Kathleen Anne Hughes Anderson. Photo courtesy of Diantha Stensrud.

BY EMILY MIBACH
Editor of the Daily Post

Atherton's former arborist has been identified as the woman found stabbed to death in her Menlo Park home.

Kathleen Anne Hughes Anderson, 62, was the arborist for the City of Atherton for 22 years, from November 1989 until her retirement in November 2011. She was the widow of Billy “Andy” Anderson, who owned Dahl Plumbing on Alma Street in Palo Alto. Andy Anderson died in 2007.

Before his death, the two were married for about 30 years and had no children.

Anderson was from Decatur, Illinois, and came to California to attend school in the 1980s, said her brother-in-law, Barry Anderson, who also works for the post office. The couple were regulars at the Alpine Beer Garden in Portola Valley.

Anderson was known for her green thumb at work and at home. Barry Anderson said her garden at her home at 925 Valparaiso Ave. was “amazing.”

Atherton Town Clerk Theresa DellaSanta said Anderson “was very passionate about her work as an arborist.”

Franz Wolke

“She had a deep passion for landscaping and trees, and she shared that love with many of our town residents by spending time with them in their gardens and giving them insight into tree pruning and planting,” DellaSanta wrote. “It was the little things Kathy did around town that residents remember and came to love about her. Kathy was a beacon of positivity to all who came into contact with her, and her impact on the trees in Atherton will last for many generations to come.”

Police found Anderson stabbed to death in her home on Wednesday (Dec. 12) after receiving a 911 call from Daniel Baggett, a former tenant of Anderson's. Baggett told police to The Post he stopped by at 5 p.m. on Wednesday after driving by and noticing her garbage cans were still on the side of the road a day after garbage collection. He also saw that her bedroom window, which was normally open, was closed, he said.

Baggett said he saw the back door was open and went into the house. He spotted Francis Wolke, 36, of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the top of the stairs. Baggett called 911. Police arrested Wolke on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Was there a connection between the three people?

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Friday that his office and Menlo Park police are still investigating the connection between Wolke, Baggett and Anderson, if there is one. Wagstaffe said the relationship between Anderson and Baggett was not rosy and that investigators are “digging” into the pasts of the three people to find a connection.

Wolke had an arrest warrant issued by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office for prowling and drug possession from a 2014 case.

While police believe Wolke's current address is in Cincinnati, records indicate he was living in San Francisco in 2014. Wagstaffe said Wolke has not made any statement about why he allegedly murdered Anderson.

Wagstaffe said Anderson died as a result of being stabbed in the head with a “sharp object,” but because the investigation is ongoing, he could not yet identify the object.

Wolke is in prison without bail.

The post Homicide sufferer Kathy Anderson was former city arborist, widow of plumbing firm proprietor – Palo Alto Day by day Publish appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

All good things come at a price, and when they're as meticulous, wonderful and small as the Astolat Dollhouse Castle, they should. The astonishing vision, meticulous preparation and incredible items (over 10,000) of the 29-room, 800-pound dollhouse justify the hefty $8.5 million price tag. The seven-level masterpiece was created by artist Elaine Diehl around 1980 and unveiled in 2015. It took no less than 13 years to complete and was estimated at the time to be worth over $2,000 per square inch.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
That makes this 9-foot-tall dollhouse castle more expensive than a fully furnished 4-bedroom, 6-bathroom, 4,000-square-foot home in San Francisco, and that's just how much money you'd have left over to buy a Tesla even after buying the house, according to the Zillow listing.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
It may not be a livable space, but it's definitely a stunning one. The tiny objects and rooms of the world's most expensive dollhouse will make you feel like you're Alice in Wonderland. What first catches the eye is the historic exterior of a property that takes its name from the castle in “The Lady of Shalott,” a 19th-century ballad by Alfred Lord Tennyson, according to Bloomberg.

