Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Deep Purple, The Who, Dire Straits, Mike Oldfield, Rod Stewart, Sting, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, Björk, Muse, Paul McCartney, Jamiroquai, and Whitney Houston.

 

In 1981, 1984 and 2010 it hosted the podium and presentation of the Giro d'Italia with thousands packing the arena to watch the prizes being handed out.

 

The 2011 Bollywood film Rockstar directed by Imtiaz Ali starring Ranbir Kapoor with music composed by Academy Award winner A.R.Rahman opens and closes with musical concerts shot here.

 

On 26 March 2013, Paul McCartney confirmed a show at the venue as part of his 2013 Tour. The show is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 25 June 2013.

British-Irish boy band One Direction performed on 19 May 2013 as part of their Take Me Home Tour

Piazza Bra , or simply the Bra (a name derived from a corruption of the term "Braida", which in turn derives from the Lombard breit , or "off"), is the largest square in Verona , located in its center historian .

 

The square of Piazza Bra began to turn into only the first half of the sixteenth century , when the architect Michele San Micheli concluded the palace of Honorij : this building was to delimit the western side of the square of the future, as well as to establish a correct outlook on the ' Arena . The first attempt to transform the clearing dirt road instead of walking, however, was the mayor Alvise Mocenigo, who wanted to create a meeting place for the rising bourgeoisie Verona: he was able to inaugurate the first part of the Liston , a paved sidewalk that lines connecting the Bra Corso Porta Nuova in Via Mazzini , in 1770. La Gran Guardia , begun by the Venetians in the seventeenth century and completed by the Austrians in the ' Nineteenth Century , went to delimit the southern side of the square, while in 1836 the architect Giuseppe Barbieri designed the eastern edge, where a hospital were demolished, some houses and a church, which was built in place of the Gran Guardia Nuova , better known as Palazzo Barbieri. This, initially used as a barracks by the Austrians, became, as a result of ' annexation of Veneto to the Kingdom of Italy , the seat of the municipality of the City of Verona.

 

History

Origins

In Roman times , the place where you would then open the Bra was outside the city and yet away from the main roads. It is only since the first century AD, when it was built the ' amphitheater in the Roman Empire, better known as the Arena of Verona , who came to define the northern edge of what centuries later would become one of the main squares of Verona. In 305 the Emperor Galerius , during a short stay in the city, he opened a door along the walls which was built in 265 by the Emperor Gallienus , which surrounded the Arena went thus creating a first connection between the city and the place where later would be born Bra.

 

The square, however, began to abbozzarsi only in the Middle Ages: the walls of the city was enlarged at that point between 1130 and 1153, going to close so that piece of land that later would become, coming to have the size of a square. Those areas between the walls and the Roman city walls were called braide, from the Lombard breit ; the braida that could match the current Bra in the twelfth century was far more extensive than at the edge of the square today.

 

A door that the Braida along the city walls is already mentioned in a document dated 1257, but later his place was taken by the gates of the Bra , probably due to the Visconti and to the Venetians : the first arch is dated to the late fourteenth century and the second to the second half of the fifteenth century. The clock that is located between the two arches of the gates of the Bra was a gift of Count Antonio Nogarola made ââin 1871: it was installed with the dials is visible from one side on the other walls. The clock was inaugurated on June 2, 1872 and refurbished in 1879 because of its vagueness.

 

Development

Piazza Bra after the arrangement of the central gardens

Piazza Bra in the mid-twentieth century.

The Bra began to be defined as a square only in the first decade of the seventeenth century, when they started on the south side of the factories Gran Guardia and the seat of the ' Accademia Filarmonica of Verona . In conjunction with the factory della Gran Guardia became the leveling the square as possible, and also create some gradients to regulate the flow of stormwater, operation up to that time never practiced because the space was used by stonemasons, that here, as well as work, abandoning the resulting material, and because the clearing was used for the discharge of material from construction in progress in the area.

 

For others, one hundred and fifty years the space was in clay, in fact, only in 1770 the foundations were laid of Liston will of the mayor Alvise Mocenigo. On March 13, 1782 Francis Menegatti presented a project to the final lastricamento of Liston that the City Council approved and, after this surgery, the bra became the favorite place for afternoon walks in place of Piazza dei Signori . Goethe , in his essay Journey to Italy , describes enjoyed the arrival carriage with ladies and gentlemen, and said that the sunset loitered along the rim of the amphitheater enjoying the most beautiful views of the city. I insole and down on the pavement off the Bra 'walked a multitude of people .

 

The square was smoothed more times: in 1808 he was entrusted with the task of remaking the Liston architect Luigi Trezza and in 1820 excavations were carried out along the Arena, in order to bring to light the basis of the same, as it was buried about two feet because of the sediments that were deposited after the numerous floods that had undergone the city. He also opted for a lowering of the average level of Bra about 70 centimeters along a line slightly inclined from the Gran Guardia At Arena, lowering the share of Liston.

 

Plan of Bra in a drawing by Giuseppe Barbieri

As for the lighting, until the eighteenth century the bra at night was totally immersed in the dark; only in the nineteenth century were installed lights in oil and gas lighting in 1845, so that the Liston also became a place for evening strolls. Then important for the conformation of the square today, is the accommodation in the central part of the garden Bra occurred in 1873: the central gardens were created with three circles forming a triangle with a central fountain.

Between 1884 and 1951 the square was affected by the rails of the tramway town .

 

Events

It is interesting to read the description of Liston of an astonished reporter of the magazine Esperia in an article of 1837:

 

" ... the audience is walking the plank of 'Veronesi, extended space, which is located in a few cities: here business people are dining and comforting conversation, idleness is recreated, and the beautiful flock there to get tributes of glances and sighs of their worshipers ... and many cafes offer brilliant and sufficient acceptance to the numerous meetings that there agree. Street musicians and improvisers, unpleasant indeed, but the liveliness of the inhabitants always well received, breaking the monotony of chatter; and the music of the military garrison increase much fun. Very pleasing to the eye is in the summer thousands of people of both sexes, and before sitting under the porch; and a more active crowd by constantly prowling the paths formed by the rows of seats, and now dispense with a bow, and now dwell near some nice, vibrate envious compliments and words of hope and voting ... while the beautiful turn cautious gaze looking at the confused teeming with ill-concealed impatience, greeting or stop most expensive among the happy meeting ... "

In the past, however, the Bra was used for uses other than those described well by this reporter: in particular, after the twelfth century it was included in the city walls it was used for the wood, hay, straw and cattle, so that in ancient documents is called the Bra cattle market. More often is cited as the parade ground, as was the case here the review of the troops from the beginning of the Venetian rule, which is why this was one of the points of conflict between the French and Venetian soldiers during the Veronese Easters in 1797 . Starting from 1633, after the approval of the Venetian Senate for the creation of an exhibition of goods in the city, there were held two annual fairs fifteen days each, which continued to be held until one of them was destroyed by fire October 28, 1712, and then restored in another place, it was established only in 1822, a new exhibition, which would last in Piazza Bra for twenty years.

 

Fair in very old custom is instead to Saint Lucia : it takes place every year from 11 to 13 December, but do not know its origins. Legend has it that, probably in the communal, an epidemic broke out in the city that struck my eyes, it was so that the Veronese decided to make a pilgrimage to the church of Saint Lucia (no longer exists): the children, who did not want to participate , were persuaded to return with the promise that they would find the shoes filled with gifts. The miracle occurred, and since then the fair is held to coincide with the feast of Saint Lucia.

 

The comet of Verona during a night snowfall

During the Christmas season takes place within the Arena arches dell ' Arena, the International Festival of the Nativity , an event born in 1984 from the mind of Alfredo Troisi , along with the comet symbol of the event, from the reservoir from the Arena, go to dive in Bra. Over the years the star has taken on meanings and values ââare independent of the review of the nativity, as to be appreciated by itself. This architecture-sculpture was designed by architect and designer Rinaldo Olivieri : his intuition came to looking at a map of the city, characterized by two large voids, one of the auditorium and that of the square in front of the Arena. It was from this impression that he was born an ideal line, a huge arch that connects the Arena with the urban space, an arc of light and steel from the Temple of the music goes to fall and explode among citizens.

Construction on a vehicle maintenance warehouse near the company and battalion operations centers south of U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr's PX/Commissary complex nears completion as one of the final projects in U.S. Army Europe's $700+ million Efficient Basing Grafenwoehr program, which is set to complete in spring 2010. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Justin Ward)

a frame from a video

Completion of the ISO rounds with rebranded Ferrania. I like this film. It's cheap.

 

Minolta SRTMC

Rebranded Ferrania Solaris 400 (Western Family)

LUC has worked with a large multi-disciplinary team to deliver a sustainable infrastructure and development masterplan to guide the long term transformation of Shawfield in Glasgow’s East End. LUC also led the design and implementation of an advanced phase of public realm and landscape works that now forms a framework for new development to be realised over a 20-25year horizon.

 

Prior to construction the site was heavily contaminated and consisted of large areas of vacant and derelict land together with dated business and industrial premises. The site was completely cleared and underwent significant ground remediation in advance of the public realm works to ensure the site is ‘development ready’.

 

LUC developed a green infrastructure strategy to inform the masterplan design with an emphasis on integrated surface water drainage and pedestrian connectivity to surrounding communities, transport nodes and the River Clyde corridor.

The Clyde riverbanks have been manipulated to provide new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and this now provides an extension to the strategically important Clyde Walkway.

 

An ecologically diverse mosaic of riparian woodland, grassland and wetland habitats has been created that will improve the biodiversity of the River Clyde corridor.

A new strategic pedestrian and cycling link has been created linking the new South Dalmarnock Smart Bridge with the centre of the masterplan site, improving connectivity in the area. In contrast with the more naturalistic riverside treatment this link is more formal in character with strong tree avenue planting, lighting and paving patterns.

  

For more information, visit: www.landuse.co.uk

Tuesday, 4 August 2015, saw the passing out parade of the latest group of Greater Manchester Police’s Volunteer Cadets. The ceremony took place at Swinton Civic Centre.

 

The Force’s Chief Constable, Sir Peter Fahy, reviewed the cadets and presented them with certificates to recognise the completion of their training.

 

In 2012, Sir Peter pledged to create a new Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme for young people in the region.

 

The scheme, developed by Sergeant Jane Butler and Youth Strategy Officer, PC Andrew Marsden, is aimed at 13- 17 year-olds and provides a programme of weekly Cadet nights filled with activity, information and – hopefully – some fun.

 

The aims of the scheme include:

 

•Promoting and encouraging a practical interest in policing among young people,

 

•Providing training which will encourage positive leadership within communities which will include volunteering opportunities,

 

•Encouraging a spirit of adventure and developing qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Cadets will be given the opportunity to obtain a Duke of Edinburgh Award, First Aid qualification etc.

