House & Home — April 2016 by Bradford Publishing

Te c

Volume 1 ď ´ Issue 1

fic

The Palace of Versailles meets the streets of Salamanca

April 2016

April

2016

April

April 2016

Volume 1 • Issue 1

What’s inside... Your House 4

Garden and lawn prep: How to get ahead this spring season

Seneca Radiant leading in new way to heat and cool your home

The secrets to a more energy-efficient home

DIY drain tips and hacks

Your home 11

Get a fresh look with easy furniture updates

5 tips to keep in mind while planting

3 ways scents can impact your mood

feature 16

The Palace of Versailles meets the streets of Salamanca

Your hobbies 21

Spring tips to attract beautiful birds to your yard

Find a piece of the past at Great Valley Antique Center

Your finances 26

Mild winter keeps cash in energy consumers’ pockets

6 tips to get ready for buying a home this season

Publisher Executive Group Editor Special Sections Editor Advertising Managers Digital Manager Contributors

Amber Turba JoEllen Wankel Mary Lu Wells Kellen M. Quigley Deb Everts Deb Wuethrich

Advertising Representatives

Deborah Belli Lucy Nuzzo Deborah Perry Christina Briggs

Graphic Designer

Matt Keim

Circulation Manager

Nichole Finnerty

Jim Bonn Jim Eckstrom Rich Place Justin Parkes Jill Henry Preston Cochran Chelsea Place

Published every other month by Bradford Publishing

Amy Hayden Leanna Cameron Tiffany Mager Jenn Mong

2016

Your House

April

2016

Lawn & Garden

Garden and lawn prep: How to get ahead this spring season By Amber Turba

Special to House & Home

Photos courtesy Metro Creative Connection

As trees, leaves and flowers “spring” to life with the official start to the season, residents are encouraged to show a little early tender love and care that will go a long way for homeowners’ lawns and gardens. According to the McKean County Cooperative Extension with Penn State, home lawns represent 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s 2 million acres of turfgrass. Lawns increase the property value of homes and stabilize soils, thereby preventing soil erosion in the residential environment. And, as most homeowners know, spring is a sensitive time for yards and gardens alike — the soil is spongy and condensed, plants are young and vulnerable and the weather is unpredictable. “For residential lawns this time of year, when the growing environment is still recovering from snow and rain,

I would focus mainly on yard cleanup and soil recuperation from the effects of the winter months,” stated Jason Culver, superintendent of Pine Acres Golf Course. “And, while you should be gentle with the ground, early prep work will benefit overall appearance and growth in the long run.” Foremost, avoid heavy yard work in the spring until the soil dries out — foot traffic and hard raking can compact or disturb soggy soil and damage new grass shoots. Once the soil is mostly dry, give your lawn a good spring cleaning, which will encourage grass growth and discourage pests and diseases. Remove leaves, discard fallen debris and gently rake to fluff up and separate those grass shoots that did survive the cold. In areas with heavy snowfall, leftover snow mounds can smother the grass underneath and allow mold growth. As the weather warms, spread snow piles out

with a shovel to encourage melting. Spring is the best time to prevent weeds by using pre-emergent weed control, which work by preventing weed seeds from germinating. Both cool-season and warm-season lawns benefit from weed prevention in the spring. Spring lawn care is somewhat dependant on the different types of grass you have. Cool-season grass includes fescue, bluegrass and rye. They have two growth spurts — a moderate one in the spring, and a significant one in the fall. They go dormant and can struggle in hot summer months, so the focus of spring care is strengthening the plants for summer. Warm-season grass includes St. Augustine, centipede and Bermuda, which thrive in the heat and go dormant in the wintertime. They begin growing after the last spring frost, and reach peak growth mid-summertime. “The best grass for a home lawn, in my opinion, is Kentucky Bluegrass,” Culver stated. “It is relatively drought tolerant, wear tolerant and grows nicely in depth, which is prevalent here. It’s also a readily available product.” Understanding the type of grass you are growing and when its peak growing season is will provide efficient guidelines for the best lawn care preparation, Culver noted.

April

2016

Heating/Cooling

Photos by Rich Place

Seneca Radiant leading in new way to heat and cool your home By Rich Place

Special to House & Home A Salamanca-based company is leading the way in a revolutionary method of heating homes that is beneficial both for the environment and the homeowner’s wallet. Seneca Radiant Technologies, a business that opened its doors in 2014 on South Main Street, manufactures modular radiant panels. Heated water is circulated through the panels, which store and retain the heat for an extended period of time. The concept is the invention of Gary Hydock, who recently was on hand to see the product being installed in a new house in Great Valley. “In a lifetime ownership of radiant heat done right, say 30 years, he’ll buy himself two brand new automobiles with cash that he’s saving,” Hydock said of the house’s owner. For some homeowners, including the home in Great Valley under construction, the benefits of radiant heating can begin in the basement, where attempting to heat and maintain a comfortable temperature can also prove to be challenge. Radiant heating can be built right into the concrete of the basement, keeping the floor — and the entire room — a cozy temperature. “That’s a much desired circumstance in a home,” Hydock said about furnishing a basement. “You’ve created another living space down here. You’ve double the size of your house by utilizing your basement — most people just don’t do that.” Hydock explained that a radiant heat system generally turns on, at most, once an hour. He compared this to forced air heating systems — the most common form of heating systems — that often kicks on 2 or 3 times per hour. Radiant heat works by heating objects, not air, which helps eliminate the circulation of dust and airborne particles and rids the home of heating ducts and vents. Plus, it’s more economical. “Savings from a radiant heating system that is designed ...continued on page 6

