Remove File Cabinet Drawers

Removing a file cabinet drawer can be a frustrating experience. What should be a simple task often ends up with you sweating, cursing and wrenching the drawer in ways that you're sure are not good for the cabinet. With a little help and guidance, you should be able to remove the drawers from just about any file cabinet. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Open the drawer you wish to remove all the way. Look on each side of the drawer for a plastic tab or lever within the metal slides.

2. Release the drawer from the slides by pressing up or down on the tabs (try both---it depends on the manufacturer), lifting up on the drawer and pulling the drawer toward you. Admittedly, this can be difficult to do all at one time. Getting someone to assist you can make the removal go much easier. Have your helper depress the tabs while you maneuver the drawer; just be careful not to smash his fingers.

3. Remove those drawers with no lever or tab in the slides by opening the drawer fully, and then lifting and pulling on the drawer.

4. Remove the contents of the drawer when you are having difficulty removing the drawer. Often taking the weight out of the drawer will do the trick, and a drawer that just would not come out slides out easily the first time once you have taken everything out.

5. Move the drawer around at slightly different angles to get it to release, but don't twist it to too far or you may bend the mechanism or the drawer itself. This will only make it even more difficult to remove.

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Styles Of Crown Molding & Base Boards

Crown moulding (frequently spelled "molding") and baseboards are trims that are easily added to any room to provide a greater sense of architecture. Moldings are manufactured from wood, PVC or polyurethane resin in a variety of styles that are can be stained or painted. Baseboards and crown molding trims have a profile that is cut into the face of the board length. It is this decorative element that defines the specific style of any molding. Does this Spark an idea?

Traditional

Traditional trim for crown molding and baseboards has a simple design of linear cuts into the board length to create a series of beads and curves. The more ornate trim includes cut rope designs and carved Acanthus leaves. Mill work fashioned with traditional styling is often mixed with other styles of crown molding and baseboards.

Arts and Crafts

Squared cuts with simple, defined edges represent the Arts and Crafts style for baseboards and crown molding; pieces with additional ornamentation will have designs limited to defined angles or squares. Trim in this style is preferred as solid wood that is stained rather than painted.

Victorian

Victorian trim work is known for its ornate designs. Board facings may be cut with a variety of delicate floral, leaf, wreath or ribbon motifs. Italianate and Gothic Revival styles are included in the Victorian style category. The Victorian style requires multiple pieces of trim work to build up wide sections of crown molding and baseboards to emulate the appearance of wealth from of this era. Traditional styles of trim blend well with the Victorian style.

Country

Country actually has a number of styles which include rustic, American country and French country. Rustic country crown molding and baseboards are cut from wood with minimal decorative features. American and French country styles include basket weave, rope and leaf motifs. Pieces from the traditional and Victorian styles blend well with American and French country decorating schemes.

Art Deco

Clean crisp lines and slim profiles represent the Art Deco style in trim work. Some trim designs are engineered to give the illusion of multiple layers in a single board length. Crown moldings and baseboards in an Art Deco d cor are painted. PVC and polyurethane resin products are ideal for crown moldings baseboards in the Art Deco style.

Modern

Crown molding and baseboards of a modern styling are sleek with minimal details on the face. Pieces may appear similar to some found in the traditional and Art Deco styles. Both the natural wood mill work and engineered products are used in modern decorating..

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Market Information On Wall Decor

Framed wall art accounts for the highest percentage of wall decor purchased.

The wall decor market includes all types of wall decor, including sconces, tapestries and accessories like wall vases. However, more people buy framed art to put on their walls than any other type of wall decor. Does this Spark an idea?

Identification

Nearly half of the population buys walls decor with a good portion of that art being framed pictures. College graduates count among the largest percentage of people who purchase art, including unframed art, preframed art, custom framing and original artwork.

Types

The types of artwork people gravitate to the most, according to Bplans.com, includes abstract art, wildlife, fantasy, portraiture and religious themes. Geography plays a role in the types of art that people choose as well. For example, people in the Midwest have often chosen wildlife art above all else.

Collectibles Market

Many artists like Thomas Kinkade, Hummel, Mary Engelbreit and other artists offer a significant contribution to collectible wall decor. The types of art available from these artists run the gamut. Consumers can purchase anything from wall tapestries based on these artists' work to wall prints. Consumers can find this type of wall decor in specialty shops and online.

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Choose The Correct Size Table Lamp For A Console Table

Choosing a table lamp for a console table will depend on several factors; the most important of which is the style of console table you own and the style of lamp you wish to use. While you have a wide range of options, there are a few styles that complement console tables such as the half moon, Mission and shelf varieties. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide how you will use the table lamp. Lighting options include task lighting, which is ideal for reading and performing activities that require direct light; ambient lighting, which is used to create a mood or add supplemental light to a lighting scheme; and accent lighting, which is ideal for accenting or focusing on a specific location in a room.

2. Choose a buffet table lamp. Characterized by its sleek and slender shape, buffet table lamps are commonly used as accent pieces. Use a buffet lamp if you require moderate lighting or want to position your table lamps in pairs. Sizes can range from 25 to 33 inches, with many styles considered tall. Ideal for a sturdy, solid mahogany console table with doors, buffet table lamps complement fine dark woods and feature panels that match the window panels found in the doors of many console tables.

3. Choose a rustic lamp. Characterized by its rustic appearance and outdoor color scheme, rustic table lamps offer warm mood lighting with golden brown tones. Use a rustic lamp if you want to complement a rustic color scheme in the room where it will be used or to add only a touch of light to an already lit room. Sizes can range from 16 to 28 inches, which many styles considered medium size. Ideal for a half moon console table, rustic lamps are best paired with traditional, dark console tables like the half moon varieties.

4. Choose an accent table lamp. Use an accent table lamp to add direct light to a specific location or piece of furniture in your home. Sizes range from 4-inches tall up to 9 inches or taller. Place accent lamps around your home to spotlight specific décor; additional light may be required for additional lighting. Ideal for a Mission style console table, accent lamps can be paired or used alone to accentuate books or picture frames stored along the shelves of a console table.

5. Consider the size of your console table. Choose a table lamp with a base that sits comfortably at the center of the table without its edges appearing beyond the curve or edge of the table. Guests should not be able to see the bulb when seated at eye level.

Tags: table lamp, console table, table lamps, buffet table, console tables, half moon

Types Of Office Furniture

Furniture sets the tone of an office.

A well-designed office makes a statement to visitors and provides the owner with a comfortable environment, an important factor when considering that employees may spend 40 or more hours a week inside it. Though the variety of office furniture available is narrower than furniture used for home decor, those looking to decorate an office space have a range of options to choose from to create the perfect business setting. Does this Spark an idea?

Desk

Perhaps the most important part of an office is the desk, which provides a surface for a computer, phone, printer and other objects vital to business. It also allows space for personal belongings on top or in drawers. Office workers can choose from several desk styles, from elegant executive-style desks to spacious L-shaped desks to compact corner desks designed to fit snugly against the wall.

Chair

Without something on which to sit comfortably, a desk is not a very practical piece of furniture, so a chair plays a significant role in office decor. Workers who spend entire shifts in front of a computer or on the phone rely heavily on their office chair, so comfort is crucial. Depending on the nature of the office, seating for guests might prove just as necessary as a desk chair. A company executive, for instance, needs to provide at least a few additional chairs for visitors and to accommodate meetings.

File Cabinet

Most offices need a place to store information, records or various company resources on paper. For this reason, a file cabinet is a staple of any office location. Though all file cabinets provide the same function, a wide variety of styles and colors exist for those looking to customize the decor in an office. They come in metal, wood or even leather, and have a lock to keep files confidential.

Bookshelf

Though a bookshelf may not have a place in every office, it proves useful in some settings, such as a law office where a large number of books are kept as resources. Reference books, dictionaries and even binders with non-confidential information are perfect fits for a bookshelf, providing the owner of the office easy access to the information he needs.

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Rocking Chairs Made Of Resin

White is a common finish for outdoor rocking chairs.

The Victorian era (1837 to 1901) marked the transition from handmade to machine-made rocking chairs. Whereas craftsmen needed days to create hand-carved patterns on the backs of chairs, steam-driven presses produced instant results. The path to resin rocking chairs follows a similar progression. The history of rocking chairs intersects with the history of plastics, creating the technical innovations and design tools behind the manufacture of resin rocking chairs. Does this Spark an idea?

History

Historians generally concur that in North America the rocking chair dates to the early 18th century. A popular belief holds that Benjamin Franklin invented the rocking chair, but this is unsubstantiated. Meanwhile, advances in the plastics industry laid the groundwork for the creation of materials used to manufacture resin rocking chairs. It was the invention of the first thermo setting resin, Bakelite, that opened the door to worldwide industrial production of items of different shapes. Bakelite was the creation of Leo Hendrick Baekeland, a young Belgian professor of chemistry in the United States. In 1910, he founded the General Bakelite Co. to produce the new synthetic resin. High-density polyethylene dates to 1951, when research chemists Robert Banks and Paul Hogan discovered it. The earliest chairs industrially manufactured from plastic were the work of American designers Charles and Ray Eames.

