Monday 26 June 2017

Best Software for Landscape Design

As a professional landscape designer, I primarily use two software programs in my design practice: the first is Dynascape, and the second is Realtime Landscaping Architect by Ideaspectrum.



To develop a design, I first personally measure the site, even if there is already an existing survey for the property, as measurements for surveyors and measurements for purposes of landscape design are not similar. I take an accurate placement of the building footprint as well as all windows and doors, because this influences the landscape design, but rarely if ever serves the purposes of a legal survey of the property. - Which is why I do my own measurements. In addition, trees and significant shrubs are often surveyed. I like to verify these myself, and it is usually accurate, however I also need to determine with the owner which of these are to stay and which are to be removed . Other pertinent details are verified which could affect a landscape design. Not to mention, much of the unconscious design process happens for me during this crucial time while I am in essence "interviewing" and getting to know the site.

Then, I use Dynascape software to create the layout of the property and buildings, so that the landscape area to be designed is suitably represented on the drawing. Dynascape is a type of CADD program (CADD stands for computer-aided design and drafting). It supports the drawing of lines (vectors). While you can import images (rasters) and place them within the file, the primary thing you are doing with this program is drawing lines; accurate lines, which when printed, are to a certain scale such as 1/4" drawn = 1'-0" in the real world.

I further build the design entirely in Dynascape, a very useful design tool. Sometimes I still do studies by hand with sketches or using photographs, but it all ends up on the computer in the end, to produce a drawing for the client.

All-in-all, because of the templates, lineweight settings and ease of drawing of curves, adding plant symbols, and doing takeoffs of square and linear footages, this software program Dynascape is a timesaver. It also produces nice crisp legible black & white drawings which are legible and comprehensible to the layperson, so my clients get a better picture of what I have envisioned for them. The drawing is a great tool for discussion to further refine the design when meeting with clients. In many cases it is sufficient to hand off to a skilled landscape installer as well, without having to recreate a full set of construction documents.

Construction documents (sometimes casually called blueprints) are what builders use to build from; these are rather dry-looking and meant for one purpose and one purpose only: construction. Once the drawings are to this stage, the design has already been finalized - in larger projects such as commercial work and institutional work, several stages of drawing - from concept to further refined representation down to construction documents - are essential in communication between the design team, the owners and the municipal and government institutions involved in a major construction project. Many electronic files between the design consultants may change hands, and a common software platform such as Autocad is more appropriate for exchange of commonly understood files.

However, in skilled hands of a qualified, seasoned landscape installer, a conceptual drawing such as I produce with Dynascape is quite suitable for installation of the average residential landscape. I would further caution that if the landscape installer on a residential project cannot build without construction documents, that the installer might not be the best choice for a residential job, since people tend to like a softer, simpler landscape for their home; I have seen expensive jobs that l ook more like civic centers or hospital campuses than private estates, all due to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhxCu6cQBMs hiring the wrong design and installation team for the job. If they have to be told how to plant and steak a tree, install expensive stone patios and other fine details, then you certainly do not want them learning these refined details on your project.

Realtime Landscaping Architect by IdeaSpectrum is the other software of choice. I use this software as a 3-D visualization tool. I take the drawing created by Dynascape, import it as an image, and pop-up the landscape from this flat image into a 3-dimensional virtual world. From there, I can demonstrate the project from any angle, walk through the site virtually before the project is built, and create movies of walk-throughs and fly-throughs, all useful to demonstrate the vision and the feeling of the project to the clients before it is even built.

There is good reason for the strong reviews of this software. It is extremely affordable, and surprisingly fast to render for its https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhxCu6cQBMs humble price point. In fact, it is so much faster than other platforms aimed at the professional designer, that I prefer it. It renders movies in minutes rather than in hours, and I can walk through the project at any point in its unfolding on the fly, to make changes quickly and see the results right away. Another strong point of this project is its soft rendering which gives a much better feeling of what a landscape experience is than some overly crisp harshly lit and angular rendering from other software platforms. The ability of the trees and plants to move in the breeze, the water rippling http://www.thelawn.co.uk/ from a fountain with accompanying sound, the softness of the angles on the f orms and atmospheric quality of light give more of an impression of the actual space that is being designed and how it might feel to be in that space.

The other huge advantage to this software is that it is incredibly easy to build an entire landscape quickly. The modules for building instant houses, decks, pools, ponds, and fences make drawing these items as simple as drawing a line. Clicking on the resultant objects opens up options to adjust finishes, materials and other options. In addition, the software can import anything you create in Google Sketchup. This means that any custom item you wish to create can easily be dropped right into the landscape. A custom awning, arbor, pot or planter, can be brought right into the drawing. Also this means that the entire Google Warehouse of objects other people have created in Sketchup and uploaded, is at your disposal. I have imported cars, buildings, plants and a myriad of items that I just didn't want to have to create m yself. Also I have created a lovely Japanese-style custom arbor with translucent overhead panels into the 3-D drawing and it worked perfectly. While many of my colleages are still using Google Sketchup to render their entire landscapes laboriously, and with poor lighting effects, harsh angles and an overall "clunky" look, I am importing what I need from Sketchup or Google Warehouse into Realtime Landscaping Architect, and having it lit beautifully, rendered softly, and placed in a lovely landscape setting that took me far less time to produce. I can then on top of that create movies and walk-throughs on the fly and have the effects of breezes and sounds of water features, etc to further provide an enhanced virtual experience of the proposed landscape design.

The weak point of this software is that its terrain building is awkward and difficult to manipulate to render an accurate representation of the landform. They have promised that a new terrain module will be rolled o ut with the release of their next version planned within the next several months. I am really looking forward to that, in addition to other exciting upgrades. Other platforms can accommodate a topographic rendering from a topographical survey quite nicely, however Realtime Landscaping Architect has its own way of generating landforms that are somewhat intuitive but difficult when trying to wrestle it to stay put at the appropriate elevation. The walls are also tricky to wrangle if you want to represent a particular retaining wall at a certain height with a fixed top-of-wall and bottom-of-wall. Walls tend to pop up and down with the slightest adjustment to the terrain, even when you try to make the wall stay in place. The software takes a soft approach again, here to its disadvantage. This is why at this time it is strictly a visualization tool and not one that I can utilize to generate accurate construction drawings or even (at this time) accurate 3-D renderings. But since it is so quick to build a landscape and render the concept for the client instantly, its shortcoming here is balanced out by its quick landscape rendering to get the point across quickly and beautifully, and its otherwise incredible ease of use.



