Weight Loss Clinic in Brookside, DE

The cul-de-sac of houses used to film Brookside is ready to be rented by real-life tenants following extensive refurbishments.

An anonymous buyer snapped up the 13 properties in West Derby, Liverpool in December 2008 and they have since been restored in a major redevelopment project.

Brookside Close was left derelict for years after Channel 4 axed the long-running soap in 2003. However, all of the houses are now ready to be lived in.

Carol Corran, from Sutton Kersh Lettings, told the Liverpool Echo: "This is an incredibly rare and unique opportunity. Brookside Close is one of the most well-known cul-de-sacs in the country.

"The houses have been finished to a high specification and provide good value given the space and history that exists with each one. We are already receiving a high level of enquiries and expect to let the properties quickly so anyone genuinely interested in living there is advised to register their interest early to avoid disappointment."

Her colleague Ria Font added: "People like the idea of living on a famous television set - Brookside was such a popular series and there are still many fans.

"The interest has been amazing. The most common question is, 'In which house is Trevor Jordache buried under the patio?' and 'Which house was Jimmy Corkhill's?'"

Brookside's Merseyside estate made it the only UK soap to use real-life houses for filming rather than sets.

Daniel Kilkelly

Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010. He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events. He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.

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An all-inclusive waterplay area soon will be built next to De Soto’s all-inclusive playground at the De Soto Athletic Complex off Vineland School Road south of downtown.

The De Soto City Council voted 5-0 Monday night, March 21, to award a $567,961 contract to Brookside Contracting of the De Soto area to build the waterplay area.

The company submitted the only bid for the project.

It was the second time the city of De Soto solicited bids for the project.

“The city did not receive any proposals the first time this project was put out for bids, but as soon as Pat Downs and Brookside Contracting were made aware of this project, they knew it was a perfect fit,” City Manager Todd Melkus said. “The city is excited to have Brookside working on this project because they are a local contractor and are well known for their natural water feature designs.”

Melkus said the waterplay area will include many features to entertain youngsters and will adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

“This is not an out-of-the-box splash pad that is just a large concrete pad with water geysers in it,” Melkus said. “This will include a natural looking array of water features, including boulders, geysers, small streams, topography changes, stone steps, etc. This will allow children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the natural aspects of the waterplay area which will have ADA access and sensory items, as well.”

He said city officials hope the waterplay area will be completed this summer.

“We are looking at starting construction in six weeks or less, and our goal is to have it completed towards the end of summer,” he said. “Material delays, etc. make timelines very difficult these days so we will be open to working with the contractor on this project.”

Councilman Jim Akers said the waterplay area should appeal to families inside and outside the De Soto.

“We feel like it’s something that’s needed for the kids,” Akers said. “It also may draw people to De Soto.”

Melkus said the city will pay for the facility with revenue from a 1/2-cent park and stormwater sales tax voters approved in 2018.

Newark’s Brookside Elementary joins a recently growing number of elementary schools in the state to open school-based wellness centers.

Erin Booker is the Chief Bio-Psycho-Social Officer for ChristianaCare. She says wellness centers have been present in Delaware high schools for decades.

“But early intervention is incredibly important. So being able to support them in elementary schools, and then follow them through middle school and high school- that continuity and early access is unbelievably important,” explained Booker.

Christiana Care nurse practitioner Andrea Boyle works in elementary school wellness centers.

She says their goal is to provide students with quality healthcare services and community resources otherwise unavailable to them due to things like cost or lack of transportation.

“And those needs may be medical, I may see them for a cold or the flu. They may be in mental health where they see our behavioral health therapist,” said Boyle. “And they may be suffering from something that may be caused by a social determinant of health. Maybe that’s a lack of transportation, maybe they have food or housing insecurity that’s affecting their ability to be well. We care for students in all of those capacities here.”

The first elementary wellness center opened at Eisenberg Elementary school in 2018, and the positive impact was quickly noticed.

