Fine Lifestyles Cleveland Volume 3 Issue 3 2015

FineLifestyles 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 PRICELESS

THE RED MAPLE INN Gordon & Evie Safran’s Piece of Paradise

CLEVELAND

A GUIDE TO GOLF COURSES IN THE CLEVELAND METROPARKS SUMMER TRAVEL: CAPE COD SHOWCASING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES

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FineLifestyles CLEVELAND

With Fine Lifestyles editor Patti London

I

t’s a challenge to stop playing this time of year and get any real work done. In between the rain storms, we’ve been experiencing some fabulous weather. On a Saturday in late June, we were at the Cleveland Museum of Art with 6,000 others celebrating the Solstice and the weather was absolutely perfect. After months of snow, we just want to sit on a patio, a deck, or a porch and party. Or golf.

finelifestylesmagazine.com 2015 Volume 3 Issue 3

This issue celebrates Cleveland in the summer. Read our friend, Dan Ruminski’s piece on the Cleveland connection to the game of golf.

Apparently this trend to get outside and enjoy the summer has been going on for about 90 years. We’ve also included a guide to the eight golf courses in the Cleveland Metroparks and a short feature on the Pleasant Hill golf course in Geauga County. We hope you’re inspired to get out there and practice your swing.

Design Candace Haiko, Ghislaine Moffitt

While the weather holds we’ve featured some local businesses who can help you take care of home projects in preparation for the cooler seasons. Does your roof need some attention, your siding cleaned, your garage door replaced? You’ll find plenty of help for those jobs within this issue. Of course, Lowe’s Greenhouse has been around for a long time, helping us with our summer gardening questions. Read about their major renovation so you know what to look forward to. We talk with Ted Dellas again, featured on the cover of our winter issue, this time about the benefits of building a pool and really taking advantage of summer.

Publisher Marc London Editor Patti London Art Direction Lisa Redden

Staff Writers Dylan Yépez, Meg Pauken, Kristal Pettit Cover Photography Vincent Gorman Cover Photo: Gordon & Evie Safran Photography Vincent Gorman, Aaron Leyser Advertising Consultants Marlon Tussel 216.548.6292 | marlon@finelifestylesmagazine.com Distribution marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com

Consider an evening on the patio at Stone Mad Pub in Gordon Square if you want the full Cleveland summer experience. We’re excited to feature businesses in up and coming neighborhoods so our readers don’t miss the opportunity to support Cleveland’s economic development.

By supporting the businesses you read about in Fine Lifestyles you’re making an important contribution to the economic health of our city.

We encourage you to buy local for the benefit of us all.

We hope to see you out and about this summer. Maybe we’ll run into you at Cain Park or Blossom. More likely, you’ll run into us on a golf course. Sorry, I’m slow.

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Marlon Tussel 216.548.6292 marlon@finelifestylesmagazine.com

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Fine Lifestyles Cleveland

@FLScle

We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of FineLifestyles Inc, publications are copyrighted 2015 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to FineLifestyles Inc., where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of FineLifestyles Inc. or its writers. The name FineLifestyles Cleveland, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of FineLifestyles Inc. or the companies it represents. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS STYLE ..................................................... 8 HEALTH & WELLNESS .......................14 ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT .... 25 SPORTS, RECREATION & TRAVEL......36

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HOUSE & HOME .................................47 BUSINESS ........................................... 90 WHEELS ...............................................94

FEATURES Calendar of Events.................................. 25 Cover Story: The Red Maple Inn ........26 Golf in Cleveland ......................................36 The Cleveland Metroparks Golf Courses ............................................. 40 Travel: Cape Cod ......................................44 Book Review: Life’s a Pitch ................. 90

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STYLE

Wide chiffon blouse & tan suede skirt (H&M), necklace from Aevi Boutique.

JUST CALL ME

CHLOÉ

Youthful, modern, practical ease with a touch of bohemian sensibility, the spirit of Chloé’s SS15 collection captured our hearts. Basically, she’s the girl you want to be this season.

Produced by Swish Productions Photos by Carlos & Alyse

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STYLE

Left: Pleated maxi dress (GUESS), woven belt (H&M), wood & acrylic bangles (Anthropologie), strappy doublebuckle sandals (Steven Madden); Right: Eyelet dot tunic dress (Echo Design) from MoulĂŠ, wood & acrylic bangle (Anthropologie), suede fringe gladiator sandals (Steven Madden). // Styling & Creative Direction: Lekan Tijani @ Swish Productions; Hair: Allissa Mac @ Aevi Winnipeg; Beauty: Katie Leboutillier; Model: Shelby Kessen @ Swish Model Management.

STYLE

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Meet Your Personal Jeweler

Chad Verhoff

By Meg Pauken Photos Aaron Leyser & Vincent Gorman

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eweler Chad Verhoff opened Jackson Grey Jewelers in Chagrin Falls, to offer a more personal jewelry experience for his clients. “By being a jeweler-owned and operated store it allows the client to have a personal relationship with the actual craftsman who is responsible for the work,” Verhoff explains.

“Today people prefer to have a connection not only with the object they purchase but with the designer who made it.” When entering the store most will find Chad stepping out of his workshop wearing his apron ready to greet you. Many stores don’t offer you the ability to talk to the owner and most importantly the craftsman that will be working on your jewelry. “I am able to talk to clients from the perspective of an experienced craftsman who will be designing or repairing their jewelry and not as a salesman,” says Verhoff.

“We have a personal relationship with our customers.

When they come in with a piece of jewelry to be worked on or to purchase a piece of jewelry, they meet me. I do the work and their piece never leaves my shop until they take it home.”

Those personal relationships form the foundation of Chad’s business: “People buy jewelry for major life events: engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. Over time, I get to know my customers and their preferences.”

An experienced artisan, Chad enjoys working with his customers so that they wear and enjoy the jewelry that they own. He calls it his Three R’s: Restyle, Recycle and Restore.

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Often, a piece of jewelry sits in its box, unworn, because the style doesn’t suit the owner. Maybe it was a gift or was inherited; maybe it doesn’t fit; maybe it is simply outdated. Chad can restyle pieces so that they will be worn and enjoyed again. “Some items simply need a slight make over by having prongs retipped, pearls restrung or the item simply needs to be cleaned and polished.”

“A customer of mine purchased a beautiful pendant while traveling. When she returned to the U.S., she didn’t wear it. She didn’t care for it as a pendant. I restyled it into a ring, which she loves and wears daily,” he relates.

Sometimes jewelry needs to be recycled: the components broken down completely and remade into something entirely new.

“There is a limit to the number of times jewelry can be repaired. Older pieces may have been worked on so many times that the best choice is to remove the stones, melt down the metal and start over by creating something completely new,” Chad explains.

Frequently, repair or restoration is all that is needed. Repairing damaged prongs, restringing pearls, and resizing are the sorts of fixes that quickly make treasured items wearable again. Having an onsite workshop allows Chad the ability to respond to emergencies, when special pieces need immediate repair.

Chad has special skill in restoring antique jewelry. “It is really an art,” he says.

“Not too many people do it any more.

You really have to understand how the

STYLE

pieces are constructed and the different materials that were used in order to do it properly.”

Stop into Jackson Grey today and let Chad create something beautiful for you.

Jackson Grey Jewelers is located at 516 East Washington Street in Chagrin Falls next to Hunan’s. Open Tuesday - Friday 10-5:30; Thursday 10-7; Saturday 10-2.

Call 440.247.5600 for a consultation.

Visit the website at jacksongreyjewelers. com for more information.

Jackson Grey Jewelers 516 East Washington St., Chagrin Falls 440.247.5600 jacksongreyjewelers.com

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Breathe, Pose, Sweat, Repeat: Inside

BIKRAM YOGA

By Courtney Tait

N

inety minutes, 26 postures and a room heated to 104 °F: this is the recipe for a Bikram Yoga class. This yoga practice was founded by Bikram Choudhury who began learning poses at age three.

If you’re taking a Bikram class (as opposed to other forms of hot yoga), your teacher will have completed nine weeks of Bikram training to become certified.

The practice begins with a pranayama breathing exercise, designed to help you focus on the present moment while releasing tension in your neck and shoulders. This, like the rest of the postures, is done twice before moving on. Next comes the standing series, which emphasizes alignment, strength, balance and flexibility. By now, you and your mat are likely damp with sweat from the 104 degree heat, designed to mimic the warm Indian climate, allowing your body to heat up and release toxins.

Ready for more? Strengthen your spine with a sequence of four poses: cobra, locust, full locust

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and bow. If you’ve practiced other styles of yoga, you may be surprised to notice the instructor does not demonstrate the pose. Their job is to guide you verbally, explaining how to enter, perform or hold, and exit each pose. You’ll also learn each posture’s purpose and why they are important to your overall wellness — an incentive to power through and embrace the hot atmosphere or “torture chamber” as Bikram calls it.

Limbered up, it’s time to stretch, bend and twist your way through the floor series. The section of the class is what Bikram considers the “actual yoga,” and it’s a powerful way to wring out your organs and tone up your body. Each class winds down with kapalbhati body breathing, an exhalation-focused posture that stimulates the digestive system.

The intense heat and repetition turns some yogis away from Bikram, but its followers attest to its physical and mental benefits. The promise of its founder? “Give me 30 days, I’ll change your body. Give me 60 days, I’ll change your life.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

In the Flow: Elements of

VINYASA YOGA

By Courtney Tait

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f you have taken a yoga class of any style, you likely noticed the repetition of the Sanskrit word “vinyasa.” Broken down to its roots, “vi” means “in a special way” and “nyasa” means “to place.” Literally, vinyasa is “to place in a special way.”

In the context of yoga, what you’re placing in that special way is your body, of course. While all forms of yoga take care to position the body in specific postures, Vinyasa Yoga is a style that emphasizes the flow of these postures. Each movement connects to the next, creating a dynamic sequence that moves in cohesion with the rhythmic flow of breath.

At the heart of a Vinyasa class are sun salutations. These sequences, which include a standing pose, forward bend, lunges, and downward and upward dogs, warm up

the body in preparation for more intense postures. Upward movements are paired with inhalations, while downward movements are done on exhale. An energizing way to start the day, “saluting the sun” invigorates the body, calms the mind and gets you breathing deeply.

While many styles of yoga feature dynamic sequences such as sun salutations, some of these — such as Ashtanga and Bikram — stick to a specific set of postures that are repeated in the same order, every class. Vinyasa Yoga, by contrast, varies from class to class and teacher to teacher. The pace could be slow or fast, include time for meditation or chanting, feature a couple sun salutations or a set of ten, or emphasize alignment along with breath. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a little variation, Vinyasa will help you find your flow.

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Lower Back Pain?

Consider Decompression Therapy

By Dylan Yépez Photos Vincent Gorman

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ower back problems can be painful and often debilitating.

While medications may help to alleviate the discomfort, they do nothing to repair the underlying issues causing it.

Spinal decompression therapy is a painless, nonsurgical approach to treating disc protrusions, herniations and bulges, as well as conditions including pinched nerves and sciatica. “When you’re doing a decompression program, it’s a correctional procedure to move the disc away from the nerve,” explains

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Dr. John Livingston, a third-generation chiropractic physician who has been in practice for over 20 years.

At Livingston Chiropractic Center, Dr. Livingston and his partners take a holistic approach to healthcare that identifies and addresses the causes of pain, rather than masking the symptoms.

In addition to decompression therapy, other therapeutic treatments include electric muscle stimulation or “E-stim,” ultrasound, Thermostim, and infrared laser therapy. These therapeutic modalities can effectively reduce pain, joint inflammation

HEALTH & WELLNESS

and muscle spasms arising from various physical sources and causations.

For more than 13 years, Dr. Livingston has been using decompression therapy to successfully treat a variety of spinal disc problems which can cause back and neck pain. Decompression therapy is quite simple for patients. All they have to do is lie horizontally on the decompression machine, which provides gentle, intermittent and angled traction to the area of the spine where the nerve is pinched. This force separates the vertebrae around the protruded disc,

creating a vacuum-like effect that draws the disc away from the spinal nerve and back where it belongs.

The process is gradual and usually takes about four to eight weeks, depending on how significant the protrusion is. “Much like orthodontics moves the teeth slowly into place with time and pressure,” Dr. Livingston explains, “decompression therapy moves the discs slowly with time and pressure.”

Decompression therapy provides an array of benefits over the surgical alternatives (trimming the affected disc or cutting open the spine to remove the disc). First off, decompression therapy is noninvasive and often painless, so it doesn’t involve taking medications. “A lot of people actually fall asleep on the table during it,” Dr. Livingston says. Patients who undergo this therapy also experience much shorter recovery times compared to those following surgery.