The rooms are illuminated by working chandeliers. Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
One can't help but marvel at details like fountains, topiary, and a grand arched entrance with ornate columns. And that's just the outside facade. What lies beneath is truly amazing. Details such as armor, a $5,000 silverware set, artwork, paintings and gemstone collections in the extravagant rooms showcase the talent of the carpenters, goldsmiths, glassblowers and silversmiths.

Experienced carpenters and artists have crafted the incredible miniatures. Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
Although all rooms are luxuriously appointed with features such as real parquet floors, hand-stitched tapestries, marble bathrooms and gold trim, it is the library that captured my heart.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
This outstanding area contains tiny books with real printed pages that can be read under a magnifying glass. In the library, one can (if one really tries) find a Bible that is said to be one of the smallest in the world. Notable items kept here include a $2,500 fold-out secretary bookcase and a miniature Hebrew Torah valued at up to $2,500.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
Expensive items include a miniature grand piano valued at $7,000, a midget Jeep 949 station wagon valued at over $3,300, and a miniature portrait valued at nearly $2,000. It was apparently so small that it had to be painted with a single bristle brush.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
Of the seven floors containing regular rooms like the main parlor, dining room, bedrooms and butler's quarters etc, the sixth floor was the most exciting with the grand ballroom, musician's alcove, bar area and living rooms. At the very top of the multi-million dollar miniature house was a wizard's tower with fascinating details like astronomical displays and zodiac signs, a telescope and an observatory.

Image – Astolat Dollhouse Castle
These are just a few examples of the dedication and excellence of the 29-room home, which was unveiled to the public in 2015 to benefit the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks and a selection of other children's charities. The exhibition was hosted by the Nassau County Museum of Art. “The castle is so valuable because of its structure,” said Paula Gilhooley, the museum's curator. She added, “Astolat is one of the most beautiful miniature structures in the world and exhibits a rare combination of sculpture, artistry, engineering and detail that sets it apart from anything that has existed before. Astolat is a tremendous feat of construction and when you see it you will be absolutely speechless.” The museum-quality dollhouse was acquired by collector L. Freeman in 1996 and moved to the Nassau County Museum of Art.

The living area of ​​the house for sale in Francisco. Image – Zillow.

The post 13 years within the making, this extremely detailed miniature dollhouse is price greater than a completely furnished 4-bedroom residence in San Francisco. The home has 27 absolutely wired rooms adorned with chandeliers, gold plated chairs, books, oil portray even the bogs have purposeful plumbing. appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

During the 20th century, water project developers relied on engineered infrastructure to serve Californians’ economic aspirations and lifestyle choices in a region that doesn’t have regular rainfall.  Principal examples:

• The Los Angeles Aqueduct moves water to Southern California from the eastern side of the Sierras, originally for agriculture and later for urban development..
• The Colorado River Aqueduct and the All American Canal serve urban Southern California and agriculture in the Imperial and Coachella valleys.
• The federal Central Valley Project (CVP) system of dams, reservoirs and canals serves mostly Central Valley agriculture, but also the Central Coast and urban users in Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties.
• The Hetch Hetchy Project, originating in Yosemite, delivers Tuolumne River water across the San Joaquin Valley to the greater San Francisco Bay Area. 
• The Mokelumne Aqueduct delivers water to urban users in the East Bay Area.
• The State Water Project (SWP) system of dams, reservoirs, and canals moves water originally identified as “surplus” in the north to meet varied demands occurring in coastal areas, the San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California. 

The last four of these projects impact the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. In 2008, the State Water Resources Control Board reported that the water rights they managed in the Bay/Delta Watershed exceed mean annual natural flow: for every acre foot of water in the Delta Watershed, 8.4 acre feet of water have been promised on paper. 

Ongoing water battles between regions, and between urban and agricultural users, reflect “paper water” or other unrealistic expectations that actual supplies cannot reliably meet.  When supplies have fallen short of expectations, the Water Board has been pressured to deliver water anyway, even at the expense of endangered species and the health of the people and ecosystem of the Delta and Estuary. When there is no surface water to deliver, users have turned to groundwater, overdrafting it to compensate.

