Carroll at Shadow Creek Ranch

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

Carroll Organization, a multi-faceted enterprise focusing on the ownership and operation of multifamily real estate, and Starwood Capital Group, a leading private investment firm focused on real estate, are pleased to announce the acquisition of a 360-unit Class A apartment community located in a highly desirable submarket of Houston, Texas. The community, which will be rebranded as Carroll at Shadow Creek Ranch, is perfectly situated in Shadow Creek Ranch, a master–planned community which features over 900 acres of glistening lakes and community parks.

Carroll at Shadow Creek Ranch features one-, two- and three-bedroom garden-style apartment homes with direct access to one or two car garages. Community amenities include a high tech cardio strength training facility, an 1100+ square foot playground for children, a billiard room and a resort style pool. Additional amenities include lofty 9-foot ceilings with crown molding, custom wood cabinetry, full sized washer and dryers, black appliances and large walk-in closets.

Built in 2010, Carroll at Shadow Creek Ranch is located just eight miles south of Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world and Houston’s largest job generator. Citywide amenities and retail centers such as Pearland Town Center and Shadow Creek Town Center are also within close proximity of the community. Additionally, the fifteen minute commute into Downtown Houston allows easy access to dining, entertainment, shopping and nightlife.

“With this transaction, Starwood Capital Group has now invested in 22 multifamily properties totaling 5,770 units over the last two years as part of its ongoing and successful strategy to acquire and develop well located properties in markets with strong fundamentals. This acquisition brings our multifamily portfolio to a total of 8,760 units,” said James Kane, a Vice President at Starwood Capital. “We look forward to working with the Carroll Organization and expanding our presence in this dynamic market.”

Commenting on the announcement, Patrick Carroll, CEO of Carroll Organization said, “We are very pleased to expand our footprint into the Houston market with the acquisition of Carroll at Shadow Creek Ranch. Not only does this acquisition fit perfectly in our strategy to continue to invest in Class A assets, but it also allowed the opportunity to invest in a market that has consistently maintained impressive economic, population and job growth. All indicators predict that this market will continue to thrive for the foreseeable future. We plan to source additional opportunities in the Houston market.”

About Carroll Organization

Carroll Organization is a multi-faceted enterprise focusing on ownership and operations of multifamily real estate. This integrated approach makes the organization an attractive investment partner and has attributed to the rapid growth and success of the firm. Since 2004, Carroll Organization has grown significantly through acquisitions. Today we manage over 15,000 multifamily units in 12 states, have 8 regional offices, and employ over 400 people through subsidiaries. Additional information about Carroll Organization can be found at http://www.CarrollOrganization.com

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private, U.S.-based investment firm with a core focus on global real estate. Since the group’s inception in 1991, the firm, through its various funds, has invested over $ 10 billion of equity capital, representing over $ 29 billion in assets. Starwood Capital Group currently has over $ 18 billion of assets under management. Starwood Capital Group maintains offices in Greenwich, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and affiliated offices in London, Luxembourg, Paris, Mumbai and Sao Paulo. Starwood Capital Group has invested in nearly every class of real estate on a global basis, including office, retail, residential, senior housing, golf, hotels, resorts and industrial assets. Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that includes building enterprises around core real estate portfolios in both the private and public markets. Additional information about Starwood Capital can be found at http://www.StarwoodCapital.com.

Media Contact:

Ansa Okon

ansa.okon(at)carrollorganization(dot)com

(404) 812-8286

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9 Carat Diamond Ring

Worcester, MA (PRWEB) February 14, 2012

Antique collectors and treasure hunters alike are thrilled with the recent announcement that the Great Estate Roadshow has added a stop in [Worcester and Marlborough area on February 13th through February 18, 2012. The Great Estate Roadshow is one of the nation’s premier buyers of antique goods, collectibles, gold, and precious metals and visits up to 50 cities per month and over 500 cities per year in nearly every state in the U.S.

“Due to the unbelievable high prices of gold and silver, the Great Estate Roadshow has seen an increase in the number of people attending our tour events,” said Howard Klotzkin, a partner in the Great Estate Roadshow. People can ‘fund raise’ by cashing in on the value of precious metals and their unwanted items.”