More have opened since then, but the numbers have yet to satisfy the growing demand for elementary wellness centers fueled by the increased need for accessible health services post-pandemic.

In an effort to meet that demand, New Castle County committed approximately $2 million to four new school wellness centers, one in a middle school, and three in elementary schools, including Brookside.

The work to bring wellness centers to younger students doesn’t end with funding.

Christina School District Superintendent Dan Shelton says meeting the unique needs of elementary-aged students is a collaborative effort between districts, the state, and the county.

“We need to make sure that we have a model that’s going to be sustainable and provide our kids with what they need,” explained Shelton. “Our elementary population is not requiring the same types of services that the high school population is. So we needed to make sure that we were providing something that was tailored to the elementary level, and providing the services they needed.”

Wellness center services are offered without charge to the students or families, whether they have insurance or not.

Health officials say these wellness centers lead to increased student engagement and decreased stress.

There are now over four dozen school-based wellness centers statewide, a quarter of which serve elementary-aged students.

Brookside’s stream, El Rio del Jardin de las Flores, has had some highs and lows over the last few years, both in the amount of water moving through the streambed, and in the ongoing research to preserve the stream.

Last September, Brookside resident Nancy Levine reached out to the Larchmont Chronicle with an update, letting us know that while the stream seems to have a normal flow where it “daylights,” just south of Wilshire Boulevard, that the flow was weak between 8th and 9th Streets, and dry where it flows south of 9th Street. Residents were also concerned about flourishing mosquito populations because of the standing water. They have been working with the Watershed Protection Division of Los Angeles Sanitation and field deputies from Council District Four to get answers. Levine contacted us and wondered if we could help.

The Chronicle covered the depletion of water in the streambed in 2017, when residents of the Brookside neighborhood first noted the decrease in water flow. Oddly enough, according to the Los Angeles Almanac, 2017 had been a year of steady winter rains after a five-year drought. At that time, residents reached out to the Los Angeles Dept. of Public Works and Councilman David Ryu’s office to begin investigation into where the water had gone.

Four reports study the problem

THIS PHASE 2

After four reports by the Watershed Protection Division, several conclusions have been reached. In the Phase 1 report from March 2018, it was noted that water levels and flow rates were not consistent at all properties along S. Longwood Avenue; the stream at some properties had more water than at other properties, suggesting that there may be more locations along the Brookside Stream where groundwater was feeding the stream.

The Phase 2 report from June 2018 noted that there was a time, before the 1930s, when the brook had been connected to the storm drain system, but had been disconnected when the storm drain system had been updated. In addition, while the stream does lose some water through filtration into the ground, that amount is relatively small.

The report also noted that for there to be a consistent stream level of a half a foot of water flowing at .24 feet per second, there needed to be at least 238,500 gallons flowing through the stream per day. It was determined that the best source to replenish the stream was the dry weather runoff in the Longbrook Avenue storm drain, but there needed to be a feasibility study to see if that could work.

The Phase 3 report from November 2018 researched whether or not the Longwood Avenue storm drain could work in replenishing the stream. However, the average water runoff from that drain was 33 gallons per minute, but the stream needed a source that offered an estimated 135 gallons of water per minute. There is a second storm drain that could be used located under Wilshire Boulevard that would deliver more water, but it would take more work to connect the conduit to the spring, and cost more money.

In 2019, after another winter of steady rains, the levels of the stream increased slightly — for a time — which was when the Chronicle learned from the Watershed Protection Division that the source of the brook, the natural spring fed by groundwater, had been decreasing from years of drought, and the storm drain alternatives were still being studied.

Since then, a Phase 4 study conducted in July 2019 has looked into other causes of water depletion, other problems caused by the water depletion, and what it could take to return the flow of water to the brook.

One of the possibilities that was in the Phase 4 report was that construction on Metro’s Purple Line had depleted the groundwater because of the pumping stations put into place along Wilshire Boulevard.