Your House

April

2016

Heating/Cooling

and installed property with methods and materials is just off the charts,” Hydock said. “You’re talking $3,000 per year in heating and cooling.” Sure it can cost more to install — about double, Hydock said. But he noted a house with radiant heat is often worth 10 percent more automatically and can sell twice as quickly. And less energy to heat the home not only translate to a cost savings for the home-

owner but also an environmental benefit for Mother Nature. “Fuel is getting expensive, it’s getting harder to find and we’re realizing how much it’s polluting,” Hydock said. “ We can cut the energy consumption on this house altogether by 70 percent.” The system can be professionally installed or, for the more economicallyminded, installed with a

do-it-yourself attitude and a

also installed in NASCAR

said establishing businesses

screw gun.

driver Jimmie Johnson’s home

on sovereign land can help

in North Carolina, he said.

reverse the trend of declining

Seneca Radiant Technologies operates out of 137

Hydock’s designed the

businesses in the state. “Having Native people

South Main St. in Salamanca

panel in 2006 and spent

and is owned by Holly John,

years looking for a location to in our backyard is an asset,”

who along with husband Ross begin manufacturing the pan-

he said. “We may be able

John also own other proper-

els at a higher volume. He

to produce jobs and bring

ties like Nafco Quick Stop

eventually spoke to Ross and

technology back into play

and the Holiday Inn Express

Holly John and immediately

that has been very difficult,

in Salamanca.

saw the benefits of establish-

especially in a rural commu-

ing a business on Native

nity like Salamanca.”

Hydock said his radiant panels have been installed in several homes in Western

territory. Among them are what

Additional information about Seneca Radiant can be obtained by calling (855)

New York, including a home

he said are low electric rates

of former Buffalo Sabres’

compared to cities like Buffalo 945-2215 or visiting sen-

goalie Ryan Miller. They were and tax immunity. Ross John

ecaradiant.com.

April

2016

Your House

April

2016

Energy

The secrets to a more energy-efficient home By JoEllen Wankel Special to House & Home

Most people want to save money on water, fuel and electric bills. However, some people who own their home or are recent home buyers do not realize there are a few small aspects of energy use that can add up significantly if they are left to operate as they have been for years. Instead, consider changing some of these areas and prepare for a drop in energy use and an increase in your savings. Exterior Improvements Looking into changes for your home can be important to making sure you cut down on energy costs. The following tips can help you utilize outside factors to warm or cool your home and save money. • Improve Insulation: Ensuring your home has the appropriate level of insulation will allow your heating system to heat more efficiently and use less energy. This will also help the home stay cooler in the summer time. Be sure that all walls and the attic in particular are well-insulated. The key to insulation is that it is installed properly, rather than using a specific material. • Upgrade Windows: Windows should be replaced to avoid leaks around the frame. Another way to make sure that the windows are not decreasing the energy efficiency of your home is to use weather stripping and opt for upgrading to storm windows, rather than using single-pane windows. • Plant Shrubs and Trees: If trees are planted on the west side of the house, in the summer the home will benefit from the shade. Meanwhile, the decision to plant shrubs will help cut down on the radiation that warms the house in summer while allowing the radiation through the bare branches in the winter, helping the home stay warm. System Upgrades When purchasing a home, it is a good idea to consider the age of the home and the age of the systems within that residence. The option to

upgrade certain systems within the home can help cut down on your bills over time, which will allow them to pay for themselves in a reasonable time frame. • Water Tank: The water tank should be replaced if it seems to be aging and does not meet the standards enacted in 2001. Meanwhile, try installing low-flow fixtures in the bathroom and turn down the temperature of your water tank. All of these changes can lead to lower cost in the longterm. • Furnace: For those homes still using a furnace that was installed before 1992, consider the fact that your heater is probably wasting roughly 1/3 of the fuel it uses. With that in mind, the cost of installing a new heater may not seem so extreme when you consider the money you will spend with no benefit over the coming year. A modern condensing boiler in a home with radiators or baseboard can mean a significant savings on heating costs, which can not be discounted in an area like the Northeast. • Change Your Lightbulbs: Compact Fluorescent Lamps, or CFLs, are a significant savings on electricity, costing roughly $25 total during its entire lifespan of use. This means a cut of roughly 2/3 of the comparable cost to use an incandescent bulb. Appliances to Watch Certain appliances within the home can be used more efficiently in order to cut down on the electricity used or energy that is wasted with oversight. • Refrigerator: Newer refrigerators, particularly those with the energy star rating, cost about $30-$60 for a year’s worth of operation. This compares to anywhere from $50 to $150 to run an older fridge. For those who consider keeping an older fridge as a backup or for additional storage because it is still operational, look at the potential savings from unplugging it and selling it or passing it along to someone else. Also, if you are not in a position to purchase a new fridge, look into having the seals replaced. Over time, refrigerator seals wear out, allowing cold air to leak out and requiring more energy to keep the food within cold. • Washer: Make sure to wash full loads of clothes as often as possible to cut down on wasted water.

