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Builders working in New Malden may have provided the perfect cover for a burglar broke into four houses in New Malden in one morning. The burglar, described as a young black man in his early 20s, wearing dark clothes and a dark cap, got away with valuables including a laptop, pearl necklace and cash. Adrian Holder, councillor for Coombe Vale ward, said: "These streets are in the wealthier part of the area, so I'm shocked. However, there is a lot of building work going on at the moment around Coombe Lane so obviously burglars are taking advantage of the distraction." .
If you've noticed large populations of flying insects that look a lot like giant mosquitoes congregating around your lawns and screens, you're not alone. They're crane flies, says Jody Mills, horticulturist with Broccolo Tree and Lawn Care in Henrietta. Three species of these insects are appearing in our area, says Mills, who notes they all look alike and won't bite you. One is our native crane fly, which doesn't hurt turf. There are also two European species, the larvae of which can cause serious damage. Should you fertilize?
Fall fertilization is a good idea if there aren't enough nutrients in the soil or they're in a form that can't be absorbed by roots, says Dave Dailey, president of Birchcrest Tree & Landscape in Webster. Fall fertilizer should have higher quantities of phosphorous (middle number) and potassium (last number) for root strength and overall plant health.
PETALING JAYA: Most analysts believe the time is right for bargain hunting in the construction industry. A Singapore-based analyst, who declined to be named, said there was a sizable number of undervalued or over-geared construction companies ripe for the picking by larger capitalised and financially stronger players in the sector. We believe conditions are right for more mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the local construction sector, she told StarBiz yesterday. She said it was likely the more established and stronger construction companies were looking to fast-track their expansion at minimal cost by merging with or acquiring companies that had good assets such as substantial land bank. Besides economies of scale, many of the large cap companies with M&As (in mind) would have considerable order books, successful and proven operations abroad and unique expertise that they could leverage on, she said. The analyst said there were various types of M&As depending on the situation and opportunity.
Building tradesmen in Swindon can now find out how to save money the easy way - thanks to a new range of free guides from Envirowise. Decorators, bricklayers, carpenters and labourers are all catered for in the factsheets, which help workers identify the day-to-day waste they might be producing - along with practical guidance on how to cut down and save money. Paul Gilbert, Envirowise regional manager for the South West, said: "Waste might not be a high priority for many sole traders across the region, yet reducing it is one of the easiest ways to save money - and this is where these factsheets can help. We are keen to make it clear that enterprises of any size can save money and help the environment by taking straightforward steps - and this includes the UK's 840,000 sole traders that are employed in the construction sector.
A Sandy family that has endured a lot of health problems and hardship is getting help from a team of generous businesses and volunteers. Actually, it's more than just help, they are getting a new home. The Smeltzer family has lived in their Sandy home for more than twenty years and raised eight kids there, with the three youngest Breann, Emie and Sarah still at home. 53-year old David has a rare and incurable neurological disease similar to Multiple Sclerosis and its getting progressively worse. .
TODAY Tour stops includes 10 homes representative of this Seattle neighborhood; registration required. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., The Wallingford Neighborhood Office (tour start), 2100 N. 45th St. Seattle; $15 (206-632-3165 or www.wallingford.org). Art deco tour TODAY Visit interior lobbies, ornate commercial buildings, including the Exchange Building and Seattle Tower, discovering to see how Northwest imagery was incorporated into downtown Seattle's early 20th-century architecture; registration required. 10 a.m.-noon, Rainier Square Atrium (tour start), 1333 Fifth Ave. (level three), Seattle; $10-$12 (206-667-9184 or www.seattlearchitecture.org). Grand Tour of Homes THROUGH OCT 15 More than 100 homes on tour represent new construction throughout King and Snohomish counties in many ranges.
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