House & Home - October 2015 by Bradford Publishing

OCTOBER 2015 Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Lynn Hall

“I don’t believe we’ve found the last of the surprises”

Fireplace & Chimney Safety

Big History in Small-City Home

Ceiling Revamps

Is your home ready for the winter?

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Annual maintenance, common sense key to ﬁreplace, chimney safety By Christopher Michel Special to House & Home

or many, the change of season means the campfires of summer moves indoors to the fireplace through the winter. Like outdoor campfires, fires in a indoor fireplace or stove aren’t without their risks. Capt. Ed Jennings of the city’s Code Enforcement Office notes proper fireplace and chimney maintenance are critical to ensuring a fire on a cold winter night doesn’t turn disastrous. In addition to being head of the Code Enforcement Office, Jennings is a city firefighter and home inspector. Making sure a chimney and its fireplace or stove are in working order is relatively simple, Jennings said. “The best advice I can give anyone is to have their chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney sweep,” he said, adding chimney sweepers should also he hired to look at wood pellet- and coal-burning stoves. “They’re the ones who know what to look for and can make sure the flue is clear and the dampers are working properly. They can also clean out any creosote.” Creosote, which can vary in appearance — from flaky to tar-like or shiny and hardened — is essentially residue from burning untreated wood. The buildup is highly combustible and largely responsible for chimney fires.

According to the most recent figures from the Chimney Safety Institute of America, there were 22,700 fires that damaged a home in 2012. Those fires caused an estimated $111.7 million in damage. “It’s important that if people are burning wood, they burn treated hardwood,” Jennings said. “When you’re burning untreated wood, you increase creosote buildup because of all the sap and moisture burning out of the wood.” Making sure a chimney is clean is only part of using a fireplace safely during the colder months. “If you have an open fireplace, you want some sort of grate system or fence in front of it to prevent any sparks from flying out, especially if you’re burning wood or coal” Jennings said. “You also want to make sure that if you have carpet in the room where the fireplace is, the carpet does not go right up to the hearth, you want a good wide space with fireproof material on the floor in case embers come flying out.” Homeowners also need to make sure they have a working smoke detector within the vicinity of the fireplace, Jennings added. “That goes hand in hand with everything else,” he said.

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Michigan transplant loves big history in small-city home By Adam Vosler

Special to House & Home

towering, white house built in 1925 on Main Street may bring memories to Olean’s old-timers. For its current owners, it’s a new way of living. Andrea Bliss and her family moved into the home, situated across from the Bartlett Country Club golf course, in summer 2013. They came to Olean from Michigan — just outside Detroit — so that Bliss’ husband, Peter, could take a job at Olean General Hospital’s Gundlah Dental Center. “It’s a big change, because it’s (leaving) a big, upscale area and coming to a small town,” the family matriarch said on a recent fall afternoon. “We were downsizing, looking toward retirement. We looked for something for a long time in this area.” It may have been downsizing to the Blisses, but new visitors may be struck by the spacious, open-living kitchen area and by the three fireplaces — two of which are still used. The house also features a full-sized attic and a full-sized basement. “The basement still has a full load of coal,” Bliss said. “We don’t know how to get rid of it.” Meanwhile, old visitors and passers-by may be struck by a bit of nostalgia, especially if they look behind the house. “A ‘canal’ ran behind us, but it’s all grass now,” Bliss said. “Boats and everything used to go behind us.” Indeed, a large swath of backyard that sits much lower on the property — and neighboring ones — appears to have been shaped for a ‘canal’ of sorts that hasn’t existed for decades. Steps surrounded on each side by greenery lead down to it. When contacted, a real estate agent involved with selling the home to the Blisses was unable to provide specifics on its 20thcentury history. What is evident is someone back then loved to have a good time. The area contains a patio, a stone table, a fire pit and even a brick oven. Nowadays, the Blisses — one daughter still lives in the home

Adam Vosler/Olean Times Herald The Bliss home on Main Street, located across from the Bartlett Country Club golf course in Olean, was built in 1925.