April

Your House

Energy

• Dryer: It is important to wash and dry several loads at once. This makes the use of the dryer more efficient, since it does not cool down between loads and decreases the energy used to get it to the level needed to dry your clothes. • Dishwasher: Use economy mode to make sure your dishwasher is using the least amount of water and energy to get the dishes clean. Also, Turn the dishwasher off after the wash cycle, allowing the dishes to air dryer and cutting down on the heat generated to leave your kitchen comfortable rather than causing it to heat up. • Kitchen and Bathroom Fans: Turn off fans in the kitchen and bathroom once they have served their purpose. Allowing them to run for long periods burns up energy that is not necessary and just means a higher bill for no reason. Other tips in the kitchen to consider when you are working to cut down on energy bills for your home are ideas like grilling out whenever possible to avoid use of energy through the stove or oven; keep the oven door closed while cooking to avoid losing significant amounts of heat and requiring the oven to utilize more fuel to return to the required temperature and use the right size pan for the burner on the stove to decrease the need for extra energy to cook food in this manner. When it comes to electronics in the home, consider the following: • Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged • Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off the strip when appliances are not in use. Certain appliances continue to draw significant amounts of energy even in standby mode. • Look for Energy-Star qualified TVs. Finally, look at the light fixtures for your home. Consider which are the five most used fixtures and replace those with products that are Energy-Star approved. This effort could save up to $8 billion for the US annually if every American completed this task.

2016

April

2016

Improvement

Your House

DIY drain tips and hacks When it comes to fixing household clogs, don’t be afraid to do it yourself. With proper maintenance and the right products and tools on hand, you can keep your drains running smoothly at their maximum capacity. From hair-ridden showers to food-filled kitchen sinks, these tips will help conquer even the most demanding and difficult drainage issues. Tough hair clogs got you harried? Hair is the main culprit in most bathroom clogs. If you or a household member has long hair, you are likely to have a greater amount of it in your drains. For hair-clogged drains, pour an entire bottle of a product specially formulated to break down hair clogs, such as Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator, which has 70 percent more hair-busting power than other formulas. It works to destroy clogs within minutes and is safe on all pipes, even old rusty ones. Let the gel work for 15 minutes then run hot water for a few minutes to rinse away any remaining gel and lingering strands.

142 Davis St., Bradford, PA 814-368-6146 or 800-556-6146 Hours: 7-5 M-F; Sat 8-4 www.bisett.com Find us on

How about a drain check? If possible, transfer water that won’t drain and any lingering dregs in the sink basin into a bucket. Carefully remove stoppers and strainers from your drain. If you’re removing screws, make sure to keep a close watch so they don’t fall down the drain. If you need to remove stopper parts from under the sink, keep a bucket underneath the pipes. Remove

all of the ghastly gunk and goo from stoppers and strainers. Run water to flush down remaining material and test the flow. Plunge right in Avoid over-flushing your toilet to prevent flooding the bowl and your bathroom floor. The best tool to unclog a toilet is a plunger with a flange, which is a smaller opening on the bottom of the plunger that resembles a cup. The flange fits perfectly into the toilet bowl drain to give your thrusts more power. Place the plunger into the toilet drain straight and vertical. Create a tight seal with the drain, with the plunger fully submerged in water. Plunge gently at first, then vigorously, in an up and down motion. With a stubborn clog, don’t be shy; add some strength to your thrusts. If the clog remains, or the toilet still isn’t flushing properly, you may need additional support. A drain snake can help break up the clog or a closet auger can help remove larger clogs or foreign objects, such as flushed toys. Keep clogs from coming back Even if you have short hair or your drains aren’t currently clogged, it’s a good idea to do a little maintenance to prevent future problems. Products, such as Liquid-Plumr Maintenance, are designed to help keep pipes clear and clean, prevent new clogs and keep them smelling fresh. — Family Features

April

2016

Furniture

Your Home

Get a fresh look with easy furniture updates When you grow bored with your furnishings or want to change up the look and feel of a room, you may find yourself trying to put off redecorating until you have a bigger budget. Instead, you can give the furniture you already have a unique, fresh look at a fraction of the cost. These projects from the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores show how easy it can be to transform a tired old desk or a basic dining chair into one-of-a-kind pieces that complement your space perfectly. Chalk Acrylic Paint Desk Crafting time: Weekend project Skill level: Beginner Supplies and Tools: • Painter’s tape • FolkArt Home Decor Chalk: Imperial or color of choice • 2-inch paintbrush • Hand sander and 80 grit sandpaper • Soft cloth • Dark wax Using painter’s tape, tape off areas not to be painted. Paint desk. Allow to dry and recoat as needed. When dry, distress edges with hand sander until desired look is achieved. Using soft cloth, wipe on dark wax and buff.

Sitting Pretty Painted Chair Crafting time: 1-2 hours Skill level: Intermediate Supplies and Tools: • White cotton canvas to cover seat and back of chair • Masking tape in a variety of widths • Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in Ebony, Crimson Red, Royal Blue and Sunshine Yellow • Foil or foam plate for palette • Paintbrushes • Spray paint in coordinating color • Scissors • Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Spray • Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue • Staple gun and staples • Craft knife • Black trim fabric • Glam-It-Up! Iron-On Crystals in Clear • Tulip Cordless Heat Setting Tool Lay canvas flat on work surface. Randomly place a variety of tape strips on canvas, intersecting strips to create abstract lines and shapes. Fill in open areas between tape strips with fabric colors, using one dominant shade for majority of sections, with other colors as occasional accents. Remove tape and allow fabric to dry. Remove old upholstery from chair. Reserve it to use as a pattern for cutting painted fabric. Spray paint chair base; allow to dry. Cut out painted canvas to fit chair backing and base. Apply tacky spray to chair base and position painted fabric over base. This will help to hold new fabric in place while gluing and stapling edges. Repeat for chair back. Use tacky glue around the edges of fabric to secure it to chair base and back. Use staple gun to secure fabric edges on the base and back for additional security. Trim excess fabric around edges with craft knife. Cover edges of fabric and staples with black trim, secured with tacky glue. Allow glue to dry completely. Cut out heart shape from scrap of painted canvas. Cover heart with clear crystals and use heat-setting tool to set crystals in place, following instructions on packaging. Use tacky glue to secure crystal heart to chair back. Allow to dry. — Family Features