Realtime Landscaping Architect is an incredibly powerful 3-D visualization tool and a useful part of my professional design practice.

by Ami Saunders, MLA, Landscape Designer, Principal, SAUNDERS DESIGNS | Landscapes + Gardens

https://hubpages.com/living/Best-Software-for-Landscape-Design

Saturday 24 June 2017

The Many Uses Of Flowers

Flowers are the most widely used species of plants in the world. Flowers are used as a symbol on certain events such as flowers used by the bride in wedding, flowers as a symbol to a girl's transition to womanhood on a debutante ball or the cotillion, as traditional flowers on Valentines Day.



Flowers are also used as a form of a gift on special occasions such as such as mother's day, Christmas, anniversaries, or even birthdays. Flowers can also be used as decorations for parties or gatherings.

The uses of Flowers are not only restricted as decorative and as symbol of celebrations or occasions, flowers can also produce a source of food. Flowers produce nectar, which the bees will extract to store as food on there hives, whereas human extract these nectar from the hives to produce honey, some flowers are also used for medical purposes or for shampoos.



Because of the flower's attractiveness and beauty many have Sprinkler System Installation Flower Mound decided to make a profit out of these flowers by selling those beautiful flowers and started their own flowers shops. Flower Express, one of the Philippines leading online flower shop; have built an online flower shop as a means for people to easily get hold to a large variety of flowers with just the use of a computer. Flowers Express's Flower gift Philippines and Gifts Philippines can provide a means of for people to choose from many variety of flower gift and gifts.

Flower gift Philippines is a branch of Flowers Express that specializes on selling different kinds of flowers. Flower gift Philippines sells many kinds of flowers local or foreign such as Alstroemerias, Carnations, Ecuadorian Roses, Gerberas, High-Style Collection, Lilies, Mixed Bouquets, Orchids, Spring Flowers, Tulips and many more. Flower gift Philippines can also provide their customers special arrangements for special occasions such as Anniversaries, Congratulations, Christmas, Get Well, Love & Romance, Sorry, Thank You, Welcome Home, and Valentines Special.

Gifts Philippines is a branch of Flowers Express that sells different kinds of gifts. Flowers Express doesn't only sell flowers to their customers but also some other gifts with Gifts Philippines. Gifts Philippines sells different kinds of gifts such as Chocolate, Fruit Basket, Gift Ba skets, Men's Fragrances, Wines & liquors, and Women's Fragrances.

With http://ambler.temple.edu/arboretum/about-ambler-arboretum/arboretum-history Flowers Express's Flower gift Philippines and Gifts Philippines, customers are provided with services that lets them buy flowers and gifts with just the help of a computer and an internet. If you want more information on Flowers Express's Flower gift Philippines and Gifts Philippines then visit www.flowersexpress.com.ph.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/The_Many_Uses_Of_Flowers.html

Thursday 22 June 2017

Best Home Design Blog | Apartment Therapy



Dear Readers,



Please click on our 2012 Home Design Blog winner:



Bower Power

Bloggers: Katie & Jeremy Bower

Location: Atlanta, GA

De ar Readers, Please check out Katie and Jeremy's awesome blog and thank you for taking part in helping us to discover and celebrate the best in the home blogosphere. Bower Power will now join our pantheon of Best Home Blogs, and we'll see you next year.

Best, Maxwell

MAIN POST & ALL CATEGORIES

o Back Home Improvement College Station to Main Post & Past Winners

Click to see winners in each category:



o Best Home Design Blog: Bower Power

o Best Family Blog: Rockstar Diaries

o Best DIY http://www.remodeling.hw.net/ Blog: A Beautiful Mess

o Best Recipe Blog: Munchin with Munchkin

o Best Healthy Cooking Blog: The Clothes Make The Girl

o Best Food Photography on a Blog: Nom Nom Paleo

THE FINAL VOTE

ALL THE NOMINATIONS

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-home-design-blog-nominations-the-homies-2012-166616

Monday 19 June 2017

California Residents Face Fines as Bone-Dry State Seeks to Reduce Water Use

Across the West, a historic drought - the worst in over a century - has sparked a water crisis that for the first time has forced California officials to impose mandatory statewide water restrictions.



"We need water," Gov. Gerry Brown said today. "We're gonna have to get water."

Watch: Extremely dry conditions fuel wildfires http://photos.hgtv.com/photos/landscaping- in at least five states.

There have no been no fewer than a dozen raging wildfires, from Idaho and Oregon to Arizona, Washington and Nevada.

The Bully Fire in Northern California chewed through 10-square miles and destroyed eight homes. The landscape has become a tinderbox and water reservoirs are now bone dry. About 2,200 firefighters have been working hard to keep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqSm2OQEnw the flames away.

Nevada's Lake Mead is now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqSm2OQEnw at its lowest point since the Hoover Dam was built, officials said.



In today's announcement, officials in California announced that it is illegal to let sprinkler systems flow into the street, hose down sidewalks and driveways or use an open hose to wash your car.

"I think my husband has been guilty of coming out late at night and doing a little secre tive watering underneath the trees," resident Pam Ferko said.

Scofflaws faced fines of up to $500 a day.

Previously, residents had ignored the governor's pleas to cutback - statewide, water usage actually went up - so now Californians are being encouraged to rat out their neighbors.

"Our water complaint calls have gone up exponentially from the last two years," said Terrance Davis of the state's Department of Utilities.

Lawn sprinklers and car washes aren't the only culprits though.

Agriculture uses 80 percent of the state's water. The drought is projected to cost $2 billion in crop losses this year, which will mean higher food prices nationwide.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/07/california-residents-face-fines-as-bone-dry-state-seeks-to-reduce-water-use/

Sprinkler regulations raise alarm: proposed regs require systems in all nursing homes.

Nursing homes across the country will need to install automatic

sprinkler systems throughout their buildings under a new regulation

proposed by CMS.

CMS published a proposed rule in the October 27, 2006, Federal

Register that would require all long-term care facilities to install

sprinkler systems. The agency did not propose any date for compliance,

but instead asked for public comment on the duration of a phase-in

period to allow long-term care facilities to plan for and install the

systems. The comment period closed December 26.



CMS acknowledged that installing sprinklers will be both an

expensive and time-consuming effort for nursing homes, but one that will

save lives. Under the new regulation, nursing homes would have to

install sprinkler systems if they want to continue to accept Medicare

and Medicaid dollars.



"Automatic sprinkler systems are integral t o increasing safety

in nursing homes, and we look forward to their installation in all of

the nursing homes across the country," said Leslie V. Norwalk,

acting administrator of CMS, in a press release.



Good for the industry?



As expected, fire protection consultants applauded CMS'

decision. "It's an excellent move and a needed move.

Obviously, it's going to save lives," says James K. Lathrop,

vice president of Koffel Associates, Inc., in Niantic, CT.