Staff members at the Roadshow will evaluate jewelry, rings, watches and vintage pieces at no charge. Klotzkin also states that the Great Estate Roadshow is actively seeking war memorabilia and antique toys for its national network of collectors. Silver coins, especially those made before 1964, gold coins, Kruggerands, gold bars, mint sets and proof sets are desired as well.

Klotzkin shares some of the secrets to the recent successes of “attic treasure hunting.” “Many of our customers are surprised to learn that old coin collections in grandpa’s attic or mom’s old fashioned and ugly jewelry has real value in today’s economy. Silver jewelry, flatware, tea sets and serving sets are also at high demand for their metal value,” Klotzkin stated.

“Evaluations are always free and there is never pressure to sell. We encourage everyone to bring their treasures in for a quote,” Klotzkin noted.

Great Estate Roadshow Gem Specialist, Scott Pollak said, “There is nothing more exciting than a customer realizing the true value of discarded jewelry or a dusty autographed baseball card. The crowd really gets into the fun of the discovery!”

“The process for obtaining a free, no-obligation evaluation from the Great Estate Roadshow is simple and straight forward. Potential sellers should bring their antiques, collectibles, coins and jewelry to the nearest Great Estate Roadshow,” said Pollak.

Due to the high interest in the Great Estate Roadshow tour, Klotzkin advises that sellers may experience brief wait times while experts evaluate the value of everyone’s treasure. Chairs are provided in the waiting area as well as assistance to those who may have difficulty unloading more difficult items such as a Tiffany lamp from vehicles.

“Don’t worry,” laughs Pollak. “We will get to everyone’s treasures, but it’s a good idea to come early! We’re only planning on a few days in each city on the tour.”

Once a Great Estate Roadshow staff member has evaluated all items, a purchase price is offered to the potential seller. Several elements are taken into consideration when calculating an offer including current market value and condition of the items in question.

“The Great Estate Roadshow works with a national network of collectors so some items may be more valuable outside of your local area,” said Pollak. “The Great Estate Roadshow may have a particular collector in mind for a specific item and can offer more competitive pricing than a local dealer could.”

In the Worcester and Marlborough areas, from Monday, February 13th through Saturday, February 18th, 2012, the Great Estate Roadshow will offer free appraisals during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the following locations:DCU Convention Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608 (508) 755-6800 and Embassy Suites, 123 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752 (508) 485-5900.

About Great Estate Roadshow

The Great Estate Roadshow is proud to have amassed a team of the most experienced and knowledgeable coin, diamond, gold, and silver professionals in the business together into this “dream team” who can accurately evaluate all your treasures, and even offer to buy them on the spot. The Great Estate Roadshow’s team travels the globe buying everything from the most exquisite collectible pieces, to common scrap gold and silver coins, being received by crowds of people anxiously awaiting the Roadshow’s arrival into town. The result – an interesting and fun experience that you’ll be jumping with excitement to enter, and won’t want to leave.

Come on down to the ‘Roadshow’ to see for yourself some of the most interesting, obscure, and rare items that people have brought in. When you come, bring in anything and everything you’d like to get evaluated or to sell. There’s no fee for admission or for evaluations, so grab your friends and family, and we’ll see you there. Call 888.537.8283 or visit http://www.greatestateroadshow.com.

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Maui’s Scott Fisher, director of conservation for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, is Sunset magazine’s Environmental Award “Hero: 40 & Under.”

Menlo Park, CA (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

Sunset magazine announces the winners of its “2012 Environmental Awards” in the pages of its March issue. These awards celebrate the achievements of the people and organizations that are fighting to keep the West at its most pristine and beautiful. Best of all, nearly all of the award-winning lands can be visited by the public – right now.

“The projects and people we honor this year are outstanding in every way,” said Peter Fish, Sunset editor-at-large. “We received massive amounts of emails nominating candidates and almost all were very good, so it was a difficult choice.”

Sunset editors searched the West for the winners, concentrating on newly protected land. Awards were given in categories such as Best Wild Kingdom, which celebrates one of the nation’s biggest private conservation land purchases, Best Shoreline, and “Capital of Green,” which was awarded to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula for two separate projects that preserve beautiful rivers and forests. The magazine’s editors and an esteemed panel of judges also honor Education Programs and Visitor Centers helping to promote ongoing interaction with and appreciation of the environment.