At a small fraction of the cost of surgery, moreover, decompression therapy actually yields a higher success rate than the surgical alternatives. With this therapy, patients also avoid the repeated need for cortisone injections and addictive medications, which mask the symptoms rather than repairing the structure.

If you experience pain, numbness, or weakness in your back or neck, or pain traveling down your arms, and suspect you have a problem with your spinal disc, this may indicate a problem that can be addressed through spinal decompression therapy.

For more information call or email Dr. Livingston, visit his website at jkldc.com or visit his office near the intersection of Miles and Richmond Roads.

LEFT Jan Craft, Alice Silverstein, Dr John Livingston, Colleen Laflame

Livingston Chiropractic Center 25111 Miles Road, Suite D 440.528.0005 drjklii@hotmail.com jkldc.com

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End the Suffering and Pain Without Addictive Medications

series of cortisone injections just to make it through the day.

Dr. John Livingston Livingston Chiropractic Center 25111 Miles Road, Suite D 440.528.0005 drjklii@hotmail.com jkldc.com

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ummer is usually the most active season for Clevelanders. The weather is finally conducive to playing outdoors, gardening and other yard projects.

Summer can also bring frustration and stress if we are suffering from injuries – car accidents, work injuries, or slips and falls – and cannot enjoy the good weather or even get out of bed because of acute, unrelenting pain.

What happens then? People lose sleep because of pain so they are often forced to visit their doctors for medications such as narcotic pain medications, antiinflammatories, muscle relaxers, or even

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But is this the best approach to address the real cause of the issue?

Medications and injections may help short term to alleviate the pain, but often, more is needed to fix the core problems that are causing the pain – disc herniations, pinched nerves/radiculitis/ neuritis, sprain/strains, and muscle spasms, to name a few.

And that’s where chiropractic care comes in.

At Livingston Chiropractic Center, I have spent the last 22 years helping patients find the cause of their pain, rather than masking it with costly, addictive, or ineffective medications, and helping people to get back on their feet and allowing them to return to work or to a more normal lifestyle.

It all starts with a thorough assessment: I take a complete history and perform a comprehensive evaluation to arrive at a working diagnosis. I may also review other records and diagnostic tests, such as hospital reports, X-rays, MRI’s

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CT scans, or EMG’s. Once I arrive at a diagnosis, if there is no pathology or infection, then conservative treatments can be initiated to correct the structural causes of the pain and effectively provide symptomatic relief of the pain – and many times on a permanent basis.

Therapeutic treatments may include gentle joint manipulation or mobilization, active rehabilitative exercises, electric muscle stimulation or “E-stim,” ultrasound, Thermostim, or infrared laser therapy to reduce pain and inflammation and decrease muscle spasms. An exceptionally effective procedure called non-surgical spinal decompression therapy has been shown to be effective in 85-95% of spinal disc cases and can provide patients the relief that they need to overcome the pain and recover from the disability, without needing surgery.

So, if you or a family member have been suffering and not healing effectively this summer, and are tired of taking pain medications, call my receptionist at Livingston Chiropractic Center at 440.528.0005 and schedule an assessment today. It may be the best way to ensure that you are able to enjoy our short summer season.

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PrePare to Succeed in the Next School Year

By Kristal Pettit Photos Aaron Leyser

I

s your child bored or disengaged in the regular classroom? Is your child’s school struggling to support your child’s academic needs? Are assignments incomplete, late, or lost on the way to school, impacting your child’s success in the classroom? This summer might be the perfect time to address your child’s academic difficulties so he or she will be well on the way to success once the school year resumes.

Beth Wilson-Fish began the Consortium for Creative Children, C3, to provide

support services to parents and students and to work with the education providers to ensure each child is making the most from the educational opportunities offered. “A lot of time kids are struggling in school and parents know their child is bright, so it just doesn’t make sense to them,” Beth explains. “We can provide an assessment of the student, educate the parents as part of the process, then plan the appropriate strategies for success. Many children are far from typical and need additional supports to

ensure they each receive the most from their education. Many gifted students are considered ‘twice exceptional,’ meaning they are identified as gifted, but they are struggling in school with attention or learning issues that adversely impact their potential” A former teacher and coordinator of gifted, Beth Wilson-Fish has over 30 years of experience. She holds an undergraduate degree in education and graduate degrees in school counseling and gifted education. The team of ABOVE Beth Wilson-Fish and Sharon Prindle

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educational consultants at C3 includes Sharon Prindle, a school psychologist with 33 years in public education. Sharon holds undergraduate degrees in elementary education and special education and graduate degrees in curriculum and instruction and school psychology.

C3 offers services to help gifted children succeed by giving them the skills, support, and confidence they need to reach their potential at home and school.

Support services include advocacy for the gifted child, strategies to enhance study/organizational skills, identification

of special needs that might require accommodations or modifications at school, reading and writing support, preparation for the college application process and support for educators.

“Many school districts and teachers appreciate the collaborative support to come up with solutions,” Beth points out.

One parent of a high school student has seen improvement in her teen’s academic performance since working with C3.

“Beth and her team at the Consortium for Creative Children have played an integral part in helping us navigate the

difficulties of raising our gifted teen who was underachieving. Beth’s passion, commitment and assistance have been invaluable to me and my family. I finally feel like we’re on the right track with their extraordinary support.”

Use this summer to initiate a consult with the team at Consortium for Creative Children. You and your child will be ready to implement strategies to develop your child’s full potential into the next school year.

Consortium for Creative Children 440.221.7319 beth@forcreativechildren.com forcreativechildren.com

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DESIRED RESULTS:

Slim, Sexy, Strong and Stretched

By Dylan Yépez Photos Brad Cohn

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Yana Salwan, who has been teaching fitness in Cleveland for 20 years. When Yana opened her studio she vowed to keep the classes small and lead each one herself.

Barre Cleveland is a private, women’s only, group fitness studio. Small classes of 20 students or less are taught by

The Barre workout draws from ballet, yoga and Pilates to provide a workout experience that produces results without wearing down your body. Barre takes the body-sculpting elements of each workout style to focus on the areas you care about most: thighs, hips, butt, abs and arms. Slow, sustained motions immediately followed by stretches allow

omen rarely put their own needs at the top of their to-do lists. But to be your best at work, at home, at school — wherever others are relying on you — you have to take care of yourself first. Make this the year you find the strength, energy and fitness instructor to be your best. Such transformation is happening for women every day at Barre Cleveland.

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you to strengthen these muscles without bulking them up. Many women leave a class without breaking a sweat, but they feel it the next day when their muscles are sore, indicating that the targeted exercises work.

Barre provides a thorough workout, while avoiding the type of high-impact movements and heavy lifting that typically leads to joint and back pain To the contrary, Barre is restorative and actually helps you to improve your posture, strengthen your core and bolster the overall health of your back.

Yana Salwan

The gentle, restorative nature of the barre workout makes it extremely sustainable for women of all fitness levels, ages 18 and up. The classmates you’ll meet at Barre Cleveland will vary widely in age and experience — Yana even has current students as old as 75.

That’s because Barre Cleveland is a place where women can confidently work out with other women. The training style fosters a sense of community and familiarity among participants, so you don’t have to worry about judging glances from other women or unwanted attention from men, as is common in traditional gym settings.

This female-only boutique fitness studio will help you to sculpt your body, become slim and feel sexy —all with the support of a strong community of women experiencing the same struggles pursuing the same goals as you. “We accommodate every fitness level in every class,” Yana assures. “It’s very inviting — all the ladies know what it feels like to be in class for the first time.” BarreFit has become an integral part of many women’s weekly routines, so some of the most popular class times at Barre Cleveland are filling up a month in advance.

The Barre Cleveland studio is located at 3737 Park East Drive, Suite 209, in

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Beachwood, right near the intersection of I-271 and Chagrin Blvd. All class registration and purchasing is done online at barrecleveland.com. Currently new students can try one month of unlimited classes for 60 percent off the regular price. So, take a “before” picture of yourself, sign up for classes and let the transformation begin!

Barre Cleveland 3737 Park East Drive, Suite 209 Beachwood 216.342.4229 barrecleveland.com

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events CLEVELAND

July–September

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Through AugusT 23 Treehouses, Nature Exploration & Adventure Cleveland Botanical Garden Through JAnuAry 3 World’s Largest Dinosaur Exhibit Cleveland Museum of Natural History July 9-11 Tri-C Jazz Fest Playhouse Square

July 29 The Cleveland Orchestra Wade Oval Wednesday

AugusT 7 Phish Blossom Music Center

AugusT 10-16 Cuyahoga County Fair Berea fairgrounds

AugusT 15 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Cain Park, Cleveland Heights AugusT 16 Cleveland Flea Sunday Market 1455 West 29th St. Hingetown/Ohio City AugusT 22 Human Fund Benefit Concert Music Box Supper Club

sepTember 13 Oyster Festival Stone Mad Pub Gordon Square

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

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COVER STORY

RED MAPLE INN JUST DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD, BUT A WORLD AWAY

By Meg Pauken Photos Vincent Gorman

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ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

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ed Maple Inn sits atop a hillside in the village of Burton, overlooking the rolling farms and countryside of Geauga County. Although it’s less than an hour from downtown Cleveland, it feels like a world away. You could travel farther to find a peaceful get away, but why would you?

Rated “4 Diamond” by AAA, and with 5 stars on TripAdvisor, Red Maple Inn is the fulfillment of a dream by owners Gordon and Evie Safran.

Gordon was always struck by the beauty of Geauga County and noticed the need for overnight accommodations, so he set out to create the kind of inn he had dreamed of. First, he negotiated with an out-of-state property owner for the perfect hilltop location, and then worked with the village of Burton for the necessary zoning and permits. Finally, design and construction began.

Red Maple Inn is a true inn, as opposed to a bed and breakfast located in a private residence. It was designed to offer guests modern comfort and convenience with the ambiance of a small country inn. Completed in 1999, it has 17 guest rooms, plus a two-room suite. All rooms have Jacuzzi™ tubs, large flat-screened televisions and are furnished with Amish-made oak or cherry furniture.

Some feature balconies overlooking the surrounding countryside. Others have cozy gas fireplaces. All are charmingly decorated and immaculately kept.

Gordon, the gracious innkeeper, thoughtfully planned out each detail with the comfort of his guests in mind. From fluffy towels, to in-room Keurig coffee makers, to automatic night-lights, nothing has been overlooked. As comfortable as the rooms are, guests will be lured out by the aroma of fresh baked cookies and the lovely public areas of the inn.

Common areas at Red Maple Inn are anything but common. The library features stocked bookcases, comfortable

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ABOVE Gordon Safran and Evie Safran, owners

sofas and chairs near the fireplace that beckon guests to curl up with a book, and even a spot for working a puzzle or playing a board game.

couple from Mentor, who once told him, they drive half way to the Inn, then stop, pretend they drove 250 miles, and then continue on to the Inn.

The dining room, which shares a fireplace with the library, is the heart of the inn.

Guests gather here for lively conversation and refreshment. Each evening, wine and snacks are offered and a complimentary, hearty Amish breakfast is served to guests each morning. On the first and third Friday of each month, Red Maple Inn offers a full Amish dinner.

Red Maple Inn staff will provide guidance to guests who would like to tour the area on their own, but the Inn also conducts narrated, private tours of the area. The cost of the tour is $25.00 per person for overnight guests of the Inn or $15 for children ages 5 to 18 and $29.00 per person for the public. The two hour tours provide an inside glimpse of the Amish way of life, venturing off the main roads to see Amish life up close. Guests will visit an Amish school, an Amish-run store and a family farm. It is not necessary to be a guest of the Inn to take advantage of the Amish Country tour.

The draw for visitors to the area is the exploration of Amish life. Geauga County is home to the 4th largest Amish community in the world, and Red Maple Inn is located right in the center of it. It is not at all uncommon to hear the clipclop of a horse drawn buggy passing by, while relaxing in a rocker on the porch at the inn. Gordon likes to tell the story of a

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Those who like a side of activity to accompany their relaxation will find plenty to do. The inn has a fitness room

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and a game room. Neighboring Century Village offers an historical backdrop to the inn’s modern amenities. The village of Burton provides small town ambiance, with a walkable town center filled with unique shops, including crafts, antiques and Amish-made goods.

The Great Geauga County fair takes place in Burton each year over Labor Day weekend. Twice annually, Burton hosts an antique fair that attracts hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors, as well as seasonal Maple Syrup, Apple Butter Festivals and much more.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there are seven well-kept and scenic golf courses within a few minutes’ drive of the inn. Nearby Geauga parks offer bike and hiking trails as well as fishing. In the winter, Alpine Valley offers skiing and snow tubing.