 

Cadets units will be based in areas where there is currently little to occupy local youngsters.

 

Volunteers will have to apply, stating their reasons for wanting to be part of the scheme and will be encouraged to remain with the scheme for as long as they can. On reaching the end of their time as a cadet, they will be given with advice on careers and business, help with CVs and information about any opportunities to remain with the Force.

 

The first cadet scheme has been developed with the support of the Co-op Academy, Blackley.

 

Cadets are currently completing a "probationary" period and have so far experienced drill, physical exercise classes and advice on subjects such as the effective and safe use of social media.

 

Further items on the curriculum are lessons on the law, public order awareness, phonetics and radio use, problem solving … and more drill!

 

A uniform will be worn but only issued on completion of a successful probationary period.

 

The scheme's team leaders are also volunteers and include schools based officers, PCSOs, special constables and university students, all contributing their own time to run each cadet night.

 

To build number of successful schemes across the region we are looking for help. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer team leader and can demonstrate a commitment and desire to "change hearts and minds" can contact Sergeant Jane Butler at volunteerpolicecadets@gmp.police.uk.

 

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.

www.gmp.police.uk

 

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

 

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

 

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

 

Completion of the Fulton Substation is just one part of a planned $23 million in

system upgrades in Toledo Edison’s service area during 2013. The company also will

inspect and preemptively replace equipment and utility poles, replace underground vault

tops and continue vegetation management programs across its service area, all designed to

enhance service reliability.

LUC has worked with a large multi-disciplinary team to deliver a sustainable infrastructure and development masterplan to guide the long term transformation of Shawfield in Glasgow’s East End. LUC also led the design and implementation of an advanced phase of public realm and landscape works that now forms a framework for new development to be realised over a 20-25year horizon.

 

Prior to construction the site was heavily contaminated and consisted of large areas of vacant and derelict land together with dated business and industrial premises. The site was completely cleared and underwent significant ground remediation in advance of the public realm works to ensure the site is ‘development ready’.

 

LUC developed a green infrastructure strategy to inform the masterplan design with an emphasis on integrated surface water drainage and pedestrian connectivity to surrounding communities, transport nodes and the River Clyde corridor.

The Clyde riverbanks have been manipulated to provide new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and this now provides an extension to the strategically important Clyde Walkway.

 

An ecologically diverse mosaic of riparian woodland, grassland and wetland habitats has been created that will improve the biodiversity of the River Clyde corridor.

A new strategic pedestrian and cycling link has been created linking the new South Dalmarnock Smart Bridge with the centre of the masterplan site, improving connectivity in the area. In contrast with the more naturalistic riverside treatment this link is more formal in character with strong tree avenue planting, lighting and paving patterns.

  

For more information, visit: www.landuse.co.uk

The history of Fort Hayes as a military post spans from its establishment in 1863 to the expected departure of the remaining military presence by the end of 2009.

 

Fort Hayes is a military post in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Created by an act of the United States Congress on July 11, 1862, the site was also known as the Columbus Arsenal until 1922, when the site was renamed after former Ohio Governor and later 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes. As of 2007, the property is primarily used for the Columbus School District's Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center and bus depot. Currently, the 391st Military Police Battalion and the 375th Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Army Reserve use the facility, but the last military presence on the property was in 2009. The military is building a new army reserve center in Whitehall, which will end a century and a half of military presence at Fort Hayes.

 

Columbus Arsenal

Ordnance Corps General C.P. Buckingham selected a site nearly two years after the congressional authorization of July 1862. It was a tract of about 70 acres northeast of the city, an oak grove owned by Robert and Jannette Neil of Neil House fame. The need for an army arsenal in Central Ohio was acute soon after war broke out. The state arsenal was jammed with arms and equipment for the states' first regiments, but that building was deemed unsafe and a fire hazard. The army needed a modern arsenal for the receipt and issuance of arms and equipment and the manufacture and storage of ammunition.

 

Captain J. W. Todd, of the U .S. Army Ordnance Corps, was the first commander of the Columbus Arsenal, as the post was first known. High command was nothing more than a field of oak stumps and some temporary shacks on land that Captain Todd also prepared the first arsenal master plan:

 

1 two-story brick workshop, 180′ X 60′: $27,758

4 storehouses, 200′ x 50′: $98,884

Barracks and EM quarters: $7,500

1 blacksmith shop: $2,000

1 stable and laboratory: $5,000

1 office building, brick, one-story: $2,400

1 officer's quarters, brick, two-story: $11,250

1 guardhouse and brick wall, 10′ high: $44,283

Railroad switch: $5,000

Landscaping: $10,000

Inflation: $10,000

Total Budget: $224,075

 

The Todd plan was $10,000 in excess of what Congress was to be asked to appropriate. Captain Todd did not remain at this assignment long enough to see his plan accepted for implementation. He was replaced by the "Father" of Fort Hayes, Captain T. C. Bradford, on January 16, 1864. Bradford arrived to build the new post from scratch, where he served until 1867, being promoted to Major, then Colonel before 1866. He resumed command again for six months in 1869, then departed for San Antonio.

 

Bradford's first task was to secure the completion of the rail spur and procure carts, horses, tools, hoisting machines and materials with which to build the main building and other buildings. By April 1864, the excavation was dug, the tracks' grading completed, and temporary carpenter's shop built, and two wells dug and equipped with pumps to supply water for the needs of men, animals, and construction.

 

Bradford called his magnum opus the "Store House", the first of many names which would be applied to the post's principal facility. Plans for the building had been drawn in Washington by the Ordnance Corps. Bradford, however, made many on-site changes to the plans as construction proceeded. Building materials in that time were difficult and expensive to obtain. For foundation material, Bradford went to Newark, Ohio, for sandstone, the first cargo brought in on the new rail spur during the summer of 1864. Brick was fired in Columbus by brickmakers who Bradford continually had to watch because of inferior workmanship. Flooring and other timber he obtained from southern Ohio (There are 50,000 board feet of ash flooring in the arsenal which cost $20.00 to $25.00 per thousand feet). Copper and cast iron cornices he had manufactured in Cincinnati.

 

The officers' quarters and magazine were ordered built on June 3, 1864, as designed by master building Joseph O. Sawyer. The foundation for the magazine, with a capacity of 2,500 barrels of powder, was built in September, ready for brickwork, and all lumber for this building was on the grounds.

 

As the main building rose, Bradford devoted much attention to the tower. The original purpose of this dominant feature was to accommodate stone steps to each floor. At Bradford's urging, the plans were altered to incorporate wooden steps and hoisting apparatus, and an elevator to move supplies more easily among the floors. As finally constructed, the tower was a duplicate of the one attached to the Indianapolis arsenal.

 

Long before the main arsenal building was completed in 1865, the post was receiving, storing, and issuing arms and accoutrements in large amounts. On May 6, 1864, 10,000 sets of equipage and five thousand Enfield rifles to arm "three-months" of enlistees were being issued, and the post had enough arms stored in the temporary warehouse to arm and equip 30,000 men. From its holding that month alone, the Columbus Arsenal shipped to other arsenals two million rounds of elongated ball cartridges, 400 percussion artillery shells, and 600 shells for 3-inch guns.

 

The first building at Fort Hayes was completed in 1864 and is known as Building #62. Arms and equipment of the "100-day" men being mustered out in Ohio were being received by the arsenal in August 1864, but not until late that year were the commodious facilities of the main building in use. Ironically, the first man killed on the post was a civilian, Nicholas Kaetzel, who, on April 5, 1865 was blown up while firing a salute to honor the capture of Richmond, VA.(Source: United States Senate Record, May 17, 1866)

 

The main business of the arsenal during the last months of the war was the trans-shipment of ammunition (paper and metal cartridges), the receipt and issuance of Springfield rifles, and sets of equipage for 10 regiments to be formed at Camp Chase in Columbus.

 

Civilians, under Colonel Bradford, conducted much of the business of the arsenal until October 25, 1865, when the first permanently assigned detachment of enlisted men were stationed here. Twenty-five men were authorized to be enlisted locally and were ordered to be one sergeant, four corporals, five privates first class, and twelve privates second class. These new recruits of the regular army were quickly trained by Bradford to receive the large amount of arms and equipment being turned in by Ohio regiments rapidly being deactivated. Civilian employees were retained to repair, in the main building, the Springfield and Enfield rifle muskets turned in by either cannibalizing or by adding new parts shipped in from the Springfield Armory. The rule was, if a piece could be made serviceable for fifty cents or less, to do so; if not, utilize only the unworn parts.

 

On November 10, 1865, with the magazine at the post filled to capacity, the main building's basement was authorized for storage of ammunition, and the first live rounds were placed in the building. Four million cartridges were placed in the basement that winter, and 10,000 new Spencer carbines were stored in upper floors. So crowded was the building late in November that the first public auction of military stores was authorized and held. By early 1866, artillery was stored in large numbers of pieces, transferred from the Newport, Kentucky arsenal under Colonel Bradford's personal supervision. The appearance of the Civil War era Columbus arsenal was ragged and cluttered until Spring of 1866, when the first shade and ornamental trees and shrubs were planted at a cost of $150. With the coming of peace, the post came to assume a more ordered, regulated posture.

 

The War Department transferred the Columbus arsenal on September 24, 1875 to the general Recruiting Service for depot purposes, where it came to be known as Columbus Barracks. At that time, the value of site and building was reckoned at nearly $500,000.

 

Columbus Barracks and Fort Hayes

In 1875, the War Department repurposed the facility for use as a recruiting intake and training facility. It became known as the Columbus Barracks and later the Columbus Arsenal.[2] In 1922, the property was renamed Fort Hayes, in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes.

 

Between 1875 and 1890, Columbus Barracks was used to instruct recruits, specifically music boys, select recruits, disposable recruits, unexamined recruits, and colored recruits. Four companies of cadre were organized in February 1881. Recruits were given specialized instruction of from one to four months' duration. In 1894, the command general of the Department of the East took charge of Columbus. Barracks and garrisoned it with the 17th Infantry Regiment. The post remained as a recruiting rendezvous manned by two skeleton companies for the next two years when it entered, during the Spanish–American War, a period of building and enlarged occupancy for recruitment and training. The arsenal building, now called the Main Building, was altered inside to accommodate 500 recruits. New barracks, officers' houses, and a host of other buildings were erected (among them the reception center, mess building, drill hall, new guardhouse and bandstand). A post newspaper, The Army Herald, was started in 1895 and continued until 1896. A file is in the library of the Ohio Historical Society.

 

In 1900, the post was enlarged by nearly 8 acres, and five years later became officially the Columbus Recruiting Depot of two infantry companies and six recruiting companies. A band was assigned the post in 1906 when concerns became a regular public attraction.