Each of the major water projects faces supply, environmental, and climate challenges that planners did not anticipate.  It is no longer clear that more infrastructure is the answer.

Jane Wagner-Tyack, Co-chair, LWVC Water Committee

_____________________________________________

The next in our series of articles on California water is available for publication in your local League Voter at this link.

Coming up next: The Water-Energy Nexus – Moving, heating, and treating water and treating wastewater all together represent one of California’s largest end uses of electricity and of natural gas.

The post LWVC – “California Plumbing” by the LWVC Water Committee appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Kelly Anderson from Anderson Plumbing Heating and Air was recently installed as president of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) San Diego. Click here for high-resolution version

SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwire – Sep 27, 2012) – Kelly Anderson, Call Center Manager at Anderson Plumbing Heating and Air, has been named 2012-2013 President of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) San Diego.

As the second woman to lead PHCC during its 110 year history, I feel a particular responsibility to be a role model for other young women in San Diego who have chosen a career in plumbing, heating and air conditioning or other home service industries,” said Anderson.

“Our company has been involved with the PHCC organization for many years,” added Anderson. “In fact, in the early 90s my father, Walter Anderson, was the 99th president of the PHCC. Twenty-one years later I am honored to be following in his footsteps serving as president.”

Anderson joined the Anderson Plumbing Heating & Air shortly after graduating from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Radio and T.V. Broadcasting. She quickly emerged as a leader in both the Anderson Plumbing Heating & Air organization, as well as PHCC. Anderson’s 2012-2013 plans for the PHCC include focusing on training programs and certifications.

“The PHCC has always been a terrific conduit of information for our business with its focus on education, training and hiring licensed contractors,” Anderson said. “This year PHCC is taking on some exciting new initiatives including our new PHCC offices to accommodate the high demand for our training programs and we’ve expanded to include training and certifications for heating and air conditioning.”

Joining Anderson on the PHCC Board of Directors are: Vice President Steve Fox, Steve Fox Plumbing; Secretary, Scott Ferrell, Black Mountain Plumbing; Directors: Doug Box, Dry Down, Inc.; Michael DeSilva, Plumbing Plus; John Perry, Perry Plumbing; Robert Price, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.; Lani Testa, My Plumber; and immediate past president Mark Ames, Roto Rooter Plumbers.

Anderson Plumbing Heating and Air has been serving San Diego County since 1978 and offers residential and commercial plumbing, heating and air conditioning services including HVAC new equipment installation, retrofit, repairs and maintenance plus drains, water heaters, toilets, sinks, faucets, water, gas leaks, pipe replacement, pipe lining, sewer replacement, trenchless sewers and pipe repairs. Anderson Plumbing Heating and Air offers 24-hour emergency service to the greater San Diego area. Contractors Licenses #493163 and #853163.

The post Kelly Anderson of Anderson Plumbing Heating and Air Named President of Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Affiliation (PHCC) San Diego appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Who in the U.S. Is in ‘Plumbing Poverty’? Mostly Urban Residents, Study Says – Circle of Blue

Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK

Cookie and Privacy Settings

The post Who within the U.S. Is in ‘Plumbing Poverty’? Largely City Residents, Research Says appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A new in-depth report finds an increase in households without piped running water – what the authors call ‘plumbing poverty’ – in some of America’s wealthiest and fastest-growing cities. These cities include the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Portland, Austin, Nashville, and Seattle.

The report identifies a clear link between unaffordable housing, metropolitan wealth gaps, and plumbing poverty, with households of color and renters disproportionately living without piped running water in their homes. This is particularly the case for households that spend 40-50% of their monthly income on rent, despite no access to running water.

Analyzing two decades of data trends, from 2000 to 2017, the researchers identify San Francisco as having the highest share of households without running water, followed by Portland, Milwaukee, San Antonio, and Austin (in ranked order). Piped water access worsened for households in these cities since 2000. Between 2000 and 2017, Los Angeles ‘improved’ to 7th place. But it still has 44,200 people without piped water.