There are many wineries located nearby, where visitors may enjoy local wines and fine dining. Information regarding wineries and other places of interest is available at the front desk, where staff is happy to provide directions and suggestions, as well.

Red Maple Inn has meeting rooms and spaces suitable for events such as business retreats or other meetings. As a business owner, Gordon often opted to have corporate retreats and meetings in rural locations. He guarantees you will get more accomplished then in a traditional urban setting when choosing the Inn for your next corporate event.

A number of groups meet regularly at the inn, making use of the common areas and meeting rooms to conduct workshops and connect with each other over a weekend. Red Maple Inn would be an ideal spot to host a family reunion, anniversary party, rehearsal dinner or even a smaller wedding. Catering for special events is available and General Manager, Gina Holk will work closely with guests to plan the perfect event.

“The biggest part of our business is returning guests,” says Safran, “which is very rewarding to us.”

Red Maple Inn offers visitors a relaxing get-away less than an hour from downtown Cleveland, both convenient and sufficiently “away.” There is no need to travel a long distance to find your perfect escape. Make a reservation today.

Red Maple Inn is located at 14707 South Cheshire Street, Burton, Ohio.

Visit their website at redmapleinn.com for information, or call toll free: 1.888.

OH.MAPLE or local: 440.834.8334 to make a reservation.

Red Maple Inn 14707 South Cheshire Street Burton 888.646.2753 440.834.8334 redmapleinn.com

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The Japanese Art of

SuShi & hibachi

By Kristal Pettit Photos Aaron Leyser

Eating sushi can be a uniquely joyful experience. Each piece can be its own mouthful of heaven. With so many options, including fast food supermarket sushi, it can be challenging to find that especially memorable meal that awakens your senses as only authentic sushi can. Akira Sushi and Hibachi is your answer.

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wner Anna Saito has given diners true Japanese flavor experiences by introducing her sushi, hibachi and traditional tempura, teriyaki and udon noodle specialties at Akira in Solon since 1999. Anna takes pride in the fact that she was born and raised in Japan, where sushi and hibachi originated.

Prior to opening Akira, Anna and her former husband operated two successful Japanese restaurants in Manhattan, a sushi bistro and a much larger space near the World Trade Center on Wall Street.

They found Solon a more family-friendly community to raise their two children and fortunately, they chose to continue providing Japanese cuisine in their new neighborhood.

Anna feels blessed to work with a staff that she considers her extended family.

She is particularly excited about the head chefs currently in place in the sushi and hibachi kitchens. Ken Koga is the head hibachi chef at Akira. After honing his skills at Benihana in Tokyo, London and New York, he brings an elegant style to the hibachi preparation entertainment which sets the tone for an amazing experience.

Eddie Tse, formerly of Otani and Sapphire Grill, has recently returned as Akira’s head sushi chef. Under Eddie’s guidance, Akira Sushi and Hibachi became the first restaurant in the Midwest to offer the notorious Japanese delicacy fugi, sushi to die for. Fugi is a poisonous blowfish

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popular in Japan which requires expert care in its preparation.

Even the most skilled chefs require proper ingredients to truly express their talents.

Anna takes the quality of her products very seriously. “In Japan sushi restaurants are judged on the freshness of their ingredients with an emphasis on the sushi rice,” Anna explains. “It’s a matter of honor to present only the highest quality triple-A sushi grade seafood, USDA choice cut meats and the finest pristine rice to complement both sushi and hibachi.”

One of their best-selling appetizers are the homemade pot stickers in the authentic Japanese style, made from

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Anna’s mother’s original recipe. “When my sisters and I were growing up, we hated vegetables and instead of cookies and milk for a snack, our mother would serve us green tea and a tray of her wonderful pot stickers, a delicate blend of nutrient rich meats and vegetables. It was such a treat.” Akira’s recipe differs from other restaurants’ more traditionally Chinese versions in that they are freshly made on site.

“Many of our dishes are like this,” says Anna. “People notice the difference when they try other places and come back. The quality is quite noticeable.”

Planning an event soon? Japanese hibachi style dining lends itself well to group luncheons, dinners and meetings.

Additionally, Akira offers a private party room with two hibachi tables that can accommodate up to 20 people. Akira can also prepare luscious sushi party platters for your home or corporate entertaining needs.

Akira features sushi specials and halfpriced hot sake during their weekday happy hour from 5-7, and all night on Thursdays. Other weekday specials include, Meatless Monday, Two for Tuesday and half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesday. “Like” Akira on Facebook and follow on Twitter @AkiraSolon for specials and scheduled events.

Akira Sushi & Hibachi 6025 Kruse Drive, Solon 440.349.6850 akirasolon.com L-R Ken Koga, Anna Saito, Eddie Tse

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Art, Food, Beer & Bocce in Gordon Square

By Kristal Pettit Photos Aaron Leyser

J

ust how well do you know your city? You’ve probably been to Tremont and Ohio City, but what about Gordon Square? Easily accessible to east and westside residents, the Gordon Square Arts District is pure Cleveland success story. You’ll have to visit more than a few times to sample from the many establishments located there, but we recommend starting on the patio of Stone Mad Pub.

Company, the building housing the Stone Mad Pub has a long history in the Detroit Shoreway community. Stone Mad Pub opened its doors in 2008 to continue the tradition of offering a welcoming space in the neighborhood to socialize. Even during Prohibition, the saloon operated as a speakeasy in what was a notorious area for Romanian, Irish and Italian bootleggers, according to Cleveland historian, Richard Raponi.

Originally built in 1912 as a tavern and store house for the Leisy Brewing

The interior of the pub reflects its history.

Part Irish pub and part Italian restaurant,

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the style of Stone Mad Pub creates a connection to Cleveland’s past and a bridge to its future. The resurgence of the Gordon Square Arts District where Stone Mad Pub is located, within the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood is an example of successful collaboration and vision. The community consists of several theaters, many restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and a nationally recognized bookstore.

The neighborhood invites visitors to walk from pub to gallery to restaurant throughout an evening’s excursion.

When Stone Mad Pub owners, Eileen Sammon and Pete Leneghan, sat down to talk with us it wasn’t easy to get them to focus on the Pub. Their focus is Gordon Square and their interest is in the success of the neighborhood. Eileen gave us a litany of summer events to look forward to at Stone Mad Pub and its neighbors, including Patio Kulchur every fourth Wednesday of July, August and September. Arts and entertainment are promoted throughout Gordon Square and especially on its patios.

Stone Mad Pub’s Oyster Festival on September 13th is in its fifth year and they are looking to make it a neighborhood wide event, as well. Oyster festivals are huge in Ireland, where shucking contest title holders land in the Guiness Book of World Records. Thirty competitors joined Stone Mad’s shucking contest last year where they were judged on speed and presentation. Winners earned a handcarved glass trophy and cash prizes. Five bands will be accompanying the oyster eating throughout the day.

Eileen and Pete will be serving pizza from Stone Mad’s Italian coal burning pizza oven on the patio on Fridays and Saturdays this summer. Stone Mad’s American style menu is served out of its scratch kitchen - everything made fresh daily and including much local produce.

The sprigs of mint served in the peach infused Bulleit bourbon julep are picked from the pub’s container garden. Try the spicy margarita with pepper infused tequila, also made in-house. The best selling draft is, of course, Guinness, but over 40 different beers are served, with plenty of craft beer on tap.

Stone Mad Pub’s patrons will thrive within this renaissance of food, drink and culture. Meeting friends for a game of bocce and a brew is at the heart of what Gordon Square and Stone Mad Pub have set out to accomplish. See you there.

Stone Mad Pub 1306 West 65th Cleveland 216.281.6500

L–R Pete Leneghan, owner; Jeff Brown, chef and Jared Phillips, bartender

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History, Golf and Cleveland, Ohio

By Dan Ruminski, the Cleveland Storyteller Photos courtesy the Western Reserve Historical Society

T

he other day a friend of mine from Chicago was complaining how far he had to drive in order to play golf on Saturday morning. “For me to tee off at 9:00 a.m., I have to leave the house by 6:30 a.m. and fight traffic only to arrive at the golf course tired and frustrated before hitting my first shot.” I just smiled and explained to him that here in Cleveland I wake up at 8:00 a.m. for my 9:00 a.m. tee time while facing next to nothing in the way of traffic. At this point in our conversation, I thought I would take the time to share Cleveland’s rich history when it comes to the game of golf.

ABOVE Dan Ruminski

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Most golfers are unaware that the modern golf ball was invented here in Cleveland by

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Coburn Haskell. Haskell was a transplant from Boston arriving in Cleveland in 1892.

He worked for Marcus Hanna of the M.A. Hanna Company. Haskell was an avid golfer and became frustrated with the golf ball of the day because it was very difficult to hit out of rough grass. The ball used during that time period was known as the “gutta-percha” and was made of hardened sap of the Malaysian sapodilla tree. Haskell’s friend, Bertram G. Work worked for the B.F. Goodrich Company and together they came up with a better idea - to make a ball from rubber thread wrapped around a solid rubber core.

Golfers immediately loved this new ball which greatly increased the popularity of golf throughout the United States.

Haskell established the Haskell Golf Ball

MIDDLE LEFT Francis E. Drury MIDDLE RIGHT Dr Hamilton Biggar, EM Johnson, Rockefeller, Levi Scofield, Rev Charles Eaton.

Company and became a very wealthy man. Haskell later became a member of both the Kirtland Country Club and The Country Club of Pepper Pike.

Cleveland’s most famous citizen, John D. Rockefeller, absolutely loved the game of golf. He had his own nine-hole golf course located on his Forest Hill estate. John D. made an agreement with his personal physician, Dr. Hamilton Biggar, that they would both play golf when each reached their 100th birthday. Dr. Biggar died in his late 80’s which greatly disappointed Rockefeller. He felt that the good doctor did not live up to his end of the bargain.

John D. himself played until the age of 94.

He would play only two holes, saying he would rather play two good holes than play nine bad ones. I think any golfer can relate. John D. died just short of his 98th birthday.

A little known name in Cleveland history is one Francis Edson Drury. Some of you may be familiar with the Drury Theater located in the old Cleveland Playhouse.

Drury and his wife Julia were instrumental in founding that great regional theater.

Drury owned many homes over the years. The one he loved the most was located on his Cedar Hill Farm in Gates Mills, Ohio. Today it rests on the campus of Gilmour Academy. Drury also had a beautiful mansion in Augusta, Georgia.

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While wintering in Augusta, Drury became good friends with one Bobby Jones, the world’s greatest amateur golfer.

Jones needed funding during his days of playing golf tournaments so Drury, along with the help of others, came up with funds which allowed Jones to compete world-wide. When he retired, Bobby Jones had a vision to build one of the finest golf courses in the world, and that he did: the Augusta National Golf Club. The course itself was built on old nursery property and was transformed to perfection. In order to make such a huge project reality, Jones needed financial backing. Over twenty wealthy individuals, mostly friends and including Francis Edson Drury, came up with the investment needed. If you ever attend Augusta National and can get into the club house, which is no small accomplishment, be sure to visit the front vestibule. Displayed on the wall you will see a plaque listing the founding members of Augusta. The name Francis Edison Drury will appear in the right hand column. Drury died in 1932 at the age of 81 at his Augusta mansion. You can visit his gravesite at Lakeview Cemetery here in Cleveland.

Well, my friend was amazed at my story. I think he began to look at Cleveland through different eyes. Nothing escaped Cleveland’s great influence, not even the game of golf and Augusta National.

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A Luxury Log Cabin Experience Like No Other

Looking for a fun-filled weekend or a relaxing escape?

Coshocton Crest Lodge will not disappoint. This beautiful 7,000 square foot custom cedar log home is perched high above the countryside and offers breathtaking panoramic views.

Once inside, indulge in the lodge’s many luxurious amenities: • Five bedroom suites • Chef’s Kitchen • Grand Trophy Room

• Western themed saloon • Theater Room • Arcade Room

• Two-story family room with fireplace • Radiant heated floors • Outdoor hot tub & leisure areas

Any time of year or occasion is the perfect time to stay and unwind.

Coshocton Crest Lodge is truly magnificent.

Book Your Private Party, Reunion or Retreat Getaway!

For more information, rates and availability:

CoshoctonCrestLodge.com l 330.523.9123

Come out

Swinging

By Patti London Photos courtesy Cleveland Metroparks

Living in Greater Cleveland allows us to enjoy all of the convenience and experiences of a metropolitan lifestyle. Yet without having to travel far from wherever we are in the city, we can be in a park, jogging along a river, biking through wooded trails, leaving the concrete jungle behind. the Cleveland metroparks give us much needed access to the natural world to appreciate through a variety of activities. one of our favorite ways to enjoy the great outdoors is on one of the eight golf courses in the Cleveland metroparks.