“The recession has had a silver lining when it comes to the environment,” continued Fish, who served as one of the award program’s judges. “Land development and competition from real estate developers is down, meaning that land trusts have a better chance of obtaining and protecting land.”

And the winners are:

    BEST SHORELINE:
Devil’s Head, WA

    BEST LOCAL LAND TRUST:
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ

    BEST VISITOR CENTER:
Gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, AZ

    BEST WILD KINGDOM:
Montana Legacy Project, MT

    BEST EDUCATION PROGRAM:
Wildlands Conservancy, Southern California

    BEST LAKE:
Independence Lake, near Truckee, CA

    BEST ADDITION TO A NATIONAL PARK:
Rancho Corral de Tierra, San Mateo County, CA

    BEST RANCHLAND:
Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Project, Pinedale, WY

    BEST CAPITAL OF GREEN:
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

Two individuals were also honored for their solo efforts in preservation: Audrey Rust of Silicon Valley’s Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) received the “Hero: Lifetime Achievement” award, while Maui’s Scott Fisher, director of conservation for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, was recognized as “Hero: 40 & Under.”

A full profile of the winners can be found on page 72 of the March issue of Sunset magazine and http://www.sunset.com.

The judging panel also included Jon Christensen, executive director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University; Brian Kahn, host of Montana Public Radio’s Home Ground and author of Real Common Sense; and Jenny Price, a research scholar at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women, an environmental historian and one of the founders of Los Angeles Urban Rangers.

Editors available for interviews.

About Sunset

Sunset magazine was founded in 1898 and has become the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and garden, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. It is published in five zoned monthly editions—Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Southwest and Mountain—showcasing the region’s unique lifestyle and noteworthy destinations and inspiring its nearly five million readers to achieve the dream of living in the West. The magazine is also available on all tablets. Sunset is part of the Lifestyle group of magazines and websites published by Time Inc.

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Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 14, 2012

Advance tickets are now on sale! Forget the chocolate, toss out the flowers, and snatch up a pair of tickets to the 11th annual Hop Scotch Spring Beer & Scotch Festival just in time for a sweet Valentine’s Day. This gift will have any guy or gal swooning over seasonal microbrews, sophisticated Scotch, Washington whiskies, and spring release wine.

General Admission to the March 30 and 31 event at Fremont Studios is $ 25 ($ 30 at the door) and includes five 5oz. samples of beer and wine. Feeling generous? Opt for a Grand Admission for $ 30 ($ 25 in advance), which includes 10 tasting opportunities for guests to fill their souvenir glass with seasonal microbrews or to use towards full bottles of beer in the Green Room.

Valentine more of a Scotch or whiskey lover? This year, Hop Scotch will feature two new Spirit Samplers. Guests can:

1.    Tickle their taste buds and take a self-guided adventure of Scotland with a flight of 6 – ¼ oz single malt Scotches for $ 15, OR

2.    Stay closer to home with a tour of Washington Whiskies in a flight of whiskies from local Washington distilleries, also $ 15

Advance tickets can be purchased online at hopscotchtasting.com or are available at Advance Ticket Outlets on March 1. Tickets are expected to sell out, so interested parties best set an alarm for a Valentine’s Day ticket purchase.

All for a cause, Hop Scotch is a benefit for the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). For more information visit hopscotchtasting.com. Hop Scotch is a 21 and over event.

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San Jose, California (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn – Electronic components have played a significant role in the evolution of several path-breaking technologies that have changed the face of the world that we live in today. The role of electronic components in this technology driven world is becoming highly evident, thanks to their extensive use in a wide range of electronic applications right from traditional computers, televisions, audio players, and telephones to more advanced electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, smartphones, PDAs, DVD players, portable media players, video games, home-theater systems, microwaves, and printers. While growth in the market is being spurred by newer technological developments such as digitization of consumer entertainment, challenges are being created by performance critical product trends in the downstream electronic devices market. The future of the electronic components market depends on the pace with which the world adopts new generation electronic equipment.