Photos courtesy Family Features

April

Your Home

2016

Gardening Tips

5 tips to keep in mind while planting By Mary Lu Wells

Special to House & Home Remember – Mother Nature always wins! In speaking to gardeners around the county, I find many make the same mistakes and then come to Master Gardeners to find out what to do to correct them. Let’s cover the basics which will most likely ensure a success for all your hard work and hard-earned money.

Avoid wind y hillsides, esp ecially those on the south and west sid es. Winter dam age can outr ight kill a tree, partic ularly when there is no snow cov er. We are g etting less of this p rotective wh ite blanket.

In what zone do you live? Due to global war ming we have changed from a zone 4 (-30 degrees) to the co ol part zone 5B (-20 degrees). Cho ose varieties which thrive in su ch a climate. Varieties which bl oom later and miss those lin gering frosts.

nt in a Do not pla ir w – cold a frost hollo ll n clear, sti o y ll ia c e p sinks, es rd or The orcha . y a M in nights may the valley in h tc a p berr y e m-kill whil o s s lo b e c experien ps or sides o lt il h n o those frost. escape the

4ur.soil’s pH!

Check yo acid soil need a very however s ie rr e b e Blu least – – pH 5 at berries to do well pH. Straw .5 4 4 is l ils range a so m the opti y County n a g e ll A Most r to your like pH 6. ing Sulphu ense (fine d d A . .8 6 exp from 5.5 an annual a quarter lot can be r p fo y t n rr e a b g e blu – extrava ts n la p afford the n w for a fe If you ca ). ts n la p 0 head. acre of 20 Sulphur – fine, go a r iser w fo e y mone ould b maybe it w er Nature r, ve e w o H what Moth ething to go with som and plant gave you rr e b ies – else? Rasp s? ra aspa gu

Consid er the d eer. Yes, little Bambi most of loves what yo u plant were ch as if it ocolate cake. S you ow o unles n a pac s k of gu who sle a rd dogs ep out and are “Think at-large Fence.” , It needs eight fe to b et high e or a do electric u b le . The fo rmer is expens ive.

Seriously, know what you are getting into. Plan for success. It can be done but doing it large scale might not pay off. So: Research first. Plan second. Do last … and good luck! (Mary Lu Wells is a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension.)

April

2016

Interior Design

Your Home

3 ways scents can impact your mood Have your spirits ever cheered suddenly when you entered a room? Have you ever been whisked away to a different time and place after breathing in a familiar fragrance? The way you feel is affected by more than what meets the eye. When it comes to your mood, scent can be a very powerful force. Here are three ways scents and feelings are intertwined: 1. Scent and Memory Scent and memory are deeply connected. A bottle of coconut sunscreen can bring back memories of days at the beach. Fresh baked cookies can be a reminder of home. It’s unsurprising that a scent reminiscent of childhood is the easiest to name. Found in classrooms, backpacks, pencil cases, cubbies and desks everywhere, Crayola crayons were listed among the top 20 most frequently identified smells in a study conducted by Professor William Cain at Yale University. 2. Scent and the Seasons Along with the sights and sounds of each season are signature aromas — from flowers and fresh rain in spring to gingerbread and pine in winter. Many people use scented home décor touches, such as candles, to draw on the qualities of each season and welcome it into their homes. For example, the six new spring fragrances from Yankee Candle embrace the season’s signature aromas, such as the crisp scent of a new blossom or cotton drying in the sunlight. Evocative of the greenest time of year, scents like Flowers in the Sun, Line Dried Cotton and April Showers can rejuvenate the home. More information can be found at www.YankeeCandle.com. 3. Scent and Well-Being Stress is not just bad for your mood; it can be harmful for your health. But scent can be used to reduce stress, along with anxiety and pain. A practice called aromatherapy is used everywhere, from hospitals to homes, and has been shown to have positive effects on wellness. While one should seek out an expert aromatherapist for certain treatments, anyone experiencing tension can relax by filling his or her home with beloved fragrances from candles or incense. Take these steps to fill your life with the aromas that best evoke the season, make you feel healthy and inspire happy memories. — StatePoint Media

If a kitchen or bath is in your future. Now is the best time and Kitchen Country is the best place. Stop in and see what we can do for you. PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICE

Kitchen Country Million Dollar Hwy., St. Marys 781-3808

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5 • Sat. ‘til Noon • Evenings by appt.

www.kitchencountrypa.net

April

2016

Spring is Here! The real estate market is good. Let me assist you through my many years of real estate experience in the sale or purchase of your home. Call today.