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L

ocated throughout Cuyahoga County, the courses range from a fast and fun par three at Shawnee Hills to the challenging layouts at Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow. There are conveniently located courses which every skill level can enjoy.

Sleepy Hollow is considered by many to be one of the toughest public courses in northeast Ohio. For a variety of holes, plenty of hazards, and tricky greens both Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow provide a sophisticated level of golf for experienced players.

Manakiki is situated in the North Chagrin Reservation in Willoughby Hills. Originally the summer estate of Howard Hanna, the 220 acres were converted into Manakiki Country Club in 1929. The course was designed by Donald Ross who designed over 400 courses between 1900 and 1948. The property was sold in 1944 by James and Fannie Brown to the Cleveland Metroparks for one dollar, with the condition that the property remain a golf course in perpetuity.

Sleepy Hollow, located in the Brecksville Reservation, opened in 1924 as a private country club but opened to the public in 1963.

The course provides challenging slopes, 58 bunkers, deep ravines and large trees, right where you don’t want them. Golf Week recently named Sleepy Hollow the #1 municipal course in Ohio If you consider yourself an intermediate level golfer, Cleveland Metroparks offers Big Met, Seneca and Shawnee Hills’ 18-hole course.

Shawnee Hills in Bedford Reservation offers both an 18-hole regulation course and a 9-hole par 3. The front nine has been compared to a “Florida” course with its gentle rolling terrain and

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The Washington golf course is located in the Washington Reservation in Newburgh Heights. The course was opened in 2006 and receives funding through the First Tee of Cleveland chapter of the national program which promotes youth development through the game of golf. Designated as an Audubon International Certified Gold Signature Sanctuary for its environmental stewardship, this course reinforces the Cleveland Metroparks’ mission of conservation, education and recreation.

The Cleveland Metroparks courses are open from dawn until dusk every day.

The golf season begins in mid-March and, if the weather allows, continues through December.

water hazards. The back nine is similar to a course in the Carolinas with its large pines, maples and oaks. Players can work on their swing on the driving range and their short game on the practice putting and chipping green, as well.

The Rocky River Reservation is the site of three of the eight Cleveland Metroparks courses, including Big Met. Continuous improvements have been implemented since the course was built in 1926, such as an extensive irrigation and drainage system, a continuous cart path and most recently, an environmentally-friendly clubhouse.

The “green” building features energy efficient mechanical equipment, recycled content building materials and drought tolerant landscaping. Big Met is one of the Metroparks’ most popular courses.

those wanting to get a quick game in. Like Big Met and Little Met, the course feels like it’s in an Appalachian forest, with its tree-lined vistas.

Little Met, the first course built in the Cleveland Metroparks in 1924, was originally a temporary course to stimulate interest in the game while Big Met was under construction. Enough interest in golf was generated to keep Little Met in operation for the next 90 years. Many improvements have been added to the 9-hole course over those years, making Little Met a great course for golfers of all levels.

Seneca, also in Brecksville Reservation, has two 18-hole courses with gently rolling terrain and tree-lined fairways.

Many of the greats played Seneca, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Billy Casper. The course now features a fourth set of tees, the Family Tees, which allow a family to play together with each member teeing off according to their age and skill.

For the novice golfer, Mastick Woods, Little Met, Shawnee Hills Par 3 and Washington golf courses are great places to improve your skills and enjoy the game.

Built in the Rocky River Reservation in 1964, Mastick Woods provides an ideal 9-hole course for new players, juniors, or

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Tee times can be reserved by phone or online, although you’ll need a Cleveland Metroparks golfer number to complete the reservation. See the Cleveland Metroparks website for general tee time reservation information. If you’re looking to host a golf outing for up to 128 people, contact the desired golf course for information on reserving the course for exclusive use.

Take advantage of these long days of summer to tee off onto some of the most scenic stretches our park system has to offer. Just don’t forget to wear a shirt with a collar and appropriate footwear. Yet another reason to love living in Cleveland.

Cleveland metroparks 216.635.3673 (FoRe) clevelandmetroparks.com

A Geauga County Gem

By Meg Pauken Photos Aaron Leyser

P

leasant Hill Golf course is a true gem, loved by area golfers.

Nestled in the heart of Geauga County’s rolling terrain, Pleasant Hill provides a country club approach to service, plus well-groomed fairways and fast greens, all at an amazing value.

A popular destination for corporate golf outings, the course offers 27 welldesigned holes at a moderate difficulty level. Players will be challenged, but not unfairly. Pleasant Hill plays 6,308 yards from the blue tees in the “traditional” front-middle pairing. The meticulous grooming of both fairways and greens

provides an experience far superior to many public courses.

Owner Sal Forlani describes it as, “Fun to play: very rolling, very scenic.”

Forlani and his long-time employees focus on the personal touch with their guests.

of golf, lunch and a drink, for only $35 during the week and $48 on the weekend.

Senior prices are even lower.

Forlani and his team offer outing packages at very reasonable prices, which include a selection of delicious meals in a lovely, rustic setting.

“Pleasant Hill is a very friendly, welcoming place. We never forget a face,” he says. “We go the extra mile to make sure our guests enjoy themselves and want to come back.”

Visit Pleasant Hill Golf Course in Chardon or call 440.285.2428 for a tee time or to book an outing.

Great golf with a country club feel comes at a modest price at Pleasant Hill. The course offers a 27 hole special: 27 holes

Pleasant Hill Golf Course 13461 Aquilla Road, Chardon 440.285.2428 pleasanthillgolfchardon.com ABOVE Sal Forlani, owner

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Cape Cod

By Patti London Photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles Magazine

A SEASIDE SUMMER ADVENTURE While each seashore community has its unique characteristics, Cape Cod’s attractions seem to set the standard for what we’ve come to expect from east coast vacations. From Provincetown to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and the quaint villages in between, Cape Cod offers the best of a seaside vacation.

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W

e’ve been lucky enough to visit the Cape regularly since our daughter moved to Boston. In fact, we’ve had two family weddings on the Cape in each of the last two summers, making it a place which now holds special memories for us. There is so much to do on Cape Cod that each trip has been totally unique.

Of course summer is the high season, when the peninsula is teeming with visitors and all of Boston seems to come across the bridge for the weekends. But the weeks following Labor Day maintain the feel of summer without the long lines at the ice cream stands. Or plan an earlier trip a week or so before Memorial Day when shops are starting to open and you feel like you own the beach.

The beaches, obviously, are one of the real reasons to come to Cape Cod in the first place. The Atlantic Ocean on the outside edge of the peninsula is a completely different experience than the Cape Cod Bay located on the inside.

The ocean water is a cooler temperature and much more prone to large crashing waves. Along the Cape Cod National Seashore, north of Chatham (the elbow) one can see sea lions playing in the surf and occasionally the plume of a whale.

The bay is warm and calm, with its own array of fascinating sea life.

Plenty of beaches can be found on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, as well. Ferries shuttle visitors from several points on Cape Cod to the islands. There are fast ferries and slow ferries and a few that will transport your vehicle, as well. We ventured to Martha’s Vineyard, without our car, on the slow ferry from Woods Hole. It was a half-hour trip, during part of which we could see amazing beach front homes, many in the traditional gray cedar shake shingle style of Cape Cod. History and architecture are well-preserved on Cape Cod and fit easily into vacation plans. Many places remain exactly as they were a hundred years ago when whaling was the dominant industry. Fishing villages have maintained their historic flavor and preserved lighthouses dot the coast.

A large monument marks where the pilgrims landed in Provincetown and centuries of American arts and letters since that date are celebrated on the Cape. Notable resident authors and

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artists include Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill, Norman Mailer, poet Mary Oliver, Jackson Pollock, Marsden Hartley, Robert Motherwell and Willem de Kooning. Aspiring painters and poets have multiple options to practice their craft at artists’ residencies and workshops today. Art galleries have proliferated beyond the Provincetown arts community so that at least one can be found in each village. I counted more than fourteen book shops across the Cape, so there’s no reason to show up at the beach without a beach read.

Vacation time on the Cape can also mean enough outdoor activities to work off those lobster rolls. Golf courses, extended bike trails and excellent kayaking streams and canals give active visitors plenty of options. One of the best ways to see Cape Cod is from the seat of a bike. Bike rental shops make it easy to get to know the Cape and the Cape Cod Rail Trail runs 22 miles along an old railway bed from Dennis to Wellfleet. Along the way you can visit the Salt Pond, Nickerson State Park, the Harwich Historical Museum and the Cape Cod National Seashore. The trail is long, flat and unbelievably scenic.

And there are places to stop and get ice cream along the way.

This travel piece wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the food. Cape Cod is a seafood lover’s paradise. I’m talking oysters, lobsters, fried clams, and scallops washed down with Cape Cod beer from the brewery in Hyannis. Clancy’s on Upper County Road in Dennis Port has been one of our perennial favorites. The back deck seating overlooks a scenic river,

but dining inside is nice, and they make a really good Bloody Mary. Luckily there are all of those opportunities to work off the calories mentioned above.

Getting to Cape Cod isn’t difficult, unless you abhor traffic. There’s always the option to fly into one of the smaller municipal airports on Cape Air from Boston. We’ve had great luck through Airbnb renting houses for the week, but there are many other choices if you’re traveling with fewer people, for a range of budgets. The logistics of getting there and where to stay are simple. The challenge comes in deciding from among so many things to do once you get there.

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HOUSE & HOME

By the Glow OF THE

GARDEN LIGHT

By Henny Buffinga

All winter long, we look forward to the seasons when we can spend time outside in the evening without the chilly bite of the wind on our skin. Lounging in the backyard with a glass of wine and a good book is one of the great luxuries of summer, and it wouldn’t be the same without the romantic glow of outdoor lighting.

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utdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your property, allowing you to take advantage of the outdoor space long after the sun has set. Without overdoing it, soft lighting on a low wattage can go a long way to light up dark corners and doorways.

Front entrance lighting offers a welcoming look, with the added benefit of security, by illuminating anyone approaching your home. Simply adding lanterns on each

side of the front door can bestow the necessary light. Or, use floodlights to highlight architectural features.

Low voltage landscape lighting adds curb appeal to your home. Exterior-grade fixtures can be added along walkways, driveways or steps, and can also be used to highlight stone walls, trees or other interesting landscape features. The easiest landscape lighting to use is decorative solar-powered lights, which charge during the day and require no wiring.

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For patio or porch lighting, concealed mini-lights under benches, steps or railings create ambience. For a more subdued light, place candles on the table, or light citronella candles near the seating area to keep insects away at dusk.

Affording a relaxed atmosphere and a safe environment, outdoor lighting can enhance and extend the use of your outdoor space at night.

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COnsCIentIOus COnstruCtIOn will Keep You Covered

By Kristal Pettit Photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Inside/Out Construction

I

nside/Out Construction is more than a name - it’s a symbol of the local company’s business philosophy.

“Inside/Out denotes that our work comes from the inside, our conscience, and manifests itself in the quality of the service we deliver,” explains Dan Horvat, owner of the full-service residential and commercial roofing contractor.

More than three decades ago, Dan started his career in the roofing industry by working for a local contractor.

Interested in developing expertise in

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the area, Dan consulted directly with suppliers of roofing products to learn proper and innovative roofing techniques.

The more he learned, the more he began to notice where his employer was cutting corners. “I was being told to do things that weren’t right,” Dan recalls. “I couldn’t be a part of that, so I separated myself.”

That’s when Dan established Inside/ Out Construction, which specializes in existing roof construction and other exterior work. Now with more than 30 years of roofing experience, Dan

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ensures the enduring quality and integrity of his company’s work. He has maintained a small, familiar team of roofers and personally supervises every job. “I’m always out there with my crew,” Dan assures.

When Dan arrives on the job, he likes to get to know the homeowner. He takes a thorough look at the home, its design, and any factors, such as ventilation and insulation, that are integral to the longevity of the roof. “I’ll stay with a homeowner for longer than your average

contractor,” Dan says. “It may not be as profitable for us, but we ensure that the homeowner is covered for the long run.”

With Inside/Out Construction, every consultation is thorough so the clients fully understand their roofing problems, as well as the options they have to resolve them. If the existing roof doesn’t require replacement, Dan will let his customer know how much life is left their roof and what repairs would solve their roofing issue. “I give my clients the information they need, without pushing them or telling them what they ‘have to’ do,” Dan says. “We discuss a comprehensive set of options so they can make an informed decision, and then we work within the parameters of their decision.”

Many know the Inside/Out Construction team as the smart roofers for their commitment to continuing their professional education. They frequently

attend seminars and research new roofing products and techniques.