 

Electricity came to the depot in 1908, and with it a new building program of a hospital, PX, a gym, new officers' quarters, noncommissioned officers' quarters, a bakery, a laundry, a warehouse and several barracks.

 

The razing, in 1910, of the old headquarters building uncovered the site of one of Colonel Bradford's original wells. With the advent of World War I and the signing by President Wilson on May 18, 1917, of the Selective Military Conscription Act, old Columbus barracks became a beehive of activity. Barns and stables became garages and repair shops as the Army increased numbers of Regular Army recruits who passed through the post beginning in 1917. After the war, in 1922, the post became headquarters of the Fifth Corps comprising the areas of Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky. Major General George A. Reed was the commander when, in June, the corps came to Columbus. In 1922, the name of the post was changed to Fort Hayes in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes, an Ohio Governor and later President of the United States. In 1933, the present parade grounds were constructed and the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed seven new frame buildings

 

During the early years of World War II, Fort Hayes continued as it had in the past as a reception center when it had stationed on its grounds 2,000 officers and men. But on March 1, 1944, this function was discontinued. The Ohio National Guard was granted use of the post on December 17, 1946. Used by both the Army Reserve and the Guard of Engineers, it continued in use by the State and Federal governments for both military and civilian functions.

 

Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center

Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center (FHMEC), an urban public high school, located at the edge of downtown Columbus, has as its mission " …to create expectations of excellence within students through challenging and collaborative learning, blending the arts, academics and career programs."

 

The Fort Hayes Career Center was established in 1976 on the site of a part of the military base. Fort Hayes was used as a training and induction center during the Civil War through the Vietnam War, the Federal Government abandoned the fifty acres on which the Fort Hayes Career Center (now the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center) is located. Through the leadership of Jack Gibbs and the efforts of two local congressmen, the Columbus Public Schools was able to purchase these fifty acres for one dollar ($1.00). The career center was composed of four buildings–the Business Building, the Health Building, the Visual Arts Center (Shot Tower—though shot was never made here[3]), and the Battelle Math/Science Building. In the fall of 1988, the Fort Hayes campus became the site for three unique educational programs: a career center program, The Battelle Youth Science Program, and an arts and academic high school. The Fort Hayes Career Center component offers vocational courses in health/medical services, data processing, commercial art and photography, and the fine and performing arts. The Battelle Youth Science Program provided advanced laboratory and academic courses in math and science. The Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, the newest component, focuses on excellence in performance–performance in a rigorous college preparatory program and a rich immersion in the art areas of music, dance, theater, and visual arts. During the 1988–89 school year, the Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School was created, joining Columbus Public Schools' excellently rated arts, business, childcare, and health vocational programs. Ninth and tenth graders (about 223 of them) arrived to begin the work of starting a new high school, along with 23 new staff members. An additional grade level was added each year, and the first senior class graduated in June 1991. Twice in the past ten years, the school has been recognized by Redbook magazine as an outstanding school in the country, and in the Spring of 1995, by Ohio's Best Schools as an exemplary "Break the Mold School." In 1997, the school was recognized by Business Week magazine as one of ten schools in the nation for Instructional Innovation with an Arts-Driven Curriculum. The International Network for Performing and Visual Arts Schools selected Fort Hayes as the Outstanding School for the 1997–98 school year.

 

FHMEC reflects the cultural, economic, religious and ethnic diversity of the urban community it serves: 51 percent African-American; 47 percent Caucasian; nearly 4 percent Asian-American; and less than 1 percent Hispanic students. Sixty-three percent of the students are female. Students bring a variety of religious beliefs: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Taoist. Approximately 30 percent of the students reside in low-income households. With some exceptions, the remaining 70 percent reside in middle-income households. Over 1100 students, 80-plus faculty, and five administrators are located on the total campus in the course of a school day.

Next up glosscoat, lettering and weathering.

The MTA and NYCDOT announced the completion of bus priority lanes and related infrastructure on 149 St in the Bronx on Friday, Oct. 9.

 

The 2.7 miles of bus lanes along the highly-trafficked 149 St corridor are equipped with transit signal priority (TSP) technology. New enforcement cameras will help ensure that only buses and other essential vehicles utilize priority sections of the roadway.

 

The corridor is home to four popular bus routes (Bx2, Bx4, Bx17, and Bx19) and runs through some of the busiest destinations in the Bronx, including Lincoln Hospital.

 

(Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)

This conceptual visualization shows plans for the new SR 509/South 160th Street Interchange in Burien. This southbound view shows the new roundabout interchanges at South 160th Street and new noise walls that will be constructed to the southwest and northeast of the interchange.

 

Learn more at: wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/sr-509-completion-project

Brickcon is only a week away form now!

Weeks from completion, a methane reactor with endothermic gasifier surrounds Doug Jernigan, a three-generation family farm owner (with his wife Aileen) and employer who, a few months earlier, refinanced a first of it’s kind, in the nation, swine-turkey waste to renewable energy system (RES), with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) loan guarantee in Mt. Olive, NC, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015.

 

Typical systems separate methane gas for energy, solids are disposed or repurposed and liquids are cleaned. This new system addition takes the watery manure effluent to a new and as Mr. Jernigan say’s “prolific profit” producing state through savings and sales. “There is an opportunity for the farm to make money doing a good thing for the environment.”

The system handles about 75,000 gallons of swine and turkey waste effluent each day. Piped to a series of tanks, and mechanical equipment that separates solids, and liquids. The current treatment facility biologically removes ammonia nitrogen with bacteria adapted to high-strength wastewater; removes phosphorus via alkali precipitation; and reduction emissions of odorant compounds, ammonia, pathogens, and heavy metals to the environment. The water is cleaned for reuse in the swine and turkey operations that wash more manure into the cycle of the system.

The new methane reactors (under the framework of what will be a C-span structure) use an endothermic gasifier that heats the waste solids to very high temperatures to the point that they release gases. The clean methane gas will fuel an engine that turns a 300KW electrical generator producing electricity; ethanol will help fuel farm equipment, and resulting potash solids can be used or sold for agricultural fertilizer. Excess amounts of electricity, that the farms cannot use, will be sold and transmitted to the local energy company, for use by residents and businesses; renewable energy credits (REC) are sold to a different energy company.

With a system that eliminates all ammonia and other odor creating compounds, Mr. Jernigan says, “What I’m doing is good for the environment; it’s good for the farm in the respect that you’re getting rid of waste that you’re creating in a high-tech way. There’s no footprint. It’s just gone.”

Doug and Aileen are lifelong farmers and they have three grown children that work in the farm operation. Their farm currently operates a 21,600 finishing farm operation, an eight house turkey operation, a 250 head cow /calf operation. The farm also consists of 2,400 acres of row crop production (cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat).

Doug Jernigan’s grandfather started farming here in 1941, and he continues the tradition with his business that began in 1974.

In talking about the greater potential of this technology and what others should consider, Jernigan says, “I see it as a win-win thing.”

For more information about USDA, RD and REAP please see: www.usda.gov, www.rd.usda.gov, and www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-pr...

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

 

*The treatment system (without the methane reactor) was documented to remove, on a mass basis, approximately 99% of total suspended solids, 98% of COD, 99% of TKN, 100% ammonia, 100% odor compounds, 92% phosphorus, 95% copper, and 97% zinc from the flushed manure. Fecal coliform reductions were measured to be 99.98%

Hagia Sophia (Istanbul).

 