Benefits

Environmentally friendly outdoor resin rocking chairs, manufactured from recycled plastic lumber or polywood, have the advantage of lasting for the proverbial lifetime, through rain, snow, ice and saltwater. The basic polywood comprises more than 90 percent recycled materials, such as milk cartons and detergent bottles. These rocking chairs make hardy, all-weather outdoor furniture and are insect-, mildew- and mold-proof, with no rotting, splintering, warping or cracking. The manufacturing process replicates the appearance and texture of wood. An additional benefit is that these chairs are basically maintenance-free, requiring only soap and water to keep clean. These rocking chairs are also available in a selection of styles, including Adirondack, Chippendale and mission.

Considerations

The Windsor rocking chair, made of wood, originated around the 1700s, followed by wicker rocking chairs, made of wood with a rounded hoop back in the shape of a birdcage. Wicker rocking chairs remain available for outdoor seating, but with more choices in materials, such as synthetic resin wicker rocking chairs with aluminum frames that do not rust. Made to last, these chairs withstand the extremes of outdoor weather and require minimum maintenance. Alternative materials such as bamboo do not have the lasting power of aluminum and resin and are better suited for indoor chairs.

Trends

Fresh concepts, designs and markets contribute to the ongoing history of resin rocking chairs. As an example, these chairs are available in designs and sizes created specifically for children. For instance, children's all-weather Adirondack rockers made from recycled milk jugs or high-density polyethylene materials come in a range of fade-resistant colors. For indoor use, some children's rocking chairs feature hardwood frames, polyester fabric and resin rockers. Fun graphic themes include princesses and fairies.

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Mission Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

A Mission kitchen design is clean and classic.

The Mission-style kitchen is a study in simplicity and rich materials. Mission style combines Arts and Crafts elements with American Southwest and Spanish mission influences. The shapes are pared down and angular, and the fixtures are unadorned. But decorative touches show up in accessories and in the way the materials are worked. Does this Spark an idea?

Wood

Mission style takes American native woods like red oak and maple and burnishes them to a rich finish. Wood paneling is a major feature of the design, and that means kitchen cabinets---and even appliances---are faced in paneled wood. Windows are framed in unpainted wood, and matching wood may be used for uncarved crown moldings and baseboards. Kitchen floors are often gleaming hardwood with area rugs woven in ethnic, geometric patterns.

Stone

Stone is a favorite material and is an alternative for kitchen flooring. A Mission-style kitchen floor might be gray slate or bluestone pavers. Counters can be assembled of large stone tiles mortared in the same color, or slabs of granite or even monochromatic marble. A white marble countertop with pale gray veining could be reflected in the polished steel finish of a refrigerator or oven door.

Windows

Windows are left bare to let in the light. If curtains are used, they should be plain, unlined cotton canvas curtains or unbleached linen shades. A window's shape might be emphasized with a real frame that treats the window and its view like a painting. All wood trim should be uncarved and unpainted. Windows are typically double-hung, but the top half might be divided into equal thirds by wood mullions. If a window has a special mullion treatment, a wood door with a glass panel will copy the window design.

Tile

Tile adds color and pattern to Mission style. A backsplash behind a stovetop could be a rich jade with touches of cream, brown and sienna in symmetrically spaced tiles. Mexican painted tile, as an inset in a kitchen island top, acts as a hot plate. Ceramic floor tile, if it is used instead of wood, would be classic terra cotta, but a narrow border of painted tile might be used to frame the floor. A few colorful Mexican pottery pieces may be displayed in glass-front, wood-paneled kitchen cabinets or on a mostly cleared counter.

Lighting

Lighting comes from the unobstructed windows, white or frosted pendant lamps and Tiffany-style lamps with Mission patterns. Tiffany lamps typically have angled, not round, shades; wrought-iron wall sconces can be used if the Spanish mission influence is strong in the kitchen's design. White lampshades or pendants should be glass, not fabric or paper, with pendants suspended on plain rods or chain links.

Colors

Colors are spare but not boring. White paint is the most popular backdrop to the extensive paneling and wood hues. But light yellow, pale maize, rose or a pastel jade green are also compatible with Mission kitchens. Keep accessories to earth tones and ochres, deep blues, terra cottas and strong foliage greens.

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Mission Blue Butterfly Facts

The mission blue butterfly is among the nations' endangered species.

Named after the piercing blue color of its wings, the mission blue butterfly is indigenous to California's San Francisco Bay area and was first discovered in the late 1930s. The U.S. government added the mission blue--scientifically dubbed the Icaricia icarioides missionensis--to its endangered species list in 1976. Does this Spark an idea?

Characteristics

Small in comparison to many other species of butterfly, the mission blue boasts a wingspan that ranges in size from 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Males typically boast vibrant blue-colored wings framed by a dark, even black, tip and white fringes. Females of the breed possess duller colored wings, often brown, peppered with a blueish tinge.

Habitat

In order to reproduce, the mission blue butterfly needs a species of plant life known as lupine, a perennial, purple-flowering plant that grows only near California's San Francisco Bay area. Because the mission blue depends on the lupine to feed its larvae, this small butterfly also resides solely in northern California at elevations from 690 to 1,180 feet. Known habitats of the mission blue include San Francisco's Twin Peaks area, neighboring Marin County's Fort Barker and the San Bruno Mountain region in San Mateo County.

Life Cycle

Mission blue larvae lay dormant for many months.

Mission blue butterflies reproduce once per year by depositing eggs, which are largely invisible to the human eye, onto the buds, stems and leaves of the purple lupine plant. This process typically occurs between March and July. The eggs hatch within 4 to 10 days. The emerging larvae will then feed from their host lupine for some 3 weeks before working their way to the base of the plant where they remain until spring. Once the adult mission blues emerge, they live for approximately 2 weeks.

Enemies

While information is scant concerning species that might prey on mission blues, researcher R. A. Aurthur cites in a 1987 report titled "Mission Blue Butterfly" that rodents and wasps pose the greatest predatory threat to the mission blue larvae.

Endangered Species

When the mission blue was first discovered more than one hundred years ago, the species thrived. However, urban development forced the small butterflies to restricted areas, and a fungus outbreak depleted the state's lupine populations, adversely affecting the butterfly population. In June 1976, the U.S. government added the mission blue butterfly to its Federal Endangered Species List. Although California also boasts an endangered species list, it fails to include a category for insects.

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Furniture Styles Of The 20th Century

Art Nouveau furniture of the early 20th century features elaborate designs.

The evolution of major furniture design movements in the 20th century began as reactions to what artists perceived as the limiting and claustrophobic nature of the culture and mores of Victorian society. Movements were also revolts against the Industrial Revolution. Some movements resulted in decorative and ornamental furniture while others led to the production of mass-produced, more practical items. Does this Spark an idea?

Art Nouveau

The Art Nouveau movement began in the late 19th century and lasted into the second decade of the 20th century. It developed in Europe and North America. Art Nouveau is an elaborate decorative style influenced by forms and lines in nature. Artists developed furniture in the period as a revolt against the strict culture of the Victorian era. Intricately designed stained glass windows, armoires, chairs, mirrors, lamps with patterns of stylized curves and images of dragonflies, stalks, irises, grasses, snakes and animal forms typify pieces from the period.

Mission

The Mission style was a part of the early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement that developed in England. Mission style furniture has clean, simple lines in contrast to the elaborate designs of Art Nouveau pieces. Ornamentation on mission furniture is minimal. Simple decorative elements are typically influenced by Native American imagery of the Southwest. The style became very popular in that region of the country and influenced the architecture of Craftsman style houses. Solid flat panels are used to construct mission furniture from wood like oak, mahogany and cherry.

Art Deco

The Art Deco movement enjoyed a long period of popularity after its beginnings in Paris during the early 20th century. It influenced architecture, jewelry, film and painting, as well as furniture design. The name is derived from a 1925 exposition in Paris attended by designers and architects from the United States. Art Deco pieces feature metals like stainless steel, aluminum as well as inlaid wood. Lacquer finishes are common in Art Deco design. Bold, symmetrical geometric and abstract forms and patterns are characteristic of the style's furniture. Some artists incorporated trapezoids and zig-zag shapes into their furniture designs.

Modern

The roots of Modernism are in pre-World War II industrialism. It is an outgrowth of the Art Deco movement with a more extreme emphasis on bold forms. Modern furniture has little to no ornamentation and designers valued function over form. Italian, Japanese and Scandinavian art heavily influenced modernism. The furniture of the period is abstract and features industrial materials such as plastic and steel. Furniture was designed to be mass-produced for a post-World War II consumer society.

Tags: 20th century, early 20th, early 20th century, 20th century, Deco movement, elaborate designs

Write A Summary Of A Mormon Church

Mormons build temples throughout the world where they make covenants with God.

The Mormon church began as a small movement in upstate New York, but has spread to over 184 countries throughout the world. Many people have misconceptions about the Mormon church and its beliefs and doctrines. When writing a summary of the church, visit the official church website or talk to members to get accurate information. Use the preferred name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, when referring to the church.