"My professional opinion is that this is one of the best

things to happen recently in terms of life safety," agrees A.

Richard Fasano, manager of the western http://www.rmlandscape2.com/ office of Russell Phillips &

Associates, LLC, in Elk Grove, CA.



Both Lathrop and Fasano noted that the nursing home industry

supports the installation of automatic sp rinklers in facilities.

"There hasn't been any opposition to this at all," Fasano

says.

In fact, the American Health Care Association (AHCA), the industry

group that represents for-profit nursing homes, worked closely with the



National Fire Protection Association on the sprinkler issue and other

Life Safety Code[R] issues.



"Our first, most basic priority as providers of quality

long-term care is to guarantee the physical safety of frail, elderly,

and disabled residents within a facilit y," said AHCA President

Bruce Yarwood, in a press release. "[Although] major nursing home

fires are rare, fire prevention remains a top priority for our

members."



Smoke Sprinkler System Denton alarm proviso

As an interim step toward the requirement for sprinkler systems, in

March 2005 CMS began requiring all nursing homes that did not have

sprinklers to install battery-operated smoke alarms in all resident

rooms and public areas.



The proposed rule includes a sunset provision for the smoke alarm

requirement, which CMS will phase out to coincide with the requirement

of facilities with full sprinkler systems.



Save a life, even if it costs



Installing sprinklers decreases the chances of fire-related deaths

by 82%, CMS said, citing a July 2004 Government Accountability Office (GAO) rep ort, Nursing Home Fire Safety: Recent Fires Highlight

Weaknesses in Federal Standards and Oversight. The report examined two

2003 long-term care facility fires in Hartford, CT, and Nashville, TN,

that resulted in 31 resident deaths.



The GAO report cited sprinklers as the single most effective fire

protection feature for long-term care facilities. If the Hartford and

Nashville nursing homes were equipped with automatic sprinklers, "I

don't even think we would have ever heard about them," Lathrop

says.



The proposed rule will require every long-term care facility to

install "an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system"

in accordance with the 1999 edition of NFPA 13, "Standard for Sprinkler System Installation Denton the

Installation of Sprinkler Systems." It also requires the testing,

inspection, and m aintenance of those systems by facilities in accordance

with the 1998 edition of NFPA 25, "Standard for the Inspection,

Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems."



AHCA said it plans to work with Congress to help provide resources

for nursing homes that will need to tackle the high cost of retrofitting

older facilities with sprinkler systems.

Under existing CMS regulations, newly constructed nursing homes and

those undergoing major renovations, alterations, or modernizations must

install sprinkler systems. However, until now CMS has not required older

homes to have such systems.



In its proposed rule, CMS estimated it would cost thousands of

dollars to install a sprinkler system, depending on the size of the

facility.



Yarwood said it is important that CMS recognized the need for a

phase-in period to allow nursing homes planning and installation time.

CMS also acknowledged that facilities might need to reallocate their

resources and possibly secure additional capital resources to fund the

improvements, as well as possibly temporarily relocate residents during

installation. CMS said some facilities may choose to move rather than

install a system in their current location.



How much time do you have to install?



In the final rule, CMS said it wants to see nursing homes install

the sprinklers as quickly as possible, but acknowledged that new

regulations should not place undue burden on facilities. "The cost

of installing sprinklers is substantial, and we do not expect long-term

care facilities to have $75,000 to $615,000, depending on the size of

the area requiring sprinklers and the cost of installing sprinklers,

immediately available to purchase and install sprinklers," CMS

stated i n the rule. "At this time we do not know what would be the

exact length of the phase-in period."



For illustrative purposes, CMS offered cost estimates that looked

at five, seven, and 10-year phase-in periods to implement the sprinkler

requirement. "I think 10 years is more than liberal," Lathrop

says.



Based on a 10-year time frame for implementation, CMS estimates

that the regulation would affect 2,462 nursing homes--1,947 that are

partially sprinklered and 515 without any sprinklers.



The estimated cost for installing a sprinkler system in an average

size building (50,000 sq ft) without any existing sprinklers would be

$205,000 to $307,500, depending on the cost per square foot, CMS said in

the rule.



If a long-term care facility is part of another building, such as a

hospital, then the regulation will require sprinklers only in the
< br>long-term care section.



RELATED ARTICLE: CMS to hold off on 2006 Life Safety Code for now.



While CMS moves ahead to require nursing homes to install automatic

fire sprinklers, the agency is doing so without adopting the 2006

edition of the Life Safety Code[R] (LSC).



In its proposed rule, published in the October 27 Federal Register,

CMS clearly stated that it is not prepared to adopt the 2006 LSC. The

agency said it supports the NFPA's decision to include an automatic

sprinkler system requirement for all long-term care facilities in the

2006 LSC. However, "we have decided to proceed with this rule,

without adopting the NFPA 2006 edition of the LSC, because we want to

avoid further delay in requiring an automatic sprinkler system in

long-term care facilities," CMS wrote in the rule.





To adopt the 2006 LSC, CMS stated it would have to go through

notice and comment rulemaking. "In addition to the time that it

takes to carefully analyze the LSC in its entirety, the rulemaking

process itself is a time-consuming process that, even in the best case

scenario, takes 18 months to complete," CMS wrote.



Because of the large scope of the LSC, that process could take even

longer, CMS stated, speculating it would not be able to adopt and

enforce compliance with the 2006 edition until 2008 or 2009. Then the

2008 or 2009 publication date of a final rule would begin a probable

phase-in period, which could be anywhere from three to 10 additional

years, CMS stated.



"We believe that delaying the rulemaking process would be a

disservice to all long-term care facility residents who reside in

buildings that do not have sprinklers," CMS stated.



CMS said it will continue to work with the NFPA to revise and

refine each edition of the LSC "We are currently examining the 2006

edition of the LSC in its entirety and exploring the possibility of

adopting it for all Medicare and Medicaid participating healthcare

facilities," CMS stated. The agendy said it welcomed public comment

on its decision to proceed with rulemaking on the sprinkler requirements

separate from the 2006 LSC.



While some may be disappointed that CMS did not adopt the 2006 LSC,

the agency's approach will allow it to create an implementation

period to give nursing homes time to install new sprinkler systems, says

A. Richard Fasano, manager of the western office of Russell Phillips

& Associates, LLC, in Elk Grove, CA.