The Church of the Holy Wisdom, known as Hagia Sophia (Άγια Σοφία) in Greek, Sancta Sophia in Latin, and Ayasofya or Aya Sofya in Turkish, is a former Byzantine church and former Ottoman mosque in Istanbul. Now a museum, Hagia Sophia is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world. Unfortunately nothing remains of the original Hagia Sophia, which was built on this site in the fourth century by Constantine the Great. Constantine was the first Christian emperor and the founder of the city of Constantinople, which he called "the New Rome." The Hagia Sophia was one of several great churches he built in important cities throughout his empire. Following the destruction of Constantine's church, a second was built by his son Constantius and the emperor Theodosius the Great. This second church was burned down during the Nika riots of 532, though fragments of it have been excavated and can be seen today. Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in her present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of Emperor Justinian I. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. After completion, Justinian is said to have exclaimed, Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών ("Solomon, I have outdone thee!"). The architects of the church were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, who were professors of geometry at the University of Constantinople. Their work was a technical triumph, even though the structure was severely damaged several times by earthquakes. The original dome collapsed after an earthquake in 558 and its replacement fell in 563. Steps were taken to better secure the dome, but there were additional partial collapses in 989 and 1346. Justinian's basilica was both the culminating architectural achievement of Late Antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike. For over 900 years the Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for church councils and imperial ceremonies. In 1204 the cathedral was ruthlessly attacked, desecrated and plundered by the Crusaders, who also ousted the Patriarch of Constantinople and replaced him with a Latin bishop. This event cemented the division of the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches that had begun with the Great Schism of 1054. It also means that most of Hagia Sophia's riches can be seen today not in Istanbul, but in the treasury of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Despite this violent setback, Hagia Sophia remained a functioning church until May 29, 1453, when Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered triumphantly into the city of Constantinople. He was amazed at the beauty of the Hagia Sophia and immediately converted it into his imperial mosque. Hagia Sophia served as the principal mosque of Istanbul for almost 500 years. It became a model for many of the Ottoman mosques of Istanbul such as the Blue Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, the Shehzade Mosque and the Rustem Pasha Mosque. No major structural changes were made at first; the addition of a mihrab (prayer niche), minbar (pulpit) and a wooden minaret made a mosque out of the church. At some early point, all the faces depicted in the church's mosaics were covered in plaster due to the Islamic prohibition of figurative imagery. Various additions were made over the centuries by successive sultans.Sultan Mehmed II built a madrasa (religious school) near the mosque and organized a waqf for its expenses. Extensive restorations were conducted by Mimar Sinan during the rule of Selim II, including the original sultan's loge and another minaret. Mimar Sinan built the mausoleum of Selim II to the southeast of the mosque in 1577 and the mausoleums of Murad III and Mehmed III were built next to it in the 1600s. Mahmud I ordered a restoration of the mosque in 1739 and added an ablution fountain, Koranic school, soup kitchen and library, making the mosque the center of a social complex. The most famous restoration of the Hagia Sophia was completed between 1847-49 by Abdülmecid II, who invited Swiss architects Gaspare and Guiseppe Fossati to renovate the mosque. The brothers consolidated the dome and vaults, straightened columns,and revised the decoration of the exterior and the interior. The discovery of the figural mosaics after the secularization of Hagia Sophia was guided by the descriptions of the Fossati brothers, who had uncovered them a century earlier for cleaning and recording. The Fossatis also added the calligraphic roundels that remain today. They were commissioned to calligrapher Kazasker Izzet Efendi and replaced older panels hanging on the piers. In 1934, under Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum. The prayer rugs were removed, revealing the marble beneath, but the mosaics remained largely plastered over and the building was allowed to decay for some time. Some of the calligraphic panels were moved to other mosques, but eight roundels were left and can still be seen today. A 1993 UNESCO mission to Turkey noted falling plaster, dirty marble facings, broken windows, decorative paintings damaged by moisture, and ill-maintained lead roofing. Cleaning, roofing and restoration have since been undertaken; many recent visitors have found their view obstructed by a huge scaffolding stretching up into the dome in the center of the nave. The main dome is carried on pendentives: four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. Each pendentive is decorated with a seraphim. The weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners, and between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches.At the western and eastern ends, the arched openings are extended by semi-domes. The flat wall on each side of the interior (north and south) is called a tympanum, and each one has 12 large windows in two rows, seven in the lower and five in the upper. Just outside the entrance, stone cannonballs line the gravel path of the outer courtyard. These are the actual cannonballs used by Mehmet the Conqueror in his victorious 1453 battle for the city. All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marble, green and white with purple porphyry, and gold mosaics. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes.The Islamic calligraphic roundels suspended from the main dome since the 19th century remain in place and make for a fascinating religious contrast with the uncovered Christian mosaics. The names painted on the eight wooden medallions are: Allah and Muhammad (flanking the apse); the first four Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (at the four corners of the dome); and the two grandsons of Mohammed, Hasan and Husayn (in the nave). The Byzantine mosaics are being gradually uncovered, but only those on the higher gallery levels, which can be accessed by stairways on the payment of a fee. This means that Muslims do not have to confront much Christian imagery in the main chamber of the building, which was a mosque for nearly 500 years and retains all the equipment of a mosque. When the Hagia Sophia was used as a place of worship, both for Christians and then for Muslims, the focus of the building was the east end, directly across from the entrance. This is because Christian churches are traditionally oriented towards the east, and Muslims always pray facing Mecca, which is east of Istanbul. Thus the bulk of interesting sights are clustered in this area of the Hagia Sophia's huge nave. At ground level, most of the sights date from the Islamic period. A beautiful marble structure in the apse is the mihrab, a niche found in all mosques that indicates the direction of Mecca. The large freestanding stairway to the right of the mihrab is the minbar, or pulpit from which sermons were given. To the left of the mihrab is the grand sultan's loge, built by the Fossati brothers who restored the Hagia Sophia in the 1800s. Looking up from this area, one sees a splendid apse mosaic depicting the Virgin and Child. On the right is a partly damaged Archangel Gabriel mosaic. Gabriel used to face an Archangel Michael mosaic on the other side of the apse, but this is now almost entirely gone. The most famous of the Hagia Sophia's mosaics are on the upper floor, in the galleries. The South Gallery, where the great mosaics are, was used for church councils. When the Hagia Sophia was a mosque, the galleries were the place where women sat during worship services. Today, the galleries provide visitors with a commanding view of the nave from all sides and a closeup view of some of the best Byzantine mosaics to be seen anywhere. The best-known mosaic is called the Deësis Mosaic, and it is the first you come to as you enter the South Gallery through the Marble Door. It depicts a triumphant and kingly Christ (known as "Christ Pantrocrator"), flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. At the end of the South Gallery are two golden Byzantine mosaics. On the left is Christ with Emperor Constantine IX Monomachus and Empress Zoe; on the right is the Virgin and Child with Emperor John II Comnenus and Empress Irene.

 

MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber, NYCT Senior Advisor for Systemwide Accessibility Alex Elegudin, and Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Victor Calise announce the completion of elevators at the 1 Av station on the L line, as well as the Bedford Av station, on Thu., August 6, 2020.

 

Bedford Av

 

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

(further pictures and enormous amounts of information you can get by clicking on the link at the end of page!)

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Seat of the Archbishop (Cardinal) of Vienna, one of the most important buildings of the Central European High and Late Gothic, monumental example of the South-German-Austrian multi-naved church, landmark of Vienna. Characteristic is the independent lateral position of the towers, the inclusion of the romanesque western facade, the high Gothic hall choir and the mighty steep roof with colorful brick patterning.

History

1147

The first Romanesque church - from Passau founded (hence patron saint: saint Stephen Protomartyr) - is consecrated. It is located in a quarter of new settlements of merchants, which in the second half of the 12th Century was included in the city's fortifications (which is the part between Singerstraße and wool line (Wollzeile), the road to Hungary). It is located outside, to the southeast, of the oldest city area of the Roman fort, Vindobona. This building was in its dimensions already a large basilical complex, at its completion already including the floor plan of the Heath towers in the West.

1263

Re-consecration after the fire. The impacts on the Romanesque church are not precisely known. The huge gate was already previously rebuilt, when Vienna was for a short time residence of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In succession, the reconstruction of the west gallery and the expansion of the western towers (Heath towers) took place. From this period stem also most of the sculptures of the giant gate, the vaults, capitals and rose windows at the west gallery.

Stephansdom64.jpg (35605 bytes)

1304 -1340

Construction of the Gothic hall choir, Albertinian choir, named after the Habsburg Albert II (1330-1358).

The citizenship of Vienna initially purchased the required properties and "as the owner of the Gothic choir in the Zwettler (city in Lower Austria) documents of 1303 and 1304 Viennese citizens are testified".

This civic foundation was then converted by a princely.

The following indulgence certificate - in the original written on parchment and provided with a hanging seal - is in a sense the main historical document of the choir consecration and thus also to the architectural history of St. Stephen of great importance.

1340

Bishop Peter of Marchapolis gives, at the request of the parishioners, all who attend at the anniversary of the consecration of the choir of St. Stephen's Church, which was accomplished on the above day in his presence by Bishop Albert of Passau, or at the feasts of the altar patrons of the church, an indulgence of 40 days.

1359

Laying of the foundation stone for further Gothic reconstruction of the nave (south and north wall), the Singertor and the Bischofstor (gate) and the two double chapels laterally to the Romanesque western building. Furthermore, the construction of overall four towers was planned. In fact, only the southern transept tower (the "saint Stephen's Tower") was first started.

1365

Those conversion measures are associated with the efforts of Duke Rudolf IV to raise Vienna to the status of a diocese, and with the founding of the University of Vienna.

1395

Consecration of the chapel of Saint Catherine ("baptistery") on the east side of the south tower.

1404

Peter of Prachatitz is Dombaumeister (cathedral builder). The citizenship by providing financial support pushes ahead the expansion of the tower.

1417 - 1430

Establishment of the lower sacristy

1433

Completion of the south tower under Hans von Prachatitz

1440 - 1459

Completion of the High Gothic nave

1450

Planning and construction of the North Tower by Hans Puchsbaum

1459

At Hüttentag of Regensburg the mason's lodge of St. Stephen's in Vienna is designated the leading main lodge in Central Europe.

1466

Extension of the upper sacristy

1469

Under Frederick III. the Diocese of Vienna is built.

1474

The Chapel of St. Barbara in the north tower is completed according to the plans of Puchsbaum. Formerly this building extension in the North Tower was called: Urbanuskapelle (chapel).

1511

Suspension of the building at the north tower. It is higher than the nave walls, but lower than the ridge height of the choir roof. As a crowning feature of the tower stump an octagonal structure was set up, which was closed with a so-called "Welsh hood" of Kaspar and Hans Saphoy 1578. The Welsh hood is a into the Gothic transmitted dome shape".

The back of the St. Stephen's Cathedral with the North Tower

1514/1519

1514/1519 at the top of saint Stephen's tower an eight-rayed sun ("Star") was fitted with a crescent moon as a symbol of spiritual and temporal power. When the Viennese in the Turkish siege (1529) throughout in the camp of their enemies saw similar symbols, they raised first objections against the "haidnisch Zaichen (heathen signs)", yet remained the "Moonlight" on the tower. Only on the occasion of the second siege (1683 ) vowed Leopold I to replace the "ungodly and unworthy Turks coat of arms" by the sign of the cross, when the city was liberated by God's assistance.

The from saint Stephen removed moon. Book illustration, 18th century

The new, of copper wrought double cross ("Spanish Cross") was made by coppersmith Hans Adam Bosch. It was one and a half meters high and had a weight of 45.5 kg. On September 14th, the Kreuzerhöhungstag (day of the elevation of the Cross) (in the same time the anniversary of the moving in of Leopold into the liberated city), it was placed under great spectacle. However, it was not flexible enough and already on 14th December it fell down due to a violent storm. On 31st October 1687 followed the setting up of a new crowning. To the Spanish Cross now the imperial double-headed eagle and the initials of Leopold I had been added. Cross and eagle had a height of 2.45 m and a weight of 67 kg.

St. Stephen's Cathedral around 1530

1640

Bishop Friedrich Count Breuner the Baroquisation of the equipment of the St. Stephen's Cathedral as a manifestation of the Counter-Reformation had started. He commissioned the brothers Jacob and Tobias Pock from Konstanz with the construction of a new high altar.

1683

Damages caused by numerous cannonballs at the second Turkish siege.

1700

Second wave of Baroquisation: Gothic winged altars and also their early Baroque successors are replaced by baroque marble altars.

1711

July 21st, 1711. In front of a large audience the k.k. Stückgießer (specialized iron caster) Johann Achamer carries out the casting of the great bell of saint Stephen. The for this purpose required metal comes from stocks of the Imperial arsenal of captured Turkish cannons. After Pölzung (supporting) of the underground vaults under the streets that touches the train, the bell weighing more than 17 tons on a special car or a loop of 100 people is brought from the Leopoldstadt on 29th October to the cathedral. On December 15th, Bishop Rummel undertakes the consecration of the bell, then it is pulled up to the south tower. There it rests on two oak beams, which for ringing can be screwed off. When Charles VI. solemnly moved into Vienna after his imperial coronation on 26th January 1712, the Pummerin was rung for the first time, in the process only the 813 kg in weight clapper was moved.

1720

The so-called catacombs are set up as a burial site.

1735

The cemetery around the church is closed down and in 1783 completely removed

Stock-im-Eisen-Platz and St. Stephen's Square before the demolition of the houses

Coloured engraving of V.C. Schütz. 1779

1803

The Steffl gets air: Demolition of houses on Stephansplatz

October. The strong increase in population leads to an increased volume of traffic. As part of "traffic-appropriate" measures streets are widened, squares enlarged, arcades created and traffic regulations introduced such as, e.g., the first one-way at the Carinthian gates (1802). With the demolition of the last still in front of the cathedral facade standing houses yet another basic expansion and redesign of the Stephansplatz can be completed.

1809

Also in the French wars the Cathedral is damaged by artillery fire.