Instructions

1. Write a summary of the Mormon church's history. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in 1830. Early converts suffered fierce persecution and were driven from their homes on several occasions. The early members eventually settled in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, which was a barren desert at the time. The church has continued to grow and prosper since then. As of 2009, the LDS church has over 14 million members worldwide. (ref. 2)

2. Include details about the church's doctrine and values. Many people consider Mormons non-Christians, but the LDS church is founded on the doctrines of Jesus Christ. A core belief is that God loves his children and answers prayers. Members believe that all people will be resurrected. They believe that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct beings, each with a unique role. Members value strong family relationships, education and self-sufficiency. They refrain from using alcohol, drugs or coffee and do not engage in sexual relationships outside of marriage. The LDS church builds temples where members make sacred covenants with God. (ref. 1, 2, 3)

3. Summarize the LDS church's organization and leadership. The basic organization of the church is based after that of Christ's church in biblical times. The president, or prophet, leads the church and receives direct inspiration from God. He has two counselors and 12 apostles who assist him. Across the world, the church is organized into groups known as stakes or branches. These groups are highly organized and consist of stake presidents and bishops who lead individual groups, as well as teachers and leaders who provide weekly lessons and activities for all age groups. There are no paid positions in the LDS church. All positions are voluntary and almost every adult member contributes in some way. (ref. 1)

4. Highlight the LDS church's humanitarian and education efforts. Members of the LDS church give 10 percent of their income in tithing, as well as additional funds. These funds are used to build churches, temples and schools and also provide humanitarian relief for those in need. Through the welfare program, the LDS church provides food, shelter and clothing to members and non-members in need. The LDS church contributes millions of dollars annually to areas hit by natural disaster, as well as areas entrenched in chronic poverty. Over 52,000 missionaries work worldwide to teach the gospel and provide humanitarian service. (ref. 1, 3)

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Styles Of Dining Chairs

There are many different kinds of dining room chairs.

Choose a dining room chair that matches your personal style, as well as the decor of your home. There are many different styles of dining room chairs, from intricate and fancy to plain and simple. They can be upholstered or wooden, have arms or be arm-free. Some common styles of these chairs include ladder-back, mid-century, and Windsor. Does this Spark an idea?

Duncan Phyfe

The Duncan Phyfe style of furniture is named after an American cabinetmaker from the early 1800s. This style is also known as the regency or empire style. Duncan Phyfe-style dining room chairs have a basic design that features a scrolled back with a square top, saber legs, and one slat across the back. These graceful chairs can be upholstered or made of varnished wood.

Chippendale

The Chippendale style of furniture is one of the most well-known. This style is named for English furniture designer and cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, who lived in the late 1700s. The look features one of the more elaborate styles of dining room chairs, with intricate wooden backs. These formal chairs also often have ball-and-claw feet on the legs. The seats are often upholstered.

Shaker

Dining room chairs made in the Shaker style are best for those who are going for a simplistic, utilitarian interior design. This style of furniture originated with the Shaker religious community in the United States. The chairs often have tall, straight backs with three horizontal slats. Their seats are often woven rush, and the legs are simple and straight. These chairs are also called ladder-backs. Country decorating styles use these chairs often.

Jacobean

Jacobean furniture originated in medieval England and is known for its intricate carvings, large size, and dark finish. These dining room sets are not suited to a casual dining room and are best for formal settings. Generally, these sets come with two armed chairs, for the head and foot of the table. The rest of the chairs don't have arms. These chairs typically have ball feet, heavy carvings on the back, and an upholstered seat.

Windsor

The Windsor style is another early-English design that is commonly seen in America today. These dining room chairs have thin, straight legs. The back is made from spindles that run vertically from the chair seat to a piece of wood that connects them at the top. The back can be rounded or squared. Seats in this style typically are not upholstered.

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Write A Long Range Strategic Plan

Write a Long Range Strategic Plan

Companies that hope to be successful and survive need to develop a long-term strategic plan with specific goals and objectives that relate to the customers' needs and the company's competitors. In today's difficult economic climate, organizations do not have the resources to function aimlessly without direction.

Instructions

1. Form a long-range strategic planning committee made up of representatives of all the company's shareholders and from all departments. All areas of the organization need to be represented. Choose a chair with leadership qualities and who commands respect.

2. Set dates for monthly meetings of the committee. The chair should establish an agenda by calling each of the members prior to the meeting. A time line needs to be established at the first meeting for completing a draft of the plan. Each meeting should be followed up with a summary of what took place that can be placed in a company newsletter or on the Internet.

3. Develop the mission statement, which defines what you are going to be doing, and the vision, which details the actions involved for the organization. Establish a value statement, which becomes the list of main priorities for the organization's culture.

4. Set goals and objectives for each of the departments that fit into the mission and vision and are based on a critical analysis of past performance and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis.

5. Set specific benchmarks for each of the goals, so that there is a way to measure performance for the short and long-term and future planning efforts. It is very difficult to follow a strategic plan without knowing if the actions taken are bringing desired results.

6. Communicate the long-range strategic plan to all employees in the organization through several different channels. Give them the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. If employees do not support the long-range plan, it will be very difficult to achieve.

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Facts About Shaker Furniture

For more than 150 years, Shaker furniture has symbolized a desire for simplicity, modesty and understatement. First produced more by Shaker craftsmen in England, the furniture has changed little in design. Uniform lines, dovetailing, and simple grace continue to distinguish Shaker furniture. Devotees can find historic Shaker furniture in museums throughout the United States. Shaker style remains popular as today's buyers look for furnishings that reflect a simpler lifestyle. Does this Spark an idea?

Philosophy

Pacifism, equality, modesty and simplicity framed the lives of early Shakers. Driven to search for harmony and order, they turned their woodworking skills into chairs, tables, cabinets, cupboards and other furniture items that reflected their belief that not only is simple more beautiful, but also it is more useful. Each piece of furniture was made for God. "The peculiar grace of a Shaker chair is due to the fact it was built by someone capable of believing that an angel might come down and sit on it," said Trappist monk Thomas Merton.

History

Early Shakers sailed to the United States for religious freedom.

Shaker history goes back to 1747 in Manchester, England. The behavior of Shaker followers--shaking, trembling and gyrating during their worship services--earned the group its name. After religious persecution, a group of Shakers came to America in 1774 hoping for acceptance. By the mid-19th century, approximately 5,000 Shakers resided in the United States. As of 2010, the only remaining active Shaker community is at Sabbathday Lake in Maine.

Shaker Style

Shaker furniture is still crafted following the same principles of simplicity and understatement that first distinguished it so many years ago. Look for straight, uniform lines, nothing fancy or ornate. There are no nails, screws or braces. Instead, traditional tenon and mortise joinery, as well as dovetailing, is used to fit pieces of the furniture together.

A distinguishing trait of a Shaker chair is its intricately woven seat. Shaker cabinets and cupboards reflect the dedication to order and tidiness, with numerous functional drawers and immaculate detail.

Chairs

Antique collectors especially seek out Shaker chairs, considered to best represent Shaker values of order, simplicity and modesty. The best-known chair style is the "slat-back," or straight chair, first crafted in 1850 in the Shaker community at Canterbury, N.H. These chairs were created for community use and featured tall back posts, rounded finials (the ornaments at the top of the chair) and curved slats.

Shaker Museums

Historic Shaker furniture is on display at The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Mass. You can participate in woodworking workshops or attend demonstrations at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, Ky., as well as The Shaker Village at Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester, Maine.

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North Carolina Trade Schools

Some North Carolina trade schools prepare students to become restaurant chefs.

Trade schools, also known as career colleges, are an ideal solution for people who want to enter into a new career or upgrade their job skills. Trade school students can graduate in a matter of months, depending on whether a student enrolls into a short-term career certificate program or pursues a bachelor's degree, which takes longer to attain but usually not as long as it would at a traditional public college.

Health Care Trade Schools

There are at least four different North Carolina trade schools that prepare students for careers in the health-care industry. Training for front or back office medical careers is available at Kaplan College in Charlotte. Training for a job in medical billing and coding teaches students analyze medical records and assign codes that classify diagnoses and procedures, while students who want to work directly with the public can attain a diploma to become a medical or dental assistant. Kaplan is a career college with locations across the U.S. and is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).

Business Services Trade Schools

Miller-Motte Technical College has six different campuses in North Carolina and trains students for careers in fields such as accounting, law and information technology. Specific programs include Network Administration and Security, Paralegal and Business Administration. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science or Applied or Occupational Science Degree, or pursue a career certificate or diploma depending on the campus location and chosen course of study. Prospective students must have a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and complete an entrance exam.

Restaurant Industry Trade Schools

According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry is projected to add 1.3 million career and employment opportunities by 2020 and workers will comprise 9 percent of the U.S. workforce. In Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, the Art Institute career college prepares students to enter the restaurant industry by earning an Associate of Applied Science (AS) in Culinary Arts or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Culinary Arts Management. Students who earn an AS will be prepared for entry-level positions such as prep cook, line cook, and first cook, while those who pursue a BA are ready to start entry-level management positions in restaurants and hotels

Identifying Quality Schools

Legitimate trade schools are certified by agencies recognized at the state level and by the U.S. Department of Education. Not all accrediting agencies are alike, and many lack stringent requirements. Before considering a specific trade school, ask the enrollment counselor what agencies the school is accredited by, then call your high school or community college guidance counselor's office to find out if these agencies are legitimate. A good agency will be recognized by Council on Higher Education Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education.

Tags: North Carolina, Trade Schools, career certificate, career college, Carolina trade

Cold Hardy Climbing Roses

Cold-hardy climbing roses decorate or hide their host all year.

