House & Home by Bradford Publishing

JUNE 2015 Vol. 1 Iss. 1

The Rose Mansion

“Center of a refined social life...”

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

House & Home

JUNE 2015

House & Home is a must read for anyone in market for a home in the Twin Tiers The three newspapers — the Olean Times Herald, The Bradford Era and The Salamanca Press — of Bradford Publishing Co. have combined their resources to produce a new special section, House & Home. The intention of the edition is to make it a must-read for anyone who is in the market for a new home in the area — or even someone who is thinking of selling a home. House & Home includes regular, locally produced features on interesting homes in the area — perhaps for their historic value or because of certain features — while the section is filled with information on remodeling, decorating and landscaping trends as well as the money matters behind buying and owning a home. The section also includes numerous listings from area Realtors of homes for sale. Homeowners who believe they have living spaces with enough character and features to be spotlighted in House & Home are encouraged to contact special sections coordinators Adam Vosler at (716) 372-3121 ext. 231 (email is avosler@oleantimesherald.com) or Alex Davis at (814) 362-6531 (email is a.davis@bradfordera.com).

Jim Eckstrom Executive Group Editor

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THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

Smethport Mansion District a sight to behold By Fran De Lancey

Special to House & Home

isitors to Smethport often comment about the beautiful Victorian-style homes that line Main Street in the borough’s historic Mansion District. These ostentatious and decorative homes, which became popular during the reign of British Queen Victoria — 1837 to 1901 — were built for the wealthy to impress and remain impressive today. They are often characterized by asymmetrical exteriors, steps leading to large wrap-around porches and grand entrances, large bay windows and steep roofs, sometimes at different levels. In the eastern United States, Victorian-era homes tend to be three stories, including the attic, and built on a full-sized basement. Two of Smethport’s Victorianera homes are the Rose Mansion at 916 W. Main St. and the John Forrest Mansion at 620 W. Main St. Both are examples of the stick style, a variation of the Victorians, that gained popularity during the mid-19th century and was also used for train and emergency Photo by Fran De Lancey stations. Smethport, Pa., is home to many Victorian-style homes that line Main Street. Stick-style houses are rec-

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ognized by details borrowed from the Middle Ages, such as bold brick chimneys, decorative spindle detailing at the gable peaks and trusses on the gables. KAY JAMES AND HER parents, John and Pat McAnallen, reside in the Rose Mansion, which was built circa 1889. The home is named after Robert Rose, who moved to Smethport as attorney and agent for the Bingham land estate that once owned about 2 million acres in Maine and later owned large expanses of wilderness in Potter, McKean, Elk and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania. He was also solicitor for the McKean County Commissioners. Rose, who resettled to Smethport in 1873, married Laena Hamlin, daughter of Henry Hamlin. Historical reports say that their home was one of the fine residences of the borough and was the “center of a refined social life, to which his own personality gives much of the zest.”

The home has two floors, a basement, a huge attic and a attached garage, James said. Not everything with the mansion is original, though. The McAnallens have added a stair lift. In addition, some roof work has been done, as well as exterior painting. What makes this house unique? “It’s the spaciousness and openness and the hardwood floors,” James said. James’ business, The Rose Boutique, is also located at the Rose Mansion. THE FORREST MANSION, next door to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, formerly served as the rectory. Forrest was a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., where he received his business education. He was later employed by Buffalo Coal Co., where his performance attracted the attention of Byron Hamlin, owner of the McKean and Buffalo Railroad. The railroad company carried coal for Buffalo Coal. Hamlin persuaded young Forrest to relocate to Smethport and work for Hamlin’s land company. Forrest and Mary Hamlin, Byron’s daughter,

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were married in 1878. Forrest died in 1918. His wife, a respected Smethport native, resided in this home, which dates to the late 1880s, until her death at 87 in December 1944. At one point, the mansion was home to The Guidance Center. Today, the home is now owned by George and Debbie Tufts. Though they purchased the home in 1989, they didn’t move in until 1992 — since they were still in the military and working for the Department of Defense’s Defense Commissary in Germany. During that time, George Tufts said, he has rehabilitated the interior, a project that is ongoing. The exterior has been worked on as well. The siding that has been added to the house hides its Victorian stick features, George Tufts said. “As the remodeling continues, we’re trying to restore the interior to the original style and keep it as historical as possible,” he said. “On the to-do list is modifying the stairway that leads from the area where the Forrests’ maid lived to the kitchen.”