1810

Repair work on the South Tower

1831

Renovation of the roof at the Albertinian choir

1842

On the occasion of the two renewals of the tower helmet in the 19th century respectively in 1842 and 1864, again a new double-headed eagle with a double cross was set on the spire. This last crowning of 1864 still today adorns the top of saint Stephen's tower.

1853 - 1854

Expansion of the remaining Wimperge (gables) in the roof area of which Puchsbaum under Frederick III. only one had realized.

1863 - 1864

Cathedral architect Friedrich Schmidt heads the restoration of the tower helmet.

1945

St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945 © Press Agency Votava St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945

The roof of St Stephen's Cathedral

is on fire 8th April 1945

Friday 13 April: Dombrand (cathedral's fire) in the last days of World War II. The roof burns down, the vaults of the middle choir and the southern side choir collapse. The Pummerin plunges down and breaks. The cathedral is badly damaged.

1945 - 1952

Reconstruction of the roof and choir

Triumphant entry of the new Pummerin in Vienna. The in St. Florian/Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) cast bell to Vienna had a true triumphal procession behind herself.

From the ruins of the Pummerin 1952 in St. Florian, Upper Austria, a new bell was cast and consecrated on 26th April 1952 in Vienna. The other bells of St. Stephen's Cathedral also consistently bore names as Halbpummerin, Viertelpummerin, Councillor Bell, Mentioned bell (Genanntenglocke), Zwölferin, beer bell (Bierglocke) etc. Very few of them survived the year 1945.

1953

Construction of the Bishop tomb in the catacombs under the Apostle Choir

1954 - 1965

Restoration of the South Tower

1956

Renovation of the Ducal Crypt, construction of the lower church and the lapidary (collection of stone monuments)

Completion of the tower helmet at the north tower (Saphoy'sche hood) with housing of the Pummerin

1961

In 1961 the cathedral received a new peal of eleven bells.

1973

Consecration of the People's altar (makeshift solution)

1977 - 1998

Restoration of the North Tower

1989

Remodeling of the sanctuary and the consecration of the new People's altar (September 14)

1991

Consecration of the new cathedral organ (Servants - Madonna gets here her new stand)

Overall length: 107.2 m outside inside 91.8 m

Width of the nave: 38.9 m

Height of the South tower: (High Tower) 136.7 m

Height of the North tower: 60.6 m

Height of the Heathen towers 65.6 m

The completion of the first phase of the building produced a Theatre (573 seats), a Studio Theatre (150 seats), a Conference Room (250 seats), a Music Centre with an Ensemble Room (100 seats) and 9 practice rooms, as well as a bookshop and bars. The second phase of the Arts Centre (completed in January 1981) included the addition of the Butterworth Hall, a flexible concert hall, seating up to 1500. In 1986 the third phase was completed with the building of the Mead Gallery, which provided for up to 3 galleries totalling 6000 square feet, a Cinema seating 225, a new University bookshop and a new restaurant, converted from the existing bookshop.

Further improvements in 1997 included a glass atrium, lifts, and a new box office. A further extension to the Butterworth Hall took place in 2011.

Many thanks to Olav who kindly provided me the repartition of norwegian kommuner by area code.

a colour shot of one of Walters rebuilt and refurbished Lorain cranes.it would seem that there is not much to do now to complete the transformation from USAF useage to one of Walters finished gems. behind the crane of note is the road tanker body that is being used as a fuel storage tank for Walters fleet.

Artistis: Lori Shocket and Siegfried Knop

Diffusion. Profusion.

Acrylic on Paper

20" x 20"

$7,200

 

Why is Art Healing?

 

Lori Shocket

 

“My work is all about visualization of the healing process on a cellular level. The microscopic world and the healing mechanisms of the body are not only miraculous; they are also beautiful. As a physician, I have learned that when patients truly understand what is going on physiologically in their bodies, their knowledge aids in the healing process. Holding a visual impression of a cell, a tumor or a bacteria in one's consciousness creates an anchor for focusing healing intention.

 

As a healer, I witness the cycles of birth, degeneration, death and rebirth on a daily basis. Without art as a means for expressing the emotional and spiritual depth of the healing process the process would lack inspiration and meaning. I live the truth of the motto "Life inspires art, inspires life" every day. My work as a physician inspires my work as an artist, and my artistic vision inspires my work as a doctor. Art builds a bridge between what our souls know and what our bodies create. It is about the merging of the conscious and unconscious, where reality and possibility converge.”

 

All my life I've had a passion for art and medicine

 

Artist Statement

A MACROSCOPIC VIEW OF A MICROSCOPIC WORLD

I am fascinated by the idea of a human-scale view of the microscopic world. This series of acrylic paintings on paper is based on electron microscopic images of the cellular universe inside our bodies. It is a colorful, textural universe that exists within all of life, and the paintings invite the viewer to experience a deeper and more intimate connection to the mysterious inner workings of the human body.

These paintings were produced collaboratively by myself and my father, Siegfried Knop. He has been a professional illustrator for more than 50 years, and I am a medical doctor with a passion for visual art and a dual career as a graphic designer and a physician. We work together on each painting as a team, exchanging ideas and solutions until mutually agreeing that work has reached completion. We call our process "partner painting," and while working together in this configuration, we collaborate in a unique way that blends both our perspectives.

  

Artist Bio

Lori Justice Shocket, MD

All my life I've had a passion for art and medicine. I studied graphic design and advertising at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. After completing my studies at ACCD, I enjoyed a 20-year career as Vice President of Creative Development and Advertising for OPI Products, Inc.

After returning to school to complete my pre-med studies, I entered medical school in 2008 to fulfill my life long passion of becoming a physician. In November 2012, I graduated from the International University of the Health Sciences (IUHS) in Basseterre, St. Kitts, with a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD).

Over the course of many years, I have traveled with my husband (an emergency physician) to developing countries to provide medical care and patient education in rural hospitals and villages. I have worked and volunteered in Israel, Peru, Ecuador, Vietnam, India, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Haiti, Mexico and Nepal. As a physician, I am inspired by life. As an artist, life fuels my creativity. These driving forces form the inspiration for my art—a reflection of my passion for life, color, texture and form.

 

SIEGFRIED KNOP, NWS

Siegfried Knop, NWS, studied fine arts and motion picture arts at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and taught architectural illustration for twelve years. His own work in the field of fine arts has been exhibited at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and the Pasadena Art Museum. In 1951, while still a student, Mr. Knop was accepted into the National Watercolor Society. He remains an active member today.

Mr. Knop was elected to the NWS board of Directors in 1995 as exhibition director. The same year he concurrently designed the catalog for the annual exhibit. He subsequently designed the annual catalogue and all related design materials for the organization in 1996, 1997 and 1998. In 1999, he served as NWS exhibition director.

Over his 50-year professional career, Mr. Knop has specialized in architectural illustrations, graphic design and color consultation, headquartering in his Los Angeles area offices and working primarily in transparent and opaque watercolor.

 

Knop & Shocket / Artistic Co-Creation

Artistic co-creation is not new for Mr. Knop and Lori Shocket MD. In the 80's, the father and daughter team shared a design firm (Knop & Knop Associates), where they partnered in designing logos, packaging, architectural signage and a variety of other graphic collateral. Over Shocket’s 30-plus year graphic design career, Knop continued to provide inspiration, consistently mentoring her creative endeavors. Today, they once again can be found painting together at Shocket’s studio in Thousand Oaks, CA. Their recent collaboration is motivated by Shocket’s fascination with the electron microscopic images of biological subjects that captured her imagination during medical school. Excited by his daughter’s interest in the sciences and the colorful world these images presented, Knop joined his daughter in creating their first artistic renderings of inner life.

  

John Lidstone starting to set up the lodge room.

 

This evening I have the pleasure to attempt to explain the Holy Royal Arch, The reason for its being and the arrangement of the Chapter Room. I will try to do this to the best of my ability.

 

First, let me explain that the Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch is the completion of the M.M°. In the M.M°., they inform us that something is lost. Surely then, to the thinking man he must wonder, what is that which is lost. In the Royal Arch that which is lost is found. When the candidate has taken the obligation, a brief history of the R.A., degree, follows which sets the stage for the remainder of the ceremony. Briefly the history is as follows: 400 years after the completion of the Temple by King Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre and Hiram Abiff; the Army of the King of Babylon destroyed this Temple. They took the Jews, except the menial class, into captivity to Babylon. There they were to remain for 70 years.

 

At the end of this period, a Prince of the House of Judah, by the name of Zerrubable, convinced Cyrus, then King of Persia to release the captives. Let them return to Jerusalem, there to rebuild the Temple. King Cyrus, with the Lords help, agrees. The candidates represent men who arrive late, seeking a chance to help rebuild the Temple. They tested them, obligated them and then allowed them to enter the Chapter Room. Here they meet four obstacles. Four veils represent these obstacles, which are coloured, blue, purple, scarlet and white. Each veil has its own Scripture Lesson. The candidates having proven themselves worthy are admitted, and make known their request to help rebuild the Temple.

 

They tell them that due to their lateness, the only job available is clearing away the rubble, for the foundations. They agree and in carrying out their task, they find a cave in which they make an important discovery. This discovery is found later in the ceremony to be that which is lost in the M.M°.

 

The form of the Chapter Room is as you see it here this evening. The Three Principals sit in the EAST. They represent the Copestone of an Arch, i.e., that stone that holds the whole building together. It is to them that the Companions look for light and instruction. You will note six lights, the larger lights placed as an equilateral triangle, the three smaller bisecting the lines of the larger. Thus forming four smaller, but equal, equilateral triangles. These triangles represent the four divisions of Masonry, viz. E.A., F.C., M.M., and Holy Royal Arch.

 

The Twelve banners seen in the Chapter Room, represent the bearings of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, each with their own lessons. The four large banners in the East represent the four divisions of the army of Israel. They consist of a Man, a Lion, and Ox and an Eagle. Christianity adopted these four to represent the four evangelists: The Man shows the humanity of St. Matthew’s Gospel; The Lion the strength and power of St. Mark; the Ox represents the docility and the gentleness of St. Luke; while St. John, whose gospel reaches to greater heights than the others, is aptly represented by the highest flyer of all birds, the Eagle.

 

The V.O.T.S.L., square and compass remind the Companions of their Craft lodge affiliation and the Truth and Justice of God. The sword and trowel remind us of the trials and tribulations suffered by those who rebuilt the Temple. Their enemies were everywhere and they must be prepared to defend themselves always. These tools also remind us to pay due obedience to lawful authority and to resist lawless violence.

 

The sojourners used the pick, shovel and crowbar to clear away the rubble to make a place for the foundations of the Temple. This means to us to clear away the accumulation of ignorance and vice in our own selves. That we may build our own bodily Temple of Morality and Truth. Our ancient brethren considered the triangle on the V.S.L., as a most sacred emblem, it is also the emblem of the Deity.

