Construction Maison

SYLACAUGA, Alabama – Harold Franklin never set out to attend Auburn University . The school with its agricultural heritage had little appeal for the bookish Franklin. “I used to hate when daddy grew a garden and I had to go out and help with it,” Franklin said. "That was the last place I wanted to go.” He had dreamed of being an attorney, inspired by his childhood idol Thurgood Marshall , the prominent counsel for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and first black Supreme Court justice . “I wanted to be a lawyer,” Franklin said, sitting on the couch in his two-bedroom apartment in Sylacauga below a framed photo of Samford Hall. “That was the most important thing to me.” Franklin graduated from Alabama State University , then named Alabama State College , in 1962 with a degree in government and psychology. Franklin was seeking character references for a law school application when an encounter with civil rights attorney Fred Gray put him on the track to b...

Winona building permits for Aug. 7-11, 2017: Paul and Vicki Rader, 509 W. Mill St., owners, re-roof, $8,000 Modern Transport, 850 E. Front St., owner, demo office building , $5,000 David Warner, 523 W. Mark St., Roger Sultze Construction , replace roof on house and garage, $7,680 Judith Brugger, 872 E. Wabasha St., Roger Sultze Construction , install siding, soffit and fascia on garage, $5,200 Key Venture Apartments, 1759 W. Fifth St., Ledegar Roofing Co., replace roofing, $48,000 929 Beer House and Grill, 929 E. Sanborn St., Keller Brothers Construction , bathroom face lift and move wall, $8,000 Brookdale Senior Living Inc., 835 W. Belleview St., Supreme Construction, re-roof, $39,050 Peggy Chapel, 553 Huff St., owner, replace windwo, $300 John Krofchalk, 51 Johnson St., owner, loading dock enclosure , $35,000 James Hurley 68 Wiscoy Court, Bosteter Windows & Siding, re-side house, $21,000 Patricia Malay, 526 Glenview Dr., Ledegar Roofing Co., re-roof, $12,000 John Alexander, 107...

Samira Samii attended high school in the Rockaways, but she never thought she’d return to the seaside neighborhood to live. Then circumstances—and a love of all things surf and sand—propelled her back there this month. At the time she signed the lease on her rental in Rockaway Park, she knew that her commute to her job on the Upper West Side would be long, but nothing could prepare her for what that meant in practice. The route she settled on involves taking a shuttle bus to a ferry, then walking to the subway, and making one last transfer before arriving at her work. Read on for Samira's walkthrough of the gorgeous but extreme trip. Living in Rockaway is a little bit like coming back home . See, I heard about the apartment I’m renting—it’s the upstairs apartment in a two-family house—through my high school friend who has lived here all of her life. It’s a block and a half from the ocean. I’m a little bit of a sun worshipper and love the ocean, so I knew I’d love it here. Then th...

John Altschul with his dog, Ethanol. (Photo by James Mills) EDITOR’S NOTE: The is another in a series of occasional stories titled “The Grownups” about West Hollywood residents 75 years old or older who are active in civic life. He’s been called the elder statesman of West Hollywood . He possesses the leadership, diplomacy, patience, charm and institutional memory necessary to hold that honorary title. More importantly, he has the ear of city leaders, community activists , business leaders and developers that is required of an effective statesman. Although he was not involved with the formation of the city, he became a guiding force in shaping West Hollywood . And this week, John Altschul celebrates his 81st birthday. He reluctantly accepts the idea of being the city’s elder statesman, but would prefer he wasn’t quite so much on the elder side of it (wouldn’t we all!). “ West Hollywood has always been a place where everyone has been so friendly,” says Altschul. “I’ve always felt ...

What/Why: Back by popular demand, Vaseo Apartments -- the largest apartment community in the Southwest -- is proud to announce its third annual "Haunted House." Located at 7th Street and Greenway Road in North Phoenix, Vaseo invites Phoenix residents of all ages to kick off their Halloween celebrations at the interactive event, which is sure to be "spook-tacular," with the likes of zombies, clowns and more frightening features for the thrill-seeker. The blood-curdling success of last year's haunting, which drew more than 3,000 fearless merry-makers in two nights, has inspired the community to extend this year's event to run for four nights this October. As one patron explains, "This 'Haunted House' rivals any that I have ever been to in the valley and is just a fraction of the cost." Vaseo's haunted experience will also feature a wide array of food, music, and activities for all to enjoy, such as: childrens' costume contests, fac...

A block north of the Western Brown Line stop , you'll find a family-friendly collision of worlds. Time and continents get confused at the crossroads where Lincoln Avenue runs into the intersection of Lawrence and Western avenues . Staring down the street bearing his name, a statue of Abraham Lincoln — perched on a podium and holding his stovepipe hat — watches over the juncture. Honest Abe seems a fitting guardian of the spot that is at once multicultural and wholly American. Once you pass under the arching entryway onto Lincoln Square , restaurants with Argentine, Greek, German, Mexican, Dutch and New Orleans fare are all within a stone's throw. Some take you back in time and some feel like home. Locals say the corridor is family-forward with a European touch. It's not hard to see. On a recent Friday evening , families congregated in the plaza. Children straight off Gap runways devoured frozen yogurt and painted patios in chalk while fluffy dogs sniffed out pigeons. Old...

Suspicious person, two people in alley, both tried to walk away, male stated he was trying to find cigarettes on the ground then going home, Alex. Suspicious vehicle, comp states there is a tan truck with a topper by the cul-de-sac and has been there for two months, Garfield. Theft, theft of a boat motor, Alex. Harassment, caller says that her ex-husband is calling her and won't leave her alone, has been drinking heavily and she is nervous about what he might do, Alex. Harassment, receiving several text messages from a male that she doesn't know, Alex. Suspicious vehicle, vehicle unoccupied , Alex. 911 hangup, comp called screaming , she then hung up, called back, person one tossed the house according to comp, person one went home for the night, Evansville. Saturday, August 12 Suspicious vehicle, out with vehicle on the side of the road, Alex. Suspicious vehicle, Evansville city maintenance reporting green Ford Expedition unoccupied , there is a purse and a gun case inside the...

Five persons suspected of ramming a van into people in Cambrils in Spain have been shot dead, police said hours after 13 people were killed in a similar incident in Barcelona. 7-year-old Sydney boy Julian Cadman is missing after the Barcelona terror attack . SUSPECTS in Spain’s twin terror attacks had been planning an even bigger assault than the deadly car rampages they carried out, police said, as distressing details emerged of families torn apart in the horror. Police said they shot dead five “suspected terrorists” who had knocked pedestrians down in the Catalan seaside resort of Cambrils in a second attack in the early hours of Friday, and arrested four others as Spain reeled from the deadly violence . Catalonia’s regional police identified three of the suspects who were killed as Moroccan nationals. They were Moussa Oukabir, 17, Said Aallaa, 18, and Mohamed Hychami, 24. Police said they suspect 12 people of involvement in the attacks: the five who were killed, four who wer...