and another is temporarily back after earning her master’s degree — use the space for outdoor parties, volleyball, bonfires and more. “It’s like a secret garden back here,” Bliss said. “It’s a pretty big yard space for that time period.” Also of note behind the house is an unusually large garage for its time — few people in 1925 had three automobiles, after all. Decades ago, it served as a carriage house. “They would have horses or they would keep help out there,” Bliss said. “It has an upstairs, it has room for a three-car garage, plus it has another area that’s a plant area, and there’s another room for tools, so it’s very big.” The barn-like structure even still has its hay loft door. “It has a pulley system where that door would fling open at one time, like an old barn might have,” Bliss explained. In front of the house, those familiar with the neighborhood’s past may smile at the sight of the sidewalk. A semicircle of concrete breaks into the yard and encloses a large tree. “A lot of older people say they remember that tree out front, Michigan transplant continues on page

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“So instead of a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, they have a Jack-

and everyone loved riding that little loop … they could run their bikes around (it),” Bliss said. INSIDE THE HOUSE, reminders of its past and other unique touches are in abundance. For example, a side room off the dining room was once the office of a doctor who also resided in the house. “There’s a side door (outside) that leads to his office,” Bliss said. “There’s even a cash drawer where he apparently kept his money from his patients.” The family also appreciates the old-school feel of the home’s windows, much like the garage. “Where they used the pulleys in the windows with the strings, you can still see them,” Bliss pointed out. “I don’t want to put new windows in; I think it ruins it.” Another original feature? Her daughters’ bedrooms have a connecting closet.

and-Jill closet,” Bliss said with a laugh. One of the daughters’ bedrooms even has a door that allows access to a flat portion of the roof. “So it’s like you could have a patio out there,” Bliss said, pointing to a lawn chair sitting on the roof. “She reads out there.” DESPITE THE HOUSE’S age, the Blisses have made few changes since moving in. They’ve had a new water heated installed, put in hardwood floors and repainted the house. But for the most part, it retains its old look. “With an old house, there’s a lot of money that needs to go to other places,” Bliss said. But the pains of maintaining an older home are worth it — even if the outdoor features don’t drum up any nostalgia for the Michigan transplant. “I think the best part of it is the outside,” she said. “For this area, it’s very unique. And everyone in the neighborhood is so nice.”

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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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Welcomes as our Associate Broker 814-331-9564

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Lynn Hall Restoration Project moving along in Port Allegany

Rick Miller/Olean Times Herald Gary Sue DeVore stand in the ballroom on the second floor of Lynn Hall, on Route 6 outside Port Allegany, Pa., where they are restoring the house built by Walter Hall. Lynn Hall, which Hall built before working on Fallingwater for Frank Lloyd Wright. Lynn Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places.

By Rick Miller

Special to House & Home

little more than three years ago, Gary DeVore found a photograph on the Internet of a historic building along Route 6, west of Port Allegany. DeVore, a retired children’s camp director, and his wife, Sue, who often worked alongside him at the camps, were looking to move to the area to be closer to her mother in Lantz Corners. “I need a project,” DeVore told his wife. They had just finished restoring a Mississippi River sternwheeler boat in Illinois. “We found it in St. Paul and spent five years restoring it,” DeVore said. The project he came up with, Lynn Hall, is a former residence, restaurant and ballroom built by Walter Hall, a local designer and builder who later helped build Fallingwater in Mill

Run, Pa., for Frank Lloyd Wright. DeVore, who has picked up construction, plumbing and electrical skills over 40 years, said Walter Hall, an early practitioner of “organic architecture,” built Lynn Hall in the early 1930s in the “prairie style.” The building was apparently named after Walter Hall’s mother-in-law, according to DeVore. “The man who built this was one hell of a builder,” he said. “It’s built like a fort.” Hall’s son, Raymond, an architect who embraced the prairie style, worked with his father in the region for many years, designing and building homes, commercial buildings and schools. The DeVores negotiated with the Hall estate for about seven months before buying Lynn Hall in June 2013. Despite being a giant stone, wood and glass-faced fixerupper, the DeVores fell in love with it and settled in for what they Lynn Hall continues on page

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Lynn Hall continued from page

expect will be a five-to-seven-year project. “There are elements of Fallingwater in Lynn Hall,” DeVore said as he showed off photos they have collected that shows the building at different stages. Hall and select members of his crew went to build Fallingwater after Lynn Hall. “Walter (Hall) is never given credit for his influence” on the prairie style and the elements he included in Fallingwater, DeVore said during a tour of Lynn Hall on Aug. 1. “It’s a Frank Lloyd Wright design but a Walter Hall building.”