The electronic components market suffered a major setback during the 2008-2009 period as a result of the economic recession, which mauled down consumer/business confidence and per capita spending on electronics. Consumer and industrial electronics, IT hardware, communications equipment and automotive electronics, all suffered significant disruptions in business activities sending knock on effects into the global electronic components market. However, the market staged a smart recovery in the year 2010 in sync with the recovery staged by the end-use industries. Demand for consumer electronics, such as LCDs, LEDs, and cooling systems started to gain momentum in the consumer electronics space while enterprise IT infrastructure spending also staged a comeback in the corporate sector.

Future growth in the electronic components market will be driven by growing popularity of digital infotainment, rise in penetration of electronic devices among households, fast evolving telecom infrastructure, and growing adoption of laptops/smartphones among enterprises as a key employee mobility tools. Growing percentage of electronic content per car also brings the automotive industry into the spotlight as a key revenue spinning sector of the future.

The research report titled “Electronic Components: A Global Outlook” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers a rudimentary overview of the industry, highlights latest trends and demand drivers, in addition to providing statistical insights. Regional markets briefly abstracted and covered include US, Germany, Asia, (Japan, China, India, Korea and Taiwan). The report offers a compilation of recent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic corporate developments. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies worldwide.

For more details about this comprehensive industry report, please visit –

http://www.strategyr.com/Electronic_Components_Industry_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world’s largest and reputed market research firms.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

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Davenport, Iowa (PRWEB) February 10, 2012

Linda Kortemeyer’s new book educates and inspires in the ideal rhythm of life.

Linda Kortemeyer’s memories start with her being a fearless adventurer with her friend Berta in Chicago. It is the first piece in the puzzle of memories that leads her to find answers for the unsolved questions in her life. Spilling the Beans Over Tea is a leisurely re-examination of life and inspiration. Ms. Kortemeyer concentrates on those seemingly innocuous memories in everyday life. She reminds us how the tartness of lemon mixed with sweet sugar enhances the cup of tea. So our lives are enriched and made perfect as we experience those sweet and sour moments of our journey.

So it is with the author’s prose narrative. The rhythms are sedate and the tone genteel. These reflections are a continuation of Kortemeyer’s first book Spilling the Beans Over Coffee. Though spilling out anything might mean telling secrets from the past, readers will find that her “secrets” or the stories of the past she brings out might hew close to the general experience of a generation. And after a few afternoons with her lovely stories, readers will find that life does get better.

Philosophical shelter and religious comfort, the book neither seeks fame nor glory but its level. It is water that speaks of life. It is a brook whimsically gurgling over the well-trod garden. The patterns Kortemeyer comes up with are as warm and comforting as a good book, a good drink and the comfort of one’s bed on a cold night.

This book will be featured at the 2012 Michigan Reading Association Book Exhibit in Grand Rapids, Mich. on March 9-11, 2012; the 2012 Florida Library Association on April 18-20, 2012; and at the Pennsylvania Library Association Book Exhibit in Gettysburg, Pa. on October 1-October 3, 2012.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Linda Smith Kortemeyer earned her BS in Education from Northern Illinois University and an MPA degree in 2007 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a member of an honorary society at Drake University, Pi Alpha Alpha, and received special recognition for promoting literary from the Bi-State Literacy Council in 2002. One of her earlier poems was published in Fields of Gold from the National Library of Poetry. Some of her community service included an officer position for the local chapters of American Association of University Women, International Association of Administrative Professionals, Church Women United, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Spilling the Beans Over Tea * by Linda Smith Kortemeyer

Publication Date: July 22, 2011

Trade Paperback; $ 19.99; 138pages; 978-1-4628-4809-6

Trade Hardback; $ 29.99; 138 pages; 978-1-4628-4810-2

eBook; $ 9.99; 978-1-4628-4811-9

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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NYC Roof Garden Design

(PRWEB) February 09, 2012

“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

Spring is just around the corner, and many New Yorkers are starting to turn their attention to their neglected yards, terraces, or rooftop spaces and beginning to make plans for spring gardens. To many people living in a city like New York, creating a garden is their primary means for creating a sanctuary away from the urban hustle and bustle that they have to deal with during the rest of the day. Amber Freda Home & Garden Design seeks to help city dwellers on their way to developing an outdoor oasis with a few seasonal tips from our years of experience creating beautiful urban paradises on rooftops, terraces, and backyards in the NYC area.

