KANSAS CITY, KS - In a world filled with "make-your-own" opportunities for everything from ice cream concoctions to custom-creations for morning coffee, people are now embracing the idea of personalizing their roof with custom color blends.

Research at DaVinci Roofscapes^®, the color leader in the polymer roofing industry, shows a dramatic increase in the amount of custom blend roofing color combinations ordered in 2011 over 2010. While all product lines saw advancement in color combination requests, the company's Bellaforté product line saw the most substantial increase as requests for custom color blends rose from four percent in 2010 to 38.7 percent of its sales in 2011.

"One large order for a Bellaforté roofing project in Bali involving a custom blend of Light Clay, Medium Terracotta and Dark Terracotta which significantly increased these numbers, but we've seen strong sales growth within the past year in virtually all of our color blend options," says Ray Rosewall, CEO and president of DaVinci Roofscapes. "Once we added in our eight new colors and eight additional color blend options in early 2011 we saw color selections start to skyrocket."

Rosewall feels that people are gaining confidence in adding colors to their roofs to reflect their personalities and accent the entire home structure. "Homeowners are breaking away from the traditional monochromatic blacks and grays on a roof by adding in accent colors and varied shades of colors," says Rosewall. "It's a matter of people becoming more educated on roofing color options and feeling more empowered to make personal design statements on their home's exterior."

DaVinci Roofscapes offers the largest roofing color selection in the industry with a total of 49 standard colors and 28 standard color blends. Custom color blends are virtually limitless, since people can create their own blends using any of the 49 available colors.

Colorful Roofs

In 2011, more than 30 percent DaVinci's Valoré Slate products sales came from custom blends compared to just seven percent in 2010. The addition of new color blend options in 2011 of Castle Gray, Milano, Evergreen and Sabino accounted for more than 30 percent of the sales for the year of the product line.

"This comes down to DaVinci offering more colors in 2011 and people responding by embracing the color options," says Rosewall. "We've seen escalating numbers in all our product lines this past year as people seek out and purchase more colorful roofing options."

According to national color expert Kate Smith, DaVinci's strategy of offering an abundance of roofing colors perfectly matches consumer's current "color empowerment" mind frame. "My latest color trends report clearly shows that self expression through colors is a popular way for people to project their personalities," says Smith, chief color maven at Sensational Color.

Smith, who authored the "FRESH Exterior Colors" guide for DaVinci in 2011, is not surprised by the growing number of people who are choosing to create their own custom color combinations for their roofs. "Today's consumers --- especially those who grew up in front of a computer screen --- are not satisfied with the mundane in life. They embrace the idea of experimenting with color combinations and rely on the colors on their home's exterior to express their sense of style.

"This doesn't mean the combinations of colors they're choosing are bright or outrageous. It simply means that these consumers want to have the ability to choose from a variety of color options or have a hand in customizing the final look of their home's exterior."

To assist homeowners and professionals with roofing color decisions, DaVinci offers its popular online DaVinci Color Studio. Located at http://davinciroofscapes.com/color-studio.php, the free online site includes the "FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home" step-by-step downloadable guide, a Color Designer tool, an "Ask the Color Expert" section, a Color Studio FAQ and the DaVinci Masterpiece Gallery portfolio of home projects.

"Color From the Top Down" Sweepstakes

Consumers interested in creating their own dream roof color can participate in DaVinci's "Color From the Top Down" online sweepstakes currently underway. To participate, Facebook users who "like" DaVinci Roofscapes on Facebook (located at https://www.facebook.com/pages/DaVinci-Roofscapes/119452491414564), can access the sweepstakes.

Users can create their dream roof color combination and submit a form to enter their name in a drawing for two chances to win an Apple^® iPad2^®. Running from February 13, 2012 through April 30, 2012, the promotion allows people ages 18 and older to create and submit a dream roof color combination via DaVinci's Facebook page.*

DaVinci Color Options

DaVinci offers the widest select of polymer roofing colors in the industry. Slate colors are available in Medium Terracotta, Dark Terracotta, Light Clay, Dark Clay, Light Gray, Medium Gray, Dark Gray, Light Green, Medium Green, Dark Green, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Medium Tan, Dark Tan, Light Purple, Dark Purple, Green Stone, Dark Stone, Slate Gray, Slate Black, Light Violet, Dark Violet and Dark Amber.

Shake colors are available in Light Chesapeake, Medium Light Chesapeake, Medium Chesapeake, Dark Chesapeake, Light Autumn, Medium Light Autumn, Medium Autumn, Dark Autumn, Light New Cedar, Medium Light New Cedar, Medium New Cedar, Medium Dark New Cedar, Dark New Cedar, Light Mountain, Medium Mountain, Dark Mountain, Light Tahoe, Medium Tahoe, Medium Dark Tahoe, Dark Tahoe, Light Weathered Gray, Medium Light Weathered Gray, Medium Weathered Gray, Medium Dark Weathered Gray and Dark Weathered Gray.