Climbing roses add both color and distinction to garden trellises, arches and pillars. They can direct the eye toward a garden's arrangement or encircle a sun dial or bird bath and protect them from outdoor cats. Climbing roses can also be trained to grow over unattractive bare walls or rocks. Cold-hardy climbing roses do not retreat from their covering mission over the winter months. Does this Spark an idea?

John Cabot

Slightly fragrant, semi-double John Cabot roses bear an average of 40 petals and come in clusters of three to ten. They perch above dense foliage and start opening to 3 inches in June. Their color changes over the course of the year: from orchid-red or fuscia pink color to mauve. A Kordesii hybrid bred to be hardy and disease resistant and one of the 22 cultivars of the Canadian Explorer series, John Cabot roses can endure winter to hardiness zone 2b, which includes the northernmost sections of the United States bordering Canada and most of Alaska. John Cabot roses can easily be trained to climb. Their strong arching canes grow from nine to 10 feet where they take root.

Golden Showers

Sweet-smelling, ruffled and double-blooming Golden Showers roses open as wide as 5 inches. This prolific bloomer has strong stems with few thorns that can climb from six to 10 feet or stand on its own untrained as a shrub. Golden Showers roses start off daffodil yellow in May and fade to cream come fall. Almost as striking as their yellow blooms are the glossy dark-green leaves behind them. Like the John Cabot, Golden Showers roses are long lasting but can only thrive in winters as cold as zone 5, or approximately as far north as Pennsylvania and Iowa. They can tolerate poor soil and poor shade but produce more blooms with full sun.

New Dawn

Plump 4-inch-wide bluish-pink petals adorn the New Dawn's stems, which can grow up to eight feet in its first year and up to 15 to 20 feet in the following years. Attentive training will keep this vigorous grower focused. Double-blossoming New Dawn roses start bursting in June, emit a light sweet aroma and fade to white over the course of the summer. Cold hardy to zone 4 (as far north as Minnesota and Nebraska), New Dawn roses do best in full sun and in areas that have good air circulation but will tolerate some shade and poor soil. The New Dawn rose plant also has historic importance: It is the first cultivar to be granted a plant patent under the Plant Patent Act of 1930.

Tags: John Cabot, Golden Showers, Cabot roses, Golden Showers roses, John Cabot roses

Reach The Top Of The Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari In "Assassin'S Creed 2"

In "Assassin's Creed II," one of the players you control is Ezio, whose acrobatic skills allow him to climb buildings and land safely after jumping off rooftops. The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is one of the tallest buildings in Venice, and climbing it presents a challenge for Ezio. You can only reach the top of the church after you learn a move that lets you jump and grab higher ledges while climbing. You get this ability in the "Monkey See, Monkey Do" mission.

Instructions

1. Play through "Assassin's Creed II" until you reach Sequence 07 in Venice. Complete the "Breakout" mission to unlock the "Monkey See, Monkey Do" mission.

2. Head to the map marker for the "Monkey See, Monkey Do" mission. Your friend Rosa asks a thieves' guild member to show you the climbing-leap move.

3. Jump up to the first piece of scaffolding in front of you. Jump up again and tap the "Grab" button to hang on to the overhead ledge. Climb the rest of the wall this way to reach the top.

4. Head to the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in the center of the city. If you come here directly after completing the "Monkey See, Monkey Do" mission, the "By Leaps and Bounds" mission activates. Rosa challenges you to climb to the top of the church.

5. Face one of the church walls. Run up the wall to grab a handhold. Press the "Jump" button when a ledge is overhead to climb to it. If you do not see an overhead ledge, look for a ledge that wraps around the building. Use the ledge to move to another wall and continue your ascent.

6. Use the climbing-leap move that you learned to reach the ledges above you as you near the top of the church. Keep jumping up until you get to the roof.

7. Stand on the edge of the roof and press the "Synchronize" button to map the area around you. Jump from the roof's edge to land in a hay-filled wagon below.

Tags: Monkey mission, Monkey Monkey, Monkey Monkey mission, Assassin Creed, Gloriosa Frari

Assemble Officeready Furniture

Manufacturers are working to improve instructions for assembly of office furniture.

Assembling office-ready furniture is an easy task, though some assembly methods may require more time than others. Most furniture manufacturers have developed assembly instruction booklets that are user friendly. Feedback, in the form of phone calls or emails to customer service for assistance with assembly, has enabled the manufacturers to continually improve their instructions. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Make sure your items will fit in your car or truck before making a purchase. If the box will be too large to fit your particular vehicle, you'll need to rent or borrow a larger means of transport. Some retailers offer delivery for an additional fee, while others do not.

2. Determine the furniture size that will best fit your available space. Decide if you can assemble the furniture piece alone or if you will need a friend to help. Look at the instruction booklet to identify the parts that must be put together, make sure you have all pieces and also determine which sections will be most challenging to assemble. Items like doors, shelves or drawers usually require extra time and attention.

3. Estimate the time required for the assembly project. Some manufacturers include an approximate completion time in their instruction booklets. If a project requires at least six to eight hours to finish, you may need to rearrange your schedule to allow for this.

4. Place the various pieces close to the spot where you plan to locate the office furniture. Consult the instruction manual and arrange the pieces on the floor according to their assembly diagrams in the manual. This process will also enable you to double check that you have all the necessary items. If any pieces are missing, immediately contact the store for the missing part or exchange the furniture for a new set.

5. Be sure to have all of the required tools nearby. The directions will inform you if any special tools are needed. If you are using a hand-held screwdriver, as opposed to an electrical one, lubricating the screws with a tiny amount of oil or dish soap will make assembly easier.

6. Follow the directions and diagrams in the instruction manual, and assemble each section in the order given.

7. Watch videos on-line to learn learn distinguish between left and right doors, use special hardware, adjust drawer rails, attach the back to a unit and install and adjust doors with pivot hinges. You also can learn assemble a t-lock drawer or t-slot drawer and adjust an adjustable hinge. (See Reference 2, below.)

Tags: instruction booklets, instruction manual, office furniture, sure have

Furniture Design Projects

Furniture design can be simple or complex, based on your materials and level of expertise.

Many materials are readily available for your furniture design project, and you don't need a lot of expensive power tools to get the job done.When designing furniture, it helps to draw out your plans on paper first to get an idea of what the final product will look like. When drawing up your plans, measure the size of the room and location in which the furniture will sit to determine its overall dimensions. Does this Spark an idea?

Currogated Cardboard Furniture

Corrugated cardboard, glued together in layers while alternating the direction of the grain, can become strong enough to sit on. This makes for an interesting and creative piece of furniture. Use a box cutter to cut out the basic shapes of your furniture, cutting areas for slats and grooves to fit and glue the pieces together. Each piece of your furniture should be about four layers thick. Because corrugated cardboard can be bent into arches and other shapes, be as creative or as simple with your design as you wish. The finished piece can be painted and protected with a glue-based primer. Alternating layers of paint and primer while sanding in between gives it a hard, glossy finish.

Metal Pipe Furniture

Plumbing pipes are excellent materials to use for bed designs, tables and shelving. This material gives a clean, industrial look to your furniture designs. Popular choices for pipe materials include galvanized steel and iron. Thinner piping like copper is an attractive choice for wine racks and small shelves. Visit your local hardware or plumbing store once you have drawn up your plans and figured out how many of each length of piping you require. Many stores will cut the pipes to the lengths you need. Pipes can be soldered (if you have the equipment and knowledge) or connected together with elbows and tees, which are also available at the hardware store.

Furniture from Old Books

Outdated college textbooks and old encyclopedias are generally difficult to get rid of because their information is stale, and technology allows us access to all of the most up-to-date information we could ever desire. Instead of sending these old books to be recycled, turn them into a sturdy piece of furniture. Books can be stacked into different configurations to create tables, chairs, or even couches. They can also be screwed or bracketed together into different sized cubes and stacked to create interesting shelving.

Tags: your furniture, your plans, into different, piece furniture

Make Mission Style Furniture Look French

Add upholstery to chair arms to mimic the look of French furniture.

Mission-style furniture is categorized as a style within the Arts and Crafts movement that began in England during the mid-19th century and became popular in the U.S. during the early 20th century. The style is best known for putting function above form. Straight lines, natural wood and clean craftsmanship replaced the more ornate designs of the Victorian era. French furniture varies according to the era, but there are few, if any, similarities between Mission style and French style from any period. Begin this transformation from Mission to French by removing any upholstered cushions from the piece, and sand it with fine-grit paper to prepare the surface for refinishing. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Mission to French Country

1. Distress the piece by banging it with a brick, gouging with a screwdriver, hitting it with a heavy chain and/or sanding aggressively at the edges. Do not damage the construction; the point is to make the furniture look as though it's survived many generations of use.

2. Sand down all the distressed points with fine-grit paper until there are no rough edges. The overall look should be worn but charming.

3. Whitewash the piece with a pickling stain. Follow the manufacturer's directions for your brand.

4. Reupholster cushions with a fabric in the French country style. Toile, botanical prints or florals are a few options to consider. Look for fabrics in soft shades of blue, yellow and cream for a generic country appeal, or choose green, red, lavender and olive black for Provencal style.