Rick Miller/Olean Times Herald Gary DeVore stands in the ballroom on the second floor of Lynn Hall, on Route 6 outside Port Allegany, Pa., where he and his wife, Sue, are restoring the house built by Walter Hall. He later built Fallingwater for Frank Lloyd Wright using some of the same elements. Lynn Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photos of Lynn Hall were contributed by local historians and area residents who used to dine or go to dances at Lynn Hall. The DeVores first set about buttoning up the building, which had been vacant for decades and sustained much water damage. That took most of the first year. They also — with a lot of help from family members and friends — cleared much of the accumulated books and paperwork, including plans for Lynn Hall and many other buildings the Halls designed and built, including more than a dozen homes and commercial buildings in Olean, N.Y. Much of the interior trim was water-damaged or moldy and

OCTOBER 15, 2015

had to be removed. After that was accomplished, it was more apparent what would need to be replaced. DeVore found examples of where Hall reused available materials, including barn siding and a barn door with a hinge still attached. There are also numerous examples where long steel rail was used to strengthen the structure. There were several tall pine trees in front of Lynn Hall until the DeVores had them removed last year. The pines not only left acidic pine needles on the roof, which led to water damage, but also damaged the stone exterior on the west side of the structure’s first floor. That damage was repaired with stone mined from the same local quarry as Hall used on Lynn Hall, DeVore said. Lynn Hall was built into the hillside, overlooking Two Mile Valley and Turtlepoint. “The point was that it should not sit on the hill, but be part of the hill,” DeVore said. The back road in front of Lynn Hall was still a dirt road. Soon, Route 6 was paved and expanded between Port Allegany and Smethport. Hall then built a gas station to fuel the growing number of cars passing Lynn Hall. It turns out Hall had designed a third floor for Lynn Hall to house a motel. That never materialized, as Hall died in 1954. Raymond Hall continued building homes in northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York until 1971. Both Lynn Hall and the nearby cottage, which was built as a pump house to supply water to the Hall residence, restaurant and ballroom, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is largely because of Lynn Hall’s link to the the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Fallingwater, DeVore said. Among the innovative features built into Lynn Hall are radiant in-floor and in-wall heating pipes. The fireplace in the restaurant recirculates heat into the building, DeVore explained. “Lucky for me, Walter used very simple materials,” DeVore said. “It’s all custom-built.” He calls the process of restoring the gem “architectural archaeology.” The plans to Lynn Hall are in his collection, but DeVore finds “surprises” all the time, such as skylights covered with wood. The DeVores are trying to restore the structure to its glory days. “This was a destination,” DeVore said. “This was the place to be. Slowly, we are piecing it back together. It took 30 years continues on next page