 

The whole purpose of the Holy Royal Arch is to make its members wiser, happier, and to encourage them to practice the virtues of, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Based on the principals brought to us in the V.O.T.S.L..

 

If they ask the question, “Why did the Royal Arch Appear?”, the answer is that a further ceremony, or a separate “Fourth Grade,” was inevitable, and our knowledge of the evolution can best explain this of the three Craft Degrees. If we go back as far as we dare in English Masonic History, to the point where they were evolving the separate grades or degrees. It is almost certain, that the first Masonic ceremony was designed for the Fellow or Fellow-craft, i.e., the fully trained Craftsman.

 

The system of apprenticeship in England makes its first appearance in the 1200s and it is safe to assume that the next degree evolved an admission ceremony for Apprentices. At this stage, and up to the late 1600s, it is certain that the Craft had no more than two admission ceremonies. One Degree for the Apprentice, or Entered Apprentice and the other for the “Fellow Craft, or Master.” Eventually it was inevitable that there would be a demand for a separate ceremony to distinguish the Master from the Fellow Craft. Both were equal in their technical capacity. Nevertheless, the Fellow craft was an employee, and those who were fortunate enough to set up as Masters, would quite naturally have wanted a separate degree to themselves.

 

At this stage all three working grades had separate ceremonies, only one grade remained unrepresented. However, there was still no ceremony for the men who had presided in the lodge. That is for the Masters of the lodges; this ceremony appeared around 1740. This is, of course, an over simplification of the whole story and it represents my own opinions. It is based on historical foundations and the dates mentioned are supported by documentary evidence1.

 

The origins of the R.A. ceremony.

 

If we exclude the minor details, the main body of the Royal Arch Ceremony is based upon two separate stories.

The true Biblical story describing the return from Babylon and the building of the Second Temple.

The ancient legend describing the discovery of a Vault, the Altar and the Sacred Word.

Place of Origin

 

It is impossible to say, with certainty, that the R.A. took its rise in any particular country. It seems possible that the ceremony came to England from Ireland. Several of the earliest references to the R.A. are undoubtedly Irish. When they constituted the first Grand and Royal Chapter of the Royal Arch of Jerusalem (‘Moderns’) in July 1767, The ‘Antients’, who had always counted the ceremony as the ‘root, heart and marrow of Masonry’, had not realized the need for a separate controlling body. Their Grand Chapter minutes begin in 1782, after a series of resolutions in their Grand Lodge in December 1771.

 

Masonry grew by change. It is still changing, right under our very noses. Furthermore, it will continue to change, even after we have all passed on.

 

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. The Aswan Dam was built in Egypt in 1967. It was expected that it would prevent the flooding of the Nile, and produce hydroelectric power. Which it did, but along with the change in the normal flow of the waters came such evils as the loss of the rich silt which for centuries had fertilized the valley. Nutrients were lost with a 97% drop in the local sardine industry. It is estimated that the losses to Egypt due to the Aswan Dam amount to some 550 million dollars per year. Unpredictable results have also happened in Freemasonry. Some adopted changes have proved to be beneficial to the Craft, whereas others have been unexpectedly questionable. The point is that each one of us, one of these days, will be called upon to decide whether to accept or reject some proposed change in our Institution. The decision should be made knowingly, intelligently, and not emotionally. To do so one must be acquainted with the Story of Freemasonry’s evolution, and understand its present structure and mission. It was Confucius who gave the advice “Study the past if you would divine the future. “

 

As an object lesson two innovations in Masonry can be reviewed, one in America, the other in England. Several American Masonic Jurisdictions sent delegates to the 1843 Baltimore Convention. One of the innovations there adopted was that lodge business should be transacted only in a Master Mason’s lodge. The purpose, apparently, was to block impostors. But the result was that Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts were excluded from lodge membership. For instance, Holland Lodge, when under the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, conducted its business in an Entered Apprentice Lodge. Fortunately, some jurisdictions are at this moment attempting to correct that misguided resolution.

 

In England, in the year 1730, there appeared an Exposure called Masonry Dissected, which proved so very popular that many non-Masons bought the six-pence booklet, learned the secrets, and clandestinely conferred degrees for profit. Grand Lodge was very disturbed and reacted by transposing the words of the two Degrees, the purpose being to make it possible to detect impostors. Unfortunately, other results developed. The Grand Lodge, founded only some fifteen years previously, had limited powers. Some lodges in the City of London and the provinces disagreed with the transposition and began, with recent Irish and Scottish immigrants to form irregular lodges which culminated in the creation of a new Grand Lodge of their own, referred to as the Antients.

 

“ This new Grand Lodge, under the leadership of its ambitious and pugnacious Grand Secretary, Bro. Laurence Dermott, introduced ceremonial items that emphasized the gap that was to exist between the two Grand Jurisdictions and give the Antients a supposed superiority over the Premier Grand Lodge The first change was to keep the Words of the First Two Degrees in their original order. Secondly, they adopted a new Substitute Word for the Lost Word of a Master Mason. In the third place, they introduced an esoteric portion called the “Inner Working” into the Installation Ceremony. And finally, the biggest innovation in 18th century Freemasonry was the grafting of the Royal Arch as a fourth degree on to Ancient Craft Masonry.

 

It seems, therefore, that the Premier Grand Lodge’s decision to transpose the words of the first two degrees unwittingly contributed to the start of the rift in the English Craft, which lasted well over half a century. But at the same time it did afford the Antients the opportunity to bring about an almost universal adoption of Royal Arch Masonry.

 

Early references to Royal Arch Masonry are vague, and it is difficult to say when it became a completely separate degree and attained the full development of its present-day ritual and ceremonial. It may be taken as an accepted fact that the Royal Arch ceremony was being worked at York, London and Dublin about the year 1740 in a systematic way. There is a 1744 reference to the Royal Arch as “an organized body of men who have passed the chair.” Later, in 1746, Laurence Dermott was exalted to the Royal Arch in Lodge No. 26, Dublin, Ireland shortly thereafter he emigrated to England. But the really first unchallenged dates of exaltation are 1752 in Ireland, 1753 in America, 1756 in Scotland and 1758 in England. It is of interest to note that the earliest Minutes which definitely re-cords a Royal Arch Exaltation is of “A Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons” in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The historical Minute of December 22, 1753, record that three Brethren were “Raised to the Degree of Royal Arch Mason.” By the way, one month earlier in this same lodge on November 4, 1753, George Washington had been made a Mason.

 

So much for a very sketchy description of the Royal Arch’s evolution and acceptance as a Degree of Masonry. The development and growth of its doctrinal content and ritual is also very hazy. There does not seem to be any evidence to support the statement made by some Masonic scholars that the Royal Arch was originally a part of a Craft Degree. The Master Mason’s Degree does not appear to have been mutilated to provide a separate and additional degree. Some students believe the Royal Arch was compiled in France as one of the many degrees created after the spread of Freemasonry to the Continent of Europe, and then “exported” back into England. However, the prominent Masonic writer, Bernard E. Jones, felt that the arranger, editor or compiler might well have been English. For, it is true, that in the years after the establishment of the 1717 Grand Lodge in London, there were those who found themselves dissatisfied with the simplicity of the teachings of the Craft and embellished it with all kinds of additional ceremonial items and degrees.

 

In that shadowy background from which the Three Degrees of Craft Masonry had emerged, there continued to float around several vague traditions.

 

There were stories of the loss and recovery of vital secrets; of two antediluvian pillars designed to carry and pre-serve the knowledge of Mankind; and in the Graham MS. of 1726 the legend of the loss of knowledge on the (natural) death of Noah. In the 16th and 17th Centuries literature introduced the idea of a Being so dread that His name was not to be mentioned; and in 1726 an advertisement referred to the necessity for a Master to understand well the Rule of Three. It has to be admitted that early references to Royal Arch Masonry are vague, and it is difficult to say when a completely separate and fully developed Degree emerged.

 

Although Royal Arch Masonry gained impetus and definitely established itself as a corollary of the questionable “transposition” decision made by the Premier Grand Lodge in 1730, it is also true that much distress was caused by hasty and uninformed decisions of both the Americans and British. It also seems true that the Royal Arch Degree would have eventually gained recognition and acceptance without the help of a disturbing innovation.

 

In conclusion, a knowledge and an understanding of Freemasonry’s past will help each individual Mason make wise decisions in the future, for the Wisdom of the Ages has already stated that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat the mis-takes of the past. The prophet Hosea (Chapter 4:6) put it this way: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

 

George H. T. French (Texas)

Royal Arch Magazine Winter1984 Vol 14 No 12.

 

It’s that time of the year for each of us to get out into the backyard and begin our preparations of tilling the ground. We must loosen the soil in order to prepare it for growing. We must then plant the seeds in order for anything, other than weeds, to grow and bear fruit. When planting the seeds, we plant them in rows. Thus, it will be easier to cull out the weak and permit the strong to grow and prosper, and the weak to strengthen themselves by our culling.

 

Soil needs to be fertilized for it to keep its strength. There are many ways to fertilize and enrich the soil. A weak plant, in poor soil, can prosper and become the most beautiful flower in the bed and bear the most fruit if it is properly cared for and enriched.

 

Do we not all take pride in these accomplishments of our work and efforts, as much as we enjoy the fruits of our labours?

 

Is it not time for each of us to till that soil in our communities? By our talk and actions, we begin io plant those seeds about the Masonic Fraternity throughout the community. Search out those whom we know to be strong; and those whom we believe will become the strong. If we do not till and sow the Masonic story in the community, then we will never know who can and will be the strength and pillars of our Fraternity in the future.

 

The young men in today’s society are looking for something in which to believe. We have that something for them. But we must make them aware of that something. Sow before them the seeds of Masonry. Then add a little fertilizer each and every day. Don’t drown them with facts or over-fertilize them with figures, but nourish them as you would your favourite rose. Let them know that they must ASK.

 

If you plant the seeds in fertile ground and give the proper amounts of water and fertilizer, you might be pleasantly surprised at the strong and beautiful plant that you could “raise.’

 

Quietly let them know that Masonry is not a “Secret Society,” nor is it a “Religious Club”; but till the soil by letting them know that we are a Fraternity built upon moral lessons taken from the Bible which we teach through allegory or plays.

 

Answer all of their questions, honestly. And if you do not know the answer to a particular question, tell them so, but that you will seek out the answer for them from some Brother more knowledgeable than yourself. By all means let them know you are a Mason and proud of it.

 

It is not time for each of us to break the hold, that the long habits of folly have held us in its grip, and till the soil by speaking freely about the Fraternity? Nurture and enrich the soil by not hiding your pride in being a Mason.