Having an outdoor space is really like having additional rooms in your apartment. Space is a valuable commodity, so adding outdoor rooms for sitting, eating, relaxing, and entertaining is not only aesthetically pleasing, but a smart investment as well. A well-designed garden is built to engage the senses and transport visitors to a place of peace and beauty. In a land of concrete and steel, these gardens are some of the most treasured green spaces on the planet.

The Four Season Garden is of particular interest to me because I believe the garden is a place for beauty and enjoyment in every season. Spring is a celebration of new growth and blooms, summer is a season of ripening vines and lush tropical plants, fall is the season for graceful grasses and the rich hues of leaves turning colors, and winter is a season of evergreens, berries, and the beauty of tree bark such as the brown and white exfoliating bark of the birch tree. Every season is ripe with beauty if we just know how to encourage it.

Urban gardening comes with its own unique set of challenges. Roof gardens have to deal with extremes in temperature and high winds that can quickly shred large-leaf plants not suitable to life atop a mountain-like rooftop. Most roof gardens are in somewhat remote locations, where you can sometimes work for an entire day on a garden without seeing another living soul, even though on the street below thousands of people may have walked by without a clue that a beautiful garden paradise exists several floors up. Roof gardens are like little secret jewels hidden out of reach in the clouds, nestled between skyscrapers and birds.

If planting a roof garden seems daunting, here are a few tips to help get you on your way to creating an urban paradise:

CHECK BUILDING CODES

Before starting a garden, check with the building superintendent to see about building codes and weight limits for rooftops and terraces.

USE APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS

Containers should be lightweight and portable, resist cracking in freezing weather, and hold enough soil to minimize the drying effects of wind and sun.

INSTALL AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM

In the heat of summer, plants exposed to a full day of sun and wind may need constant watering and can easily burn to a crisp if forgotten about for even a day.

KNOW YOUR CONDITIONS

The intense sun, wind, and freezing temperatures on a rooftop or terrace can be a full zone or two different than that on the street down below. A temperature gauge can help to determine whether or not you’re gardening in the arctic or the Sahara.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS

Buy smaller-leaved plants that won’t get torn apart by the wind. Plants should also be able to tolerate a wide range of temperature extremes. Conical-shaped trees tend to do better and won’t get blown over by wind.

DESIGN FOR SEASONAL INTEREST

If you can see the garden from indoors, it’s a good idea to mix evergreens with annuals and perennials in the same planters so you will have colorful blooms in warmer months and something green to look at when the weather turns frosty.

PROTECT PLANTS FROM THE ELEMENTS

Stabilize evaporation rates and freeze-thaw cycles by applying a 2-3″ layer of mulch to your containers.

SPRING CLEANING ESSENTIALS

Over time, the soil in your containers will start to decompose and lose its nutritional value. Remove the top 1-2″ of soil from containers each spring and add fresh soil to reinvigorate plants.

FERTILIZE, FERTILIZE, FERTILIZE

Plants in containers eat up fertilizer much more quickly than plants in the ground. During periods of active growth, you should plan on fertilizing every two weeks for blooming and fruiting plants and once a month for all others.

PRUNE AND DIVIDE

Very large plants will need to be pruned or divided every year to keep them from outgrowing their containers. Prune spring-flowering plants after they bloom. Prune all others after the first frost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amber Freda Home & Garden Design offers interior and exterior design that includes a complete range of services from inception of the project to installation. We believe that a connection should exist between the interior and exterior environment, and we strive to create a sense of rhythm and flow that is as seamless as it is beautiful.

Amber looks at the flow of energy and movement within a space, helping to develop and direct latent potential into a force for drama and beauty. We were voted “Best in New York” by Shecky’s Guides to New York, and Amber has been interviewed as a guest expert by the CBS News Morning Show. She has also been featured in articles that ran in the New York Post, Associated Press, Daily Candy, and Gardening How-To. Amber has taught more than a dozen classes in urban design at both The New York and Brooklyn botanical gardens. She started her firm, Amber Freda Home & Garden Design, in 2004.