Michael Scaduto, an engineer with the Watershed Protection Division, pointed out that those pumping stations are not really very close to the stream, and that it is more likely that the groundwater was depleted through years of drought. He also pointed to development in the area that would siphon off some of the water. However, the pumping station is due to be removed by 2023 or 2024 and that could help with surrounding groundwater levels.

David Sotero at Metro also believed that the pumping stations were not close enough to the spring to be the cause of the depleted water levels, and that it was more likely to be a decrease in groundwater from drought.

In both cases, when I asked about the possibility of somehow infusing water back into the groundwater table after the Purple Line construction is completed, there were references to budget cuts and not knowing if there would be funding for such projects.

Other causes and issues

Three other problems noted in the Phase 4 study include water stagnation and an increase in the mosquito population, construction activities by some property owners that may be impacting the stream and the right of property owners to use water from the stream as it runs through their property.

Levine said she and other Brookside residents were particularly concerned about the increase in the mosquito population. Getting residents to clean debris out of streambeds, thus removing a possible harbor for the insects, is one solution, and also helps to increase the flow of any water running through the streambed. Obtaining mosquito fish was another suggestion.

Construction activities and making personal use of the water as it flows through backyards of some property owners also could have impacts on the stream. Because the stream is a natural watercourse, the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Sections 64.07, 64.08, 64.09 and 64.10) specifies that “…No person shall do anything to any natural water course or any channel carrying storm water that will in any manner obstruct or interfere with the flow of water through such water course or channel,” unless there has been a permit obtained from the Board of Public Works.

In the end, the question is, who is responsible for the depleted water flow in the stream? Who is responsible for bringing the water flow back up to normal levels?

The answer is that while, for the most part, each property owner is responsible for the care of his or her part of the stream, that stream is also part of a larger water system that could impact other water systems downstream, and other ecosystems. The Phase 4 study reports that while bioswales and other natural easements have been put in place in repairing other waterways, those were on public lands. There needs to be funding for such projects.

Most recently, when asked about the state of the streambed, Levine noted the flooding of the waterway after one of the rainstorms this winter, but the streambed had quickly dried up again.

Sandy Boeck, another concerned resident, noted that while she still had a dry streambed, it was good to see some neighbors cleaning up their parts of the stream.

This will not be an easy fix. The solution most likely will be a combination, or intertwining, of public and private work.

History of stream and neighborhood

The history of the stream and the neighborhood is also intertwined. According to the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society, the neighborhood of Brookside was carved out of the original Rancho Las Cienegas (Ranch of the Marshland), owned by Mexican native Don Francisco Avila.

In 1921, the Rimpau Estate Company began to sell home sites with many properties along Longwood Ave., where the developers laid out deep rear lots bisected by a natural underground stream. Not wanting the stream to run on only one side of the street, the planners developed around it, with the stream winding from one side of the street to the other, preserving some of the natural arroyos, barrancas (gorges) and hills of the original tracts.

Although it was first known as Windsor Crest, the neighborhood became known as Brookside because of the stream that ran from the Hollywood Hills to Ballona Creek.

Delaware, renowned for its long heritage and attractive scenery, houses various riveting cities that offer gorgeous natural sights. From placid lakes and rivers to grandiose mountains and national parks, these cities show off singular geographical characteristics that set them apart. Whether you love nature, relish outdoor activities, or are seeking a tranquil getaway, Delaware has something for everyone. Sojourners can embark on a venture to explore the 9 most charming cities in Delaware. You can inspect what makes each of these towns peculiar and investigate the natural marvels they offer. So fill up your bags, don your walking boots, and prepare to survey the beauty of these concealed jewels in Delaware.

Dover

Dover, the metropolis of Delaware, fuses olden times with fantastic landscapes. One of the apexes of Dover is the exquisite Silver Lake, a peaceful and lovely lake located in the core of the city. The lake has much abundant vegetation and presents a restful backdrop for sailing, fishing, or relishing a tranquil hike alongside its boundaries. A further natural jewel in Dover is the St. Jones River, a picturesque river that courses through the city and grants opportunities for kayaking and birdwatching. Other than its natural beauty, Dover also boasts several state parks, including the First State Heritage Park, which bestows a unique combination of history and nature. The park encompasses a variety of time-honored sites, museums, and footpaths, making it possible for travelers to immerse themselves in the affluent annals of Delaware while enjoying the pretty outdoors. With its flawless blend of history and natural beauty, Dover is a captivating city that makes itself stand out.