April

Dennis Pam Pezzimenti Pezzimenti

760 Genesee St • Olean MLS# B496485

This Olean home has a wonderful master bedroom that leads out to a private stone patio. This has been completely remodeled including new heating, plumbing, windows and full insulation. The home has a wonderful entertaining feature with the kitchen, dining room and family room grouped in an open ﬂoor plan. This house boasts ample natural light and quality ﬁnishing. Enjoy watching the deer and beautiful scenery of the woods off the covered patio.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

3774 Creekside Dr • Allegany

MLS# B494278

This is your dream home. Newer build with all areas of home complete. Two master bedrooms one on first floor the other on the second floor. Great finished basement with a family room and an additional recreation room. Two car attached garage. Make all your dreams come true.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

101 Garﬁeld Ct • Olean MLS# B494537

This four bedroom one half bath home in Seneca Heights is right for you. The home has a newer kitchen with a formal dining room. The living room has wonderful hardwood floors with an electric fireplace. The second floor has bedrooms and an updated bathroom. The third floor could be used as a playroom or an additional bedroom. Enjoy your summer in the cozy backyard.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

2016

944 Maple St • Olean MLS# B494632

Immaculate, move in ready 3 bedroom 1.5 bath home with a 1 car garage. Freshly painted, new furnace with air conditioning, new hot water tank, concrete driveway with sidewalk to front door. Wonderful wrap around deck for the summer enjoyment. Conveniently located to churches and walkable downtown . Lots of perennial gardens to enjoy with an outdoor shed for storage.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

John Dwaileebe

Kelly Patrone

2060 Hillcrest Ave • Olean MLS# B494688

Ranch style home with 2750 sq. feet, 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, fully fenced yard, partially ﬁnished basement, attached garage. Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

Paul Pezzimenti

Regis Handley

Tina Michelle Jakubczyk FitzpatrickBaer

518 School St • Olean MLS# B494830

This quaint Boardmanville home has an updated kitchen and bathroom with ceramic tile floors. Hardwood floors throughout with a large living room and formal dining room. Second floor has three bedrooms and a bathroom. The basement is full with plenty of storage. The home has a covered deck and open front porch. There is a detached one and half garage with a blacktop driveway.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

Christine Young

1922 Windfall Rd • Olean MLS# B495010

This bright and cherry home sits on the 9th fairway of Bartlett Country Club. It has 4-5 bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The living room, family room and dining room have all hardwood ﬂoors. The crown molding is beautiful throughout the home. The basement has a recreation room and a workshop. The covered deck overlooks the golf course and the Enchanted Mountains.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

SALE PENDING

1302 W Sullivan St • Olean MLS# B495124

Completely remodeled 4 bedroom 1 full bath home with ﬁrst ﬂoor laundry, eat in kitchen, fenced in yard with a large deck. Conveniently located to restaurants and shopping. Move right in. Set up your personal tour today. Call Kelly Patrone 716-353-3222

126 N 3rd St • Olean MLS# B495700

Traditional style home with 1176 sq. feet, 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, partial basement. Built in 1900. Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

105 Virginia St • Olean MLS# B495736

Nice starter home with 3 bedrooms 1.5 baths in Seneca Heights. Hardwood ﬂoors, nice sized rooms, composite deck and great back yard. Call for your private tour today. Call Kelly Patrone 716-353-3222

408 W Henley St • Olean MLS# B495842

Feel the warmth and charm of this cozy 2 bedroom home with beautiful woodwork and hardwood ﬂoors. Living room, dining room and family room give a nice open feel. Kitchen is equipped with plenty of cupboard space for storage. Eat in kitchen. 1/2 bath with laundry off the kitchen. Master bedroom with sitting area and bath. Enjoy the back deck and fully fenced in yard. Make your offer today.

Call Kelly Patrone 716-353-3222

4312 Route 417 • Allegany MLS# B495906

Great 3 bedroom ranch that sits on approx 2.93 acres. Master bedroom with bath. Full basement that could be ﬁnished. Brand new tankless hot water system. Nice porch off the back to enjoy those summer nights and view of the hills. Blacktop driveway with turnaround. Don’t miss this . Call today for your private tour.

Call Kelly Patrone 716-353-3222

647 Main St • Olean MLS# B496221

This large ﬁve bedroom three and one half baths has great potential and a price you can afford in Boardmanville. Nice two car garage and no neighbors in your back yard. Come take a look and see what you could do with this home. Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

195 Hawthorn Ln • Allegany

MLS# B496222

The home has an elegant two story entrance with slate floors. Large living room and formal dining room with hdwd. floors. Eat in kitchen equipped with a gas stove, double oven, refrigerator and built in microwave/exhaust fan. The family room has a stone fireplace. Second floor has 4 bedrooms including a master bedroom with a large walk in closet and a master bath with jacuzzi tub and shower. Finished basement with additional bedroom and bath.

Call Dennis Pezzimenti 716-378-8989

AT & Hom U e RE

H ou

meets the streets of Salamanca

April

By Kellen M. Quigley

Special to House & Home

ith the home of Davorin and Lynn Lukaric, the Palace of Versailles meets the city streets of Salamanca. In an ongoing project running nearly 30 years, Davorin has steadily transformed his Kent Boulevard home into his version of the 17th century French royale château. Born and raised in Croatia, Davorin left the country when he was 18 to escape the Communist Bloc, finding refuge in Paris. There he met future wife Lynn who was in Paris earning a college degree. After coming to the United States to marry, the couple returned to France for another eight years before coming back to the states again where they have lived ever since. Originally much smaller than it is today, Davorin’s transformation of the Lukaric’s home began with the addition of a television room in the