Meanwhile, throughout the United States, nearly 460,000 households, or some 1.1 million people, lack piped running water in their homes. 73% of households without piped water are located in urban areas, with 29% in the 15 metros profiled in this report.

The research was led by Katie Meehan with the Department of Geography at King’s College London. Meehan is also a Ph.D. alumna from UArizona School of Geography, Development and Environment. Jason Jurjevich, associate professor of practice, and graduate student Nicholas Chun – both in the University of Arizona School of Geography, Development and Environment, co-authored the report.

Phoenix is one of the cities featured in the report:

• Rates of plumbing poverty have flat lined or “stagnated” since 2000. However, the situation has deteriorated for renter households.
• Renters are earning less and paying more to live in a home without running water. Renters account for 51% of households without piped water, and their rents rose by $250 (38%) while their median incomes fell by $230 (10%) between 2000 and 2017.
• The authors argue that “stagnation” equals “no progress” in terms of universal water access.

##

Read the King’s College London full press release

Report: Plumbing poverty in U.S. cities: A report on gaps and trends in household water access

The post Plumbing Poverty in U.S. Cities appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The 296-pg Environmental Impact Report that was needed before approval took more than two years to produce and was prepared by the California Department of General Services working with EDAW, a planning and environmental design firm headquartered in San Francisco. The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Assn. (PPFA; Glen Ellyn, IL), a non-profit organization supporting the pipe extrusion industry, and PEX processors had to pay for the report, but were not allowed a role in its preparation and development.

A copy of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) approved by the CBSC is available for download from the CBSC website or by clicking here.— [email protected] 

The post California plumbing code now accepts PEX pipe appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

main image

Back in 1978, Mary Jean Anderson never dreamed the newly formed family business would be ranked in the Top 1% of plumbing, heating and cooling companies in the United States.

March 21st is the 45th Anniversary for Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air.

As a woman in a male dominated industry, Mary Jean has achieved national recognition for her success.  She has served on national Boards of Directors like Nexstar, a member-owned organization dedicated to empowering HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing business owners.  A true industry leader, she is a popular speaker and contributor to the dialogue on the future of the home services industry.

Mary Jean is a champion for lucrative career opportunities in the trades, including women and military.  She has mentored countless women pursuing a career in the trades either as an employee or a business owner.  Anderson was also influential in starting Troops for Trades, a national initiative to assist retiring military seeking a second career.

As an advocate for professionalism in the home services trade industry she often finds herself explaining the technological expertise and certifications required to successfully maintain, diagnose, repair and install the equipment in our homes.

“Every day I am wowed by the incredible team we have here at Anderson.  Sure, we give them the tools and training to do the job, but the bottom line is that they are the ones who deliver on our promise to wow our clients and that makes all the difference,” said Mary Jean Anderson, President/CEO of Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air.

On A Mission To Wow Clients 

The Anderson Mission Statement is posted throughout the offices as a reminder of their unflinching dedication to 100% Client Satisfaction.  It details the company vision as well as the blueprint for delivering on the promise that “Nobody wows clients like we do!”TM

Team Anderson is committed to the highest levels of service including: leaving the workspace cleaner than when they arrived; clean trucks and uniforms; safety for themselves, the clients and the community at large; and anything else it takes to wow clients!

“It takes real teamwork to deliver the wow experience to our clients.  From the Client Care Representative answering the phone to booking the appointment, to the Dispatchers and Technicians in the field, everyone has a responsibility to the rest of the Team,” Anderson explained.

Opportunities as a Plumber or HVAC Technician

“We are extremely fortunate to have so many long-term employees that continue to grow their careerswith Anderson. Right now, the biggest challenge in our industry is the ongoing nationwide shortage of skilled tradespeople,” said Anderson.

That’s why she started the Anderson Career Builder Institute in 2017.  ACBI is a specialized earn-while-you-learn trade school dedicated to training residential Plumbers and HVAC Technicians for rewarding careers in the home services industry.

Successful applicants work two days a week in the classroom and labs and three days a week in the field with a senior trained technician/mentor.

