| A season of big projects
Alaskans don't need to rely on the annual migrations of geese to know that spring has arrived. They need only to look into the horizon to spy the picture-perfect vision of steel. Webs of steel are decorating the Northern skies, giving residents the first true sign that spring, and construction season, has arrived. The sheer number of tall steel displays shows promise for a busy building boon this year. "It's pretty much chaos, but it's organized chaos," said Brian Meissner, principal at the architect firm ECI/Hyer. "It's all happening this year." He said that so many mega-projects are underway at the same time, this season is reminiscent of the anomalous Project 80s days, when the state was flush in oil revenue wealth and funded high-cost projects across the land. These days, a good portion of the wealth is complements of the private sector, erecting multi-story office buildings, large retail outlets and dozens of smaller-scale buildings.
Investigation continues into massage parlor shut down for prostitution
The investigation continues tonight into what authorities say is a chain of massage parlors that authorities say is a front for prostitution. ten of those storefronts in Riverside and Orange Counties, including one in Rancho Mirage, were shut down by sheriff's deputies. And now, workers at another Rancho Mirage massage parlor say the sting is causing problems for what they say is their legitimate business. Magic Touch Body Care Center is closed now, after deputies busted the place, charging owners with offering more than just massages. In fact, they say the shop, which employs mostly Chinese immigrant women, is a front for prostitution. Over the weekend, apparently not everyone had heard the news. One man tried the front door, only to find it locked. Magic Touch is in the middle of a busy strip mall, next to a popular restaurant and Von's supermarket.
Governor French Academy showcases work of Northwest Africa artist ...
A taste of Africa and the Deep South flavor the entertainment calendar this weekend at the Governor French Academy, 223 West Main Street, Belleville.
An exhibit of the paintings of native Northwest African artist Demby One opens at 5 p.m. Friday and continues for two weeks in the Governor French Academy Art Center Gallery.
"His work has never been exhibited outside of his village in Mauritania," said school spokesman Paul Seibert. "His artwork was discovered by Michael Donovan, a Governor French Academy graduate and Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania."
One, who will not be present at the opening, paints typical scenes of African life using readily available material. .
In the caverns of the new theater at Westfield Garden State Plaza ...
Curious to know what type of structures are being erected inside the mammoth theater building at Westfield Garden State Plaza Shopping Center, I made a special request to GSP Manager, Philip St. Pierre and Marketing Manager Lisa Herrmann. They obliged coordinating with a pre-benefit tour along with Teri Duda, a woman of many hats, but in this case, in addition to the hard hat she had to wear, Teri was representing the Paramus Cultural Council. Westfield is planning a black tie benefit the night before the grand opening with proceeds benefiting the Paramus Cultural Council.
Donning our hard hats, we proceeded underground to the surrounding fence. Before entering, GSP Manager St. Pierre admonished us to keep our eyes down since we were entering a construction area that was unsafe for regular passage.
Downtown dreams: Wooster flourishing under Main Street Ohio ...
Can area downtowns, particularly New Philadelphia and Dover, learn a lesson from downtown Wooster? Wooster has one of the best Main Street Ohio programs and consequently one of the best downtowns in the state, according to Pauline Eaton, interim director of Heritage Ohio, which directs Ohios Main Street programs. Consider: Downtown Wooster had a 42 percent vacancy in storefronts in 1987. Today, there is one empty storefront and the focus is on revitalizing the upper stories of the downtown by turning them into upscale loft-style apartments. The main branch of the Wayne County Library is relocating to the central business district of Wooster to be in the center of the downtown. The $10 million library is expected to draw 2,000 more people to the downtown on a daily basis when it is completed this summer.
Family briefs
Local children's book creators Caralyn and Mark Buehner try to get it "just right" in their take on the Goldilocks fairy tale. The Salt Lake City couple will read from and sign Goldilocks and the Three Bears, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $16.99) at 11 a.m. April 28 at The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City.
The Buehners will read from Caralyn's text, to be followed by a brief demonstration by illustrator Mark. The event is free and open to the public.
Utah readers may find the book's setting familiar. The bears' house is a log cabin in a forest filled with evergreens, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and bisected by a trout-filled stream.
As usually, the Buehners have hidden animals on each page for children to find.
It's official:Target will anchor old Valley mall
The Minneapolis-based retailer will anchor a new shopping center rising in the place of the 20-year-old Cottonwood Creek Mall. Crews are expected to demolish the flagging mall at the prime location of Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways this spring. Target plans to open the Valley store in October 2008, representatives said Tuesday. Drawings of the new center depict two additional and as-yet unidentified smaller anchor stores, plus a number of shops and a stand-alone restaurant. An existing Taco Bell restaurant and Wells Fargo bank branch will stay in place. While rumors that Target would build in the Valley gained speed with the mall's sale last year, the formal announcement emerged with little fanfare at a sparsely attended Tuesday-evening session of the Wasilla Planning Commission.
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