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for it to get this bad; I should get five or six years to restore it.” People stop by all the time — even on days when the tour sign isn’t out. DeVore takes the opportunity to give a tour and explain why the couple is taking on the restoration. “One man called and asked if he could bring his mother,” DeVore said. “She was in a nursing home and used to come to dances here. Her eyes widened when she walked in. She said, ‘The stories I could tell.’ She said she and her friends would come early to get the corner table. It was near the door and easy to go outside for a smoke and a nip when the band took a break.” The ballroom windows look out over the Two Mile and Turtlepoint valleys. There are photos in some of the rooms showing what it looked like back in its heyday. The DeVores are looking for any old photos of Lynn Hall — especially weddings and receptions — which can give hints of what things looked like over various periods. One of the elements in Lynn Hall that later found it way into Fallingwater was waterfalls inside and out. The interior waterfall fed a small pond where diners would often select their own live trout for cooking. The interior pond drains to an outside waterfall in front of Lynn Hall that still works. DeVore figures more than 7,000 hours of work have gone into the restoration so far. “Thankfully, I have a lot of friends in the (restoration) business, and family and friends relatives who will work for food and beer,” he said with a laugh. How does he decide which project to tackle next? “I wake up and ask myself, “What do you want to be today: a carpenter, a plumber or electrician?’” he said. Most recently, DeVore was replacing panes of glass using special-order glass and building the frames himself. “It’s a beautiful, sturdy building,” his wife said. “Walter (Hall) did it simple, no fancy wood work.” Gary DeVore is thankful to have all the history behind Lynn Hall available. Whenever he tries of carpentry, electrical work or plumbing, he dives back into historical documents and drawings. “I don’t believe we’ve found the last of the surprises,” he said. To follow the DeVores’ progress in restoring Lynn Hall or to share old photos of Lynn Hall, check out their website at http:// www.lynnhall-restoration.com.

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Rick Miller/Olean Times Herald Gary and Sue DeVore stand in front of a distinctive fireplace in the dining room at Lynn Hall, near Port Allegany, Pa., holding a photograph taken of the same room in the 1930. They are restoring the house built by Walter Hall, who later built Fallingwater for Frank Lloyd Wright, using some of the same elements. Lynn Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Creating a Personal Connection By Harry L. Rinker Harry L. Rinker, LLC

As I continue to sort through the dozens of archival file boxes residing three rows deep along one wall of my office and in a shelved storage room built especially to hold them, I am overwhelmed by a simple thought—I do not want to throw this out, “this” being a broad term for almost everything. The difficulty is simple. Each file folder or object kindles a memory connection between the object and me. A memory is critical in collecting, especially if it is personal. Personal memories breakdown into “me,” family, career, and object memories. The concept of discarding memories is alien to most individuals. Memories contribute to our uniqueness. They define who we are, perhaps more to ourselves than to others. Discarding a memory is equivalent to destroying a part of one’s self. I currently am in the process of filing the genealogical information I have gathered over the last 50 years. It is a humbling experience. First, many of these records are in my possession because no one else in the family wanted them. Second, approximately one-third of the family photographs are unidentified. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, second cousins, and even some first cousins who could have identified the unknown person have passed away. Third, many of the items only have meaning to me. My children, my cousins, and the children of my cousins do not care. I am the final custodian. I am haunted by the question of what will happen to this information when I die. Try as I might, I can find no answer.

The discovery of a copy of the will of my mother’s sister Vera Prosser Grube Fries is typical of the “what should I do with it” question. Aunt Vera had no children. While I have fond memories of her, my younger cousins do not. My children have no memories. When Aunt Verna died, her will divided her estate between her brothers and sisters. Since my mother had passed away, her portion of the estate passed down to me. Logic dictates that I should discard the copy of the will. Retaining it takes up space in the file drawer. The family and historical information it contains is minimal. If I keep it, it will only delay the “throw it out” process. Although I know this, I still filed it. I naively continue to convince myself that someday when I finish filing all the family records, I will go back through the files and discard the secondary and tertiary material. I no more believe this than you do, but….. Me and family memories, especially for my generation (I just turned 74), are the hardest to destroy. They are the links to a treasured and honored past. My generation grew up when most relatives lived in close proximity to one another, an active correspondence and visits were maintained with those who moved away, and family reunions were a regular occurrence. Decades have passed since the last Rinker and Prosser family reunions. There was a Seiple family reunion in Washington, D.C., in 2015, but I had a schedule conflict. A person’s legacy is measured in many ways, one of which is the records from a person’s business career. My business files filled over a dozen four-drawer file cabinets. I kept extensive files on everything. My business trips, my radio and television appearances and shows, my dealings with individuals, organizations, and publishers,