2016

eastern two thirds of the front porch. Only eight feet deep by 16 feet long, the addition of the television room started a long-chain of add-ons, remodels and transformations that continue today. Following the TV room came the back of the house where the old back porch stood, expanding the living room and making a dining room. After that, the sunroom was added on, spanning the entire east side of the house. With the addition of a gazebo between the house and the garage, as well as an addition to the garage itself, the square-footage on the property has almost doubled in 30 years. In order to keep up financially with his remodels and expansions, Davorin worked as a home designer and interior decorator for much of his life, primarily working in Pennsylvania. According to his wife Lynn, he did a lot of work on a lot of houses in Kane, Pa., about an hour’s drive south from home. She added that he’s done a number of houses completely, some of

which paid handsomely, happily supporting the work at home steadily for many years. Because of working in Pennsylvania every week, Davorin’s projects at home were restricted to weekends for many years. Even with comparatively limited time, he managed to keep up, developing his dream image piece by piece, room by room. For the actual construction, Davorin said he tries to buy locally as much as possible, often taking weekly trips to Olean to pick up needed supplies. For the interior decoration, however, the motifs he looks for to match his vision are from Chicago. In fact, Chicago has the only factory left making the same designs to match the pieces he had when he began. Davorin said all the pieces for the designs are sent individually, making it easier for him to put them together as he desires. The gold and maroon of the Palace of ...continued on page 18

April

2016

Versailles fills every room. From the walls, chairs, couches and carpets in the living room to the bed, curtains and bench in the downstairs bedroom, gold and maroon fill the eyes at every turn. Although many of the pieces look like something straight from 17th century France, many items, including the lamps, tables, mirrors and frames, are done by Davorin by hand. Some lamps in the living room Davorin decorated by applying one bead at a time, a project sometimes taking all night. From the outside, you’d never guess what was on the inside. The house itself looks simple and class, nowhere near representing the inside. But surrounding the home on both sides and from the front are bushes, lattice fences and arches all decorated with pots of flowers, wreaths and even gravel underfoot leading right up to the sidewalk. Because Kent Boulevard is split into two one-way sections, the grass strip serving as the median is both no man’s land and partially the homeowner’s property. Davorin took the opportunity by planting tall, skinny shrubs resembling Christmas trees within the property lines in the strip. On either side of the house, similar shrubs run almost the entire length of the property lines to the garage in the back. Between what used to be the front porch and the sidewalk, a miniature version of a garden one might find at Versailles occupies nearly all the space, most of it covered by sunroofs. Davorin says he and his wife like the privacy. How much more Davorin plans to do in the coming years is unsure. The projects have been going since the 1980s and don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, even if there isn’t as much open lawn as there used to be. Regardless, Davorin said he’s pleased with the transformation of a 20th century city house into his version of a 17th century French palace.

April

2016

FINK LAW OFFICE Dawn A. Fink Esquire

(Former Law Office of Steve Minor)

Real Estate • Estate & Wills • Family Law Criminal Law • Oil & Gas Lease Negotiation

814-642-5133 219 N. Main St., Port Allegany

April

2016

April

2016

Birds

Your Hobbies

Spring tips to attract beautiful birds to your yard When hosting neighbors and friends for spring gatherings, your thoughts may dwell on accommodating guests. But how often do you consider your animal visitors? “During spring, flocks of birds migrate and are looking for places to refuel and rest,” says Spencer Schock, Founder of WindowAlert, makers of bird-friendly products for homes. “A few small tweaks to your yard, is like placing out a welcome mat.” Unfortunately, migration is not without peril or hardship, but Schock says turning your home into a refuge for birds can be fun and add beauty to your yard. He offers these tips to keep feathered travelers safe during their migratory journey. • Protect flight: Millions of birds die annually by striking glass, making windows a hazard to birds in flight. Try applying special decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight to your home’s windows, particularly those windows that are highly reflective of open sky. The decals won’t affect your view because they’re virtually invisible to humans, but will help keep birds safe. For example, those from WindowAlert have patterns that give the appearance of slightly frosted translucent glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds. The brand also makes a high-tech liquid called WindowAlert UV Liquid, which can be applied between decals. Such ultraviolet decals have been scientifically proven to keep birds safer. A 2015 American Bird Conservancy Study found that the more WindowAlert decals that were applied to a piece of glass covering the departure point of a flight tunnel, the more birds avoided it (a net protected all

Photo courtesy Metro Creative Connection

the birds in the study from actually getting hurt, no matter where they chose to fly). • Bed and Breakfast: Birdfeeders come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and simply adding one to your yard can help beautify it and give birds the energy needed to continue their flight. Remember though, bird strikes are often a problem near bird feeders, as feeding birds are easily frightened and are apt to take wild, evasive flight; position feeders closer than three feet or farther than 30 feet from windows. If your feeder is close to the window, birds fly away from the house. Believe it or not, the safest type of feeder is the kind that attach to the window itself. You can also make your home’s outdoor spaces more bird-friendly filling your garden with the right plants and flowers for pollinating bird species. • Watch and record: Grab a pair of binoculars and a field guide book and take note of the types of birds you see and when. This will help you become better prepared for next season. In addition, consider becoming a “citizen scientist” by submitting your observations to The Audubon Society and Cornell University’s database at ebird.org. For more tips on making your home and garden a bird haven, visit WindowAlert.com. “By making a few simple modifications to your yard and home, you can assist birds on their long journey,” says Schock. — StatePoint Media