If CMS adopted the 2006 LSC, nursing homes would have to

immediately comply with t hose requirements on the date the new code took

effect, Fasono says. "I think CMS is wise in taking the approach it

did."--Joanne Finnegan



BY JOANNE FINNEGAN, STAFF WRITER



Joanne Finnegan is a senior managing editor at HCPro, the parent

company of CLTC.



https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sprinklerregulationsraisealarm:proposedregsrequiresystemsin...-a0161842087

Saturday 17 June 2017

ABC News Fixer: Dont Get 'Ghosted' By Lawn Scammers and Other Spring Lawn Care Tips

If you've got a lawn and hate to mow, beware the lawn service "ghosts."

"Ghosting" is an insiders' term used by lawn care professionals to describe workers who promise to come out and treat a homeowner's lawn but who don't actually do any work.

Homeowners who've been ghosted will find service flags stuck in their lawn and a receipt in their mailbox, but not much else. Complaints about ghosting and the "splash and dash" -- which is like ghosting, except a little bit of fertilizer or herbicide is thrown around -- abound on online lawn care forums.

Some consumers are catching on. More than 3,500 complaints were filed last year in the Better Business Bureau network against various lawn care services, including gripes about shoddy workmanship, contract issues or problems with billing and collections.

"Either the grass [problem] is not 'cured' or the lawn is not any better than before they came ... or the contract is never-ending, so they get stuck in that long- term contract," said Steve Bernas, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois, citing some common complaints.



David Feeney of Land O' Lakes, Fla., caught a lawn ghoster shortly after installing a home security camera in 2010. On the video he posted to YouTube, which stops and starts when motion is detected, an employee from a lawn service can be seen driving up to Feeney's house, placing a flag in the yard, knocking on the front door and leaving without doing any work, as he looks over his shoulder.

"The lawn really looked g reat, and I think that Sprinkler System Mckinney was probably why the guy decided http://www.sprinkler.com/ not to do anything," Feeney told the ABC News Fixer. "It was a Friday afternoon. Maybe he wanted to get done early and go have a beer.

"I was pretty shocked," Feeney added.

After Feeney examined the video - and the $42 bill for the nonexistent service - he complained to the lawn service, which apologized, withdrew the bill and let him cancel his account.

Bernas of the BBB said it's tough to prove "ghosting" without crouching behind the curtains or installing a security camera. "It's a spray," Bernas said. "How can you tell?"

Consumers need to check out the company and know exactly what they're signing up for - and not agree to a plan over the phone without first seeing a contract, Bernas said.

Are you having a lawn service problem? Tell it to the ABC News Fixer by CLICKING HERE.

Here are some tips for keeping your lawn and your wallet green:



Be specific. Do you just need mowing services, or are you looking for fertilizing, weeding, aerating - the whole gamut?

Find out what products and brands will be used and research the safety of any pesticides or herbicides. Are there any precautions for children, pregnant women, the elderly or pets? Ask about using less harmful alternatives.

Request a yard inspection and estimate before agreeing to anything. Be wary of anyone who will quote a price for elaborate lawn work without seeing your yard first.

Check reviews online. Get recommendations from family and friends. Talk with neighbors who have nice lawns.

Get written estimates from at least three companies.

Understand the contract. Are you paying for each mow or by the week? Does it include special services like edging or pest control? Who takes away the clippings? And what happens if it rains -- do they skip that week?

This is a big one: Does the contract automatically renew from season to season and year to year? If you aren't happy, what are your cancellation rights? Does the company offer a guarantee?

Make sure the company meets local licensing requirements a nd has liability insurance for its workers. Ask whether they use subcontractors.

- The ABC Sprinkler System News Fixer

CLICK HERE to go to The ABC News Fixer homepage

Follow The ABC News Fixer on Twitter

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/abc-news-fixer-dont-ghosted-lawn-scammers-spring/story?id=23238764

Friday 16 June 2017

Brick Chips Landscaping: A Product Review

Pros

Install once

Saves money - because you do not have to replace it yearly

Save time and labor yearly

Protect the environment - no need to use chemical grass and weed sprays

Retains moisture in the ground



Cons

Keeping the brick chips contained

Foundation Plants Mulched With Brick ChipsCredit: Southerngirl09The Benefits of Landscaping With Brick Chips

Using brick chips as landscaping mulch will not only save you time and money, it will also add interest to your landscape beds.

I enjoy lawn work, and I enjoy gardening. What I don't enjoy is pulling grass and weeds. I have tried many ways to stop the growth of grass and weeds in my landscape beds. What I have not used, and what I will not use, are chemical sprays. When our home was built, the landscaping contractor placed hardwood mulch in all of the beds in the yard, including the foundation beds.

Once the hardwood mulch started to deteriorate, my husband didn't want to replace it with more wood mulch. There were several reasons for his decision. His first reason was that he felt that wood mulch seemed to attract more insects and bugs. Secondly, if the hardwood mulch contained any pine, it would be an invitation for termites. Thirdly, a couple of years ago, we read an article stating that some hardwood mulch was made by mulching old shipping pallets. The article went on to say that these pallets could have had many different items shipped on them, including any or all types of chemicals. After reading about the chemicals, we decided we did not want hardwood mulch in our landscaping beds any more.

Our last custom built house was a contemporary rancher. We used white rocks all around the house, and in a large area landscaped with multi size rocks. Not the usual style house built in Virginia, but we liked it. We called it our middle life crisis house. Anyway, I digress; we found that by having the rock all around the house, it helped to protect the foundation, kept away grass and weeds, and we liked the look.

Our current house, however, is not a contemporary house, so we needed something else. After looking around, we found two possible items to use for mulch. One product was lava rock, and the other product for consideration was red brick chips. We decided on the red brick chips, and we are very pleased with the results.

The areas we decided to use the brick chips in are the beds that surround the house, where we have foundation shrubs planted. Brick chips are not practical for areas where you want to dig, and plant your annual flowers. They are hard to move, and they should be considered as permanent mulch. While they can be moved, it would be quite a job.

Pl an Before Installing Brick Chips as Mulch

The only con I listed about brick chips is containing them. Since I didn't want them in the grass, then I needed to devise a method to contain them. My solution was an easy fix for me. On the sides and the back of the house, I simply installed bricks that blended in with the brick chips and our foundation bricks. I dug a shallow trench in which to set the narrow side of the bricks in, and I laid the bricks end-to-end long ways. Setting the bricks this way, made a nice border to keep the brick chips contained. Also, this solid row of bricks makes trimming the grass with the string trimmer easy.

