user: Input: Harlem Art Transformation
Artist and designer Luis Da Cruz purchased the four-story home in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem for $995,000 in 2006, according to property records. At the time the home was 'a mess' divided into multiple units, Mr. Da Cruz said. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Da Cruz said he spent about $500,000 and two years renovating the place. 'I threw three-quarters of the house in the garbage,' he said. He raised the ceilings up to the beams, brought out exposed brick and tore down hallway walls to bring in more light. The double staircase, shown here, was saved. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

'I wanted this design to be very minimal—I wanted feng shui,' said Mr. Da Cruz. He was born in Portugal and spent time in China, and he calls the resulting house a mixture of European and Eastern designs. The main kitchen and dining area is shown here. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

The renovations included breaking down partitions in the house, and Mr. Da Cruz saved the wood to use on the home's floors. Here, a shot of the master bathroom. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Da Cruz said he has always liked Harlem because of its rich history even as he sees somethings missing from the modern-day neighborhood. 'We don't have a lot of art,' he said. 'I want to bring more art into the neighborhood.' To start, he filled his new home with his own artwork. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

His art installations are found around every corner in the home. In the dining room area on the second floor, shown here, a Swarovski Crystal installation hangs over the dining room table. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Da Cruz also used crystals in a guest bedroom, which also showcases one of his paintings. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

The fourth floor is where Mr. Da Cruz said he spends the most time. In the master bedroom is one in his newest works, part of a fingerprint series. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Da Cruz partially decorated two of the two ½ bathrooms in the house with feminine hygiene products. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

The garden level is where Mr. Da Cruz entertains friends and family, but with a full kitchen, full bathroom and its own bedroom, shown here, he said the next owner could rent it out. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Since Mr. Da Cruz purchased the home six years ago, he said the neighborhood has changed 'tremendously.' He said he plans to stay in the area but is on the lookout for a more interesting home. 'I want something different,' he said. 'Maybe a firehouse or church that I can redo.' Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

The five-bedroom house is listed for $1.595 million by Tamara Marotta and Laura Wagner of Sotheby's International Realty. All the art shown in the home is also for sale. Photo: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal
What was this article about?
++++++++++
It's about: Artist and designer Luis Da Cruz gutted and transformed this four-story Harlem home to a modern artist abode.


Input: Dr. Manny: Tips for parents to prevent children from running off
A recent study examining autistic children found that almost half of them had wandered off at least once – many being gone long enough to raise concern. Some had tried to run off multiple times.

The most common places the children wandered from were their homes, their school or a store. Often, the kids usually sought a place they enjoyed, in order to avoid an uncomfortable situation.

Behavior of this kind can be very dangerous, as a child could become injured, accidentally run into traffic or even drown.

For parents who have a child with autism or similar disabilities, it is necessary to take certain precautions to ensure their child’s safety. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Register your child for proper ID through your local police department. There are many police departments that are set up to receive vital information for children with disabilities in case they need to refer to it.

2. Consider DNA registration. While many people debate on the topic of storing children’s DNA, I believe it can be a useful tool for identification. Certain companies, such as InVitro International, will story your child’s DNA for up to 18 years.

3. Keep your home protected. Keep your son or daughter’s bedroom close to yours, set alarms that notify you when someone opens the door or window, and set up sensor motion lights around the periphery of your house.

4. Consider locator technology. There are GPS devices that children can wear which will help you to identify lost children. A recent story highlighted an autistic child who received the EmSeeQ locator band – a watch-like device that uses cell phone technology to help locate an individual. Other security companies offer a variety of options to help you keep track of your child.

5. Make a diary of places in which your child has shown interest – and keep it updated. Think of specific parks, streams, convenience stores or other places your child enjoys.

6. Talk to your neighbors. Tell them they should feel free to notify you if they see something or if they see your child wandering off. In other words, they should not take anything for granted.

7. Talk to your child’s teachers. When they interact with your autistic child, make sure they emphasize that running off behavior is dangerous. Also make sure that the teachers try to educate the child on some basic identification facts, such as their address or the school they attend.

Remember having an autistic child makes you think out-of-the-box. Understanding your child is vital. It takes not only you – but your entire family to protect them.
What was this article about?
++++++++++
It's about:

assistant: A recent study examining autistic children found that almost half of them had wandered off at least once – many being gone long enough to raise concern.