Masonry Magazine October 2004 Page. 39
News
Local, State and Regional News
# Florida
Reported by the Sun-Herald, "The 50 percent rule," Aug, 25, 2004:
For landowners with non-conforming property and those with buildings in low-lying areas, Hurricane Charley could mean extensive rebuilding - and possibly with costs equaling that needed to repair the damage caused by the storm...
"This is not a new rule," said Mike Konefal, Director of Community Development. "The 50% rule exists in the Florida building codes, FEMA regulations and it's been in the county codes for years."
Konefal said Charlotte County will require code compliance for all non-conforming structures substantially damaged by the storm. Essentially, that means properties with damages of 50% or more of appraised value will have to be built to county codes.
# Houston
The Lucia Group, Inc., one of the nation's largest masonry and dimension stone contracting companies, has named Troy Garrett as President and Chief Executive Officer.
For the past 11 years, Garrett has held executive positions with Linbeck, a prominent project and construction management firm. His assignments included operations in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Yale University in Connecticut. In 2000, he managed the acquisition of a firm in Massachusetts. A graduate of West Point and former infantry officer in the U.S. Army, Garrett previously spent time leading soldiers and oversaw several high-tech research and development programs during his career.
# Los Angeles
StonExpo 2004, scheduled for October 28-30th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, promises to be yet another successful event at which natural stone and design industry professionals will find the latest products and services, technical education, and networking opportunities they've come to expect from StonExpo and the Marble Institute of America (MIA), which sponsors the educational programming and several networking events.
The facts that this is the first-ever West Coast location for StonExpo, that it features a significantly expanded educational programming provided by the MIA, and that it has a reputation for showcasing the industry's finest exhibitors are combining to make StonExpo 2004 a can't-miss event.
StonExpo continues to attract the industry's leaders because it is the natural stone industry's premier trade event and the only one produced by the stone industry for the stone industry. All proceeds from the event are channeled back into the natural stone industry through support of industry education and natural stone promotion programs.
Complete event details, seminar descriptions and registration options can be found online at www.stonexpo.com. Or, contact StonExpo Federation at (740) 869-9990 or e-mail info@stonexpo.com.
# Michigan
The Michigan Mason Contractors' Association (MMCA) held its annual fall meeting Sept. 10-12, 2004, at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Mich. A reception was held Friday night, with the general membership meeting and Board of Director election on Saturday morning. Later Saturday, members and their guests enjoyed golf on the Betsie Valley course or canoed the Platte River. The farewell banquet was held Saturday night.
For more information on MMCA, please visit www.mmca-mi.com.
# New Jersey
Reported by the Courier Post, "Redevelopment bringing jobs," Aug. 11, 2004:
Angel Gandia is working toward a future where his children will play in a yard he owns.
Gandia, a 27-year-old public housing resident in Centerville, says he can see that future because of a pre-apprentice program in masonry he completed in 2002 through American Community Partnerships (ACP)...
Now an apprentice with the local masonry union, he is part of a growing
News continued on page 38
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