Bath Shower Home Design

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A chemical spill left the water for 300,000 in and near West Virginia's capital city tinted blue-green and smelling like licorice, with officials saying Friday there was no indication of when it might again be safe for even mundane activities like showers and laundry. Federal authorities began investigating how the foaming agent escaped a chemical plant and seeped into the Elk River. Just how much of the chemical leaked remained unclear . Officials are working with the company that makes the chemical to determine how much can be in the water without it posing harm to residents, said West Virginia American Water president Jeff McIntyre. "We don't know that the water's not safe. But I can't say that it is safe," McIntyre said Friday. "Don't make baby formula with it, don't brush your teeth with it, don't wash it, don't shower with it, don't drink it. You can't just boil it," added McIntyre.  Fo...

Natives know where to go for a real San Francisco experience : the city's neighborhoods. What better way to make family and friends comfortable than to have them stay close by in one of Noe Valley's guesthouses. While many local guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts have been hit by the current economic slump --and by the competition from a drop in downtown hotel prices --the good news is guests no longer have to book six months in advance and can sometimes negotiate a lower room rate . Still, most guesthouses report business is steady, at least on the weekends. In Noe Valley we are fortunate to have a mix of lodgings that serve a wide range of needs. You can find a cottage with handicapped access for grandparents, several places that welcome children, or a quiet room in a house, for a friend. In this survey, which updates our B&B roundups in the June 1997 and May 1999 issues, the Voice uncovered a variety of hospitality styles: a European- style tourist home , a fully furn...