 

Sow the work add a little sprinkling of facts and carefully add your fertilizer of knowledge. Watch with pride, as the Fraternity Grows and Prospers for the Beautification of the World, Our Community.

 

Paul C. Howell, Grand High Priest of Michigan

   

Liking the darker reds, this will make a find stand-in for the otherwise older dinky Bloodthirster from the 90's (80's?).

 

100% Games Workshop components, and alarmingly easy to accomplish.

 

Details on how it was built and painted can be found at my blog: battle-brothers.blogspot.com

I recently took part in my first Triathlon - The 2008 Blenheim Triathlon. The story of how I got to this starts at the end of my first ear of University, in the year 2000. I contracted glandular fever, and a doctor told me that I would feel "awful for two weeks, low in energy for a year, and have less energy for the rest of my life". I thought it would be a good idea to pull my finger out and work on getting fit, to prove the doctor wrong. My first efforts were extremely painful, and very short, and showed me quite how unfit I had become after a year of partying and very little exercise. When I spent two years in Japan, things moved up a couple of gears, and I started running, cycling and swimming longer distances. I found that the more exercise one does, the more one is inclined to do, until I was running half-marathon distances after work and cycling up mountains with friends (there's material for a retrospecitve blog if ever there was). Since these were the main sports I was doing, I wanted to do Triathlon, but I knew running was still my weak spot. With this in mind, I entered the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham on my return to the UK.

  

The marathon was massively painful in one of my knees, but because it was the event I had been building up to, I ran to the finish. Afterwards, it took about a week to be able to walk normally, and I concluded that running is not good for me. Supporting evidence for this is the fact that several members of my family on both my mother and father's sides have had knee problems to the point of surgery, and there is a history of arthiritis, so I decided to listen to the painful alarm bells. The training route to the triathlon consisted mainly of carrying on as before, and in fact the main hurdle was getting hold of all the equipment. I had foreseen the main expense as being the bike, but in fact it turned out to be the wetsuit. I managed to snag a basic raodbike for a mere 116 quid at Decathlon in their winter sale, and she is still going strong after over 700 miles.

  

My wetsuit is an Aquasphere Mako, hurriedly purchased from "Mike's Diving" in the week leading up to the Triathlon, and fortunately it fits like a glove. Thus prepared, George, his girlfriend and I headed up to Blenheim Palace on the day of the event, though not without a hitch as the following photo illustrates:

  

On arrival, we had to rack up, which basically means putting your bike and running gear in a rack in the transition zone and hopefully remembering their location. We then made our way down to the lake in our as-yet untested wetsuits, and had a briefing. Briefing over, we made our way to the pier, and followed the triathletes, leaping like lemmings into the remarkably chilly lake. The icy bite of the lake made things painful during the seemingly long wait for the starting claxon. I reassured George that the pain would go away once we started swimming, having no idea whether it actually would. Finally the claxon sounded and the lake transformed from idyllic tranquility to a frothing tumult of swimmers, all vying for position. I had read that the first 200-400 metres are the most stressful part of any triathlon, and that a lot of triathletes freak out at this point due to the combination of cold water on the face, sudden exertion, and being in water teeming with other people, all of whom seem to want to swim over you. Having been forewarned, I was prepared for this and kept switching from crawl to breast stroke to keep my bearings, and my head.

  

At the end of the swim, we clambered out of the water and some helpful attendants unzipped our wetsuits as we made our way up the hill for the 400m run to the transition zone.

  

At transition, I spent about two minutes trying to extricate myself from my wetsuit, writhing around on the gravel in a most undignified fashion, before finally emerging and grabbing my t-shirt and bike from the rack, clipping on my helmet and wheeling the bike towards the exit of the transition. There are so many tules dictating what one can and cannot do in transition, I was quite worried about getting disqualified for doing something that was banned, like putting my helmet on at the wrong time, or walking inappropriately... Once on the bike I made a mental note to not go too hard, as I am wont to do on my commute when anyone overtakes me. I wanted to pace myself to leave something in reserve for the run. The route was three laps of a track through the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, adding up to just under 20km. There were several downhill sections marked with "slow down", which obviously were the most fun parts to go as fast as possible on, and build up some momentum for the ensuing hill-climbs. I still had not encountered George by the end of the third lap, and was pondering this when I heard a shout of "COME ON CHUFFY!" as George flew by on his trusty steed. I gave chase and we entered transition at the same time, in our appalling-looking skimpy swimming trunks.

  

The second transition should have been more straightforward than the first, as no wetsuit removal was necessary. Despite this fact, I managed to remove my helmet too early, earning a shouting-at from one of the marshalls. George and I then headed out of transition heading in completely the wrong direction, and the same marshall alerted us to our glaring error before witheringly shouting "The run exit is over there where there's a huge sign saying 'RUN EXIT'!". Thus informed, we set off on the run leg of the event. George had to drop back briefly as he was suffering from cramp owing to the transition from one leg-intensive exercise to another. I didn't want to go into cramp so I kept jogging steadily. I ran alongside a friendly Aussie called Coops and we chatted until the end, when he had challenged me to a sprint finish.

  

As the time approached, Coops said he didn't really feel the sprint coming on, and I could totally sympathise with him after my previous marathon experience, so I went for it, and here is a video of the finish: [video:youtube:O7cHwRKMHZI] All in all, it was a fantastic event, with much less painful after effects than the half marathon. It is definitely something I want to repeat. In fact, George and I have booked places at the Nottingham Triathlon on August 3rd.

 

Here's a vid of the finish :D

Simple Lines shawl is done. Due to poor lighting, there are only teaser-type images. :)

blogged:

mysistersknitter.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/06/off-the-need...

   

The southern facade of the Ingenium Building (nearing completion) adjacent to the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

  

As per Wikipedia:

 

>>

Ingenium, (Long name: Ingenium – Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation) formerly called the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation, is a Canadian Crown corporation responsible for overseeing national museums related to science and technology. The name is based off the Latin root of the word ingenuity.

 

The corporation oversees the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. The organization is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario.

 

The corporation's museums are associated with the Canadian Museum Association, the Virtual Museum of Canada and the Canadian Heritage Information Network. Ingenium has an

open documents portal where the corporation shares working documents and corporate plans. It also maintains an open data portal.

<<

Sukhoi Superjet 100 Certification Program is progressing towards completion

 

Sukhoi Superjet 100 certification campaign is successfully progressing towards completion. All major certification flight programs are accomplished. The prototypes have gained 2245 flight hours in 948 flights.

 

On October 28 the aircraft 95003 returned from Iceland after a month testing for operation in side winds, having fully confirmed its compliance with certification requirements at side wind speed up to 15m/sec. Keflavík International Airport is situated at the Atlantic coast of Iceland. Its runways are built at 90 degrees angle each other, so when the wind follows the direction of one runway, it causes side wind at another one bringing the possibility tο conduct test landings іn side wind, nο matter whісh direction thе wind blows. Because of its unique wind conditions, Keflavik Airport is widely used for side wind testing by the European and American manufacturer. Keflavik has been used for side winds testing by A380 and B787.

 

Along with side winds testing program, the aircraft has successfully performed a series of testing for CATII landing, which is enough to get the Type Certification. Preparation to CATIIIA testing is in progress.

 

In Zhukovsky Flight Test Center SCAC engineers successfully completed air stairs and cargo compartment equipment testing.

 

“We’ve already gone through the most challenging testing certification programs. As per our estimations our team has already covered 90% of the overall certification testing scope. Now we are finalizing avionics safety failure testing, EMC, HIRF with emergency evacuation testing to follow”, - said Igor Vinogradov, SVP Certification.

Under Cons. Construction startedApril 1, 2013 Estimated completion in 2019. Mile High Tower (working name) 1609 m Computer rendering released on 2 August 2011 Kingdom Tower

 

Under Cons. Murjan Tower 1 1022

 

Under Cons. Burj Mubarak al-Kabir Mubarak Tower Madinat al-Hareer (Arabic: مدينة الحرير‎, meaning "City of Silk")1001 m

  

Under Cons. Nakheel Tower 1000 The proposed tower would have been 1,400 m was stopped and the project has been put on hold

 

Under Cons. Russia Tower 612m Construction began in September 2007, and was planned to be completed in 2012 Interfax reported on 21 November 2008 that construction on the tower was to be halted

 

Under Cons. Incheon Tower 610m Construction started with groundbreaking on 20 June 2008.[6] If completed on schedule in 2015, the building will become the tallest twin towers in the world .

 

Under Cons. Chicago Spire 609 see also

At a hearing on March 11, 2014,

  

Makkah Clock Royal Tower Hotel 577

StatusComplete

TypeMixed use:

Hotel, Residential

LocationMecca, Saudi Arabia

  

Under Cons. China 117 Tower 570

Construction began in 2008, and the building was scheduled to be completed in 2014, becoming the second tallest building in China.

 

Under Cons. Millennium Tower World Business Center 560 The building was expected to be completed in 2013 but the project was cancelled

 

Under Cons. Lotte Super Tower 556 metres Construction started2009

Estimated completion2015

 

Under Cons. Doha Convention Center Tower 552

Construction started2009

Estimated completion2015

 

Under Cons. Freedom Tower - One World Trade Center 541

 

Under Cons. Pentominium 516

Construction started2008

Estimated completion2014

  

Under Cons. Burj Al Alam 510 By the end of 2013, the project had been officially cancelled

 

Under Cons. Busan Lotte Tower 510 Construction started9 March 2009

Estimated completion2020

  

1 Burj Khalifa Tower 828

 

2 Taipei 101 508

 

3 Shanghai Financial Center 492

 

4 Petronas Tower 1 452

 

5 Petronas Tower 2 452

 

6 Sears Tower 442

 

7 Jin Mao Building 421

 

8 International Finance Center 412

 

9 Citic Plaza 391

 

10 Shun Hing Square 384

Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फ़तेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری‎) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The city was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar, and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. After his military victories over Chittor and Ranthambore, Akbar decided to shift his capital from Agra to a new location 37 km WSW on the Sikri ridge, to honor the Sufi saint Salim Chishti. Here he commenced the construction of a planned walled city which took the next fifteen years in planning and construction of a series of royal palaces, harem, courts, a mosque, private quarters and other utility buildings. He named the city, Fatehabad, with Fateh, a word of Arabic origin in Persian, meaning "victorious." it was later called Fatehpur Sikri. It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved collections of Indian Mughal architecture in India.