Inside/Out Construction was one of the first in the Cleveland area, for example, to perfect the proper technique for removing harmful algae from asphalt roofs without jeopardizing the integrity of the shingles. This algae appears as black stains and can dramatically shorten the lifespan of the roofs it infests. “Algae is a living organism, and it feeds on roofs,” Dan explains. “We exterminate the algae and then provide treatments on roofs that have been affected by algae.”

Now is the time to have your roof examined. Call Inside/Out Construction at 216.253.5482 to have Dan visit your home and help keep you covered. Inside/ Out Construction is located at 19475 Saint Clair Avenue in Cleveland. For more information, you can email Dan at danielhorvat123@gmail.com.

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Dan Horvat, owner

Inside/Out Construction 216.253.5482 danielhorvat123@gmail.com

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Ohio’s Most Trusted Name

in Garage Door Installation and Maintenance

By Dylan Yépez Photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Action Door

Y

ou might not give much thought to your garage door - until you have to. And when you have to think about repair or replacement, it might be the middle of the night when you need access to the car stuck inside the garage. That’s why Action Door is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For the past 45 years, Action Door has developed a reputation for delivering only the highest quality garage door service, including routine inspections

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and maintenance. But don’t ask Michael Wittwer, president of Action Door, how he and the Lorello and Manstantuono families managed to grow Action Door into the successful enterprise it is today. He will only give the credit to his employees.

“The service manager, office staff, sales staff, technicians and installers - these people are Action Door’s greatest asset,” Michael explains. Michael began working with Action Door just out of college.

Michael helped open a new location in 1981 in Brunswick. He became a part-

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owner in 1992 at the Tallmadge location, with Tony Lorello and Tony’s family - the only non-family member to own a share of the company. The company moved in to its new building in Stow 20 years ago.

To-date he has been with Action Door a total of 28 years.

More important to Michael, however, are his employees’ statistics. Of the 29 employees at the Stow location, two have worked for Action Door more than 25 years. Three employees have been there more than 18 years and seven have

ABOVE Chris Goodheart, residential sales technician and Mike Wittwer

7 -plus years on the job. That’s incredible loyalty and says a lot about the kind of working environment Action Door provides its employees.

“Our technicians are not paid commission like some other service companies,” Michael says. “They have no incentive to just sell you something, whether or not you need it. Both technicians and installers are paid by the hour, not by the job. So they aren’t trying to rush your installation or maintenance project to get to the next one. With experience we get quality work at faster pace, saving our customers money. We will be there for the time necessary to do the job right.”

Michael fully acknowledges that it’s because of the quality staff that Action Door is successful. Action also works on large commercial projects. They were recently awarded the new Arhaus Furniture distribution facility on Route 8 at

the old Boston Hills Golf course property.

The job consists of 104 overhead doors and 100 dock positions, which Action Door also installs. “We can only get jobs like this because of our installation crews,” Michael says.

You should find this level of experience and expertise reassuring when calling Action Door about installing that new carriage style garage door you’ve been thinking about. A sales technician will come to your home to take the measurements, making certain that your new door will fit. “When you purchase a garage door from Action Door, you’re really buying the company,” Michael explains, “- not just a door.” With the kind of history behind Action Door, you know they’ll be there, many years from now, when you need them.

It’s no simple matter to make sure your company has technicians on call

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24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Action Door has obviously developed dedicated employees over the last 45 years. You might consider scheduling an inspection for your garage door so you won’t be one of those homeowners needing emergency service. Also, check out a variety of doors at Action Door’s showrooms in Stow location, just off Route 8, 3878 Hudson Drive. and at 201 East Granger Road, right off of 480, in Brooklyn Heights.

Action Door 3878 Hudson Drive Stow 330.928.2727 michael@action-door.com action-door.com 201 East Granger Road Brooklyn Heights 216.739.DOOR (3667) dino@action-door.com

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Dive int o a New Kitchen This Summer

By Meg Pauken Photos Aaron Leyser

S

ummer is the perfect time to remodel your kitchen and Cabinets & Granite Direct is the perfect place to start.

Cabinets & Granite Direct offers the lowest prices in the area for quality, solid wood cabinetry granite and quartz. They order directly from the manufacturer and sell directly to the consumer, eliminating the middleman, along with extra layers of handling and fees.

“We know we have the best prices for cabinets and granite. We deal directly with the manufacturer and pass our savings

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along to our customers,“ emphasizes Fannie Chen, general manager.

Their direct relationship with the manufacturer also minimizes turnaround time. “We can usually install in 2–3 weeks,“ according to Chen.

Cabinets & Granite Direct offers a variety of cabinet styles to suit every taste, from Cambridge, the most detailed and traditional, to Soho, the most simple and contemporary, with a range of options and colors in between.

“Our most popular line is a Shaker style that is available in both white and

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espresso,” Ms. Chen notes, “All of the cabinets are solid-wood construction with soft-close door hinges and drawer glides,” just as you find in high end custom cabinetry.

Granite prices at Cabinets & Granite Direct start at $29.99 per square foot.

Quartz, which is increasing in popularity, starts at $58 per square foot, installed, making luxury very affordable. A wide selection of colors are available.

“Our pricing is so affordable, our customers are installing our cabinets and granite countertops not just in their

ABOVE Stephanie Klasek, Rachael Wong, Connie Zhoa, Stephanie Walkos, Andrew Edwards, Ed Pena

of cabinetry and 20 colors of granite in stock. Customers are encouraged to test cabinet drawers and doors to see the quality construction for themselves.

Although they specialize in cabinetry and granite, for the convenience of their customers, they do stock selected, highend sinks and hardware that complement their cabinetry lines.

Cabinets & Granite Direct are a Kohler faucet distributor.

For customers who would like assistance in choosing cabinetry or selecting granite, Chen’s skilled design team in the showroom are eager to help. They provide individual attention and guidance and will create a design plan for no charge.

Stop in for a consultation today and you could have a new kitchen before the end of summer. kitchens, but in laundry rooms, bars, and basement recreation rooms,” says Chen. “Granite and quartz also work well for fireplaces and showers.”

Cabinets & Granite Direct works with contractors and remodelers, but customers who wish to maximize the savings can assemble and install the cabinetry themselves. Chen’s team offers installation services at very reasonable prices, as well.

Cabinets & Granite Direct is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, the National Kitchen and Bath Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The showroom is conveniently located just off Interstate 480 at 4979 West 130th Street in Cleveland. Showroom hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 216.898.9758 or visit the company website at DIHUSA.com for more information.

Visit the company’s gleaming showroom and you will see 9,000 square feet of display space, showcasing the six lines

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Cabinets & Granite Direct 4979 West 130th Street 216.898.9758 dihusa.com

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Rooted in tRadition GrowinG Toward The FuTure

By Meg Pauken Photos Vincent Gorman

L

owe’s Greenhouse and Gift Shop, founded in 1926, is the oldest business in Bainbridge, Ohio. Paradoxically, it’s also been named a “Weatherhead 100” fastest growing company in Northeast Ohio.

Lowe’s (not affiliated with big-box Lowe’s Home Centers) was founded by Carlton Lowe after he returned from World War I. While serving in Europe, Carlton

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discovered tuberous begonias and uncovered his passion. He learned all he could about growing and hybridizing them from local growers. When he returned to the States, he began his life’s work. Lowe began the greenhouse business growing tuberous begonias, selling them locally and via mail-order catalog.

The current owners, the Griff family, purchased the business from the founders

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in the 1950’s. Three generations of Griffs have steadily expanded the offerings beyond the original begonias to all types of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and houseplants. Their landscaping division offers landscape design and installation services, along with lawn care and maintenance. Lowe’s also operates a true, full-service floral shop, providing consultation and design for weddings and other events, as well as arrangements for

any occasion. Lowe’s gift shop stocks a wide range of unusual and interesting decor and accessories, including many garden-themed items.

This summer, there will be even more growth at Lowe’s, as they undertake extensive expansion and renovation of their Chillicothe Road location. The renovations include increased customer parking, with easy in and out, and a more streamlined shopping and checkout flow.

The centerpiece of the expansion will be the new Wild Thistle Gift Shop.

“We want to make the shopping experience even more inspiring for our customers,” says president Jeff Griff.

“Since Lowe’s was founded 90 years ago, so much has changed,” he continues.

“We are still a farm, but we operate in a high-tech retail environment. We want our customers to be inspired by the

possibilities for their own gardens while browsing here.”

Visitors to Lowe’s Greenhouse will find beautiful and well-organized displays of plants and flowers. Displays are welllabeled for easy identification. Moving toward the center of the store, the floral department includes an area set aside for discussion and planning. The gift shop has been expanded to include even more clever and unique items. The aisles are easy to navigate and the staff is exceptionally helpful.

Jeff explains, “Our staff members all have a passion for growing things and a real desire to share their knowledge and expertise.”

Even with the expansion and modernization at Lowe’s, it remains a locally-owned and operated business, rooted in the Northeast Ohio community.

Jeff Griff, owner

“We grow our own plants, right here in Bainbridge, Ohio. We and our staff live in and are a part of the local community,” says Griff. ”Even as we expand and grow, that will not change.”

Lowe’s Greenhouse and Gift Shop is located at 16540 Chillicothe Road in Bainbridge, Ohio. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 until 6 and Sunday from 10 until 5. Call 440.543.5123 or visit the website lowesgreenhouse. com for more information.

Lowe’s Greenhouse 16540 Chillicothe Rd, Chagrin Falls 440.543.5123 lowesgreenhouse.com

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Don’t Be Deceived by the Understated Storefront

By Kristal Pettit Photos Aaron Leyser

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Y

ou’ve probably driven past Perrino Furniture on Mayfield Road, between Lander and 271, dozens of times. The showroom is housed in an older, nondescript building on the north side of the road next to Dodd Camera. Once you walk through the door, however, you’ll never pass by without wondering how you’d missed it for so many years.

Perrino Builders applied its building and remodeling expertise to transform the older building into an expansive showroom. “Customers regularly walk in and tell us they had no idea we even existed in this space, and they’ve driven right past for years,” Pat Perrino says.

“This is just an example of what can be done in our customers’ homes.”

Whether you’re in need of a unique centerpiece for a gift, or an entire home built from the ground, up, you have come to the right place at the Perrino Furniture Showroom. The design and sales staff pride themselves on offering the complete solution to the homeowner’s needs, however big or small.

As you wander through the kitchens, living rooms and various vignettes set up throughout the showroom, you’re likely to be inspired. Luckily, designers are on staff to answer your questions - at no charge. You will not find this service at other furniture storerooms. Because the designers at Perrino Furniture are certified in design and have extensive on-thejob experience working with customers building entire homes, they know exactly the right questions to ask and options to offer. Do you need help updating a

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room’s style by coordinating a new piece with your existing furniture? They have the right skills for that project. Do you think it’s possible to achieve an updated look by accessorizing? The designers at Perrino can help you choose from area rugs, lamps, tables and an extensive selection of wall decor, too. Maybe a new paint color will help you achieve a fresh perspective, or updated lighting. The options may seem endless, but a design professional will make your project not only manageable, but enjoyable.

Frank, the sales manager at Perrino Furniture is particularly proud of the extensive selection of comfortable recliners and high quality leather furniture in the showroom. Although you aren’t likely to see furniture like that featured in the Perrino showroom anywhere else in the city, their designers can also take you step by step through the custom furniture options to find exactly the right piece. He can help narrow down your fabric selection from the hundreds on hand. He’ll show you the range of arms and cushions available and the many styles of legs you can choose to support your sofa. In the end, you’ll have the furniture piece that, until then, had only existed in your interior design fantasy.

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You will also notice a number of built-in pieces throughout the Perrino showroom.

Are you refinishing a basement? Perrino can create a built-in bar area for your entertainment needs. Maybe you haven’t considered a wine cellar, but you just might when you see the one on display in the showroom. Built-in shelves and cabinets can create storage and organizing space in any room of your home. Take in the various possibilities on view as you walk through the showroom and it’s easy to visualize how these builtins would work in your own home.

Have you always wanted a fireplace, but didn’t imagine that one could be installed like any other remodeling project? There are several fireplace options on display in the showroom just to give you an idea of the possibilities. Is a convenient gas fireplace an option, or would you prefer the traditional wood burning fireplace?

Perhaps your existing fireplace simply needs refacing for a completely new look.

A design professional can show you the range of stone, brick and tile options you probably never even considered.

Two full kitchens are on display to spark fresh ideas about your own cooking and entertaining space at home. From cabinetry and countertops, backsplashes and lighting, to a complete kitchen remodel - all of these services are available under one roof. This explains why Perrino considers itself the complete solution to your needs as a homeowner.

