Past president and longtime AWFS volunteer Harry "Skip" Hem passed away on Nov. 13 following a long battle with cancer. He was 71.

Panels add visual interest these days by incorporating texture. The uneven surface of lightly finished wood adds shadow to the play of light. Laminate panel producers are mimicking this trend – texturizing surfaces to correspond to the visual wood grain pattern.

Royal Plywood has acquired the assets of Kelly-Wright Hardwoods Inc., a plywood, lumber and mouldings firm based in Brea, CA. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Daniel Berrios has been named the winner of the 2011 WorldSkills cabinetmaking qualifying trial and will represent the United States in the 2013 WorldSkills competition in Germany.