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New roost for Manlius store
G arden Knock, knock… Eagle Newspapers
See page 6.
What’s black and white and shiny all over? See Momsense on page 3 to find out.
Excellence – A Mid-year Report
July 13, 2011
Make a good first impression, starting with your front door
I
By Jennifer Wing t’s called “curb appeal,” that first glimpse people get of your home when they pull up in a car or walk by. Real estate agents can be as pleased with exterior curb appeal as they are with a well-maintained house on the inside. When it comes to residential property value, this book is indeed judged by its cover.
Picture this: A friend or aquaintance comes to your home for the first time. They walk up your neatly-manicured walkway and climb your front steps. They ring the doorbell, and, well, wait for you to answer. In the meantime, they are looking at the furnishings on your porch. So why not masonite.com make a good Entry doors can be simple, elegant or bold. Masonite is among the brands carried by Ryan’s Windows and impression Dorrs. See related article, page 3. and reflect Many homeowners look to replacing windows as a way your personal style? There are to save on their energy bill, but heat can also escape through “Incorporating birds many ways to add character leaky entry doors. and nature into your to the front of your house, but According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “New exlandscape will make perhaps the best way is to start terior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If any yard more inviting,” with the basics, such as your you have older doors in your home, replacing them might said Heidi Menikheim , front door. be a good investment, resulting in lower heating and cooling owner of The Wild Bird “Your front door is the first costs. If you’re building a new home, you should consider Center of Manlius. thing people notice when they buying the most energy-efficient doors possible.” “[We offer] many step onto your porch,” Pierce Construction types beautiful and unique Ryan of Ryan’s Windows and Materials used to build doors include fiberglass, steel, items that can make Doors said. “It gives them their wood and glass. any entrance feel more first impression of the house and Fiberglass is a practical choice, and provide great insulawelcoming,” she said. the people who live in it.” “From hummingbird tion, according to consumerreports.org. Homeowners might not realfeeders and concrete Steel and wood also provides good insulation. Wood has ize the many options available to the added benefit of allowing you to paint it to match your birdbaths to symthem when it comes to doors, but home’s siding and other trim. phonic wind chimes and handmade garden they come in a variety of styles Glass can be used in many different ways on an entry art, customers can find and rainbow of colors. door, such as in sidelights, inserts or transoms, and the insomething that will According to consumer- sulation provided by glass doors is more than adequate. make any guest feel reports.org, most doors they Stylish doors warm and welcome. We tested “performed very well…so Looking for more than just a typical wood paneled door? are your ultimate backappearance and price will often Decorative glass panels or insets set into a door can add style yard nature store!” be the deciding factor.” and elegance to your front entrance. See story, page 6. Save with a new door
Bring nature to your home
Leisure time in CNY
See First impression on page 2
Home ‘greens’ home
Timber Banks offers the newest lifestyle in CNY
The dining and great room of an @ home builders model at Timber Banks.
Timber Banks Golf Club & Marina Community, located just off of River Road in Baldwinsville, is host to the newest lifestyle in Central New York. Owner and developer Gary Pooler had a vision more than 10 years ago about what Timber Banks would become. “Timber Banks has exceeded my expectations” said Pooler. “I believe we have one of the finest residential communities in all of New York State.” With the 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course, the new Wedding & Banquet Center and two miles of walking trails, Timber Banks offers amenities that are difficult to match. You will also find two of the finest builders in all of Upstate New York available to you at Timber Banks. @ home Builders and Heritage Homes have models up for you to tour and also have endless custom
See Timber Banks on page 7
Brewski bound
Take a drive on the Finger Lakes Beer trail
By Jason Emerson Many people have heard of the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, but how about the Finger Lakes Beer Trail? The idea is a recent reality, and beer enthusiasts now have a resource to travel throughout the central New York area and find great regional beer and beer makers along the way. The idea began this past February by two local beer enthusiasts who are making the case that microbreweries are travel destinations too. “When you have a couple or a group on the road, one person may like wine but another may prefer beer. The Finger Lakes Beer Trail helps make the journey a one-stop destination and make everyone happy,” said beer trail co-
founder Theresa Hollister. “This is behind the response to the beer trail: the wine trail may not apply to every tourist, but the beer trail applies to another segment of the tourism industry, even reaches new markets.” The Finger Lakes Beer Trail was started this past spring by Hollister and co-founder Adam Smith after traveling the Finger Lakes Wine Trail and noticing all the microbreweries popping up along the route yet being overlooked. So they decided to create a beer trail that would showcase the region’s microbreweries, brew pubs, tap houses, and brewing-affiliated businesses. The trail currently consists of 45 locations, including 23 breweries, 11 brew pubs, six tap See Beer trail on page 7