Mission to Rococo

5. Select decorative wood trims and plaques with a design indicative of the ornate Rococo era. Shells, cherubs, branches, monkeys and flowers are some common motifs of the style. Choose several pieces in one motif.

6. Arrange the trims on your Mission furniture piece. Use painter's tape to keep them in place until you decide the final placement. Try to create curves, asymmetry and a sense of movement with the decorative pieces.

7. Remove one piece of trim and apply a layer of wood glue to the back. Clamp the trim in place until the glue dries. Repeat the process until all the decorative pieces are secured.

8. Paint the chair in a glossy black paint to imitate the black lacquer finishes that were popular during the Rococo period. Apply a gilt, bronze or gold finish to the decorative trims.

9. Reupholster cushions with fabric that resembles petit point tapestry. Patterns that enhance your motif or colors are also good choices.

Tags: cushions with, cushions with fabric, decorative pieces, fine-grit paper, French furniture

Urban Night Clubs In San Francisco

Known as The City by the Bay, San Francisco boasts wall-to-wall landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, North America's first Chinatown and its signature cable cars. Full of beautiful beaches, museums and a thriving nightlife that boasts a variety of bars and clubs that cater to every taste, it is easy to see why San Francisco is a popular vacation destination city.

Cat Club

Nestled in San Francisco's SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood, Cat Club is one of the city's longest running nightclubs. Cat Club is spacious, yet intimate and can accommodate 350 to 400 people. The club also features two large rooms: one designed to evoke a lounge atmosphere and one room containing the main dance floor. The lounge contains a large, fully stocked bar, a small stage, an espresso bar, a large TV, two turntable desks and paintings by local artists. The other room features a spacious wooden dance floor, a large stage and an intimate bar. Hip-hop, funk, house, techno and rock music can all be heard on an excellent sound system from the elevated DJ booth on the dance floor. With theme nights, live music and the exposed brick décor adding to its underground mystique, it's easy to see why the Cat Club is one of San Francisco's hottest night spots.

Cat Club

1190 Folsom St.

San Francisco, California 94103

(415) 703-8964

catclubsf.com

Suite One8one

With its soft lighting and pastel-colored furniture, Suite One8one offers simple, yet elegant décor designed to appeal to a well-dressed, sophisticated crowd. Suite One8one offers a long, neon-lighted bar, three dance floors and features three VIP areas (located on the second level) that allow patrons to lounge in style on custom, luxury bedding and furniture, while enjoying the view below. DJs regularly spin an eclectic blend of house, Detroit funk and hip-hop (underground and mainstream) music; all easily heard anywhere in the club. Suite One8one also regularly hosts theme nights and mini-concerts featuring local and international recording artists. A spacious outdoor patio is also available for guests who want to take a break from the action.

Suite One8one

181 Eddy St.

San Francisco, California 94102

(415) 345-9900

suite181.com

El Rio

Located in San Francisco's Mission District, El Rio is a casual neighborhood bar and a dancer's utopia. With live music on weekends, strictly salsa on Sundays, international music dance parties on Fridays and rock, punk, hip-hop, dance hall and Arabic music randomly played every other day of the week, it is easy to see why El Rio is no stranger to a packed house. Although the music never stops and the bar is rarely empty, El Rio is anything but the average nightlife spot. During warmer months, El Rio hosts outdoor film festivals and cabaret performances, in addition to organizing benefits for local charities and community organizations. El Rio also offers patrons a chance to play shuffleboard, pingpong, shoot pool and participate in weekly barbecues and potlucks (usually around holidays). Boasting a popular outdoor patio decorated with Christmas lights and offering great views of the city, El Rio is a bar that undoubtedly offers something for everyone.

El Rio

3158 Mission Street

San Francisco, California 94110

(415) 282-3325

elriosf.com

Tags: Suite One8one, dance floor, Francisco California, live music, One8one offers

Types Of Antique Rocking Chairs

Americans did not invent the rocking chair, though this style of chair has become associated with American culture. The Boston rocker, the Lincoln rocker and the Shaker rocker are all products of American manufacture, but it is the Swedish Gungstol that preceded these, along with the British Windsor rocker. Before even the Gungstol, though, carpenters were commissioned to set curved rails onto the legs of chairs to give the chair a rocking motion. Does this Spark an idea?

Gungstol

First produced in Sweden in 1740, the Gungstol rocker has six legs, three to each side, inserted into rails. The back two legs were at an angle from the seat of the chair that may have allowed for some serious rocking. With the extended legs and rails, the occupant may have been able to push off with some force without endangerment of tipping.

The six-legged chairs were produced until 1870; the Gungstol made in the now familiar four-legged form was manufactured until 1900.

Windsor

The Windsor rocker, named for Windsor Castle, was first produced in England in the early 1700s, barely preceding the Gungstol. Originally used as garden furniture, the Windsor is most notable for its bowed back frame and spindles, and its splayed legs.

American manufacturers produced their own versions of the Windsor. The rounded back with spindles is still seen today. The comb Windsor is a high-backed version of the original, though the legs are less splayed.

Boston

The Boston rocker was the first rocking chair to be mass-produced and was introduced to the public in 1825. Designed by Lambert Hitchcock, the Boston rocker has a high back with spindles, curved arms and a wide seat with a curved front. The Boston rocker could be considered the first true American rocker, as it was designed by an American and manufactured in the United States.

Lincoln

The Lincoln rocker is actually a Grecian rocker. It is an upholstered rocker with Empire design characteristics such as fluted arms and turned legs. It was a contemporary of the Boston rocker.

President Lincoln was tired on that ill-fated night he and his wife visited Ford's Theatre. A Grecian rocker was brought so he could be more comfortable. It wasn't until the early 1900s, though, that antique dealers began using the term Lincoln rocker to describe the ornate and formal style of rocking chair. The name stuck.

Shaker

The Shakers produced rockers that were as simple in design and clean of line as their other furnishings. The earliest Shaker rockers were made in the early 19th century and members made them to suit individual sizes, though the design remained the same. The Shaker rocker has a ladder-back and a woven seat. This design remains essentially the same into the 21st century.

Tags: Boston rocker, Lincoln rocker, rocking chair, back with, back with spindles, Grecian rocker, Shaker rocker

Mission Style Furniture

Mission style furniture embodies the concept of form following function. With its clean lines and handcrafted appeal, mission style furniture is designed to fulfill its purpose with as little fanfare as possible. Its simplicity is striking in its elegance. Does this Spark an idea?

History

Mission style furniture, often mistakenly thought of as being of American origin, actually originated in England in the late nineteenth century. In 1859, the architect Philip Webb built a house for William Morris. Built of brick, the house came to be called the Red House. The Red House was built to function as a practical home. The architecture and furnishing were designed as a whole; it was a holistic approach to architecture and interior. The furnishings were designed to compliment the architecture. They were simple, straightforward and functional.

Effects

The simplicity of style was a departure from the lush and plush of the Victorian era. Architects and furniture designers favored the new look for its clean lines and its cultural statement.

The Arts and Crafts movement, and its style of furniture, honored the work of artisans. The handcrafted styling, the evidence of workmanship was to be emphasized; this made for honest, functional furniture. The mission of the movement was to place before ornamentation the purpose of the piece. By the 1890s, the Arts and Crafts movement was firmly entrenched in American architecture and furniture design.

Identification

The emphasis on workmanship included the use of quality materials. Oak was commonly used for furniture, and the technique of quarter sawing was used to highlight the wood grain. The joinery and hardware on furniture and cabinetry is incorporated into the design, rather than hidden by it.

Mission style furniture is recognizable by its linear appeal and minimal ornamentation. Chairs have straight backs and flat slats. Legs are straight with flat feet. Upholstery is used sparingly in mission style furniture design, but leather and linen are common upholstery coverings.

Mission style cabinetry, such as writing desks and tables, sometimes have inlay design, usually geometric. Any ornamentation is minimal and is designed to draw attention to the craft of the work, rather than as an adornment.

Types

Mission style furniture can have a rustic appeal. The handcrafted aesthetic of the style lends itself to rural interiors, ranging from the farmhouse of rural America to the country house of the well to do.

The mission style is somewhat rigid in its characteristics: straight lines, hewn woods, metal hardware and little ornamentation. But the confines of the style does enjoy some diversification.

Copper accents in hardware and joinery give the style some color. Large decorative nail heads used in upholstery add texture. Cabinet doors may have inset panels or drawers finished with decorative knobs. The designers of mission furniture relied on detail to relieve the almost harsh geometry of the style.

Geography

Mission style furniture, and the Arts and Crafts architecture for which it was originally designed, was prominent in the Southwest and California from 1890 into the 1920s.

Spanish Mission architecture, which was prevalent throughout California, was styled after the missions built in the region in the previous centuries. The mission style furniture of the Arts and Crafts movement transitioned over to this architecture almost immediately.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the Southwestern states and California were infused with Spanish, English and Native American influences. The mission style furnishings answered these influences well. Constructed from wood and accented with copper and metal, the style blended well with the contemporary architecture.

Tags: style furniture, Arts Crafts, Arts Crafts movement, Crafts movement, architecture which, clean lines, furniture Arts

Decorate A Craftsman Bathroom

In the early 1900s builders started to venture away from ornate Victorian architecture and designed homes that were affordable for more Americans. A craftsman home has a simple design, and the craftsman bathroom was functional and not intended as a room to show off any decorating style. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Select one color that is muted rather than bright. The color green would be olive and the color red would be toned down to a dull terra cotta. The color blue would tend to have a hint of gray; however, blue was seldom used in a craftsman home.