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House & Home

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5 Ways to Increase Curb Appeal, Value ◗Washing up outdoor spaces in all the right places

hether you’re planning to list your home for sale soon or you’re simply working to maintain features that attracted you to the charming abode in the first place, careful attention to curb appeal is a must. In the real estate world, the saying to avoid judging a book by its cover does not apply. The exterior of your home sends an important message about its character, and even its value, making people eager to see what is inside. This first impression sets expectations for the entire property for potential buyers, appraisers and even your guests. Keep your house looking young and inviting with these five home care tips: 1. Look at the landscaping. Curb appeal is about the whole picture your home presents, which includes your lawn, shrubs and features such as flower beds and rock gardens. Keep grass neatly trimmed and prune vegetation for a well-kept look. Also give your home a thorough look from the street. Are trees or shrubs obscuring an appealing architectural detail?

Does vegetation dwarf your home, making it seem small? Would a pop of color from some flowering plants add to the overall look?

pletely alter the look. Or, focus on adding color to the trim, door and shutters if new, all-over color is out of the question.

2. Beware of dingy dirt. Because you see your home every day, you may not realize the exterior has become dull with a layer of dust and dirt. An adjustable pressure washer with Briggs & Stratton POWERflow+ technology will let you wash siding, garage doors and shutters without stripping paint as well as delicate items such as glass top patio tables. Then switch to the high flow mode, which delivers up to five gallons per minute for extended reach to clean second story windows, eaves and gutters or to blast away hard-to-reach cobwebs and insect nests.

4. Wash where you walk. The favorable impression created by impeccable landscaping and a fresh, clean facade can be swept away in an instant if sidewalks, driveways and patios are unsightly. Skip the messy buckets and brush, and instead reach for a high pressure, high flow pressure washer such as those featuring Briggs & Stratton’s POWERflow+ technology, which include adjustable pressure and flow as well as power-soaping detergent tanks to let you clean tough stains then quickly wash them away with a single machine.

3. Update with paint. If a thorough washing leaves a ho-hum look behind, it may be time to revisit your home’s exterior color scheme. Even modest adjustments, from pale beige to a deeper tan, for example, can com-

5. Dote on the details. Decks, fences, mailboxes, birdbaths, gazebos and other decorative features all factor into your home’s exterior image. Thoroughly clean these items, repair any loose or broken pieces such as fence slats, and apply a fresh coat of paint or stain, if needed.

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THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

Home Upgrades from the Inside Out L

ooking to do some home improvement projects? Plan ahead for the biggest impact for your budget. Follow these tips to protect your home’s air quality, use online tools to plan your project, extend your budget and enlist qualified professionals to help complete the job. Remember the big picture. Keep all seasons in mind when planning a home upgrade, and make sure your home will be comfortable and healthy all year. The type of insulation and drywall you use can have a big impact on these factors, yet it’s not something many homeowners think about. According to a 2015 study of over 1,100 U.S. house owners, conducted online by Harris Poll and commissioned by CertainTeed, one in

five (19 percent) U.S. adults who own a house say they would give little to no consideration to insulation if planning a kitchen remodel or home addition. Even more - one in four say this about drywall. This is a big misstep, considering the average American spends 90 percent of his or her time indoors, and indoor air pollution can damage the health and comfort of those in the home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Health benefits aside, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association says spending $1 on insulation will save $12 in energy costs. Look for products like SMARTBATT with built-in smart vapor retarder technology to help

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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prevent mold and AirRenew, a drywall product that actually removes harmful contaminants from the air inside your home. Color concerns? Try before you buy. In home design, there is an increased interest in individualization and creativity. According to the online survey CertainTeed commissioned from Harris Poll, curb appeal was cited by 39 percent of house owners as the most important factor when considering an exterior home improvement project. “While consumers want their homes to stand out, they also seek colors they want to come home to year after year,” said Mike Loughery, CertainTeed director of corporate marketing communications. “Neutral and traditional colors are a good bet - you want a look that is warm and inviting.”