DaVinci Roofscapes has manufactured award-winning polymer slate and shake roofing since 1999. The roofing tiles are virtually maintenance free and far more cost effective than the natural product. DaVinci leads the industry in tile thickness, the tile width variety and the greatest selection of subtle earth-toned colors. Company products have a 50-year warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. DaVinci proudly makes its products in America and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.

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Soldier Will No Longer Don the Army Uniform, but Continues to Serve the Illinois National Guard

SPRINGFIELD, IL (02/22/2012)(readMedia)-- Retirement can conjure up images of traveling, relaxing or maybe grabbing a fishing pole and heading to the lake, but retired Master Sgt. Kimberly S. Broome, of Chatham, may be beginning her most challenging and important assignment of her career.

Broome, a native of Chicago, officially retired from the Illinois National Guard Dec. 31 and was recently hired by the Department of Military Affairs as the executive assistant to the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. The Adjutant General is the highest position within the Illinois National Guard, responsible for all daily operations of the Illinois National Guard and overseeing its 13,500 men and women in uniform.

"I love working with Soldiers," said Broome. "That is all I have been doing since I graduated from high school. It is like working with family."

Broome said the decision to continue to serve her country in a different capacity was an easy decision.

"Working at Camp Lincoln for the (Adjutant) General is a great honor," said Broome.

The commander of the Illinois National Guard is excited to have Broome working for him.

"With more than two decades in uniform, Kim offers a lot of experience and it's great to see her continue to serve her country and state," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard.

Broome joined the National Guard Sept. 1, 1988 after graduating from high school.

"I wanted to go to college but did not want to burden my parents," said Broome. "I also thought it would be a great way to travel and be able to give back."

During her nearly 24 years of service Broome has served in several different military jobs including human resources specialist, automated logistical specialist, unit supply specialist and patient administration specialist.

Broome deployed as the supply sergeant with the 1244th Transportation Company of North Riverside in 2003 for 18 months to Kuwait. While deployed, Broome earned the Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal.

Upon her retirement Broome was presented with an honorable discharge, certificates of retirement and service, a certification of appreciation from the President of the United States and a meritorious service medal.

Broome has a 14-year-old-daughter, Maya, who is a freshman in high school.

"One of the many blessings over my 24 year career is the amount of traveling and the many parts of the world I've been able to see; it is priceless," said Broome. "The experience is immeasurable. I am certainly grateful."

Broome said the end of her federal career and beginning of her state career is only the start of something else special.

"As I look back over my military career and all the friends I've made, which essentially has become a part of my family, it's not so much that I'm retiring, I'm just beginning a new chapter," said Broome, "One that will allow me more time to focus on my daughter as she becomes a young lady and prepare her for her future."

The Governor of Illinois has proclaimed March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month.  The Kidney Cancer Association has also proclaimed March Kidney Cancer Awareness Month INTERNATIONALLY. 

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2012 64,770 new cases of kidney cancer (40,250 men and 24,520 women) would occur and about 13,570 people (8,650 men and 4,920 women) would die from this disease.

The nation/world needs to be educated regarding this disease. PLEASE consider writing an article in the month of March listing the symptoms of kidney cancer.

• Signs and Symptoms Associated with Kidney Cancer:
• Blood in urine.
• Pain in the back just below the ribs.
• A mass that can be felt.
• Unexplained weight loss which can sometimes be rapid.                                           
• Intermittent fevers or night sweats.
• Fatigue and lethargy.
• Fever that is not associated with a cold or the flu.
• Pain in other parts of the body if the cancer has spread.

While kidney cancer normally affects men over 55, more young people are being diagnosed.  Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the tenth most common cause of cancer death for men.  It is the eight most common cause of cancer for women. The five-year relative survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with kidney cancer is about 69%.

Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre will host the first in a series of special events related to its upcoming summer Festival production of The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, on Thursday, March 1 at 7 p.m. The lecture and presentation by Shakespearean scholar and UI English professor Miriam Gilbert, titled "Shakespeare and 'the likeness of a Jew' Shylock, Fagin and Disraeli" will take place at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 South Linn St, in Meeting Room A. The event is free and open to the public.

Shylock is one of Shakespeare's most famous?and most controversial?characters.  During this presentation Gilbert will ask, is he a knife-wielding villain or a misunderstood victim?  The talk will also examine how our view of Shylock has been influenced by figures from literature, from history, and from his various stage representations.

Riverside Theatre is receiving support from the National Endowment for the Arts for The Merchant of Venice and accompanying audience education and outreach efforts related to the theme of "the other" in the play.

Events featuring experts, scholars, community and religious leaders, aimed at confronting and countering notions of anti-Semitism, as well as additional types of other-focused hatred and prejudices will be presented this spring. Watch the Riverside Theatre website, www.riversidetheatre.org for more information.

In addition to The Merchant of Venice, this summer's Festival will include a production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. The plays will run in rotation from June 15 through July 8, 2012. The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It will be performed at the Riverside Festival Stage in Lower City Park. This outdoor venue is loosely based on Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and contains 472 permanent seats. Tickets for the Festival will go on sale in late spring. For more information go to www.riversidetheatre.org or call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 319-338-7672.