TESTIMONIALS

“I highly recommend Amber Freda. The first great thing about Amber is that she listens. The next fantastic thing about Amber is that she is that rare combination of artist and great business person. She is pleasant to deal with and always on time. She keeps careful records and is reliable and trustworthy. One less worry because Amber is really on top of things. My terrace is gorgeous. I don’t know how she does it all so well, but she does!” – Pamela K., Park Avenue

“We have worked with Amber on several projects and have been extremely impressed with her work, both her style and professionalism. She and her team are terrific and a great pleasure to work with.” – Judy D., Soho

“I just wanted to say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE!!! I thought about how the garden would look before it was installed, but I never imagined how delighted I would also be with how it smelled and the peaceful sound of the leaves moving in the breeze. Thank you!” – Arabella G., 53rd Street

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

DENVER, Colorado (PRWEB) February 07, 2012

Consumers, industrial concerns and utility companies are benefiting from today’s historically low natural gas prices, which have plummeted more than 80 percent in less than three years.

Because enormous new deposits of natural gas have been found in the U.S., high-paying jobs are being created. Shuttered steel mills in the Midwest have re-opened their doors. Petrochemical firms are finalizing plans to build new factories in the Mid-Atlantic. Today, consumers are heating their homes for less. And electricity prices are heading downward for the growing number of utilities using that use natural gas to generate electricity.

In his State of the Union address last week, President Barack Obama said, “We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy. America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.”

However, today’s good-news story could easily be lost. Consumers and business leaders welcome low costs and expanded opportunities, but they place an even higher value on their health and well-being.

This year, in particular, will be a turning point for the entire U.S. energy supply chain. Energy firms, contractors, government agencies, industrial customers and non-governmental organizations must find a way to collaborate, so that gas from shale formations is produced safely. If not, hundreds of billions of dollars of economic value could disappear.

“Our industry is poised for tremendous growth, provided we are also prepared to meet the challenges we face,” said Larry Borgard, Chairman American Gas Association. “First and foremost we need to make sure that our stakeholders have confidence in our industry.”

To ensure that the U.S. can safely seize the opportunities created by the shale gas revolution, a new electronic magazine is being launched this spring.

Natural Gas Power Today will be the definitive resource for people and companies affected by the shale gas revolution. Drawing on experts in and out of the natural gas industry, and featuring a diversity of viewpoints, the magazine will feature thought leaders in energy, the environment, public policy and government. Its coverage will be thorough, accurate and balanced.

Towards that end, Natural Gas Power Today is putting together a broad editorial board to ensure the publication covers fully and fairly the important issues associated with how natural gas is produced in the U.S.

Controversies and concerns over shale gas development, notably hydraulic fracturing, have drawn national headlines at The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among other media outlets. Some cities have outlawed shale gas development within their municipal boundaries.

“Natural Gas Power Today will ask the tough questions and feature answers and insights from the front lines of leading practitioners in this huge industry,” said David Hill, editor and publisher of the magazine.

“New domestic natural gas supplies could have a transformative effect on U.S. energy policy, our economy and our energy security,” former U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Trent Lott, co-chairs of The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Energy Project report, write in the recently released Shale Gas: New Opportunities, New Challenges. “Because natural gas has many diverse end-uses, any expansion of low-cost domestic supply has far-reaching positive economic impacts. It is critical that this resource be developed responsibly so that we can gain these benefits.”

“If we don’t get this right, the industry will have squandered this once-in-a-lifetime, multibillion-dollar opportunity to improve the lives of consumers while growing the economy,” added Hill.

Natural Gas Power Today will publish its first bimonthly issue this spring. It is being produced by RM Media Group, LLC, the parent company Colorado Energy News and Wyoming Energy News. Subscription details, outreach programs, reprint rights and bulk-purchase orders can found on its webpage.

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 03, 2012

Later this month, WPL Publishing will host a webinar to help various professionals in the construction community understand the risks and pitfalls of cost-plus contracts.

In a cost-plus contract, the owner carries the right to audit the costs, a right often exercised at the completion of a project. After the project has been completed on time and according to specification, an owner may want to audit the costs before paying the final invoice or releasing retainage. What should be done? The project staff has moved on to other projects. Who will be available to assist in carrying out this important task from the owner’s and contractor’s standpoint? What are the risks and pitfalls in managing and supporting the costs according to the requirements of a cost-plus contract? What reconciliation procedures should be followed, and what documents will need to be produced? The webinar not only will address the risks and pitfalls of a cost-plus contract but how those risks can be minimized and managed early on in addition to the steps that should be taken when a construction professional is faced with such an owner audit. To register for the 90-minute event, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. (EST), visit http://tinyurl.com/6qzbgkb.