The online poll also found that 40 percent of U.S. adults who own a house say they understand colors but are not exactly sure which color direction they would want to go when it comes to selecting a new exterior color for their home. Furthermore, 11 percent said they are “clueless” about colors and wouldn’t know where to begin. You can visualize a project prior to investing in a renovation or replacement with online resources such as the Design Center at www. CertainTeed.com/DesignCenter. Make your investment count. If you want to maximize the return on your investment, consider kitchen remodels, additions and exterior projects that impact curb appeal, as all will give you a big bang for your buck. These were among the top projects listed in the “2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value” report released this year by Remodeling and Realtor magazines.

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If your budget for home improvements is limited this year, enter CertainTeed’s annual Living Spaces Home Makeover Video Contest for a chance to win an incredible $100,000 grand prize, which includes $75,000 worth of building products, professional installation and $25,000 to help cover taxes. For more information and complete contest details, visit www.CertainTeed. com/DesignCenter. Hire smart. Make sure you’ve got the right pros on your side. Reputable contractors make a big difference in your satisfaction, the quality of the installation and the selection of products. For example, the National Roofing Contractor’s Association says most rooftop problems are due to installation workmanship, not material failure. Search customer review websites or use online resources such as CertainTeed’s “Find a Pro” tool to locate credentialed contractors by zip code, as well as the type of products needed for the project.

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THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

Finding the right ﬁt for homeownerʼs insurance By Alex Veig

AP Business Writer

aving money on homeowners insurance can often take a back seat. Many homebuyers fail to comparison shop for the best policies, potentially missing out on a better deal elsewhere. That means some may sign off on a policy that leaves them paying for more coverage than necessary to rebuild their home, or with too little coverage for antique furniture and other valuables. “A lot of people go to one agent and they say ‘I’ve shopped,’” said Bob Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. But there’s no guarantee the agent will connect a homeowner with the most affordable insurance carrier, Hunter added. Striking a balance between buying enough insurance to protect perhaps your biggest asset and keeping costs in check is feasible. Here are 4 steps you can take toward that goal. 1. BREAK IT DOWN The first step to identifying possible savings is to understand how the typical homeowners insurance policy is set up. Take a single-family house without any other structures on the property. Generally, a policy for such a home will have three main coverage areas: the structure, the owner’s personal belongings and liability against someone being injured on the property. If the homeowner is paying off a mortgage on the home, the lender will require they carry insurance to cover the costs to fully rebuild the house. This will typically be the most costly component of the policy. Keep in mind that you’re only paying to cover replacement costs for the structure, not to recoup the market value of the home and land it’s built upon. The second coverage area involves personal belongings such as furniture, housewares and rugs. Certain items, such as jewelry, a stamp collection and firearms, among others, will have coverage caps. Another big component of homeowners insurance is liability cover-

age. This is meant to shield you should you be sued by someone who gets hurt on your property. Beyond these categories, a homeowners policy can incorporate coverage for a host of other risks, or add-ons for coverage above caps. Your costs will also depend on what part of the country you live in, the projected expenses to rebuild your home, how much coverage you purchase and your deductible, among other factors. 2. SIZE UP COVERAGE NEEDS Your insurance costs depend largely on how much coverage you buy or are willing to do without. Your insurance company will come up with the amount of coverage needed to fully replace your house and recommend you insure it for that amount. Because construction costs are always changing it’s a good idea to review your policy annually to make sure your coverage hasn’t fallen below 80 percent of the cost to replace your home, suggests the National