Pat Perrino describes what they set out to accomplish when they built the showroom, “We wanted a location that was very convenient to get to. But creating the space in an older building was our way of painting a picture of what any customer can do with their own home. Every house has four walls. We’ve been able to display the many possibilities of what you can do with the space inside.”

Visit the Perrino Furniture Showroom and re-imagine your own living space.

Perrino Builders 440.487.4021 pat@perrino.us perrinobuilders.com Perrino Furniture Showroom 6163 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights 440.919.1000 perrinofurniture.com

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Repair That Sanitary Line, Without Tearing Up Your Yard

By Dylan Yépez Photos Vincent Gorman and courtesy Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

T

he heavy rains we’ve experienced through late spring and early summer have created wet situations in some of our basements. This can be the time when we find out that our sanitary lines are in need of repair.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is utilizing NuFlow technology to handle the problems which can lead to water in the basement. NuFlow technology can remove the foreign object or buildup of grease blocking the line. If old clay lines

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have separated or cracked, they can be repaired, without digging a trench through your yard. NuFlow lining technologies are long-term, affordable and mean less time, less mess and less cost than repiping drain and sanitary lines.

“It used to be that the only technique was to snake the sanitary sewer,” Mike Kobella, plumbing operations manager at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing explains.

“But often it was only a temporary fix, because the roots will continue to grow after they’ve been cleared.”

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If the pipes are still intact, but a foreign object or grease is blocking the line, Benjamin Franklin plumbers would jet the pipe clear with a 3000 psi pressurized water source. If there are separations or breaks in the clay pipes, however, they would need to be repaired.

“You’ve seen those trenches going out to the street in your neighborhood, requiring a team of contractors to replace your driveway and repair your landscaping,” says Mike. “This was the ultimate fix when snaking just wouldn’t work anymore.”

Now there’s another option, not requiring the demolition of your yard and garden.

Repair of cracked or separated pipes is possible with the NuFlow technology employed by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing without digging a trench. NuFlow is an innovative green technology which rehabilitates the inner infrastructure of deteriorated or failing pipe systems using an array of cured-in-place epoxy pipe lining solutions.

Using at least one point of entry, but ideally two, the plumber inserts a mesh lining coated in a two-part resin epoxy in the sanitary sewer line. Once it hardens this lining creates a smooth, solid surface inside the pipe. The roots can not penetrate the lining and will go elsewhere looking for a moisture source.

The lining is also a permanent solution to grease buildup in the line. When grease runs from your dishwasher or kitchen sink, it’s warm and liquified. Once it hits the cool pipe running through the yard it thickens and collects on the rough surface of your old cast iron pipe or the edges of the clay pipe sections. The NuFlow liner gives grease a smooth resin surface to flow along, even if coagulated.

The cost of the trenchless repair is roughly the same as a trench going through your yard, but without the driveway, sidewalk and patio replacement and landscaping repairs.

“There’s really nothing the NuFlow system can’t fix,” Mike asserts, and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers a five year parts and labor warranty on the lining itself. Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to take a look at your sanitary sewer before you face a daunting mess in your basement.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing 12043 Mayfield Road, Chardon 440.543.1151 debordinc.com

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For Real Estate Agent Kim Kaczorowski,

It’s Personal

By Meg Pauken Photos Vincent Gorman and Aaron Leyser

K

im Kaczorowski, a real estate agent with Keller Williams, has lived in six states and at 19 different addresses as an adult, so she knows a thing or two about home buying, selling and moving.

“Real estate was just a natural choice for me,” Kim says with a laugh, “It’s in my blood!”

Moving all over the country with her husband and three children has given Kim the kind of personal experience very few realtors possess. She knows how to research schools and neighborhoods.

She has driven down streets, envisioning

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what it would be like to live there. She has staged her own homes and negotiated deals. Now she is ready and willing to share her experience as a licensed real estate agent.

Kim entered the real estate business professionally less than two years ago after advising friends and family for decades. She was the go-to person whenever someone she knew was planning to buy a house, sell a house or move. She was helping her son sell his home by-owner, when a realtor showing a house across the street suggested she become licensed, after asking her a few

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questions. In her typical way, she prayed on it until she got an answer.

“This is very heart-led for me. I really love to help people navigate through this process,” she explains. “If I can share my experience and expertise and make someone’s life easier, then that’s what I want do.”

Even with all of her real-life experience, and the education required to obtain her license, Kim learned a tremendous amount through Keller Williams’ training.

“Keller Williams offers a lot of training to help its agents be successful. I am very

“I want what is best for my clients and I will stick with them until we get it. I’m really passionate about that”

Kim’s primary geographical focus includes the southeast suburbs of Cleveland: Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, Aurora and Hudson, although she will list homes elsewhere.

grateful for all of the support I receive from them. They welcomed me with open arms,” Kim says.

She attributes her success to the Lord’s blessing and her care for her clients.

What sets her apart from other agents is her commitment: “I want what is best for my clients and I will stick with them until we get it. I’m really passionate about that,” says Kim.

“I knew about the process from a homeowner’s standpoint. Now I know what goes on behind the scenes. It’s helpful to know both sides so well, because buying or selling a house is extremely emotional, and I can help my clients through this transition,” she offers.

In her first year selling homes, Kim experienced success rarely seen by many more experienced agents. She was in the top 15% of her 100 agent office.

located at 32875 Solon Road, Solon. She may be reached by phone at 440.781.0111.

Visit her website for more information.

Kim Kaczorowski, agent Keller Williams 32875 Solon Road, Solon 440.781.0111 kimkacz@kw.com kimkacz.kwrealty.com

Contact Kim Kaczorowski for all of your real estate needs. She is with Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southeast,

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Storm Windows or Replacement Windows

and cause water damage. Time for new windows? Not necessarily!

Ray Sabin Northcoast Energy Masters “We will save you energy and money” Northcoast Energy Masters 440-479-4554 huddsabin@gmail.com northcoastenergymasters.com

W

hich is better: buying new replacement windows or replacing or adding new storm windows? This is a very common question for the owners of homes with the beautiful old single pane wood windows. I know when the question is coming and think of it as the “Old Beauty Story.”

Your old windows leak abundant amounts of air. They cause chilly drafts in the winter and higher cooling costs in the summer. Leaky windows may even be hurting your house by allowing windblown rain to seep into the structure

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High quality storm windows may be all you need to banish leaks and they’re half the cost of replacement windows.

High end storm windows stop air infiltration as well as most replacement windows, at a much lower cost. Studies have shown very similar results in tests of air infiltration when comparing new re-placement windows with new storm windows. Low E options are also available which will help tremen-dously when accounting for the solar heat gain coefficient.

The standard triple track aluminum window holds two pieces of glass and one screen. The screen makes it easy to allow the natural air into your home. Triple track are not the most attractive options, but they do play an important preservation role by protecting windows of older homes from the elements. Invisible storms are an elegant looking option which allow for a screen when desired.

Interior storms are another option. They can slide into place or be attached and removed via a magnetic strip. All are great options and like more expensive replacement windows add great curb appeal to the home.

One of the main reasons homeowners choose to invest in storm windows as opposed to replacement windows is cost.

Yet replacement windows may not be the

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best choice in the long run. Replacement win-dows are cut to fit existing window spaces and then installed leaving the old weight pockets empty and drafty.

On the other hand, storm windows are meant to be used in conjunction with existing windows and thus can be made to fit over the existing opening. Storm windows are able to greatly decrease drafts and address other insulation issues associated with old, leaky windows.

Storm windows also have other benefits including improved sound resistance, decreased window condensation and reduced damage to interi-or fabrics from UV rays.

Interior or invisible storm windows also provide an excellent alternative in cases where the exterior ap-pearance of the building must be preserved. This is particularly important for homes where there is a large emphasis on their historic value. These storm windows can be installed to boost insulation without disturbing the home’s outward appearance. Their use over delicate stained glass windows is also a popular solution to protect them from the elements of our harsh weather months.

When deciding between replacing your windows and installing storm windows, consider this: storm win-dows preserve your home’s look, increase your home’s comfort level and overall energy savings!

WARM IN THE WINTER, COLD IN THE SUMMER Maintenance Free Aluminum �

SToRM WINdoWS

You don't need to sacrifice your home’s architectural design.

Our storm windows are installed over your existing windows.

Eliminates drafts from existing windows Energy cost savings Preserves original home windows

440-479-4554 northcoastenergymasters.com

INSTaLLINg ENERgy EffIcIENT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOME SINCE 1983

Are You Protecting the Surfaces of

Your Home

By Kristal Pettit Photos courtesy Perfect Power Wash

T

here’s a small window of time during the Cleveland seasons to complete your outdoor projects. Summer provides the ideal opportunity to restore your home’s exterior surfaces so you can relax and enjoy the fresh look of your property.

Perfect Power Wash owner Mike Palubiak reminds homeowners that even more important than the way your property looks will be the repairs avoided by keeping your home, roof and concrete surfaces clean and protected.

“Dirt, debris and other harmful contaminants are literally destroying your home and property,” Palubiak says.

“Not only are the effects detracting from your home’s curb appeal, but they can do damage to your roof, siding, patio and driveway.”

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Perfect Power Wash offers an array of power washing, pressure cleaning and exterior restoration services to keep your home looking like new year-round.

With more than 15 years in the power washing industry, Palubiak explains there is a way to avoid the costs of unnecessary replacement and repair.

Concrete Cleaning and Sealing Concrete areas – sidewalks, driveways and patios – can be vulnerable to moisture and mildew.

“Contrary to what people may think, concrete is very porous,” Palubiak says.

When moisture freezes during the winter contaminants including road salt, are also absorbed into the concrete causing cracking, spalling and chipping. As part of Perfect Power Wash’s concrete

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cleaning process, the company applies a protective sealant that forms an invisible protective blockade against moisture, leaving concrete looking its best year-round.

Removing Roof Stains “Those dark streaks on your roof are not just discoloration,” he explains. The streaks are caused by a type of harmful algae that feeds on the limestone found in asphalt shingles. The algae prevents shingles from drying, drastically affecting the durability of your roof.

“If you see it, don’t wait to have it cleaned.

It will cause irreversible damage,” Palubiak warns.

Perfect Power Wash offers a soft-wash, low-pressure roof cleaning process,

AFTER

BEFORE

using specialized solutions that not only neutralize the algae, but inhibit future algae growth to keep roofs looking newer and lasting longer.

House Washing for All Types of Exteriors “Not washing your home regularly allows mold, mildew, dirt and other contaminants to become embedded in your siding,” Palubiak points out.

“Beyond the negative impact this has on the appearance of your home, it will also quickly destroy its exterior.”

To help keep your home’s exterior looking like new, Perfect Power Wash offers a house washing service for any

DURING

Nick Adams

Mike Palubiak, owner

type of siding including vinyl, aluminum, brick, wood, and stucco. After applying a biodegradable cleanser that kills any living organism, one of the company’s professionals will do a selective soft bristle brush, followed by a double fresh water rinse.

and for an instant quote over the phone, call Perfect Power Wash at 330.697.0131 or 440.856.3400. You can also visit them online at perfectpowerwash.com.

“Once we’re finished, your home will look like new again,” Palubiak said.

Perfect Power Wash is fully insured and uses only the highest quality, environmentally friendly products.

The company offers instant quotes over the phone using satellite images of their customers’ homes. For more information

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To celebrate Perfect Power Wash’s 15th Anniversary they are offering 15% off for all work completed by August 14th.

Perfect Power Wash 330.697.0131 440.856.3400 perfectpowerwash.com

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Home D e c o r with a Personal touch

By Meg Pauken Photos Vincent Gorman

I

s it time to freshen up your home with a few new accessories, or perhaps with major redecorating?

Either way, a great place to begin is at Chestnut Hill Home in Chagrin Falls.

Chestnut Hill Home was founded seven years ago by Janna Lutz, building on her 25 years of experience as a designer and decorator. She offers the same types of items in her retail store that she would procure for her private clients: tables and chests, custom upholstered furniture, area rugs and window treatments, art,

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lighting and accessories. Additionally, Chestnut Hill Home offers wedding registries, along with a complete tabletop department. Underlying the entire operation is Janna’s personal dedication to good design and customer service.

“I wanted to create a one-stop-shop for home decorating, so that whether a client is seeking a complete home remodel or simply to freshen things up a bit, they can find what they need right here,” Janna explains.

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Shopping at Chestnut Hill Home is fun, easy and personal. Janna and her staff consult with their customers and assist them in making selections that will work well with their existing decor or instead, redecorating an entire space. Her designers have particular expertise with fabrics, furniture styles, color and overall design.