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and more. Since I have no plans to write an autobiography, the files are of no value to anyone, including me. Yet, discarding them has been one of the most painful things I have done. Every file rekindles memories. Each discard clouds them. Copies of the articles and columns I have written in the course of my career fill five file drawers. I continue to add to them. At some point, I plan to contact the Lehigh University Library and Winterthur to see if these institutions have any interest in them. If not, they will go to the recycling center as did my other business files. I have a personal attachment with the objects I own. I love them. It makes little difference if the object descended through one of my many family lines or I bought it. The memories of how and when I acquired it and the research I did or plan to do bind me to it. The objects are an integral part of whom I am. In the process of sorting through the many boxes, I am making a list of the books and articles I want to write before I end my career. I continue to be astonished by the amount of research materials and number of objects I acquired with this idea in mind. I am certain about one thing. I am not unique. Collecting and memory are linked. The stronger a person’s memory is about an object, the less likely the person is to dispose of it. Although a strong memory bond with an object can develop immediately upon acquisition, it usually takes time for the owner and object to achieve a “this object is part of me” relationship. Pride of ownership is a critical part of this relationship. Although collectors often house their collections in basements or private rooms, the truth is that they love to share their treasures with others. Collectors are educators and proselytizers. They want others to share the joy they see in an object with others. Who is responsible for creating this personal connection? Historically, the burden rested with the individual who acquired the object. Today, it requires a broader community. Once the easiest to establish, the family memory connection is among the most difficult in the twenty-first century. The phrase “my kids do not want it” is commonplace. Younger generations have little backward focus. As a result, grandparents and parents who want to pass along family heirlooms have to take an active role in demonstrating the memory value of the things they own. “That belonged to your grandmother or great grandmother” is not enough. If these previous owners do not become living, breathing entities to the prospective recipient, the person will not care. Further, the age of the “shelf sitting antique” is over. Family heirlooms will have more interest if they are viewed as still functional. Decorative value is possible; but, younger generations use far less decorative accessories than did older generations. When a person buys an antique or collectible, the seller, especially if a dealer, is responsible for creating an ambiance and mystique about the object that allows the purchaser to feel pride in their purchase and a desire to share that pride with others.

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In an age when decorating value is more important than collecting value in making a sale, the seller needs to share as much knowledge as possible about the object at the time of the sale. At the very least, this means issuing a sales receipt that contains a solid description of the object, one with enough clues to allow the buyer to easily learn more about the object. In the past, providing a photocopy of a page or two from a reference book was the best way to do this. Today, the publication rate for new reference books is seriously declining. The key reference books for many collecting categories are now more than 10 years old and out of print. In the digital age, a reference to a website containing information about the object is far more appropriate. Sellers also must continue to work on their sales pitch. The concept that an object sells itself is passé. When concluding a sale, the dealer needs to develop a phraseology that compliments the buyer. Possibilities include: “your purchase shows you have a real appreciation for quality;” “this is an object you can take pride in sharing with others;” and, “this is a bargain price.” If the antiques and collectibles industry is to survive, merely collecting the money at the conclusion of a sale no longer suffices. Ideally, the seller should share with the buyer other opportunities to purchase similar material that complements the purchased object. In an age when many purchasers do not think collection, it is imperative that sellers promote the concept. Every major collection started with the first few purchases. A personal connection with an object is not materialistic, a “bad” word in the 2010s. Rather it is a connection, a commitment, and an attachment. It creates meaning and a warm, fuzzy feeling of goodness about one’s self. Can it run amok? Yes, it can. I cite myself as an example. Although true, I make no apologies for caring about things as I do. It is who I am and who I wish to be until I die. Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Selected letters will be answered in this column. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5955 Mill Point Court SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered. You can listen and participate in WHATCHA GOT?, Harry’s antiques and collectibles radio call-in show, on Sunday mornings between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time. If you cannot find it on a station in your area, WHATCHA GOT? streams live on the Internet at www. gcnlive.com.