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Association of Insurance Commissioners. Homeowners get more leeway to select how much insurance they want to gird against liability and personal property losses. The less coverage, the more you save on premiums. A detailed inventory of your belongings will help you determine how much coverage you need for your personal belongings. And if you need to buy additional protection beyond any policy caps. “We don’t want to think of insurance as a maintenance policy. It’s really meant for the bigger things that would really devastate us financially,” said Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at Insurancequotes. com, an insurance comparison website. “We really need to weigh that premium against that potential claim.” The NAIC has some guidelines for conducting an inventory and a worksheet here: http://www.insureuonline.org/insureu_getready_newhome.htm . 3. SHOP AROUND Many homeowners reach out to an insurance agent who recommends one or more insurers. Another option is to search your state insur-

JUNE 2015

ance department website. It will typically list pricing information for the biggest insurers. When discerning which is the lowest-cost policy, make sure you’re comparing the same coverage from carrier to carrier. Hunter of the Consumer Federation of America also recommends finding a handful of the lower-cost carriers and then narrow them down further by checking their track record of consumer complaints on the NAIC website, https://eapps.naic.org/cis/ . “You don’t necessarily need to talk to an agent,” Hunter said. “You can start by talking to an insurance company directly.” Even after you’ve been in your home a few years it pays to get quotes from other insurers and use it as a bargaining chip with your insurer to give you a better deal. 4. CONSIDER A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE A recent study by Insurancequotes.com found that raising the homeowners insurance deductible to $2,000 from $500 can lower the annual premium in the U.S. by 16 percent, on average. A deductible is the portion that is paid by the homeowner on a claim before the insurance policy kicks in. Still, don’t raise your deductible unless you have enough money saved to cover it in the event you have to file a claim.

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Our area’s dedicated realtors offer you many properties some of which are highlighted in House & Home Spotlights. Call an agent today.

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Gen. Kaneʼs legacy a sturdy foundation to build on By Chuck Abraham Special to House & Home

en. Thomas L. Kane and his family left an indelible mark on McKean County. While Kane’s original homestead, Kane Summit, burned down in the 1890s, three important houses directly related to the Kane family are still standing and in use. The most notable of the Kane family homes is Kane Manor on Clay Street. The mansion was built by Dr. Elizabeth Kane after the 1896 fire that destroyed Kane Summit.

Kane named the manor “Anoatok,” an Eskimo word meaning “wind loved spot.” According to Dennis Driscoll of the Kane Historic Preservation Society, the mansion became the home of Dr. Evan O’Neill Kane, who was known in the medical field as the first surgeon to perform an operation on himself. Today, Kane Manor serves as a bed and breakfast with many period items within its walls. Kane Manor is not the only remaining house in Kane that some of the general’s relatives called home.

The old house at 107 Edgar James St. was originally the residence of Dr. William Woods Kane, later known as Dr. Thomas Lieper Kane, after the death of his father. Dr. Kane’s daughter, Sybil Kent Kane, lived there after his death. Sybil’s niece, Carol Kane Simerly of Payson, Ariz., said that she was close to her aunt, who became a second mother to her after the death of her own mother, and she spent a great deal

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of time at the house. She recalled Sunday meals with her aunt as one of her most important weekly events. Simerly is the 90-year-old greatgreat-granddaughter of General Kane. The house eventually became the first Lutheran Home in the borough. The building is currently an apartment house. However, the original porch and house are still very prominent in spite of more modern additions made to accommodate a greater number of people. While the original Kane Summit burned down about 114 years ago, one need only go to nearby Kushequa to see a replica of the original homestead. The Silverside Mansion was built in 1908 by Kane’s son, Elisha Kent Kane, to take the place of the original. Kane built the replica of Kane Summit on the original foundation of his own home, Driscoll said. To fit the foundation, Kane, an engineer, scaled Silverside to 90 percent of the original dimensions of Kane Manor. Photo by Chuck Abraham Homes that have a connection to Gen. Thomas L. Kane and his family remain The Silverside Manor is currently owned by standing in Kane, Pa. Michael and James McCann.