 

According to contemporary historians, Akbar took a great interest in the building of Fatehpur Sikri and probably also dictated its architectural style. Seeking to revive the splendours of Persian court ceremonial made famous by his ancestor Timur, Akbar planned the complex on Persian principles. But the influences of his adopted land came through in the typically Indian embellishments. The easy availability of sandstone in the neighbouring areas of Fatehpur Sikri, also meant that all the buildings here were made of the red stone. The imperial Palace complex consists of a number of independent pavilions arranged in formal geometry on a piece of level ground, a pattern derived from Arab and central Asian tent encampments. In its entirety, the monuments at Fatehpur Sikri thus reflect the genius of Akbar in assimilating diverse regional architectural influences within a holistic style that was uniquely his own.

 

The Imperial complex was abandoned in 1585, shortly after its completion, due to paucity of water and its proximity with the Rajputana areas in the North-West, which were increasingly in turmoil. Thus the capital was shifted to Lahore so that Akbar could have a base in the less stable part of the empire, before moving back to Agra in 1598, where he had begun his reign as he shifted his focus to Deccan. In fact, he never returned to the city except for a brief period in 1601. In later Mughal history it was occupied for a short while by Mughal emperor, Muhammad Shah (r. 1719 -1748), and his regent, Sayyid Hussain Ali Khan Barha, one of the Syed Brothers, was murdered here in 1720. Today much of the imperial complex which spread over nearly two mile long and one mile wide area is largely intact and resembles a ghost town. It is still surrounded by a five mile long wall built during its original construction, on three sides. However apart from the imperial buildings complex few other buildings stand in the area, which is mostly barren, except of ruins of the bazaars of the old city near the Naubat Khana, the 'drum-house' entrance at Agra Road. The modern town lies at the western end of the complex, which was a municipality from 1865 to 1904, and later made a "notified area", and in 1901 had a population of 7,147. For a long time it was still known for its masons and stone carvers, though in Akbar time it was known and 'fabrics of hair' and 'silk-spinning'. The village of Sikri still exists nearby.

 

ARCHITECTURE OF FATEHPUR SIKRI

Fatehpur Sikri sits on rocky ridge, 3 kilometres in length and 1 km wide, and palace city is surrounded by a 6 km wall on three side with the fourth being a lake at the time. Its architect was Tuhir Das and Dhruv Chawla and was constructed using Indian principles. The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarat and Bengal. This was because indigenous craftsmen were used for the construction of the buildings. Influences from Hindu and Jain architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements. The building material used in all the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri, palace-city complex, is the locally quarried red sandstone, known as 'Sikri sandstone'. It is accessed through gates along the five-mile long fort wall, namely, Delhi Gate, the Lal Gate, the Agra Gate, Birbal's Gate, Chandanpal Gate, The Gwalior Gate, the Tehra Gate, the Chor Gate and the Ajmere Gate.

 

Some of the important buildings in this city, both religious and secular are:

 

Buland Darwaza: Set into the south wall of congregational mosque, the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, this stupendous piece of architecture is 55 metre high, from the outside, gradually making a transition to a human scale in the inside. The gate was added some five years later after the completion of the mosque ca. 1576-1577 as an 'victory arch', to commemorate the Akbar's successful Gujarat campaign. It carries two inscriptions in the archway, one of which reads: "Isa, Son of Mariam said: The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build no houses on it. He who hopes for an hour may hope for eternity. The world endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer, for the rest is unseen".

The central portico comprises three arched entrances, with the largest one, in the centre, is known locally as the Horseshoe Gate, after the custom of nailing horseshoes to its large wooden doors for luck. Outside the giant steps of the Buland Darwaza to left is deep well.

Jama Masjid: It is a Jama Mosque meaning the congregational mosque, and was perhaps one of the first buildings to come up in the complex, as its epigraph gives AH 979 (AD 1571-72) as the date of its completion, with a massive entrance to the courtyard, the Buland-Darwaza added some five years later. It was built in the manner of Indian mosques, with iwans around a central courtyard. A distinguishing feature is the row of chhatri over the sanctuary. There are three mihrabs in each of the seven bays, while the large central mihrab is covered by a dome, it is decorated with white marble inlay, in geometric patterns.

Tomb of Salim Chishti: A white marble encased tomb of the Sufi saint, Salim Chisti (1478–1572), within the Jama Masjid's sahn, courtyard. The single-storey structure is built around a central square chamber, within which is the grave of the saint, under an ornate wooden canopy encrusted with mother-of-pearl mosaic. Surrounding it is a covered passageway for circumambulation, with carved Jalis, stone pierced screens all around with intricate geometric design, and an entrance to the south. The tomb is influenced by earlier mausolea of the early 15th century Gujarat Sultanate period. Other striking features of the tomb are white marble serpentine brackets, which support sloping eaves around the parapet.

On the left of the tomb, to the east, stands a red sandstone tomb of Islam Khan I, son of Shaikh Badruddin Chisti and grandson of Shaikh Salim Chishti, who became a general in the Mughal army in the reign of Jahangir. The tomb is topped by a dome and thirty-six small domed chattris, and contains a number of graves, some unnamed, all male descendants of Shaikh Salim Chisti.

Diwan-i-Aam : Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience, is a building typology found in many cities where the ruler meets the general public. In this case, it is a pavilion-like multi-bayed rectangular structure fronting a large open space. South west of the Diwan-i-Am and next to the Turkic Sultana's House stand Turkic Baths.

Diwan-i-Khas: the Diwan-i-Khas, or Hall of Private Audience, is a plain square building with four chhatris on the roof. However it is famous for its central pillar, which has a square base and an octagonal shaft, both carved with bands of geometric and floral designs, further its thirty-six serpentine brackets support a circular platform for Akbar, which is connected to each corner of the building on the first floor, by four stone walkways. It is here that Akbar had representatives of different religions discuss their faiths and gave private audience.

Ibadat Khana: (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, where the foundations of a new Syncretistic faith, Din-e-Ilahi were laid by Akbar.

Anup Talao: A ornamental pool with a central platform and four bridges leading up to it. Some of the important buildings of the royal enclave are surround by it including, Khwabgah (House of Dreams) Akbar's residence, Panch Mahal, a five-storey palace, Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Ankh Michauli and the Astrologer's Seat, in the south-west corner of the Pachisi Court.

Hujra-i-Anup Talao: Said to be the residence of Akbar's Muslim wife, although this is disputed due to its small size.

Mariam-uz-Zamani's Palace: The building of Akbar's Rajput wives, including Mariam-uz-Zamani, shows Gujarati influence and is built around a courtyard, with special care being taken to ensure privacy.

Naubat Khana: Also known as Naqqar Khana meaning a drum house, where musician used drums to announce the arrival of the Emperor. It is situated ahead of the Hathi Pol Gate or the Elephant Gate, the south entrance to the complex, suggesting that it was the imperial entrance.

Pachisi Court: A square marked out as a large board game, the precursor to modern day Ludo game where people served as the playing pieces.

Panch Mahal: A five-storied palatial structure, with the tiers gradually diminishing in size, till the final one, which is a single large-domed chhatri. Originally pierced stone screens faced the façade, and probably sub-divided the interior as well, suggesting it was built for the ladies of the court. The floors are supported by intricately carved columns on each level, totalling to 176 columns in all.

Birbal's House: The house of Akbar's favorite minister, who was a Hindu. Notable features of the building are the horizontal sloping sunshades or chajjas and the brackets which support them.

 

Recent excavation done by ASI in 2000 led to unearthing of an ancient jain city very near to the fort complex.

 

Other buildings included Taksal (mint), 'Daftar Khana (Records Office), Karkhanas (royal workshop), Khazana (treasury), Turkic styled Baths, Darogha's Quarters, stables, Caravan sarai, Hakim's quarters etc.

 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Fatehpur Sikri has a population of 28,757. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Fatehpur Sikri has an average literacy rate of 46%, lower than the national average of 74%: male literacy is 57%, and female literacy is 34%. In Fatehpur Sikri, 59% of the population is under 6 years of age.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ESTABLISHMENT

Fatehpur Sikri is one of the fifteen Block headquarters in the Agra district it has 52 Gram panchayats (Village Panchayat) under it.

 

The Fatehpur Sikri, is a constituency of the Lok Sabha, Lower house of the Indian Parliament, and further comprises five Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) segments:

 

Agra Rural

Fatehpur Sikri

Kheragarh

Fatehabad

Bah

 

In all there are 12 villages of Sisodia Rajputs near Fatehpur Sikri fort in Agra district. These are Daultabad, Nayavas, Satha, korai, Behrawati, Byara, Undera, Kachora, Singarpur, Vidyapur, Onera, Arrua.

 

TRANSPORT

Fatehpur Sikri is about 39 km. from Agra. The nearest Airport is the Agra Airport (also known as Kheria Airport), 40 km from Fatehpur Sikri. The nearest railway station is the Fatehpur Sikri Railway Station, about one km. from the city centre . It is suitably connected to Agra and neighbouring centres by road, where regular bus services of UPSRTC ply, apart from Tourist buses and taxies.

 

WIKIPEDIA

Building the SR 167 Expressway in Fife meant that we had to remove some trees. We only remove as many as absolutely necessary. We plant new trees to make up for it and we generally plant several trees for every one that is removed.

 

The SR 167 Completion project, which is part of the Puget Sound Gateway Program, builds the new expressway in stages. The first 2-mile section adds a connection between I-5 and SR 509. A later stage will add the connection between SR 167’s current end in Puyallup and I-5.

 

Building this 2-mile section of SR 167 requires a lot of fill dirt. Because a good portion of the expressway will be elevated so that it crosses over surface streets, we need one million cubic yards of fill. That’s a lot of dirt!

 

We’re also aligning the highway to avoid critical wetland areas that will be enhanced and improved as part of the project, including restoring portions of Hylebos Creek and building new bridges so the creek can handle more flood water, provide better habitat for fish and flow easily to Tacoma’s Commencement Bay.

 

The Maryland National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy held their course completion ceremony for the 22 week residency phase for 104 cadets of class #47 at Havre de Grace High School, Havre de Grace, Md., Dec. 10, 2016. .

.

Retired Air Force Gen. Larry O. Spencer, who served as the VIce Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, spoke to the cadets as the keynote speaker..

.

The Academy is a two-phased 17-month intervention program for underemployed, drug-free, “at-risk” high school dropouts from the state of Maryland between 16-18 years of age. Following graduation from the resident phase, the cadets are mentored for an additional 12 months, during which time they are placed into jobs, continue their higher education, or vocational trades training or enter the military..

.

The mission of the Academy is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth and to produce graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as adults..

.

The students were brought into a structured and highly disciplined quasi-military academic setting that builds confidence and self-esteem to become productive and contributing members of our society. Cadets attend academic classes to prepare them for the test for the General Education Development (GED) credential and Maryland High School Diploma.

That's the new Cockburn Aquatic & Recreation Centre (ARC) nearing completion!

meanwhile in the workshop the line's polish usa type 0-6-0t nears completion