2. Choose chrome or polished brass for the sink and bathtub fixtures. Pick fixtures with a heavy appearance and simple in design.

3. Cover the floor with subway ceramic tile consisting mostly of white. Create a border trim using your chosen room color. Subway tile is 2-by-6 inch tile that is set in a common brick design.

4. Cover the bottom portion of the wall with tile or wainscot. Paint the wainscot and all the wood trim white.

5. Use baseboard that is 8-inches wide and seven-eighth inches thick. Window and door trim is also wide and thick. Choose baseboard and trim in a plain design.

6. Mount the sink to the wall without a vanity or use a pedestal-style sink. Choose white porcelain or enamel for the finish.

7. Opt for a claw-foot tub for an authentic look. Lay a solid color rug beside the tub.

Tags: craftsman home, design Cover, simple design

Use Scrolls In "Vampire The Masquerade Redemption"

"Vampire: The Masquerade -- Redemption" is a PC RPG that invites players to experience vampire life in RPG developer White Wolf's World of Darkness. In Redemption, you take on the role of a vampire, living in a world where magic not only exists, but can also be written down on scrolls, waiting for use. Once read, the scrolls activate, releasing the magic they contain. You can acquire scrolls throughout the world and keep them ready to hand for quick use in suspenseful situations.

Instructions

1. Open the character's inventory by pressing "I." Click on the scroll you wish to use and drag it down to one of the character's quick item slots in the center of the screen. Press "I" a second time to close the inventory screen.

2. Press the function key representing the quick item slot containing the scroll. The function keys are "F1" to "F5," each activating one of the five slots from left to right. This makes the scroll an active object that you can use with the mouse.

3. Right click the mouse button anywhere on the game screen in order to use the scroll, casting the spell it contains. Upon use, the scroll disappears from your inventory.

Tags: Masquerade Redemption, quick item, screen Press, Vampire Masquerade, Vampire Masquerade Redemption

Texas Mobile Home Parks For Seniors

Many mobile home parks for seniors in Texas are located in the Rio Grande Valley.

Texas is the second largest state in the United States and is known by many for its mountains, plains, beaches and countryside. As of the 2006 U.S. Census, almost 10 percent of Texas' population was over the age of 65. Some mobile home parks in Texas cater specifically to seniors. Does this Spark an idea?

Mission Gardens Resort

Mission Gardens Resort in Mission is a fully gated and secured, four-star, over-55 mobile home park located in the Texas Rio Grande Valley region. Amenities include free wireless Internet access, a large clubhouse, swimming pool, hot tub, billiard hall, shuffleboard courts and restroom, shower and laundry facilities. The park also features the Rio Grande Valley's largest cactus garden. Mission Gardens offers cable, telephone and electric hookups for mobile homes. As of 2010, rates for mobile home lots are $39 per day, $189 per week or $275 plus electric costs per month. Mission Gardens is located near wildlife refuges, golf courses, restaurants and shopping centers.

Tropic Winds RV Resort

Tropic Winds RV Resort in Harlingen is an age-qualified mobile home park for seniors, also located in the Rio Grande Valley. As of 2010, rates for mobile home lots are $31 per day, $179 per week or $388 per month. Monthly rates are slightly higher during the colder months of December through March. The resort offers its patrons free wireless Internet access, a fitness center, sports courts, heated pool, library, recreation hall and restroom and shower facilities. Tropic Winds is located near popular attractions like the Iwo Jima Monument, Rio Grande Valley Museum, horseback riding, fishing locations and sightseeing tours. The park offers full hookups for mobile homes.

Casa Del Sol RV Resort

Casa Del Sol RV Resort, a gated, pet-friendly, over-55 community, is located in Donna, also in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. Amenities at the park include free wireless Internet access, a heated pool, two spas and a large clubhouse, along with restroom, shower and laundry facilities. Casa Del Sol offers full hookups for mobile homes. Activities are regularly scheduled for park guests, including bingo, shuffleboard, dance events and dinners. Casa Del Sol is located near historical sites and museums, casinos and tourist destinations across the Mexican border. As of 2010, rates for 50-watt electric lots are $40 per day, $175 per week or $385 per month.

Tags: Grande Valley, mobile home, Mission Gardens, 2010 rates, free wireless

Top 21 Things To Do On Your 21st Birthday

21'st birthday balloon

Birthdays are always a cause for celebration, but 21st birthdays are extra special. For many people, reaching the age of 21 is one of the most exciting events in their life. The day you turn 21 should be a day of indulgence and exhilaration. With a little planning, you should be able to plan a full day of the top 21 things to do on your 21st birthday. Does this Spark an idea?

Relax in the Morning

Woman thinking

Start your birthday off right first thing in the morning. 1.) Sleep in; as your eventful day goes by, you'll be grateful for the extra rest. 2.) Treat yourself to breakfast in bed. Whether you have to make it yourself, or someone makes it for you, breakfast always tastes a little bit better while you're snuggled up in bed. 3.) In fact, have a mimosa with your meal--you're finally legal.

4.) Take a moment to reflect on the past 21 years of your life; perhaps you could write a list of 21 things you're grateful for, or 21 things you'd like to accomplish in the next 21 years. 5.) Take the rest of the morning to pamper yourself; you may want to get a professional massage.

Prepare in the Afternoon

Women at lunch

Many people choose to do something exciting to commemorate their 21st birthday. 6.) You could get a tattoo that symbolizes your life in some way. Or, you may choose to be extra daring. 7.) Go skydiving or take a ride on a hot air balloon. 8.) Get together with your closest friends for lunch, and plan out the night's activities. When you get back home, it's time to prepare. 9.) Pick out your outfit for the night; surely you will want to stand out from the crowd on your 21st birthday. 10.) If you're feeling extra spirited, you may choose to make yourself a tiara or an "I'm 21!" button to wear. 11.) Be sure to find a designated driver or hire a limo or car service to chauffeur you around.

Celebrate into the Night

Women toasting with drinks

12.) Start the night out right by having dinner with friends or family; you'll want to have food in your stomach before you start drinking. 13.) Celebrate by ordering yourself a special alcoholic drink at dinner. 14.) Afterward, swing by a liquor store and buy something--just because you can. 15.) Talk with your friends and try to gather up 21 different drink recipes. 16.) Try a few of these recipes tonight, but don't try them all.

17.) Now, for the most exciting part of turning 21: go to a bar. Enjoy every moment of this night. 18.)Dance on a bar or a chair to your favorite song. 19.) Round up 21 people to toast to your birthday. 20.) Make a goal for the night: get 21 kisses or 21 phone numbers. 21.) And most importantly, capture the moments. Be sure to have someone documenting the night with a camera; you'll want to look back on these pictures tomorrow.

Tags: with your, 21st birthday, make yourself, most exciting, your 21st

Escape From Hoover Dam In "Fallout New Vegas"

When you finish the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, you complete the courier's tale.

"Fallout: New Vegas" is a game of choices. Throughout your journeys, you'll face difficult decisions with significant impact, sometimes meaning life or death for people or even entire factions. At the game's end, you have four choices for your alignment in the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. You can support Mr. House and his continued hold over Vegas and attempted control of the dam; you can support the NCR and their control of the dam and desire for Vegas; you can fight for an independent Vegas; or you can support the Legion and their battle to take the dam. You must escape Hoover Dam during the battle if you're fighting for House, the NCR or independence. Beware: spoilers abound.

Instructions

House Supporter

1. Exit the Control Room in the Hoover Dam Offices level and turn left to leave. The Control Room is the room where you just installed the override for Mr. House as part of the "All or Nothing" quest, and this is where your escape begins. Your enemies ahead depend on your actions throughout the game. The Legion is certainly gunning for you, but the NCR may not be; if you've been on good terms with them and you convinced the Heavy Troopers at the Control Room door to leave, you can still be on good terms with the faction, though that won't last much longer.

2. Continue working your way east until you reach a door to one section housing the generators in the dam; you'll be standing on a balcony overlooking the large machinery. Along the way you'll likely fight numerous enemies, so exercise caution.

3. Turn right after you enter the door to the balcony and flip the electrical switch you find. This reroutes electricity to the Fort location and powers up the Securitron army.

4. Return down the hallway the way you came and take your first right into the kitchenette room and exit to the Hoover Dam Tower on the far side. This door has been inaccessible to you until this point in the game.

5. Exit the door to your left in the tower; you're now on top of Hoover Dam. Turn right to begin battling your way across the dam itself. You'll have Securitrons aiding you, and you'll have opportunity to duck behind sandbag walls as you fight. Watch out for the powerful Centurions and Legionaries. Many will have Thermic Lances, Super Sledges or even Anti-Material Rifles, so you've got a tough fight ahead of you.

6. Continue fighting across Hoover Dam until you reach the far side, where you can take the ruins of a road to your left. At the end of the road is the entrance to the Legate's Camp and the final stage of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.