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Ask a Designer: Coming up with a furniture plan that works By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press

ometimes the way to improve a room isn’t to buy new furniture: It’s to rearrange pieces you already own. Interior designers can spend hours creating the best furniture plan for a room, balancing practical considerations and creative risk-taking. “Changing up the placement of your furniture can make a massive difference,” says designer Brian Patrick Flynn, founder of Flynnside Out Productions. Adding, subtracting or relocat-

ing furniture, he says, affects “how natural light plays in the space and also how frequently the room gets used. By simply adding a bench to a wall, a room can become more of a hangout.” Removing a few pieces to create more space “can make it feel a bit more casual and informal.” How do professionals map out a furniture plan, choosing the best location for each item? Flynn and two other interior designers — Dan Faires, host of HGTV’s “DanMade,” and Betsy Burnham of the California-based design firm Burnham Design — share advice: ANALYZE YOUR SPACE

Begin by deciding how the room will be used, Burnham says. Is it a living room used mainly for TV watching or socializing? Does the space have two roles, such as a home office that doubles as a guest room? Or is it a playroom, where the priority is open space and maximum storage? In a new home, knowing the answer can take time. “It’s important to live in a space for a few weeks or months before assigning it a space plan so that you truly get a sense for how

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Associated Press In this photo provided by Burnham Design, a strategic furniture layout turns a large room into two cozy conversation spaces in this living room designed by Burnham Design. A day bed located in the center of the room separates the two areas and also provides additional seating for guests.

you’ll use it,” Flynn says. “Then decide on your seating capacity and find a way to maximize it without sacrificing visual balance.” Consider any quirks: Are there lots of windows or doors? Unique architectural items such as a fireplace or beautiful windows with a view? A particular piece of furniture or art that you want visitors to notice? Depending on the answers, Flynn likes to choose one “standout feature” and then arrange furniture in a way that highlights it. Also, says Burnham, “lighting can direct a furniture plan.” Is there a lot of natural light or will you need plenty of lamps? Are there built-in sconces or a central chandelier? MEASURE AND DRAW Even if you’ve got a general plan in mind, Faires suggests measuring the space and creating a scaled drawing with exact measurements of every piece you’re planning to include. (You can find a template on Burnham’s website, www.instantspacedesign.com .) Don’t skimp on empty space. “I always allow a minimum of 18 inches between sofas and coffee tables,” Faires says, “and 3 to 5 feet for walk spaces. The flow and negative space in a room is as important as the overall function and the furniture” because it makes the space feel more open, uncluttered and inviting. Consider the size and placement of rugs. “I cannot imagine design-

ing a living-room space with a rug any smaller than an 8-by-10,” Faires says. “The rug is meant to unify the entire space and connect furniture pieces together, so a good rule of thumb is that at least the front legs of any sofas or chairs in the living room should be on the rug. For a larger

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area rug, allow at least 18 inches from the edge of the rug to the wall.” In very large rooms or loft spaces, rugs can help define small areas and make the space feel organized. “To keep everything balanced while visually separating each zone, use area rugs in coordinating colors with slightly different textures and patterns,” Flynn says. KNOW THE RULES, THEN CONSIDER BREAKING THEM Some rules are important, says Flynn. For instance, “leave at least 36 inches of open space between the back of a dining chair and a nearby sideboard to allow for proper traffic flow.”