On the front of my house, a sidewalk runs in front of one of the shrub beds. Installing the brick chips there was easy, since the sidewalk acted as the barrier for holding in the brick chips. Sometimes, after a hard rain, a few of the pieces will wash out onto the sidewalk, but they can easily be pushed back. The other side, on the front of the house, presented more of a challenge. This shrub bed is much larger, it is rounded on two sides, and these sides have no barrier to keep the brick chips in place. One side of this shrub bed backs up to the house foundation. And the other side of this shrub bed borders the front stoop, the front steps, and a large concrete pad, which adjoins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7DicTda0I the sidewalk. Around the grass side of the shrub bed, I have liriope planted. So, just behind the liriope, I installed some of the plastic edging to keep the brick chips contained.

Bagged Brick Chips EURCredit: Southerngirl09Find a Supply of Brick Chips

When I first started this project, the brick chips were being sold in bags by one of the home improvement stores in my area. This was easy; I could easily borrow my son-in-law's truck, and I could haul what I needed, when I needed it. Just as I was ready to complete the project, the home improvement store stopped selling the bagged brick chips. I called around, and I found that landscapers in the area, who sold wood mulch, also carried the brick chips. But in order to purchase the brick chips from them, I would have to buy them by the ton, and they would have to be delivered. That meant an increase in cost for the brick chips. Plus, I would have to move them from the pile, to the bed, using a wheelbarrow. And if I shoveled the brick chips from the wheelbarrow, that would entail more https://www.ideaspectrum.com/home-landscaping-software/ backbreaking labor. My daughter is one of those people who can find just about anything, so she took over the job, and she found that a local Southern States store carried them in bags. So, I was all set to complete this job.

Before installing brick chips as mulch, be sure to pull or dig up all grass and weeds in the area you are going to mulch.

Next, lay down newspapers, to prevent weeds or grass from growing. Use newspapers about five to six layers thick to cover the area where you will be putting down the brick chips, and be sure to overlap the edges. Another alternative to using the newspaper is kraft paper or cardboard. Be careful when cutting out the paper around the base of the plants, so as not to damage the shrub(s). While laying out the paper, use some bricks to keep it in place, since any small breeze can move it.

To place over the paper layer, purchase a high quality black landscape cloth, one that is guaranteed for the longest number of years. Be sure to overlap the fabric so there is no way for light to get through to encourage a weed seedling. As you lay out the landscaping cloth, move the bricks off the paper, and use them to anchor the landscape fabric, being carefu l not to tear the fabric. You can also purchase Landscape Anchor Pins (they look like large staples) to hold down the paper and fabric during installation. I prefer using the bricks since they can be used for many different jobs.

How to Install Brick Chips

Finally, add the brick chips. I use two to three inches of brick chips. Once you have covered the area with brick chips you are through. And I mean you are through! Every spring you can sit back, watch your neighbors haul wood mulch, and spread it. You will occasionally have to pull a small sprig of something that is trying to grow on top of the landscape fabric, but this is easy and not too frequent.

In Closing

Red Brick Chips Add Beauty to Your GardenCredit: Southerngirl09

I am pleased with my brick chips landscaping beds. I like the way they look. In my opinion, landscaping brick chips are a win-win fix to an age-old problem - getting rid of grass and weeds from landscaping beds.

You might also find the following do-it-yourself articles interesting.





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Install Motion Detector Lights Inside Your Home for Your https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7DicTda0I Safety

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Every gardener and handyman or handywoman needs at least one of these multipurpose stools. I liked these carts so much that I have one outside for gardening, and I have another that I use inside the house. Oh, they make great gifts, too!

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http://www.infobarrel.com/Brick_Chips_Landscaping__A_Product_Review

Irrigation sprinkler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



impact sprinkler head in action

Irrigation sprinklers are sprinklers providing irrigation to agriculture, crops, vegetation, or for recreation, as a cooling system, or for the control of airborne dust, landscaping and golf courses. The sprinkler system irrigates the field and thus it is widely used in sandy areas as it checks the wastage of water through seepage and evaporation. Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrig ation water which is similar to natural rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground. The pump supply system, sprinklers and operating conditions must be designed http://rachio.com/ to enable a uniform application of water.

Contents

1 Types

1.1 Industrial

1.2 Residential

1.3 Underground Sprinkler

1.4 Agricultural Science

2 Use

3 Health risks from aerosols

4 Gallery

5 See also

6 References

7 External links

Types

Industrial

Sprinklers that spray in a fixed pattern are generally called sprays or spray heads. Sprays are not usually designed to operate at pressures , due to misting problems that may develop.

Higher pressure sprinklers that themselves move in a circle are driven by a ball drive, g ear drive, or impact mechanism (impact sprinklers). These can be designed to rotate in a full or partial circle.

Rainguns are similar to impact sprinkler, except that they generally operate at very high pressures of 40 to 130lbf/in (275 to 900 kPa) and flows of 50 to 1200 US gal/min (3 to 76 L/s), usually with nozzle diameters in the range of 0.5 to 1.9inches (10 to 50mm). In addition to irrigation, guns are used for industrial applications such as dust suppression and logging.

Many irrigation sprinklers are buried in the ground along with their supporting plumbing, although above ground and moving sprinklers are also common. Most irrigation sprinklers operate through electric and hydraulic technology and are grouped together in zones that can be collectively turned on and off by actuating a solenoid-controlled valve.

Residential



An oscillating sprinkler is commonly used to water residential lawns, and is moved as needed.

Home lawn sprinklers vary widely in their size, cost, and complexity. They include impact sprinklers, oscillating sprinklers, drip sprinklers, and underground sprinkler systems. Small sprinklers are available at home and garden stores or hardware stores for small costs. These are often attached to an outdoor water faucet and are placed only temporarily. Other systems may be professionally installed permanently in the ground and are attached permanently to a home's plumbing system. An in genious domestic sprinkler made by Nomad called a 'set-and-forget tractor sprinkler' was used in Australia in the 1950s. Water pressure ensured that the sprinkler slowly moved across a lawn.[1]

Permanently installed systems may often operate on timers or other automated processes. They are occasionally installed with retractable heads for aesthetic and practical reasons (making damage during lawn mowing or other maintenance less likely). These often are programmed to operate on a schedule and irrigate a piece of land in zones.[2]

Underground Sprinkler

Underground sprinklers function through means of basic electronic and hydraulic technology. This valve and all of the sprinklers that will be activated by this valve are known as a zone. Upon activation, the solenoid, which sits on top of the valve is magnetized lifting a small stainless steel plunger in its center. By doing this, the activated (or raised) plunger allows air to escape from the top of a rubber diaph ragm located in the center of the valve. Water that has been charged and waiting on the bottom of this same diaphragm now has the higher pressure and lifts the diaphragm. This pressurized water is then allowed to escape down stream of the valve through a series of pipes, usually made of PVC (higher pressure commercial systems) or polyethylene pipe (for typically lower pressure residential systems). At the end of these pipes and flush to ground level (typically) are pre measured and spaced out sprinklers. These sprinklers can be fixed spray heads that have a set pattern and generally spray between 1.5-2m (7-15ft.), full rotating sprinklers that can spray a broken stream of water from 6-12m (20-40ft.), or small drip emitters that release a slow, steady drip of water on more delicate plants such as flowers and shrubs. use of indigenous materials also recommended.[3]