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Ceiling revamps: Leave the popcorn to the movies C

alling all DIY enthusiasts: Those popcorn ceilings have to go. They don’t get much love from homeowners or homebuyers, and they can really bring down the overall look and feel of an otherwise attractive room. Popcorn ceilings haven’t really represented stylish home design since disco was on the radio, though they’ve certainly lingered a little longer. Whether you’re interested in a fresh look for your own family or updating your home before putting it on the market, upgrading from a popcorn ceiling is a great investment. As the largest uninterrupted space in any room, the ceiling gives you a golden opportunity to add interest or infuse your personality. Mark Clement, a general contractor and blogger on My-

FixItUplife, regularly advises homeowners on the best ways to create the most value and appeal in their home. “Ceilings really do make a greater impact than people realize,” he says. “The right choice can help a room soar - but you probably won’t get that effect with a popcorn ceiling.” BEFORE

“New ceilings are a great update, and with today’s options, they’re incredibly easy to install yourself,” Clement says. “Stylish ceiling details really turn heads, and a new ceiling can make a dark or uninviting room feel bigger and brighter.” But, before you grab your scraper, Clement has a few words of caution about tackling popcorn ceiling removal as a DIY project. “To remove a popcorn ceiling, you have to really be committed to the task. You can certainly do it yourself, but be forewarned that it can create a gigantic mess. You’ll want to consider all of your options carefully, from removing to simply covering it up, based on your time and budget. Patience is also a factor!” If you know you want to make a change, but you’re not sure of the best way to move forward, here are a few key factors you need to consider when addressing your popcorn ceiling(s):

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Stains: You can’t put lipstick on a pig. Water problems, cracks and other issues that leave blemishes on your ceiling can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you have a popcorn ceiling that makes it difficult to simply paint over. Covering or removing that ceiling allows you to fix the noticeable, distracting blemishes overhead and clear the path for a stylish upgrade. Scraping: Get ready to get messy. Popcorn ceilings don’t get enough credit for tenacity, really. Once applied, they’re not easy to remove! At best, you’ll be soaking your ceiling with water (and possibly your walls along the way) before scraping the resulting slop off with a drywall knife. At worst, the water won’t get through all of your layers of paint, and you’ll be breaking out the heavy machinery to sand or scrape through it all, kicking up dust. It’s doable, but it’s a lengthy process and not for the faint of heart.

AFTER

Cover it up: The easy way to ﬁx ugly. Don’t worry though - you can always cover up your popcorn ceiling by installing a new ceiling over the existing one. Manufacturers like Armstrong Ceilings have many options: wood planks, metal tiles or patterned panels. How-to videos show how easy it is to install a new ceiling in as little as a day. To our modern eyes, popcorn ceilings definitely look a bit stale, but the good news is you’re not stuck with them. There are a number of options to freshen up your look and turn your ceilings into the fun, festive spaces that match your true style.

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Is your home ready for the winter? Autumn is the time to ﬁnd out By Amber Turba

Special to House & Home

unny summer days have come and gone, and, as autumn leaves fall, winter draws nearer. According to Jim Curcio, project manager at Kessel Construction Inc. in Bradford, autumn is “just the right time” for homeowners to begin planning and implementing winter weather safety. The U.S. Department of Energy also has a list of steps to take in preparing one’s house for the harsh conditions to come. • Check the heating system. Homeowners should get a routine maintenance and inspection of their heating system every year at the start of autumn, according to the Department of Energy. However, Curcio said, individual care can be given toward ensuring the efficiency of one’s heating system by replacing the heater’s air filter; removing dust from vents; or, if the system is aged or worn, replacing it entirely.

from 8 percent to 10 percent of a homeowner’s heating cost. To secure heat within the home, check for drafts around doors, windows and every duct, wire or pipe that penetrates the wall, floor or ceiling. Be sure to close the fireplace damper when not in use. • Check the insulation. Uninsulated attics can be a huge cause for increased heating bills, specifically in older buildings built before the establishment of energy-efficiency standards. Additionally, determine whether to weather strip and insulate doors and window seals to prevent the escape of warm air.