JUNE 2015

But plenty of other rules can be broken or modernized. “For example, it’s not ideal to enter a living room and be staring at the back of a sofa,” Flynn says. “But if you flank the back of the sofa with a console table and lamps, it instantly becomes more inviting and less closed off.” Also, while some symmetry is important to “ground a furniture plan,” Burnham says, mixing in a little asymmetry “makes for a much more interesting room.” If she flanks a sofa with matching end tables and table lamps, “we may balance the grouping with mismatched chairs and a standing lamp.” Remember, you don’t have to place furniture along walls. “Floating furniture in the middle of the room helps highlight architectural features and also aids in proper movement throughout the space,” Flynn says. Placing furniture away from the walls also works well in spaces that have lots of doors, or soaring windows that shouldn’t be obstructed. And not every living room needs a sofa. Burnham suggests trying “an unusual layout, like a living room with four lounge chairs around a center coffee table instead of the expected sofa.” Use unexpected pieces, like “a library table stacked with books in a wide hallway, or two area rugs instead of one to define spaces within a bedroom,” she says. And remember: You’re not obligated to use everything you’ve got. “Curate and edit down your existing pieces,” Faires says, “keeping the items that work well and selling the items that don’t.”

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JUNE 2015

NY SCHOOL DISTRICTS Cattaraugus County

Allegany County

Allegany-Limestone Central School District 3131 Five Mile Road Allegany, NY 14706 716-375-6600

Alfred-Almond Central School District 6795 Route 21 Almond, NY 14804 607-276-2981

Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District 207 Rock City Street Little Valley, NY 14755 716-938-9155

Andover Central School District 31-35 Elm Street Andover, NY 14806 607-478-8491

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

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Belfast Central School District 1 King Street Belfast, NY 14711 585-365-9940

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Bolivar-Richburg Central School District 100 School Street Bolivar, NY 14715 585-928-2561

671 E. Main St., Bradford, PA 814-368-5555 333 W. Main St., Smethport, PA 814-887-5555 34 Fraley St., Kane, PA 814-837-8200 35 East Main St., Mt. Jewett, PA 814-778-5441 151 Main St., Eldred, PA 814-225-4767 2102 West State St. Olean, NY 716-543-4000

Canaseraga Central School District 4-8 Main Street Canaseraga, NY 14822 607-545-6421 Cuba-Rushford Central School District 5476 Route 305 Cuba, NY 14727 585-968-1556 Fillmore Central School District 104 Main Street Fillmore, NY 14735 585-567-2251 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

Pennsylvania School Districts on page

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

Coudersport Area School District 698 Dwight St. Coudersport, Pa. 16915 814-274-9480 Northern Potter School District 745 Northern Potter Road Ulysses, Pa. 16948 814-848-7506 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

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JUNE 2015

Gardening Tips for June By Lyn Chimera

Master Gardener, Cornell Cooperative Extension

t seems we’ve finally settled into summer like weather and we can garden in earnest. After the much needed rain we had Sunday all the plants will be happy! The following are some tips for late spring/early summer: Weeding is a major issue, at least in my garden. They seem to be growing faster than I can pull them. It’s easiest to weed after a rain when the soil isn’t so hard and dry. If we haven’t had rain, you can water the night before weeding. This saves a lot of time and effort. Don’t waste your time just pulling weeds from the top. Use a trowel and get the roots or the weeds will just grow back. The extra few seconds to remove the roots will save you lots of time over the course of the summer. If you don’t have time to weed, at least remove the seed heads. You can get the weeds later.