The webinar, entitled “Cost-Plus Contracts: The Profit’s in the Audit,” will help attendees grasp the following important implied obligations and special issues in every cost-plus contract:

An owner’s right to audit.
A contractor’s responsibility to prove costs.
The types of costs that typically are reimbursable.
Setting up a cost-control system at the onset to minimize risk.
Reconciliation procedures to prove costs to the cost-control systems and reports.
The pitfalls in labor, equipment, subcontractor, general conditions, overhead, and other costs.
Issues with auditing guaranteed maximum price contracts.

Addressing webinar attendees will be RGL Forensics Director Jack Harris and Sonia Desai, a manager for the international firm. Mr. Harris has directed and performed numerous expert analyses and calculations involving issues of cost impact, cost reporting, claims damages assessment, lost profits, cost-to-complete estimates, home-office costs, lost revenue, business interruption, operational costs, interest damages, foreign currency exchange, and others. Ms. Desai specializes in the field of litigation support and business valuation. She has managed and executed numerous expert-witness engagements involving the quantification of economic damages and valuation in commercial disputes.

Following their presentations, there will be an interactive 10-to-15 minute question-and-answer session addressing relevant topics.    

Webinar tuition is based on location, not number of participants, so each registration site can have multiple participants for one low price. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/6qzbgkb.

WPL Publishing Co., Inc. produces three construction newsletters: Construction Claims Advisor (http://www.constructionclaims.com), Green Building Insider (http://www.greenbuildinginsider.com), and Construction Advisor Today (http://www.constructionadvisortoday.com). The company also hosts webinar series on topics relevant to the construction industry. WPL is on Twitter at CAT_Online.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New City, NY (PRWEB) February 03, 2012

From incentives to deductions, taxes are complicated and can be confusing even for the seasoned property owner. Understanding the ins and outs of some common property tax concerns can help save you money and put your mind at ease. Below Matthew Rand, Managing Partner of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty discusses three common tax topics.

1. Natural Disaster Relief

“If your home is affected by a natural disaster, your damage costs will be deductible from both state and federal income taxes,” says Rand. Disasters include fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and more. “Homeowners can deduct their losses by filing an amended return for the tax year before the event happened. This helps to minimize the wait for refund money that can be used to make repairs or pay for living expenses,” Rand explains.

2. Historic Rehabilitation

“If your home is a certified historic home, then you may be able to receive a break in your taxes,” says Rand. Many states offer tax incentives, reductions and abatement programs for owners of residential historic homes. These programs are described on the National Trust’s website, which also offers resources and tips for owners of historic homes. Visit the site at http://www.preservationnation.org.

3. Home Improvement Deductions

“Many sellers ask me if they can deduct the cost of improvements made to their homes from their taxes,” says Rand, who continues to note that the answer is not black and white. “Yes, you can deduct improvements, but only after the home has been sold. This is because improvements add to the basis of your home,” Rand explains. “Because your basis is subtracted from your selling price to figure out what your home sale gain is, these tax deductions can only be made after your home is sold and your basis is defined.”

It is also important to note that the IRS has specific qualifications for what counts as a taxable “improvement.” These are renovations that add to your home’s value and extend its “useful life.” Rand cites taxable improvement examples including an extra bathroom or an updating plumbing, heating or electrical system.

For more information on property taxes, please contact Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty at media(at)randrealty(dot)com, 845-825-8037, or Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty.

ABOUT BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS RAND REALTY – Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – Rand Realty, founded in 1984, is the No. 1 real estate brokerage in the Greater Hudson Valley with 27 offices serving Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York and Passaic and Bergen counties in New Jersey. Rand has more than 800 sales associates, as well as a commercial real estate company (Rand Commercial Services), new york mortgage company (Rand Mortgage), title company (Hudson Abstract Services) and New York insurance agency (The Hudson Group Insurance Agency). Rand Realty is also on Facebook and Twitter.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.