NCR Supporter

7. Speak to Mike Lawson after General Oliver finishes briefing you as part of the "Eureka!" final quest. This dialogue begins automatically, and if you want you can ask him how you can help stop the invading Legion soldiers. He'll tell you that if you divert some of the water going through the dam, you can wash many of the Legion troops into the turbines, killing them. This is entirely optional, but it will reduce the Legion forces you're up against.

8. Fight your way out of Power Plant 04 and into the Power Plant 03 location on the far side of the room. You'll be battling many Centurions and Legionaries until the end of the game, so plan and fight accordingly. In Power Plant 03 you have the choice to continue forward to the top of the dam or head upstairs to a control panel, where you can begin diverting water as Mike Lawson recommended you do. If you choose to divert the water, you'll have to activate the control panel in Power Plant 03 and then follow your Pip-Boy's location indicator back to Power Plant 04, then upstairs to an exit to Hoover Dam. Here you'll use a release valve to actually divert the water, and then you can backtrack to Power Plant 03 and continue fighting through the Legion.

9. Fight through each of the main power plant locations: Power Plant 03, Power Plant 02 and Power Plant 01. The Legion will dog you every step of the way, so keep a sharp eye out for them.

10. Enter the doors to the Visitor Center at the end of the Power Plant 01 location and then exit the Visitor Center to the top of the dam.

11. Battle across Hoover Dam with the support of NCR Troopers. The backup helps, and you can duck behind the sandbag walls along the way, but the fight ahead will be challenging. Eventually you'll reach the Hoover Dam Checkpoint building. Depending on how you resolved the "Oh My Papa" quest, the Great Khans may show up and help you fight the Legion, though the Khans won't last long.

12. Enter the checkpoint and take a moment to prepare. You will not face any enemies in this small building. You can apply stims, repair weapons and loot everything in sight without fear of attack or reprisal.

13. Exit the building and meet with Alpha Squad, a group of elite Ranger Veterans. These four powerful allies will accompany you across the bridge, and they ask for your directions in the advance. With a high enough speech skill, you can tell them to pave the way for you, which means some of them may die but you'll have less fighting to deal with. Or you can simply order them to cover you by sniping, fight enemies alongside you or not to bother helping you at all, in which case they leave.

14. Battle your way across the dam until you reach the far side and take the broken-up road you see to your left, which leads to the Legate's Camp. The final moments of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam will happen there.

Independent

15. Exit the Control Room on the Hoover Dam Offices level to continue the "No Gods, No Masters" quest. The Control Room is the location where you installed the override for Yes Man, and it's where your escape begins. You need to turn left if you told Yes Man you were going to power up the Securitron army, and you need to turn right if you told him you would blow up the generators at the dam.

16. Fight your way to the switch you need to accomplish your mission. If you chose to power up the Securitron army, you'll continue down the hallway east of the Control Room until you reach the Power Plant location, where you turn on the switch you see on your right. If you chose to blow up the generators, you'll continue down the hallway west of the Control Room until you reach the Power Plant 01 location, where the switch you need is on your left. Regardless, you'll face enemies the whole way. The Legion will shoot on sight, you, but the NCR may still be friendly; if you've been on good terms with them and you convinced the Heavy Troopers to leave the Control Room door, they may still be friendly, though they'll become hostile soon enough.

17.Exit by the guard tower. You must backtrack a bit to find it. If you powered up the Securitron army, backtrack just a little way down the hallway until you find the kitchenette on your right and the exit you need on the far side of the room. If you blew up the generators, backtrack all the way past the Control Room and follow the hallway left until you can finally enter the kitchenette, which is on your left; the exit you need is on the far side of the room. You can always look at your Pip-Boy's map indicator to find your way.

18. Battle your way across Hoover Dam until you reach the far side, where you can take the ruins of a road to your left. You'll encounter the impressive Centurions and their supporting Legionaries. They all have very powerful weapons, so you may want to rely on your Securitron escort for help. There are also plenty of sandbag walls you can duck behind as you fight. At the end of the road is the entrance to the Legate's Camp and the final stage of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.

Tags: Control Room, Power Plant, until reach, your left, Battle Hoover, Second Battle, Second Battle Hoover

Use A Generator & Batteries For Electricity For A Cabin

A standard 12 volt battery can store plenty of electricity to power a cabin.

A generator and batteries can be used as a primary or secondary (back up) power source for a cabin. Since most generators are quite loud it is advisable to keep them in a vented storage shed away from the cabin. Batteries are better and can be used in conjunction with solar panels or windmills to collect and store power. Otherwise the battery will need to be charged to be used again. When using either of these power sources as a primary source it is advisable to use them as sparingly as possible to save fuel and battery life. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Configure the transformer. The most important component when using batteries or a generator for power is the transformer. The transformer is what converts the battery's power to the outlets and sockets used in the house. The transformer will also accept and regulate the power produced by the generator. The transformer acts much like a fuse box. Each transformer is different and a thorough examination of the owner's manual should be done before attempting to use it.

2. Connect the battery. The battery can be housed indoors or outdoors. If it is outdoors it must be protected from the elements, along with wires that are not insulated. The battery has two terminals: a positive and a negative. Attach power cables to both and then attach those cables to the transformer. Make sure to match positive with positive and negative with negative. The transformer will ensure that the power from the battery is not being drained unless it is needed.

3. Connect the generator. Most generators can connect to other devices in a number of different ways, based on the model of generator and transformer; select the most appropriate method. Connect the appropriate power cable to the generator and then to the transformer. Start the generator and test to make sure the connection works.

Tags: generator transformer, positive negative, transformer will

Rent A Chair In A Hair Salon

Hairdressers have several options when looking for employment. They can start their own salon or cut hair in their homes as an entrepreneur venture. They can work in a salon for a base rate where they keep little or none of their fees. Or they can rent a chair in a salon, keep all of their fees and pay a weekly rental fee. Some salons and hairdressers prefer the last option because it allows them to be self-employed without the hassle and cost of starting a shop.

Instructions

1. Obtain all licenses and certifications. Many shop owners and state officials require that you have a state license to cut hair. Have all of your paperwork in order before going out to look for available chairs to rent. Some salon owners give their renters a grace period to get their state licenses. In this case, you may not be able to work with chemicals but will be allowed to wash and style hair. This will give you more experience and time to study for the state boards.

2. Save as much money as possible beforehand. You want to have at least three months' worth of rental fees saved so you will have time to find new clients.

3. Look for available chairs for rent. Check the local classified ads and yellow papers. Call up salons to see if they have any stations available for rent. Drive by salons; some may have signs in their windows instead of ads in the newspaper. If you know anyone who's renting a chair in a salon, check with her to see if there are any vacancies. Another option to look for is barber shops. Sometimes they have chairs for rent and available stations for hairdressers.

4. Visit the salons and check out their facilities. Make sure the salon is up-to-date and that everything works---running hot water, lights, chairs. Look over the salon and ask questions about the equipment to avoid getting into a situation you will regret later.

5. Make a list of the top three salons that you visited and make an appointment with the owners to talk to them. This will be your chance to interview the owners and see what their expectations will be once you have rented a chair. You should also talk about rental fees and try to negotiate a fee that suits your current client base. Don't make assumptions about the type of money you could make once you are settled. Hairstyling is a service industry, and the clientele isn't guaranteed.

Tags: chairs rent, available chairs, available chairs rent, chair salon, rental fees

Upholster Furniture

Reupholstering furniture restores worn or out-dated furniture at a much lower cost than buying new furniture. Practice the technique on a simple piece, such as a chair seat, and then move on to chairs, sofas or any piece of fabric-covered furniture. Expect furniture with lots of curves and pleats to be challenging and probably best left to a professional. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Removing the Old Material

1. Measure each section visible on the outside using the widest points.

2. Remove the old fabric and staples covering the outside of the furniture. Decide if you want to re-use the padding.

3. Loosen the inside arm and back material so you can measure the fabric. Then completely remove this fabric. Leave the padding on unless it needs to be replaced.

4. Draw out a cutting plan to help you calculate the number of yards of fabric you need based on all your measurements. Take into account fabric needed for arm covers and pillows.

5. Purchase fabric, preferably upholstery weight. Anticipate needing extra fabric for stripe, plaid and floral patterns.

Replacing the Fabric

6. Spread a new layer of bonded polyester or half-layer of cotton batting over the seat and arms.

7. Cut out the new fabric according to your cutting plan.

8. Notch the center of the seat fabric and mark the center of the front and the back of the seat. Temporarily tack or staple the fabric on beginning at the center marks. Pull the fabric taunt and permanently tack it in place. Check that no raw edges are visible.

9. Install fabric on the inside arms and then the outside arms in the same manner as Step 3.

10. Cover the back of the furniture last.

Tags: cutting plan

Upholster Chair Corners

Upholstering a chair is an inexpensive way to create a new look for an existing piece of furniture. The process of upholstering or re-upholstering is a simple do-it-yourself project for the beginner or experienced craftsman. However, creating chair corners can be the most challenging part of the process. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Complete the upholstering process, leaving the corners unattached to the bottom of the chair. Staples should be no closer than 1 inch from the corners of the chair.

2. Choose one of the back corners of the chair to start with. It will be easier for beginners to hide imperfections in these corners until the technique is perfected.

3. Choose a side, gradually stapling toward the corner. Stop stapling when the fabric begins to naturally fold or pleat with the chair corner.