Newark

Settled in the core of Delaware, Newark is a city renowned for its energetic culture and wealth of physical beauty. One of the high points of Newark is White Clay Creek State Park, a vast park that stretches over 3,000 acres and proffers a wide choice of recreational activities. From trekking and cycling tracks to fishing and horseback riding, White Clay Creek State Park has something for everyone. The park also boasts panoramic picnic spots, tranquil ponds, and picturesque meadows, making it an ideal destination for a day of outside amusement and relaxation. Apart from its state park, Newark is also the dwelling of the lovely Christina River, which provides possibilities for canoeing, fishing, and sailing. The river also has much lush vegetation and wildlife, delivering a peaceful respite from the flurry of urban life. With its abundant natural beauty and recreational chances, Newark is a shelter for outdoor buffs and an endearing city to investigate.

Bear

Tucked away along the Delaware River, Bear is a lovely city that offers a tranquil respite in the embrace of nature. One of the draws of Bear is Lums Pond State Park, a mammoth park that spreads over 1,700 acres and boasts the largest freshwater pond in Delaware. The pond is ideal for boating, fishing, and kayaking, allowing visitors a chance to submerge themselves in the peaceful loveliness of nature. The park also provides many hiking and biking paths, picnic spots, and camping grounds, making it a favored destination for outdoor devotees. Another natural gem in Bear is St. Georges Creek, an idyllic river that courses through the city and offers possibilities for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The river has much verdant foliage around it and presents a secluded setting for a calming day in nature. With its picturesque natural beauty and ample recreational prospects, Bear is a charming city that offers a perfect fusion of tranquility and outdoor adventures.

Glasgow

Glasgow, situated in New Castle County, is a city that displays copious amounts of natural beauty, making it an ideal place for nature aficionados. One of the highlights of Glasgow is the stunning Newark Reservoir, an unruffled lake that provides opportunities for angling, sailing, and enjoying an outdoor meal. The lake has much luxuriant vegetation and provides a tranquil atmosphere for open-air activities. Besides the reservoir, Glasgow is home to the White Clay Creek, an alluring river that traverses the city and presents chances for angling, trekking, and bird-watching. The river is well-known for its crystal-clear waters and gorgeous landscape, making it a much-visited place for outdoorsy people. Glasgow also features many local parks, such as Glasgow Park, which delivers walking trails, sports fields, and play areas, allowing ample chances for outdoor amusements. With its captivating natural surroundings and recreational opportunities, Glasgow is a picturesque city that makes itself distinct as a haven for nature lovers.

Brookside

Nestled in the bosom of Delaware, Brookside is a pretty city that provides a tranquil escape in nature's hug. A standout amongst Brookside's features is the placid Carousel Park, an attractive park that has play areas, picnicking spots, and strolling paths. Another regular marvel in Brookside is Iron Hill Park, a picturesque park that offers climbing trails, sports fields, and spots to picnic. The recreation center is famous for its magnificent perspectives of the encompassing scene and offers a quiet setting for open-air exercises. Brookside likewise brags the Christina River, which streams through the city and offers chances for angling, cruising, and wildlife viewing. The stream has much lavish greenery around it and gives a serene getaway into nature. With its serene havens and regular magnificence, Brookside is an attractive town that gives a flawless blend of calmness and open-air experiences.