Photo courtesy StatePoint Media

Your Hobbies

April

2016

Antiques

Find a piece of the past at Great Valley Antique Center By Deb Everts

Special to House & Home GREAT VALLEY — Antique lovers or people just browsing for memories will enjoy a visit to the Great Valley Antique Center, where they will find treasures galore. Owner Sherry Glenn managed Green Gables Antiques and Creekside Emporium for 15 years before deciding to buy and reopen the antique/ co-op building in September 2012. Renamed the Great Valley Antique Center, the business now has more than 20 vendors with booths and showcases filled with all kinds of unique treasures. It’s Christmas year-round at the antique center, where an assortment of holiday items can be found tucked into booths and display cases here and there. People looking for an unconventional gift for a friend who collects vintage Christmas pieces may find the perfect item among the selection of holiday-themed Santas, snowmen, gingerbread men, cookie jars, cookie tins, cookie cutters, ornaments, vintage tree stands and wall decorations. Anyone interested in a unique conversation piece might just find it among the many vintage selections at Great Valley Antique Center. As shoppers browse, they will discover one-of-a-kind treasures and period pieces. The main floor is loaded with antiques and collector’s items of all kinds including fine art, vintage toys, seasonal décor, railroad items, primitive pieces, antique farm and barn items, antique tools, giftware, glassware, china, delicate porcelains, antique jewelry, wreaths, vintage-inspired metal signs, primitive and country décor, candles, handbags, useable furniture, console record players and classic 45 and 78 RPM records, books and more. In the upstairs gallery, visitors will discover “Yesterday’s Kitchen” filled with antique and retro kitchen items. There is also a collection of vintage football, hockey and baseball jerseys for sports collectors. Both old and new art is scattered throughout the center. New gift items such as Radiance Lighted

Photos by Deb Everts Great Valley Antique Center offers a wide assortment of unique antique and classic items for anyone who loves history and cherishes the past. Owner Sherry Glenn, of Salamanca, invites the public to come and explore the one-of-a-kind treasures on display at her business.

Canvas Art and handmade items are also available. Glenn said new vendors are always welcome and there are currently showcases and floor space available. Anyone interested should call her for rental fees. Great Valley Antique Center is located just off Route 219 at 4343 S. Whalen Road. Business hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. The antique center is closed on Mondays and holidays. For more information, call Glenn at 945-1900 or visit Great Valley Antique Center on Facebook.

April

2016

April

2016

April

2016

April

Your Finances

2016

Heating Costs

Mild winter keeps cash in energy consumers’ pockets By Deb Wuethrich

Special to House & Home While Mother Nature still has a couple winter tricks up her sleeve even though the calendar says it’s spring, consumers have been able to keep a few of their energy dollars this year after a relatively mild winter. Those living in upstate New York can experience wildly differing weather patterns that impact bills coming into their homes for heating and electricity. Sometimes such patterns form in back-to-back years. “In the past five years, Western New York residents have experienced tremendous fluctuation in weather conditions,” said Karen Merkel, spokes-

customers have used approximately 5.4 percent less natural gas than they would in a normal winter with normal temperatures. “Certainly weather is a driver of consumption as the colder the weather, the more natural gas is used,” Merkel said. NYSEG spokesperson Clayton Ellis, based in Binghamton, said historically low market prices certainly are working in the consumer’s favor and a milder winter can also affect the bills they receive. “Last winter was extremely cold and felt like it was never going to end. This winter has clearly been much milder, but as I’ve learned yesterday and today, winter isn’t over yet,” Ellis

person for National Fuel. “We have had two of the coldest winters

said of the colder than normal

on record and two of the warmest winters on record—the coldest was

temperatures for early April.

2014 and 2015 with the warmest winters being 2012 and 2016.”

Ellis said there are two

Warmer conditions and fewer snowflakes as winter winds down this year translate to fewer dollars

primary components to NYSEG

being shelled out for heating this

costs: delivery charges and supply

season. While final figures are

charges. “Our delivery charges have

still being compiled for November through March usage,

not increased since September of

as of mid-March National Fuel

2012, so there’s something that is

projected the average residential

stable,” he said. “Supply is deter-

customer’s winter heating season

mined by market prices. We don’t

bill would be $415, according to Merkel. “This is 35 percent lower

Photos by Deb Wuethrich Whether consumers use boilers, furnaces or electric heaters the milder winter this year likely kept energy bills a little lower than usual.

make any profit on electricity or natural gas and we pass that on.” Ellis said NYSEG, which

than last winter and 50 percent

serves 883,000 electric custom-

lower than the average of all

ers and 264,000 natural gas

winter heating seasons from 2000 to present,” Merkel said. She added that much of the lower energy price can be attributed to the continued rise in domestic natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. “Nearly 100 percent of the natural gas currently used by Natural Fuel’s customers is hydraulically fractured and produced in the Northeast,” she said. “National Fuel’s geographic proximity to pipeline capacity and

customers in the state, continually works to educate customers on things they can do to use energy wisely. “We also encourage things like using the budget plan to help manage bills,” he said. Doing so helps spread the total cost over a year’s time. NYSEG also has an energy assistance program available to help customers. Those who receive HEAP grants are automatically enrolled. “One thing we do recommend to anyone who might be having trouble

storage facilities, as well as the natural gas production, provides a distinct

paying their energy bills is to contact us right away,” Ellis said. “If they let

advantage to our customers.”

things snowball, it makes it more difficult to solve the problem.” NYSEG’s

National Fuel’s current estimate for the winter heating season is that

customer service line is 1.800.572.1111.