“Our staff is here to help our customers to the extent they desire. Maybe they need a little bit of help choosing a new lamp or maybe they need more guidance pulling together several items to change

up an entire room. We are here to help as much or as little as needed,” she says.

of our clients are treated with the same attention, regardless.”

Janna suggests that when you come in to Chestnut Hill Home, do not be afraid to bring a few things along: pictures of your existing rooms; magazine or catalog pictures of furnishings or rooms that speak to you; even fabric swatches or a pillow from your current furniture.

Chestnut Hill Home carries a wide variety of items, in a wide range of prices, including seasonal tabletop items that are perfect for gifts. The vibe is sophisticated, yet simple.

Everything on the floor is available for purchase, some by special order.

“The more we can visualize what you already have and what you are drawn to,” Janna explains, “the more easily we can help you find something that is just perfect for your home.”

“There is a misconception that decorating advice and design services are only for very large projects,” Janna continues, “No job is too big or too small. We are available to assist with selecting a few items or doing the complete interior design for new home construction. All

Chestnut Hill Home welcomes browsers, so even if you don’t have a specific item in mind or a particular design dilemma, it’s well worth a visit simply to get ideas.

Chestnut Hill Home is located at 27 North Franklin Street in the heart of Chagrin Falls. Visit from 10-6, Monday through Saturday. You may reach the store by telephone at 440.247.6858. chestnut hill home 27 north Franklin street, chagrin Falls 440.247.6858 chestnuthillhome.com

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ABOVE Janna Lutz with Hank

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Stone

By Henny Buffinga  Photos ANN SACKS

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The Next Natural Step in Luxury Flooring

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E

voking memories of rustic English farmhouse kitchens, there’s something satisfying about having natural stone in the home.

Historically, stone was only affordable for royalty, but in the last 50 years the production of stone tile has made the material more accessible for homeowners.

In a time when so many flooring materials do their best to imitate natural products, it’s an affordable luxury to have the real thing.

One of the most popular choices in stone flooring is limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary stone formed in ancient sea beds, whose characteristic colors include neutrals such as off-white, beige, tan, taupe and a light blue/gray. Popular in the medieval period in the construction of castles and cathedrals, limestone has been a reliable building choice for thousands of years.

Limestone can have numerous fossil impressions in it, evoking memories of sand and sea. While it is a durable stone, it is relatively soft and shouldn’t be used in high-traffic areas of the home. Its porous nature makes it susceptible to staining as well. A heavy-duty sealant can fix those problems, however, it will need to be reapplied every few years.

For a traditional and elegant look, marble is a great choice. Used by Greek and Roman sculptors, marble has come to be a symbol

for refined taste. What was once the choice of kings is much more accessible now, giving an old-world elegance to the home. A highly resilient stone, marble does need some special care when it comes to scratching and staining.

Marble is a metamorphosed limestone, which gives it a hard surface that can take a high polish, giving it that glossy look it is known for. This glossy surface looks especially pristine in a kitchen or bath where the tile can be continued on the wall. Because of its associations with artistry, marble is often seen as a statement, but it is one that stands the test of time with a rich historical legacy.

Travertine is a luxury stone tile that is often thought to be impractical because of its porous surface which lends itself to staining. However, with the proper milling and sealing, this stone can be a gorgeous addition to any home.

Travertine can be honed to give it a satin-smooth finish and very little reflection, or it can be polished, which gives it a high-gloss finish that reflects light and highlights the stone’s color and markings. The characteristic colors of travertine are off-white, beige, tan and yellow, and it makes a great choice for hallways, entrances and living spaces.

Its matte finish provides a warm look, and feels soft underfoot. Most quality

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travertine comes from Italy and Turkey, which have the biggest and most wellestablished stone quarries.

Stone tile flooring works well in any season, whether you’re looking for the cool touch of stone in the summers or the luxury of heated tiles in the winter.

Adding a touch of the old world and nature to your home, stone tile is a great investment.

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It’s Time for a New Roof

By Kristal Pettit Photos Vincent Gorman, Aaron Leyser and courtesy Brad Smith Roofing

It’s easy to forget about your aging roof when the weather is warm and sunny.

Fall, however, is a really busy season for building new roofs because that’s when everyone starts thinking about the coming winter. The ice and snow can be brutal on your roof and it’s the worst time of year for your roof to fail.

W

hen Brad Smith started his roofing company in 1979, he decided that the homeowner’s education would be a priority. Brad focused on providing options and possibilities to his customer so that they could make an informed decision about what would be best for their property, their needs and their budget.

For example, Brad Smith Roofing makes sure that homeowners understand the

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costs and benefits of installing a new roof versus putting a roof over an existing surface. Roofing regulations restrict the number of layers on a roof to two. Also, when a roof starts to fail there’s usually an underlying cause and by putting a new roof over the old one you might just be putting a band aid over the wound and not actually fixing the problem. Tearing off the old roofing allows Brad Smith’s experienced professionals to see if there are any structural issues so they can be

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fixed, allowing your new roof to last many more years.

For over 35 years, Brad Smith Roofing has earned the trust and respect of consumers all over Northeast Ohio. Their employees are highly skilled and proud to work for a company which values responsible building practices and uses only quality materials on the jobs.

The second generation, Brad’s daughter, Stacey, and son, Drew, have been in the

Above Right: Brad Smith

business for over 15 years now. They have continued the company’s mission: to educate the homeowner of all options available, to provide the highest level of customer communication, project management and thorough inspections, and to continue to evolve in the services desired by homeowners and businesses, which has expanded into renovations and remodeling in addition to roofing of residential and commercial projects.

value of a guarantee, choose a company you know will be around.

the best options and full information

Repairs are great at extending the life of your roof, but like most things a roof won’t last forever. If you are concerned about the health of your roof, don’t wait for the busy fall season. Call the professionals at Brad Smith Roofing and be sure you’re receiving

your home’s protective cover.

before making any decisions regarding

Brad Smith Roofing 24550 Sperry Drive, Westlake 440.835.3377 bradsmithroofing.com

“We focus on building client relationships with the approach that they are like family,” Drew says. “Our clients trust us to treat their home or commercial building as if it were our own, so we have a responsibility to maintain that trust.”

Brad Smith Roofing has established itself for 35 years and under the continued leadership of Brad Smith and the next generation, it will continue to grow and do business in our neighborhoods. Brad Smith Roofing is very proud to have earned the prestigious Presidents Club Award from GAF, as a master elite contractor and offers an exclusive “Golden Pledge Warranty.” This warranty covers their client’s roof from defects in material for 50 years and workmanship for 25 years after a manufacturer’s field 40 point inspection of work is performed. When assessing the

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Your Hometown Lumberyard

By Meg Pauken Photos Aaron Leyser

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a home improvement coach? Someone to guide you through those projects that are a bit daunting, but not quite big enough to justify hiring someone? We all have a project we think we could handle if only there were someone to talk us through it.

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F

or DIY help, head over to Lyndhurst Lumber. In addition to being the owner and president of Lyndhurst Lumber, Britt Raburn taught home improvement classes through SELREC and Cleveland Heights Home Repair Center. He keeps his “teaching hat” on when advising customers at Lyndhurst Lumber.

“We are a local lumberyard,” says Raburn.

“Our employees have the expertise to guide our customers through their projects, from simple to complex, and we stock everything you need to get them done right.”

“We will cut your lumber for you to the exact specs you need and provide expert advice to make your projects go smoothly,” Raburn assures. “We see a lot of frustrated people who either got bad advice or no advice when they started a project and then got stuck in the middle. We help them get it back on track and finished up.”

Lyndhurst Lumber has been in business since 1921. Family owned, it remains rooted in the community, and dedicated to providing the kind of service that’s impossible to find at big-box stores. It has become a trusted source for materials, advice and renovation services throughout the area.

Lyndhurst Lumber will build and install everything it sells, from picnic tables to

trellises and play sets, should customers prefer not to do the work themselves.

They even provide delivery during the week and on Saturdays.

“We offer a full range of home improvement products,” Raburn offers.

“We do all types of home renovations, including windows and doors, kitchens, baths and flooring, plus decks and garages.” The team at Lyndhurst Lumber is focused on customer service: taking the time to find out what a customer really needs instead of merely selling a product.

“We have been around for a long time.

We have built our reputation on integrity and great service. At a lot of big home improvement stores, you deal with someone different every time you walk in. You don’t know them or their experience and they don’t remember you. At Lyndhurst Lumber, you know exactly who you are dealing with and where to find us,” Raburn explains.

located at 5402 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst. The lumberyard is directly around the corner, at 1511 Commodore Road. Store hours are 7:30 to 7 Mondays and Thursdays; 7:30 to 5:30 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 8:00 to 5 on Saturdays. Call 440.442.1616 for more information or visit the website at lyndhurstlumber.net.

Lyndhurst Lumber 1511 Commodore Road, Lyndhurst Showroom 5402 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst 440.442.1616 lyndlbr@aol.com lyndhurstlumber.net

Britt and his team make it their goal to create long-term relationships with every customer who walks in the door.

“We want to be your trusted source for home improvements,” Raburn says.

Visit Lyndhurst Lumber for your next project.

Lyndhurst Lumber’s showroom is TOP L–R: Bruce Greig, John Talkington, Dan Ramga BOTTOM: Britt Raburn HOUSE & HOME

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Bathroom Makeovers Come in All Sizes

By Kristal Pettit窶ケhotos courtesy Contracting Services

Y

ou love your historic home in the suburbs of greater Cleveland, but when you visit your friends in their newly built houses you become a bit envious. Their bathrooms are enormous. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, bathroom

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sizes have doubled over the past 30 years. The average bathroom size for an older home is 5 by 8 feet. Charles Sberna from Contracting Services and Cheryl Case from Cheryl Case Design can rescue that claustrophobic bathroom space and restore your love for your older home.

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Charles Sberna grew up in the construction business. He spent 34 years in the commercial industrial trade developing carpentry, drywall, painting, demolition, and tiling skills. He knows enough about plumbing and electrical to identify the qualified, licensed professionals in those

areas with whom he likes to work. All of these skills are necessary to a complete bathroom remodel.

“It takes a lot of experience in the trades to accumulate the understanding of materials and tools and the mechanics behind a remodeling job,” Charles says.

“With that knowledge I can explain the range of options and potential for a particular space to the homeowner, so they can choose the best solution for their family and their budget.”

Cheryl Case has the same extensive experience, but in the design field. She’s spent 30 years designing kitchens and baths. “I enjoy the process of these projects from start to completion,” Cheryl professes.

Together they can help you remodel your small bathroom by either removing a wall and expanding it into adjacent space or by the use of design elements to create the illusion of more space.

Expanding into a closet area or even incorporating a small bedroom allows for a master bathroom suite which rivals those in more recently built homes. His and hers vanities become an option, as well as walk-in showers and discrete space for the toilet. Cheryl can help you select from tiling, high quality fixtures and lighting - everything you need to make your bath a luxurious retreat.

If your budget doesn’t allow for a bathroom expansion, don’t despair. By selecting the right amenities, paint color and lighting you can create the illusion of a spacious bathroom. If your shower has an entry curb, consider replacing it with a ceiling-to-floor glass door to allow your floor space to flow seamlessly into the shower area. This will give the illusion that your space is less limited.

“Large frameless mirrors can have the same visual effect in a small bathroom,” Cheryl explains.

Cheryl has a list of tricks to help homeowners create a spacious feeling in that bathroom which currently makes you feel claustrophobic. Many half-baths in older homes are especially compact.

Cheryl can help you select a pedestal sink, effectively opening the space a bulky vanity has inhabited.

sink. He can further open your small space by installing a hanging toilet to replace the one currently taking up half the space in your half-bath.

Charles will be there to remove the old vanity and install the sleek new pedestal

Schedule a consultation with Charles and Cheryl to explore your bathroom

ABOVE: Charles Sberna and Cheryl Case

remodeling options. Then the next time your friends visit your older home, they’ll be the ones experiencing bathroom envy.

Contracting Services

HOUSE & HOME

216.288.7232 ajncrs@yahoo.com

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DON’T BE EMBARRASSED to Open Your Garage

By Dylan Yépez Photos courtesy of Garage Finisher

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garage is often the main entry to your home. It should be clean, organized and inviting to your family and guests. But the sad reality is that it has been reduced to a repository for all the junk you think you might need later. You’re always going to clean it next weekend — but until that elusive time, the garage will remain an embarrassment every time you open the garage door.

Well, that weekend has come. All you have to do is call Mario F.X. Salwan at Garage Finisher, and he’ll take care of the rest.

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Garage Finisher is a full-service garagemakeover provider that will be in and out faster than you can come up with another excuse not to makeover your garage.

Finisher is done, they remove everything from storage and organize it in your new cabinets and slatwall. And, they do all this in an average of three days.