Agricultural Science

Center pivot irrigation sprinkler nozzles, used in crop irrigation



Rotator style pivot applicator sprinkler



End Gun style pivot applicator sprinkler

The first use of sprinklers by fa rmers was some form of home and golf course type sprinklers. These ad hoc systems, while doing the job of the buried pipes and fixed sprinkler heads, interfered with cultivation and were expensive to maintain. In the 1950s a firm based in Portland, Oregon Stout-Wyss Irrigation System, developed the rolling pipe type irrigation system for farms that has become the most popular type for farmers irrigating large fields. With this system large wheels attached to the large pipes with sprinkler heads move slowly across the field.[4]

Use

Most irrigation sprinklers are used as part of a sprinkler system, consisting of various plumbing parts, pump unit,[5] piping and control equipment. Outdoor sprinkler systems are sometimes used as a deterrent against homeless people. This sprinkler system was programmed to drench unsuspecting sleepers at random times during the night. Local businessmen soon copied this system in an effort to drive homeless people away from public sidewalks ad jacent to their businesses.[6]

Health risks from aerosols

In 2014, it was reported that use of common garden hoses in combination with spray nozzles may generate aerosols containing droplets smaller than 10 ?m, which can be inhaled by nearby people. Water stagnating in a hose between uses, especially when warmed by the sun, can host the growth and interaction of Legionella and free-living amoebae (FLA) as biofilms on the inner surface of the hose. Clinical cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever have been found to be associated with inhalation of garden hose aerosols containing Legionella bacteria. The report provides measured microbial densities resulting from controlled hose conditions in order to quantify the human health risks. The densities of Legionella spp. identified in two types of hoses were found to be similar to those reported during legionellosis outbreaks from other causes. It is proposed that the risk could be mitigated by draining hoses after us e.[7]

Gallery



An underground sprinkler system about to be installed



Irrigation sprinkler watering crops.

An Irrigation sprinkler watering a garden.gif



Irrigation sprinkler





An oscillating sprinkler watering a lawn



A overhead sprinkler



Sprinkler for children

File:Irrigation sprinkler in action.webmPlay media

An irrigation sprinkler in action



Crop sprinklers near Rio Vista, California

See also

Drip irrigation

Irrigation

Sprinkler system timer

References

^ The Ride family's 'Nomad' brand tractor lawn sprinkler, National Museum of Australia

^ Sprinkler 101

^ Howser, Huell (November 8, 2010). "Rainbird - California's Gold (12002)". California's Gold. Chapm an University Huell Howser Archive.

^ Irrigation Pipe On Wheels Move Across Fields, July 1950 Popular Science, bottom of page 114

^ "CHAPTER 5. SPRINKLER IRRIGATION". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2016-08-26.

^ Davis, Mike (2006). City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles. London: Verso. p.233. ISBN978-1-84467-568-5.

^ Thomas, Jacqueline M.; Thomas, Torsten; Stuetz, Richard M.; Ashbolt, Nicholas J. (2014). "Your Garden Hose: A Potential Health Risk Due toLegionellaspp. Growth Facilitated by Free-Living Amoebae". Environmental Science & Technology. 48 (17): 10456-10464. ISSN0013-936X. doi:10.1021/es502652n.

External links

The dictionary definition of irrigation sprinkler at Wiktionary

Media related Sprinkler System Rockwall to Irrigation sprinkler at Wikimedia Commons

v

t

e

Garden tools

Averruncator

Axe

Chainsaw

Cultivator

Daisy grubber

Dibber

Earth auger

Edger

Garden fork

Garden hose

Grass shears

Grass stit cher

Hedge trimmer

Hoe

Hori hori

Irrigation sprinkler

Lawn aerator

Lawn mower

Lawn sweeper

Leaf blower

Loppers

Machete

Mattock

Pickaxe

Pitchfork

Plough (plow)

Post hole digger

Potting bench

Pruning shears (secateurs)

Rake

Riddle

Rotary tiller

Scythe

Shovel

Sickle

Spade

String trimmer

Trowel

Watering can

Weeder

Wheelbarrow

v

t

e

Hydroculture

Types

Aeroponics

Aquaponics

Aquascaping

Hydroponics

passive



Subtypes

Aquatic garden

Bottle garden

Deep water culture

Ebb and flow

Fogponics

Microponics

Nutrient film technique

Organic hydroponics

Organopnicos

Sub-irrigated planter

Top drip

Substrates

Charcoal

Coco peat

Diatomaceous earth

Expanded clay aggregate

Gravel

Growstones

Lava rock

Mineral wool

Perlite

Pumice

Rice hulls

Sand

Vermiculite

Wood fibre

Accessories

Grow light

Hydroponic dosers

Irrigation sprinkler

Leaf sensor

Net-pot

Spray nozzle

Timers

Ultrasonic hydroponic fogger

Water chiller

Related concepts

Algaculture

Aquaculture of coral

Aquaculture of sea sponges

Controlled-environment ag riculture

Historical hydroculture

Hydroponicum

Paludarium

Plant nutrition

Plant propagation

Rhizosphere

Root rot

Vertical farming

Water aeration

Commons pageCommons

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation_sprinkler

Thursday 15 June 2017

Loving Your Lawn This Fall

As summer winds down and the kids are going back to school, most people aren't thinking about their lawns. However, as master gardener William Moss pointed out on "The Early Show" Friday, this is exactly the time of year people should be thinking about growing greener grass for the next year.

Moss said the work you put in now will save you time, effort and money next spring. And while most people are out trying to establish grass in the cold, wet month of April, he said you can kick back and watch it grow.

So why is now a good time for lawn care?

Moss gave these three reasons:

o Lawns are depleted after a summer of growing, mowing, foot traffic, and pet stops

o Cooler weather encourages root growth in perennials like daylily, hosta, and turfgrass.

o Like with daffodils and tulips, effort now yields great results in spring

To help your green grass grow in the spring, Moss suggested using aeration techniques. Aeration, h e explained, reduces compaction, allows more oxygen to reach the roots, and breaks up the thatch layer.

Another way to help your lawn Sprinkler System Installation Greenville is to fertilize. He suggested using soil tests to help identify any deficiencies, and warned against getting carried away by over fertilizing your grass. Moss also suggested using natural and organic-certified products to reduce negative https://www.walmart.com/browse/patio-garden/gardening/5428_4091_1229588 environmental impacts.