After weeding it is important to use some type of organic mulch. The mulch helps prevent weeds and when a few do sprout they’re easy to pull. Mulch also helps keep moisture in the soil by slowing evaporation and protecting the soil from the drying sun. I use compost as mulch. Compost is great mulch because it also adds nutrients to your soil so you don’t need to fertilize as much. It also is a good soil amendment no matter what your soil conditions, including clay. Compost is available by the bag or delivered by the yard from most nurseries. It’s very tempting to remove the leaves of those daffodils and other spring bulbs to get them out of the way. However it’s best to let the leaves yellow out naturally and then remove. The foliage is providing food and energy for the bulb which helps the bulb bloom next spring. It’s time to start watching for powdery mildew. I already noticed a few patches on my Ninebark. It is early, but probably a result of those hot humid days we’ve had. Also check susceptible plants like pulmonaria, phlox and epimedium. If you notice powdery mildew (it looks like white powdery blotches on the leaves) remove the affected leaves and treat with an environmentally safe fungicide that is listed for powdery mildew. Be sure you disinfect your hands and pruner after doing this before working on another plant. Spray Lysol works very well or you can use a 10% Clorox solution. If you do move any perennials or have moved plants this spring be sure to keep them well hydrated during any dry spells. They will need more water than the rest of your garden. Good news regarding impatiens. In response to the Impatiens Downy Mildew, a hybrid impatiens, the Bounce series, has been developed to be resistant to the mildew which has been devastating impatiens the past few years. The growth habit is a little different being taller than the impatiens we’re used to; however, you might want to check them out.

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House & Home

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

JUNE 2015

Custom-built Allegany home features southern charm By Darlene M. Donohue Special to House & Home

omething about colonial-style homes and that time period in U.S. history piques Bill and Kay Palmer’s interest in such a way that they decided to surround themselves in it. In 1968, Kay and her husband purchased property at 2149 Klice Kross Road, and Bill immediately began to work on constructing a colonial model home among the ranches that existed prior to their arrival to the country setting. “I don’t know what it is about colonials. I just like the appearance of them, and it is a rare to find that style here,” Kay Palmer said, adding the interior of the home was even decorated to fit the colonial period. She acquired an astonishing variety of glassware and a couple of lamps from the 18th century, which were passed onto her from family members. When building their 2,698-square-foot home, the Palmers decided to put their own stamp on it, designing it with variations of the southern, New England, modern and contemporary styles in mind. The structure is white and symmetrical — a traditional exterior color and shape for colonials — with a centered front door and an equal num-

Custom-built Allegany home continues on page

Darlene M. Donohue/Olean Times Herald Allegany’s Bill and Kay Palmer created and live in a 2,698-square-foot southern colonial home at 2149 Klice Kross Road.

House & Home

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

Custom-built Allegany home continued from page

ber of windows on the front of the first and second floors. The front exterior features six colonial-style pillars and a simple greyish-blue molding around the doorway. Another staple in a colonial home is placing all of the bedrooms on the second floor. This is the case in the Palmer home. Four second-story rooms exist in the residence, each of them fairly similar in size with the exception of a larger master bedroom on the south end. The master has an attached bathroom containing a pedestal sink, hardwood flooring, jacuzzi tub and walk-in closet. The wall colors in most of the rooms throughout the home are true to colonial shades — white and light neutral tones. However, there is a dark blue and a light pink bedroom to break the trend. Other unique features include a recently updated kitchen with solid oak cabinets and commercial dual stove, a dining room with a ceilingto-floor built-in china cabinet with three glass doors and drawers, and a fireplace with a brick chimney and grill rests in a rear sitting room next to the kitchen on the north end. The sitting room space previously served as the living room before the Palmers renovated their attached garage in the late 1980s to make a larger living room area that features a pair of French doors leading to the driveway and a wood-burning fireplace with a customized hearth.

Dress up your Home & Garden with a Stone Statue, Water Fountain or Bird Bath from the Country Store!

JUNE 2015

A new oversized two-car garage was constructed near the southwest side of the home. It comes with a telephone, a television and waterline hook-ups and a new furnace. Kay Palmer said her husband uses that space as his personal workshop. Though there are less windows on the front of home than one would find on a traditional southern colonial, plenty of natural light beams come in from the multiple windows on the rear and sides of the home and from the enclosed patio, where one can gaze at the woods out back. Two other patios are also attached to the residence. The home and its manicured landscaping were designed to be the Palmers’ dream living situation, and it has been for many years, Kay Palmer said, noting she enjoys the quiet community within a short distance of Olean, the city where she and her husband worked for decades.

House & Home

JUNE 2015

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

House & Home

JUNE 2015