“People don’t realize the earning potential in the trades if you have the right attitude, are detail oriented, and committed to lifelong learning.  We teach the skills to our students at ACBI and, once they join the company, they see that our whole team at Anderson is constantly supported with training, training, and more training!”, added Anderson.

ACBI also works with all branches of the military to help those who are interested as they prepare to transition to civilian life.

Congratulations to Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air on their 45th Anniversary!

The post Celebrating Girls’s Historical past Month With Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Plan ahead now to prevent frozen pipes in winter. (Dreamstime)

By Paul F. P. Pogue, Angie’s List

In mid-October, you may still enjoy warm weather and light-jacket days. But colder temperatures will arrive faster than you expect. Take precautions now to ensure your pipes and water supply remain in good order throughout the winter.

Plan ahead

If you have leaking pipes or faucets, hire a plumber now to fix the problem. Leaks in moderate weather become much bigger problems once temperatures drop below freezing.

Prepare your pipes with insulation, which provides the first line of defense against freezing. Insulation tubes from a hardware store should provide effective protection. Pay particular attention to pipes in unheated areas, those that have frozen in previous winters and pipes that have been repaired in the past year.

If your outdoor water faucets have a separate shut-off valve, close the valve, open the spigots to drain the lines and leave them open until spring. If your faucets have a back-flow prevention device, be sure to disconnect it so that the water drains from the line.

Fill any exterior cracks or holes with spray foam insulation and caulking. Do the same with openings around outdoor faucets or hose bibs. This blocks cold air from coming in along the pipes, and it saves energy at the same time.

Prepare your vacation home

If you spend your winters in a different home, make sure you prepare the home you leave behind for bad weather. Vacation homes can suffer major damage if a frozen pipe springs a leak; you might not notice the water damage for months.

A burst main water line can wreak havoc when left unattended for months at a time. To prevent this from happening, turn off the water meter yourself using the meter key, or hire a plumber to do so properly. Open all of your faucets and valves to drain the pipes. Then, turn off the water using the shut-off valve inside your house and leave the faucets open.

Water can hide out in plumbing fixtures, so be sure to address those. Disconnect and drain your washing machine hoses and dishwasher drain lines. Drain all spray attachments and shower heads. Turn off the water heater and drain the tank entirely. Finally, flush your toilets and remove excess water from tanks and bowls.

What to do when pipes freeze

Despite your best efforts, you may end up with frozen pipes anyway, so have a plan in mind for that event. First, close the main shutoff valve to prevent any leaks. Then find the source of the freeze. If one or two faucets don’t work, the freeze is between the split from the main line. If none work, it’s near the main water line. To thaw a pipe, Wrap the pipe in a towel doused with hot water, or warm it with a hair dryer on the lowest setting. Never use a flame.

Keep your plumber’s emergency contact info handy in case you run into a problem you can’t handle alone.

Winter is also a good time to review your emergency kit, which should contain (among other things) one gallon of water per person per day in the event of emergency or loss of water supply.

The post Find out how to put together your plumbing for winter appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

At the 2018 meeting of the International Code Council, the council approved two amendments that could facilitate the design and creation of gender-neutral restrooms. The changes will affect the International Plumbing Code, which has been adopted by 35 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, and are scheduled to appear in the 2021 version of the code.

The first amendment allows “for the installation of all-gender, multiuser restrooms in public buildings,” according to a statement from Joel Sanders Architect. The second amendment “requires that single-user restrooms display signage indicating that they are available to all users and not limited to a single gender,” according to the firm.

Joel Sanders advocated for the changes as part of Stalled!, an interdisciplinary initiative for inclusive bathroom design. Historian Susan Stryker and legal scholar Terry Kogan worked with Sanders as part of the initiative, and the National Center for Transgender Equality worked with Stalled! on the code amendments.

Stalled! won a 2018 Best of Design Awards winners for Research.

The post Worldwide Plumbing Code modifications facilitate all-gender restrooms appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.