But how do you get rid of grubs?





Moss explained grubs hatch in early fall and begin to feed on turf roots, so it's important to get the grubs Sprinkler System Installation Greenville now to reduces next year's bad bugs. He suggested opting for organic certified chemicals and/or biological controls.

As for seeding, Moss said you should sow grass seed now, so the seeds can germinate without weed competition. You should buy quality grass seed, he said, adding online sources have lots of variety for homeowners.

"Weeds are dying (while the) grass is still actively growing," he told CBS News. "That will over shadow the weeds, choking them out in the spring."

For more with master gardener William Moss, visit his Web site.

2009 CBS. All rights reserved.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/loving-your-lawn-this-fall/

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Saturday 10 June 2017

House stays in GOP hands

Republicans will command the House for two more years as Donald Trump's astounding White House triumph helped them keep their record-sized majority nearly intact. "He just earned a mandate," said House Speaker Paul Ryan, who now faces working with a president with whom he had a turbulent relationship during the campaign.

Democrats had envisioned that voters repulsed by Trump comments about women and Hispanics could provide potentially big Election Day gains in suburban and ethnically diverse areas. Instead, the Democrats suffered a dispiriting day with just modest pickups, a maximum of nine, as the GOP swept to control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

That was well below the 30 seats Democrats needed to capture House control. Republicans currently hold a 247-188 majority, including three vacant seats, the most the GOP has had since their 270 in 1931.

"He turned politics on its head," Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters gathered Wednesday in his hometown of Janesvill e, Wisconsin. Ryan credited the president-elect with helping carry Republicans into Congress and promised to work "hand-in-hand" with him on a GOP agenda.

By Wednesday, Republicans had at least 238 seats - guaranteeing an extension of their six-year run of House control - and just six of their incumbents had lost. The GOP retained seats in Minnesota, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Wisconsin that Democrats had coveted.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the two parties "have a responsibility to come together and find common ground." In a written statement, she suggested cooperating with Trump on infrastructure projects and said she will "pray for his success."

It was initially unclear what impact the marginally smaller size of the GOP majority would have on Ryan, who'd angered some Republicans by refusing to campaign for Trump.

While one member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus was defeated, several newly elected Republican s could bolster it. That would increase conservatives' leverage to demand their way on issues like curbing spending and government regulations.

In Florida, freshman GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo won a race that underscored the limits of Trump's damage to Republicans. With around 7 in 10 of the Miami-area district's voters Hispanic, Democrats targeted it and the race became one of the country's most expensive with an $18 million price tag. But Curbelo distanced himself from his own party's nominee and prevailed.

Virginia freshman Rep. Barbara Comstock kept her seat in the well-heeled Washington, D.C., suburbs despite Democrats' attempts to lash her to Trump.

Democrats defeated two Florida GOP incumbents, but that seemed due to local circumstances.

Rep. John Mica, 73, a 12-term veteran from the Orlando area, was criticized by GOP strategists for a lackluster campaign and lost to Democrat Stephanie Murphy, a political neophyte. Democrat Charlie Crist, once the sta te's http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/AZ.html Republican governor, defeated Rep. David Jolly in a St. Petersburg district redrawn to favor Democrats.

Democrats also beat GOP Reps. Scott Garrett, a Freedom Caucus member from New Jersey's New York City suburbs; moderate Bob Dold from outside Chicago; Cresent Hardy of Nevada and New Hampshire's Frank Guinta.

Just one Democratic incumbent had lost by Wednesday, Nebraska's Brad Ashford.

Both parties' candidates and outside groups spent nearly $1.1 billion combined on House campaigns, shy of the $1.2 billion record in 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group. Republicans had only a slight financial edge.

Even with the Ryan-led House GOP's current formidable advantage, work stalled this year on spending bills after hitting objections from conservatives.

Moving into 2017, Congress faces a fresh round o f budget legislation plus the need to renew the government's borrowing authority or face an economy-jarring federal default. Those are never easy to pass.

Ryan, 46, has said he wants to be speaker in the new Congress and has expressed confidence in doing so. But he is not immune to ire from the Freedom Caucus, which chased former Speaker John Boehner from Congress last year, and other Republicans upset over his frigid treatment of Trump.

Just a handful of disgruntled conservatives could possibly block Ryan from the 218 votes he'd need to retain his post. That would be an embarrassing setback for the GOP's 2012 vice presidential candidate, who may harbor White House aspirations.

9:10 p.m.ET Winners of competitive House races:

Arizona 1

Arizona 2

California 7

California 10

California 21

California 24

California 25

Colorado 3

Colorado 6

Florida 2 - Neal Dunn (R)

Florida 7

Florida 10 - Val Demings (D)

Florida 13 - Charlie Crist (D)

Florida 18 - Brian Mast (R)

Florida 26

Illinois 10

Indiana 9

Iowa 1

Iowa 3

Kansas 3

Maine 2

Michigan 1

Minnesota 2

Minnesota 3

Minnesota 7

Minnesota 8

Nebraska 2

Nebraska 3

Nevada 4

New Hampshire 1

New Jersey 5

New York 1

New York 21

New York 22

New York 23

New York 24

New York 25

Pennsylvania 8

Pennsylvania 16

Texas 23

Utah 4

Virginia 4

Virginia 5

5:11 p.m. ETHouse Democratic Leader Pelosi said at remarks at the Democratic National Committee that FBI Director Comey became "the leading Republican operative in the country" after sending his initial letter to Committee chairs.

She and DCCC Chair Ben Ray Lujan didn't sound optimistic about picking up a large number of House seats, much less retaking the H ouse. She said they don't intend to lose a single incumbent seat.

-- CBS News' Walt Cronkite.

12:07 p.m. ET Paul Ryan is confident he'll remain speaker of the House next year.

Once Congress returns to Washington next week, House Republicans are slated to hold internal leadership elections -- but Speaker Paul Ryan seems confident his spot as the top House member is secure.

Ryan told a group of reporters Monday in Wisconsin that he is "not worried" about any change in his position.

"I feel very good where I am," Ryan said outside of a local Republican party office, according to Politico. "I've gotten such a great outpouring of support from members. They know I took the job as a sense of duty, that duty is not done, and I plan on continuing doing that duty."

On a Democratic conference call Monday reported by Politico, Democratic leaders blamed FBI Director James Comey for hurting their chances to take back the House.

"We would be in a better place [without the letter] and in the manner he did it," Pelosi reportedly said on the call. "It was out of line, but it helped us in one respect: it brought in small donors. The fact is we had a momentum going with Hillary's campaign."