• Maintain the roof. Ensure that gutter and downspouts are operating as they should before the snow starts to fall and cover them. Be sure to clear out any leaves, dirt or debris that may cause a blockage in the gutters, and, if possible, flush out downspouts with a garden hose to prevent ice buildup that may damage the roof. Additionally, inspect the shingles on the roof for any that are loose or missing, or hire a professional to assess the roof, as • Manage the temperature. The use of a set-back thermostat is highly recommended by energy analysts, affording home- winter weather will cause further damage to exposed areas. owners the opportunity to automatically increase or decrease A few additional tips to make the winter weather safe and the heat while they are away or asleep through the use of premanageable for homeowners involve storing winter shovels and settings. snowblowers in readily accessible areas, checking handrails for According to the Department of Energy, statistics show it is stability in the event of icing, covering outdoor grills or equipmore energy-efficient to warm a cool home than to maintain a ment tightly, and draining all garden hoses and storing them warm temperature throughout the length of the day. Additioninside to prevent exposure to snow and ice. ally, by reversing the switch on ceiling fans so that they blow “A lot of the problems we see in the area involve ice buildup upward, the blades push the warm air that has accumulated in as a result of a loss of heat and a lack of maintenance,” Curcio high areas of the house back down into the rooms. concluded. Temperatures are, once again, predicted to drop well below • Check for leaks. Weather stripping and caulking is probfreezing for much of the winter season. As a result, take special ably the least expensive and most effective way to cut down on care to shut off all outdoor water valves before the temperatures energy waste in the winter, according to the Department of Energy, considering that improperly sealed homes waste anywhere drop. Any leftover water could freeze and break the pipes.

House & Home

OCTOBER 15, 2015

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

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

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 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

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

House & Home

OCTOBER 15, 2015

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

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

House & Home

OCTOBER 15, 2015

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

Top 5 renovation tips to create more space in your home A

s real estate prices continue to climb, the cost to trade up to a larger home is on the upswing across the country, especially as markets remain hampered by tight inventory levels. As a result, more and more Americans are choosing to renovate their current homes instead of relocating. In fact, some forecasts predict that 2015 renovation spending could exceed the record of $324 billion set during the peak of last decade’s housing boom. While the hunt for more square footage can be challenging, homeowners shouldn’t feel like a costly second story or complete addition are the only options. Here are five great ways to create or optimize space in your existing home. 1. Finish an unfinished basement. A basement renovation can hold limitless potential and increase the resale value or income potential of your home. Think about the possibilities: a home theater, office, spare bedroom, basement apartment or recreation room. The key to doing it successfully is to focus on what’s behind the walls, especially since moisture is a common issue in basements. Choosing the right insulation is critical. Look for products that are vapor permeable, dimensionally stable and mold and moisture resistant. Many contractors use Roxul Comfortboard IS semi-rigid sheathing board paired with Comfortbatt batt insulation to combat thermal bridging and protect against mold and mildew growth. An added benefit of this type of mineral wool insulation is that it’s also fire-resistant to 2,150 F. For interior walls and ceilings, Safe ‘n’ Sound insulation is ideal because of its ability to absorb noise and indoor traffic

sounds, ensuring your newfound space is a peaceful one. 2. Create a more open-concept feel with light and color. If your home wasn’t blessed with towering windows, installing French doors and pot lights can encourage light to travel more freely, creating the illusion of space. Likewise, choosing a paint color for walls, trim and moldings that is lighter and cooler in tone (think soft grays or blues) will help to reflect light and give the room a more open feel. 3. Remove non-load-bearing walls. Homeowners have the opportunity to rethink the layout of their home by removing non-load-bearing walls. Removing structurally unnecessary walls can make your whole home feel larger, improve flow, lighting and the function of your home. 4. Convert your garage into usable living or work space. For many homeowners, the garage becomes an overflow room for storage –– and is often a walk-in headache. Convert your garage (or a portion of it) into another living space, guest bedroom or home office. Install carpet and quality thermal insulation such as Roxul Comfortbatt to block outdoor noise and keep in warmth. 5. Choose furniture and accessories carefully. Adopt a minimalist’s eye. Begin looking around your home for furniture or accessories that overwhelm the space. Interior designers recommend choosing low-profile or small-scale furniture for rooms with less square footage. Dual-purpose items, such as ottomans with storage chests inside, are a budget-friendly way to save on space while staying organized. TF15A622

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House & Home

OCTOBER 15, 2015