April

2016

Buying a Home

Your Finances

6 tips to get ready for buying a home this season Buyer-friendly 30-year fixed mortgage rates and an improving job market are good news for spring homebuyers this season. Yet, even with these favorable conditions, many home purchase contracts will get held up at closing by financial issues. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are several things you can do before and after submitting a contract to help make sure you walk away from the closing table with the keys to your new home in hand. Freddie Mac Senior Vice President Christina Boyle recommends doing the following before seriously hunting for a home this spring: • Learn your current credit history and score. You don’t want any surprises down the road. If you have no credit history, or have had credit problems in the past, you can take steps to build, improve, and maintain strong credit. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor for free advice. • Talk to your lender about applying for a mortgage and getting a preapproval letter. This letter gives an estimate of how much you might be able to borrow, and demonstrates to home sellers that you’re a serious buyer. • Understand your options. Don’t assume you won’t have enough for a down payment or won’t qualify for a mortgage without 20 percent down. In fact, about 40 percent of today`s homebuyers are making down payments of less than 10 percent, according to research from Zelman & Associates. And new products, like the Freddie Mac Home Possible Advantage mortgage, offer down payment options as low as three percent for qualified borrowers. • Gather your documentation. Expect your lender to request documentation verifying your income (W-2 forms, tax returns, and employment records), credit history, and assets (such as bank statements to verify your savings). After signing a purchase contract but before closing, Boyle recommends doing the following: • Don’t take on more debt or make large cash purchases. Resist the temptation to take out new loans or open new credit cards. This could affect your credit profile and may require the lender to resubmit your mortgage application to verify you still qualify. Also, substantial cash purchases may make your mortgage company question whether you can really afford monthly payments. • Meet your lender’s deadlines. Heed deadlines for providing documentation or information. A missed deadline could delay the closing, which may require you either to pay more to extend the mortgage terms you locked in when you submitted the application or, in the worst case, reapply for the mortgage.

Photo courtesy StatePoint Media

Buying a home can be intimidating without knowledge. For more tips and resources on buying a home, visit the consumer education site, My Home by Freddie Mac, at MyHome.FreddieMac.com. With preparation, you can help ensure your homebuying process goes off without a hitch. — StatePoint Media

April

2016

April

2016

April

2016

NY SCHOOL DISTRICTS Cattaraugus County Allegany-Limestone Central School District 3131 Five Mile Road Allegany, NY 14706 716-375-6600 Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District 207 Rock City Street Little Valley, NY 14755 716-938-9155 Ellicottville Central School District 5873 Route 219 Ellicottville, NY 14731 716-699-2368 Franklinville Central School District 31 North Main Street Franklinville, NY 14737 716-676-8029 Gowanda Central School District 10674 Prospect Street Gowanda, NY 14070 716-532-3325 Hinsdale Central School District 3701 Main Street Hinsdale, NY 14743 716-557-2227

Olean City School District 410 West Sullivan Street Olean, NY 14760 716-375-8018 Portville Central School District 500 Elm Street Portville, NY 14770 716-933-7141 Randolph Central School District 18 Main Street Randolph, NY 14772 716-358-6161 Salamanca City School District 50 Iroquois Drive Salamanca, NY 14779 716-945-2403 Southern Tier Catholic School and Archbishop Walsh Academy 208 North 24th Street Olean NY 14760 716.372.8122 West Valley Central School District 5359 School Street West Valley, NY 14171 716-942-3293

Yorkshire-Pioneer Central School District 12125 County Line Road Yorkshire, NY 14173 716-492-9304

Cuba-Rushford Central School District 5476 Route 305 Cuba, NY 14727 585-968-1556

Allegany County

Fillmore Central School District 104 Main Street Fillmore, NY 14735 585-567-2251

Alfred-Almond Central School District 6795 Route 21 Almond, NY 14804 607-276-2981 Andover Central School District 31-35 Elm Street Andover, NY 14806 607-478-8491 Belfast Central School District 1 King Street Belfast, NY 14711 585-365-9940 Bolivar-Richburg Central School District 100 School Street Bolivar, NY 14715 585-928-2561 Canaseraga Central School District 4-8 Main Street Canaseraga, NY 14822 607-545-6421

Friendship Central School District 46 West Main Street Friendship, NY 14739 716-973-3534 Genesee Valley Central School District 1 Jaguar Dr Belmont, NY 14813 585-268-7900 Scio Central School District 3968 Washington Street Scio, NY 14880 585-593-5510 Wellsville Central School District 126 West State Street Wellsville, NY 14895 585-596-2170 Whitesville Central School District 692 Main Street Whitesville, NY 14897 607-356-3301

PA SCHOOL DISTRICTS McKean County, Pa.

Potter County, Pa.

Bradford Area School District 150 Lorana Ave. P.O. Box 375 Bradford, Pa. 16701 | 814-362-3841

Austin Area School District 138 Costello Ave. Austin, Pa. 16720 (814) 647-8603

Otto-Eldred School District 143 R.L. Sweitzer Drive Duke Center, Pa. 16729 814-817-1380

Coudersport Area School District 698 Dwight St. Coudersport, Pa. 16915 814-274-9480

Smethport Area School District 414 S. Mechanic St. Smethport, Pa. 16749-1522 814-887-5543

Northern Potter School District 745 Northern Potter Road Ulysses, Pa. 16948 814-848-7506

Kane Area School District 400 W. Hemlock Ave. Kane, Pa. 16735 814-837-9570 Port Allegany School District 87 Clyde Lynch Drive Port Allegany, Pa. 16743 814-642-2590

Oswayo Valley Area School District 277 Oswayo St. Shinglehouse, Pa. 16748 814-597-7175

Cameron County, Pa. Cameron County School District 601 Woodland Ave. Emporium, Pa. 15834 814-486-4000

April

2016

April

2016