Hockessin

Hockessin, set in New Castle County, is a city that provides a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with its stunning vistas and picturesque parks. A highlight of Hockessin is the gorgeous Augustine Wildlife Area, an expansive wildlife preserve that spans over 3,600 acres. The region is the home of dissimilar wildlife, counting waterfowl, deer, and foxes, making it an ideal place for bird-watching and wildlife-watching. Another natural gem in Hockessin is the beautiful White Clay Creek State Park, which stretches across Delaware and Pennsylvania. The park features miles of grand hiking and cycling pathways, lovely picnic areas, and chances for fishing and wildlife viewing. The park is famous for its pristine natural loveliness, with its abundant forests, rolling hills, and winding streams. With its wealth of natural charm and leisure activities, Hockessin is a nature lover's paradise. If you are discovering wildlife areas, nature preserves, or state parks, Hockessin gives a quiet retreat into the splendor of the great outdoors.

Milford

Tucked away beside the Mispillion River, Milford is a delightful city in Delaware that provides an ideal amalgamation of riverside appeal and open-air pursuits. One of the attractions of Milford is the Mispillion Riverwalk, an attractive pathway that meanders through the river and offers spectacular views of the river and bordering landscape. The Riverwalk is perfect for gentle strolls, cycling, or having a picnic by the water's brink. Milford also boasts the exquisite Silver Lake, a breathtaking lake that provides options for sailing, angling, and kayaking. The lake has verdant vegetation around, making it a tranquil spot for resting and enjoying the natural splendor. Apart from its waterfront attractions, Milford is also home to the Abbott's Mill Nature Center, an aged mill changed nature center that presents instructional activities and paths for examining the nearby wetlands and woodlands. The nature center furnishes a peculiar opportunity to pick up about the local ecology and fauna. With its riverside allure, serene lake, and nature center, Milford offers an ideal mixture of open-air adventures and natural beauty for visitors to explore.

Claymont

Tucked away in the uppermost part of Delaware, Claymont is a treasured find that presents tranquil woodlands and old-time appeal. One of the high points of Claymont is the magnificent Woodlawn Trustees Preserve, a spacious natural region that offers plenty of paths for hiking, biking, and ornithology. The refuge shows off luscious forests, spectacular meadows, and tranquil pools, granting a tranquil exodus into the outdoors. Claymont is also the site of the gorgeous Bellevue State Park, a park that provides scenic gardens, walking trails, and a tranquil pond. The park is famous for its gorgeous flowers and is an ideal area for a peaceful stroll or a picnic. Claymont also features old-time places such as the Archmere Academy, a distinguished private school lodged in a magnificent manor, and the Darley House. With its peaceful woodlands, old-time appeal, and attractive parks, Claymont offers a one-of-a-kind combination of natural beauty and history for visitors to investigate and delight in.

North Star

Nestled in northern Delaware, North Star is a quiet city that provides an assortment of environmental joys. One of the gems of North Star is the stunning White Clay Creek Preserve, an untouched natural area that has miles of attractive trails for trekking, cycling, and equestrianism. The mountain boasts mixed terrains, including lush forests, undulating meadows, and shimmering streams, making it an Eden for nature aficionados. North Star is also home to the serene Carousel Park, a beautiful park that has scenic picnicking spots, play areas, and equestrian services. The park is famous for its peaceful atmosphere and has activities like horseback riding, angling, and wildlife watching. Aside from its natural attractions, North Star locates near the White Clay Creek State Park, which provides more leisure options, like camping, angling, and nature study. With its quiet suburban atmosphere and plenty of natural pleasures, North Star supplies a tranquil escape for travelers looking to bond with nature and bask in outdoor pursuits.

Next UpThese are the best small towns in Delaware to chill out.

Conclusion

Delaware has plenty of natural attractions and recreational possibilities across its cities. From tranquil lakes and rivers to scenic parks and wildlife reserves, there is something for every nature lover to relish in Delaware. If you're searching for a tranquil hideaway, an exciting outdoor excursion, or a place to relax and take in the exquisite loveliness of nature, Delaware has it all. Thus, pack your hiking shoes, clutch your fishing apparatus, and venture out to explore the wild miracles of Delaware's cities!

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Albert Quigg May 4 2023 in Places

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