4. Form the first pleat, being careful not to lose tension or cause the fabric to pucker on the other side. Also do not allow the fabric to accidentally overlap the edge of the chair. Once the first pleat is formed, staple in place.

5. Finish forming the corner by creating several additional pleats, stapling each pleat in place after it is created. Verify each pleat is holding the fabric firmly in place and not puckering or buckling on the opposite side.

6. Remove any staples and redo the pleating if it does not look acceptable on the finished side once the corner is completed.

7. Repeat the process for the remaining corners and chair cushions.

8. Trim excess fabric from each chair corner once the upholstering process is complete.

Tags: corners chair, chair corner, each pleat, first pleat, upholstering process

Art & Craft Shows In Bucks County Pennsylvania

Bucks County, PA is home to three annual arts and crafts festivals.

A multitude of arts and crafts festivals, shows and fairs set up shop in Bucks County, PA every September. Spend time taking in the history of the county and enjoying the handmade wares of fine artisans and craftspeople at these events. The quality of the artwork is important to the annual event organizers. Two of the three events contractually exclude vendors who do not craft their own goods.

New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival

Enjoy two days of arts and crafts outdoors in New Hope.

The two-day annual Juried New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival offers the works of 150 artisans and craftsman. Organized by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, the event also includes musical shows, food vendors and special children's activities. Held rain or shine every September, the event is free to the public.

Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 633

New Hope, PA 18938

215-862-9990

newhopechamber.com

Doyelstown Arts Festival

Enjoy the scarecrow making tent on festival grounds.

The two-day Doylestown Arts Festival is the largest annual festival in town and also held in September. Organized by Doylestown Business and Community Alliance, the festival and parking are free to the public. Shop among the handmade goods brought by artisans and craftsman at festival grounds on Main and State Streets. Enjoy a treat at the festival food court located in the Hamilton Street parking lot. Plan to visit on Sunday to enjoy the scarecrow making tent at the Pine Street parking lot.

Doylestown Arts Festival

The Doylestown Business and Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1863

Doylestown, PA 18901

215-340-9988

doylestownartsfestival

Bristol Annual Arts and Crafts Fair

Visit the annual arts and crafts fare and Italian festival in Bristol.

This one day arts and crafts fair sponsored by The Bristol Borough Business Association is held in Lions Park in conjunction with the Bristol Lions Club Italian Festival. Spend a day in Bristol shopping among arts and craft vendors, enjoying live music and snacking on home cooked Italian fare. Held outdoors every September, the event is usually rescheduled if it rains.

The Bristol Borough Business Association

131 Mill Street

Bristol, PA 19007

215-788-4288

bristolbiz.homestead.com

Tags: arts crafts, Arts Festival, Bucks County, every September, annual arts, annual arts crafts

Update Oak Office Furniture

A striking office design shows a room that is well thought out, from the standpoint of both aesthetics and function. To update oak office furniture, spiff it up with a good cleaning and polishing so that even antique oak office furniture appears as though it were just delivered for this specific office. Add accessories for the individual pieces to integrate the oak furniture into a more updated look. With a few inexpensive products, an accent color and some lively items, your oak office furniture will be up-to-date in one afternoon. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Clean all the oak furniture with wood soap and allow to dry. Open the windows, and use a soft rag, such as microfiber or a T-shirt, to apply a light coat of refinishing oil in the right finish color (golden oak or dark oak). Use a brush (stiff paintbrush or toothbrush) to detail carved areas and small spots, such as between the slats on Mission-style office furniture.

2. Purchase new desk accessories, including a blotter, file-folder holder and equipment organizer for the desk. Go for something bold; look at chrome, red leather or multicolored items. Refrain from buying anything in black, smoke, gray and tan as these are overused and outdated office colors. Select sustainable, natural materials rather than plastics. Choose matching accessories with clean, straight lines or curves to make a well-designed, up-to-the-minute statement. This will bring even an old oak desk into the present.

3. Measure the chairs and get some updated seat cushions. Introduce a strong accent color to bring the office decor into the present. An accent color is an accessorizing color used to to add more interest, as distinguished from the room's primary colors (walls, floors, furniture). Try red, burgundy, dark green, cobalt or midnight blue, and consider using a bold print, such as a tropical motif. Avoid yellow or orange as these don't provide enough contrast to the oak finish.

4. Dress up oak file cabinets with bright runner cloths (like those used on tables or pianos) to add more color if the oak furniture dominates the room. Natural fiber place mats (woven palm, for example) work well on top of office cabinets for a more up-to-date look.

5. Place new vases with S-curves or other strong lines on oak file cabinets or end tables.Use flowers and foliage to make the office more lively. Add plants (or silk plants for offices lacking natural light). Use pots or pot covers in the accent color. These living and color-coordinated accessories bring more dimension to corners of the office and liven up the oak office decor.

Tags: accent color, file cabinets, into present, office decor, office furniture, office furniture

Decorating A Bedroom

Decorate your room for something new.

A lot of people want to have the most relaxing and cozy bedroom that is both comfy and trendy. If this is one of your missions, it certainly is not impossible to do. There are several steps that you need to do first in order to make sure that you are properly guided. It is time to fulfill your dream of having a calming and elegant bedroom that will fit your taste. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Plan it first. Decide on how you want to invest in your decorations. Do you need a study area or a couch? If you like reading, you can put hanging shelves for your books. It would be best if your room reflects your character and personality. You may search for decorating styles from "Better Homes and Gardens," "Country Living" and "Elle D cor." These magazines also offer do-it-yourself crafts, which will help you save on your budget. The good thing about these magazines is that they also have websites that you can easily browse whenever you have the time.

2. Measure the floor area of your room. So as to effectively know what pieces will best fit your space, it would be helpful to scribble a floor plan. Make up your mind on which of furniture pieces to keep and which to discard. Keep in mind that a comfortable bedroom is clutter-free. Ensure it contains only the things you need. You may want to give away the other items that you do not need or put them in a garage sale.

3. Determine your budget. Having a smart financial plan is important because it will help you put things into place. When you are done with the budget, make sure that you stick to it. It is not necessary to change all the beddings, furniture and accessories in your room. Simply repainting your bed will give it a new and well-designed look. You can also look for low-priced but stylish items in thrift shops and online stores.

4. Execute your plan and track your progress. Knowing your progress will help you decide on what else you need. You may also ask a few of your closest friends to help you carry out the plan. Repainting the walls could be a fun and exciting activity for you and your friends. This will also help you save money rather than hiring someone else to do the painting for you.

Tags: your room, will help, bedroom that, best your, help save, make sure, make sure that

Sacramento Fire Stations

Fire Department response time is minimized by using multiple fire stations.

The Sacramento Fire Department has been serving California's capital city since 1850. The Fire Department grew over the years by adding employees and fire stations to keep up with the population growth and border expansion of the city. Today, the Sacramento Fire Department has many fire stations spread across the city to ensure quick responses to any emergency. Does this Spark an idea?

Sacramento Fire Department History

The Sacramento Fire Department has been serving residents of the city since its inception on February 5, 1850. Initially an all-volunteer department, in 1872 it transformed into a paid fire department and hired full-time firefighters to provide better fire protection for the growing city. Beginning in 1946 and continuing for the next 20 years, the Sacramento Fire Department grew more quickly as the city began annexing surrounding unincorporated areas of the county and acquiring their fire protection districts as well.

Fire Station Locations

The Sacramento Fire Department consists of the following fire stations, strategically located within the city limits to maximize fire protection:

Station 1: 624 Q St.

Station 2: 1229 I St.

Station 3: 7208 W. Elkhorn Blvd.

Station 4: 3145 Granada Way

Station 5: 8th St. & Broadway

Station 6: 3301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Station 7: 6500 Wyndham Dr.

Station 8: 5990 H St.

Station 10: 5642 66th St.

Station 11: 785 Florin Rd.

Station 12: 4500 24th St.

Station 13: 1100 43rd Ave.

Station 14: 1341 N. C St.

Station 15: 1591 Newborough Dr.

Station 16: 7363 24th St.

Station 17: 1311 Bell Ave.

Station 18: 746 N. Market Blvd.

Station 19: 1700 Challenge Way

Station 20: 2512 Rio Linda Blvd.

Station 30: 1901 Club Center Dr.

Station 56: 3720 47th Ave.

Station 57: 7927 East Pkwy.

Station 60: 3301 Julliard Dr.

Beyond the City Limits

Fire protection from the Sacramento Fire Department extends beyond the borders of the city. The Fire Department is contracted to provide services to the Natomas and Fruitridge Fire Districts, as well as the Pacific Fire Protection District. The team of 630 employees enable the department to service a 144-square-mile area and a population of more than 450,000 people.

More That Just Fires

The primary mission of any fire department is to suppress fires as quickly as possible and minimize personal injuries and property damage. However, the role of the modern fire department is not limited to fire suppression. The Sacramento Fire Department provides special and technical rescue services, hazardous materials regulation and response, emergency medical services, fire prevention code enforcement, disaster preparedness and public education. The Advanced Life Support and Transportation program provides EMT services and ambulance transportation. The Sacramento Fire Department is one of only 25 fire departments in the country with an Urban Search and Rescue team.

Tags: Sacramento Fire, Sacramento Fire Department, Fire Department, Fire Department, Blvd Station