She noted that in the closing days of the election that Republicans were "coming home anyway, but a couple of points nationwide has an impact on our races." Politico reported that House Democratic aides estimated that Democrats could, as a result of Comey's letter, lose up to 12 seats they'd hoped to pick up.

-- CBS News' Reena Flores

11:40 a.m. ETCBS News is monitoring 47 competitive House races. Bolded names are incumbents.

DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

REPUBLICAN

Arizona 1

Tom O'Halleran

Paul Babeu

Arizona 2

Matt Heinz

Martha McSally

California 10

Michael Eggman

Jeff Denham

California 21

Emilio Huerta
< br>David Valadao

California 24

Salud Carbajal

Justin Fareed

California 25

Bryan Caforio

Steve Knight

California 7

Ami Bera

Scott Jones

Colorado 3

Gail Schwartz

Scott Tipton

Colorado 6

Morgan Carroll

Mike Coffman

Florida 10

Val Demings

Thuy Lowe

Florida 13

Charlie Crist

David Jolly

Florida 18

Randy Perkins

Brian Mast

Florida 2

Walter Dartland

Neal Dunn

Florida 26



Joe Garcia

Curt Curbelo

Florida 7

Stephanie Murphy



John Mica

Illinois 10

Brad Schneider

Robert Dold

Indiana 9

Shelli Yoder

Trey Hollingsworth

Iowa 1

Monica Vernon

Rod Blum

Iowa 3

Jim Mowrer

David Young

Kansas 3

Jay Sidie

Kevin Yoder

Maine 2

Emily Ann Cain

Bill Poliquin

Michigan 1

Lon Johnson

Jack Bergman

Minnesota 2

Angie Craig

Jason Lewis

Minnesota 3

Terri Bonoff

Erik Paulsen

Minnesota 7

Collin Peterson

Dave Hughes

Minnesota 8

Rick Nolan

Stewart Mills

Nebraska 2

Brad Ashford

Don Bacon

Nevada 3

Jacky Rosen

Danny Tarkanian

Nevada 4

Ruben Kihuen

Cresent Hardy

New Hampshire 1

C arol Shea-Porter

Frank Guinta

New Jersey 5

Josh Gottheimer

Scott Garrett

New York 1

Anna Throne-Holst

Lee Zeldin

New York 21

Mike Derrick

Elise Stefanik

New York 22

Kim Myers

Claudia Tenney

New York 23

John Plumb

Tom Reed

New York 24

Colleen Deacon

John Katko

New York 25

Louise Slaughter

Mark Assini

New York 3

Tom Suozzi

Jack Martins

New York 19

Zephyr Teachout

John Faso

Pennsylvania 16

Christina Hartman

Lloyd Smucker

Pennsylvania 8

Steve Santarsiero

Brian Fitzpatrick

Texas 23

Pete Gallego

Will Hurd

Utah 4

Doug Owens

Mia Love

Virginia 10

LuAnn Bennett

Barbara Comstock

Virginia 4

Donald McEachin

Mike Wade

Virginia 5

Jane Dittmar

Tom Garrett

Wisconsin 8

Tom Nelson

Mike Gallagher

-- CBS News' Rebecca Shabad

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/live-updates-2016-house-race-results/

Prosecutor: Connecticut lawyer's death not a homicide

The death of a Connecticut attorney found shot in the head in a wrecked car in 2014 was not a homicide as his family believes, a state prosecutor said Tuesday in announcing the conclusion of a criminal investigation.

Gugsa Abraham "Abe" Dabela, 35, crashed his Mercedes SUV near his home in Redding shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 5, 2014, and died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, Redding police said. Dabela's blood-alcohol level was nearly 2.5 times the legal limit, police said. The medical examiner's office ruled his death a suicide.

"The evidence does not support a conclusion that Attorney Dabela's death was a homicide," Danbury State's Attorney Stephen Sedensky III said in a statement announcing his findings.

Dabela's family disputes authorities' version of what happened and believe race -- Dabela was black and Redding is a predominantly white town -- was a factor in the investigation's findings, which authorit ies deny. Relatives say many questions remain unanswered, including why Dabela's DNA was not found on the gun's trigger or the bullet that killed him, why there was a footprint on his back and why the body wasn't tested for gunshot residue.

A lawsuit by Dabela's father against Redding police also says the younger Dabela, who grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, received a text message on the night of his death that read, "turn he just didn't," apparently referring to the SUV crash. The lawsuit alleges information about the sender of the text was deleted sometime after Dabela's death.

His father, Abraham Dabela, said he believes the truth will come out in a pending lawsuit against Redding police.

"My son was killed," said Dabela, a medical doctor in Maryland. "We will continue to pursue the issue until either I die ... or we don't have funding anymore to pay the lawyer."

The family's lawyer, Keith Altman, called Sedensky's conclusion "outrageous" and said Dabela had no history of mental illness or suicidal thoughts.



"Prosecutors don't say crimes weren't committed when they don't know exactly what took place," said Altman, whose law firm is in Southfield, Michigan. "So why he (Sedensky) chose to do this here, I don't know.

"But I can tell you discovery (in the lawsuit) is going to come down and I don't think it's going to be pretty for them," Altman said, referring to Sedensky and police.

Altman said he intended to subpoena Sedensky for a deposition in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court.

The state chapter of the NAACP also has been looking into the case. Scot X. Esdaile, president of the state chapter, said he was disappointed in Sedensky's ruling and wants the prosecutor to explain.

"Hopefully he has something that could significantly back his statement," Esdaile said.

Sedensky defended his investigation and conclusions in a phone interview Tuesday.

"I feel badly for the family and this is a tremendous loss to the family," he said. "My office put the time in to address the concerns they had. I take my job very seriously. If a citizen in my judicial district dies as a result of https://law.yale.edu/ a crime, I want to see that prosecuted."

Sedensky said Dabela's DNA was found on the gun's grip, but not the trigger, and acknowledged Dabela's DNA wasn't found on the bullet. He said the DNA of three other people were found on the gun, but that possibly could have been the result of D abela shaking hands with people with whom he socialized on the night of his death.

Dabela also was not shot in the back of the head like the lawsuit alleges, Sedensky said. He said the bullet's entrance wound was behind his right ear.



The lawsuit by Dabela's father also alleges animosity between Redding officials and Dabela. It says that Redding police wrongly delayed Dabela's application for a permit to carry a concealed handgun in 2013 before finally giving it to him, and that he and a town finance official had a heated argument over property taxes two nights before his death.

Redding Police Chief Douglas Fuchs has said there was no animosity between police and Dabela.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/prosecutor-connecticut-lawyers-death-homicide-47863696