When Mario says “full service,” he means it. The professionals at Garage Finisher begin by removing everything from your garage, storing items you still want in a storage trailer and discarding or donating anything you don’t want. Then, they handle any work you choose including Lifetime Warranty Flooring System, epoxy wall painting, attractive cabinets and PVC Slatwall System. When Garage

If, on the other hand, you just want to have your unsightly flooring redone, Garage Finisher still provides the exact same removal, storage and reorganization services for everything inside your garage and can do the floor in just one day.

According to Mario, you will “come home from work and not have to lift a finger.”

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Many mixtures of stone and epoxy used for garage flooring turn yellow over time,

BOTTOM LEFT Auto Dealership BELOW Mario F.X. Salwan

come apart and trap water and other contaminants because they are porous and use old-fashioned epoxy. Garage Finisher provides completely nonporous floors, preventing the absorption of anything into the surface. The difference is polyaspartic — a resin that’s four times as strong as epoxy and doesn’t peel, yellow, stain or degloss like epoxy does — and was created by Bayer Chemical. This is the same flooring that Garage Finisher uses in heavy traffic, commercial projects.

This flooring comes in a variety of colors and textures and is so fast-drying, you can drive on it the day after it is applied.

Garage Finisher confidently offers a lifetime warranty on its work, which includes issues such as staining, cracking, hot-tire pick-up and delamination.

Garage Finisher will complement the flooring with strong, durable slatwall which includes a variety of hooks and storage baskets, as well as metal or wood cabinets that have adjustable shelves for permanent organization. As with the flooring, the slatwall and cabinets come with lifetime warranties. You will be much happier when you arrive home each day, guests will be amazed by your clean garage, and your clean garage floor will keep your house cleaner.

Visit garagefinisher.com for more information about Garage Finisher, a gallery of its work, and a quick five minute video that details the makeover process.

Call 216.831.4500 to schedule a free consultation, design and written estimate for your new garage space.

When it comes to finishing your garage, flooring is only half the battle. Over time, garages go downhill: the paint peels, and piles of junk build up. And this is most people’s main entry into the house.

Garage Finisher, Inc 4530 Renaissance Parkway Warrensville Heights 216.831.4500 garagefinisher.com

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Comprehensive Architectural Services – Beyond the Drawings

By Meg Pauken Photos Vincent Gorman and courtesy J. Hershey Architecture

W

hen you think of an architect, perhaps you think of beautiful homes or cutting-edge public buildings, but a full service architectural firm does much, much more than just design homes and other buildings.

public would ever imagine,” he says. “We design homes, home renovations, and unique commercial spaces including assistance to our clients with their branding. We also provide consulting and advisory services to make sure the entire construction process goes smoothly.”

John Hershey, founder of J. Hershey Architecture, describes the roles of the architect as problem-solver and advocate.

Any building project, whether residential or commercial, should begin with the architect.

“J. Hershey Architecture provides a much wider range of services than the general

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“Architects are uniquely qualified to do site analysis, which is a critical first step before the design process can even

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begin,” Hershey offers. Site analysis will help a client determine what can and can’t be done on a particular piece of land as well as to select the optimal spot for the structure.

As the client and architect move forward, Hershey explains, a good architect will educate his client about construction costs so that the client understands what can be done within the available budget. From there, the design process progresses, usually over several meetings.

ABOVE John Hershey, founder of J. Hershey Architecture

In addition to providing design services, J. Hershey Architecture provides comprehensive consulting services to its community association clients.

These services include reserve studies, transition studies, architectural review for unit renovations, bid solicitation and construction oversight.

AFTER Once the design is completed, Hershey will oversee the bidding process, if the client desires, ensuring that potential contractors have included all of the necessary details in their cost estimates. He may assist his client in evaluating the various proposals.

Hershey’s oversight continues through the permitting and construction process, ensuring that the quality and detail of the design translates into the completed structure. Hershey and his team also assist their clients by working with interior and landscape designers, providing continuity of design throughout the entire project.

BEFORE John and his team design high-end single family homes, multi-family communities, and unique, one-of-a-kind commercial structures, including restaurants and other retail establishments. J. Hershey Architects is known for quality designs with a high level of detail, rather than for a particular architectural style.

“We are able to design according to our clients’ wishes, from very traditional to very modern, “ says Hershey. “We also incorporate “green” design features into our plans whenever feasible.”

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After many years with premier architectural firms, John Hershey began his first company in 1999 in the Chicago suburbs and sold it in 2009. J. Hershey Architecture was founded by John Hershey, AIA, LEED, AP in 2009, and has offices just outside Chicago and Cleveland. The firm has projects throughout the United States with a focus in the Chagrin Falls area where John now lives with his family.

“We strive for excellence in all of the services we provide as a firm,” he says.

“We are committed to the communities we serve and look forward to building and extending our relationships in both areas.”

Call John today for a consultation on your building or renovation project. He may be reached locally at 440.394.8242 or visit the firm’s website at jhersheyarchitecture.com for more information.

J. Hershey Architecture 147 Bell Street, Chagrin Falls 440.394.8242 jhersheyarchitecture.com

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A

s the owner of commercial property, you have a vested interest in providing a safe, energy efficient, weatherproof environment for your tenants.

More than likely, your own company or manufacturing plant is operating within that building as well.

When the responsibility for a commercial property rests on your shoulders, you should consult with MNW Construction. MNW specializes in flat commercial roofing systems and low-slope roofs and has been in business since 2009. Thanks to the dedicated professionals who work for them, MNW Construction has already made a name for itself in commercial roofing.

Based in Middlefield, Ohio, MNW Construction is proud of their employees.

Mark Wengerd, owner of MNW Construction, explains, “Our Amish work crews arrive promptly and work efficiently. Each employee has been factory trained and certified by Conklin Roofing Systems, which we promote as the top of the line product available in terms of structural stability, weather-tight protection and energy efficiency.”

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE Commercial Roofing Systems

By Dylan Yépez Photos courtesy MNW Construction

The Conklin Roofing company realizes that a roof is a long-term investment for a company, not just another expense.

Their unique design and materials have made Conklin Roofing Systems leaders in the commercial roofing market for over 30 years. Conklin Roofing Systems are constructed in all one piece so no seams exist to eventually allow the elements to slip through the cracks.

Conklin roof coatings are still ahead of industry standards, according to Wengerd, for technology, performance, and environmental responsibility.

In the 1970’s hot tar roofs were the standard for commercial buildings.

Conklin began installing white acrylic roofs which reflected heat and UV rays for more comfortable interiors, reduced air conditioning costs, and increased energy efficiency.

Most importantly today, when we’re concerned about the disposal costs of materials and the environmental costs of disposal, MNW Construction offers roof recoating. The recoating process allows the original roofing structure to remain intact which saves time, labor, disposal

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and landfill costs over the option of replacement. There is no need to tear off the existing roofing structure when MNW Construction can apply a Conklin Roofing System over it to seal and protect from the elements and reflect the sun’s heat.

Although MNW Construction has complete confidence in the professionalism of their certified employees, Mark Wengerd is on the job site during each project to assure the highest quality workmanship.

“Our response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. I don’t need to oversee each job, but I just enjoy being on the job sites and participating in the process.”

MNW Construction has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau based on the length of time they’ve been operating and the fact that not a single complaint has ever been filed. If the responsibility for the solid, sound nature of a commercial property rests on your shoulders, talk to Mark Wengerd or his general manager, Patrick Flanagan, about the investment in a Conklin Roofing System. MNW Construction can increase the value of your property and your energy savings at the same time.

MNW Construction Middlefield, Ohio 724.986.1568 Patrick Flanagan 440.321.9434 Mark Wengerd

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A Daily Staycation in Your Backyard

By Kristal Pettit Photos Vincent Gorman and courtesy Best Buy Pools & Spas

P

erhaps you’ve thought about adding a water feature to your home but you aren’t sure which one would provide the most enjoyment for you and your family.

Surely a hot tub would be used regularly throughout the year. A swim spa could provide both the therapeutic benefits of a hot tub and the convenience of aquatic exercise in your own home or backyard.

But a pool would turn the backyard into an oasis. There’d be no reason to travel to the seashore with a pool right outside your door.

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Ted Dellas at Best Buy Pools & Spas has fielded all of these questions from interested homeowners over the years. Ted has decades of experience in the spa industry and is the local distributor of the Master Spas line of hot tubs and swim spas. Best Buy Pools is also proud to bring to Cleveland the Only Alpha pool systems and accessories. Only Alpha is made by an American company at the forefront of innovation in pool technology and materials.

A pool is a wonderful way to enjoy time with family members from multiple

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generations and also with friends. “A swimming pool gives everyone a reason to just hang out,” Ted explains. You wouldn’t think you’d need an excuse to spend time together but in our increasingly structured lives, it’s getting harder to do. A swimming pool provides a strong incentive to relax and socialize.

Even if you aren’t a strong swimmer, you can enjoy the myriad benefits of aquatic exercises in either a swim spa or a fullsize swimming pool. Aquatic exercises provide exceptional cardio-vascular

benefits while minimizing stress on your joints. Having a pool or swim spa in your backyard makes getting those three or four 30 minute cardio workouts a week extremely convenient. Because aquatic exercises are fun, you’re also more likely to stick to the routine.

Ted has seen many backyards transformed by beautifully landscaped water features where once only a deck or patio existed. “This oasis creates a dramatic view from inside your home and often increases a home’s market value, as well,” Ted explains. The hot tub or swim spa options also increase your home’s value, but can be moved with you to your new residence, if you choose.

Think about people you know who live on the shore of Lake Erie or even on a much smaller body of water. Don’t they seem to be more relaxed? Humans have sought the naturally soothing effects

for millennia. Water is a full sensory experience, affecting you while you float in it, listen to it, allow it to reduce your body temperature on a hot day or warm your bones in the winter. At the end of a work day, what better environment to melt away the stress and anxiety than a beautifully landscaped poolside setting?

Call Ted Dellas at Best Buy Pools & Spas to learn what options are available for your property. Whether you’ve decided on a hot tub, swim spa or pool, there are a range of choices for every budget. Ted can help you turn your yard into your next vacation.

RIGHT Ted Dellas

Best Buy Pools & Spas 731 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village 877.493.5570 tdhted@aol.com bestbuypoolsandspas.com

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FL

BUSINESS

Chatting WITH THE

ONE BILLION DOLLAR MAN

By Tobie Hainstock

I

t all started with 112 avocado green electric can openers. In 1977, Bob Circosta was a talkshow host for an AM radio station when he was approached by the station manager with a situation... a client had paid the station in product.

“When the manager asked me to go on-air and sell these can openers for them I thought he was crazy,” he chuckles.

To Circosta’s surprise all the can openers sold that day.

“I was in total disbelief,” he recalls. “I’m not sure what it was that did the trick, possibly because I had some credibility to my audience as a newsperson.” That was 37 years ago and the home shopping experience has far surpassed many expectations.

LIFE’S A PITCH! As a home shopping guru, Circosta has had plenty of experience with sales and marketing over the decades. This has inspired him to write his book Life’s a Pitch, which outlines numerous key elements to successful sales and marketing. Over the years, many have encouraged Circosta to write a book about his work with various celebrities and high profile people. “Rather than doing something like that, I looked at writing something that would help people. I wanted to write something readers could refer to as a resource manual.” He adds that he purposely wrote a book that was not about him, but rather about assisting seasoned business owners and entrepreneurs.

SELLING OR SERVING? So, how do you become successful at selling? According to Circosta, the key is not to sell a product. “Take a step back, look at the product and ask yourself, ‘how is this going to help others?’ ” He encourages business owners to advise their staff that they are not selling, they are serving.

“Don’t sell,” he advises, “Serve. Help every customer achieve their goal.” Talk about the product and how it can benefit your customer. For example, if you own a shoe store, what you are really selling is style and comfort. Focus on the end result. If you buy these shoes, they will look great and be so comfortable your feet won’t hurt at the end of the day. “This is not a

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gimmick, it’s built on complete honesty,” he adds.

Being dishonest will only discredit you and you won’t receive a strong repeat clientele.

HEALTHY COMPETITION Circosta notes that when it comes to keeping the competition on their toes, customer service is the key. People purchase from a comfort level. Don’t sell to your customers; provide a service and go to great lengths to serve with excellence. Develop relationships with your clientele and they will be loyal to you. Follow that rule of thumb and you won’t have to worry about being competitive.

PUTTING WORDS INTO ACTION In conclusion, Circosta says the onus is really on the business owner. If he/she wants a truly successful business, it’s ultimately up to him/her. “I can share technique, but it’s up to you to take action. Gather the information and apply it. If you do it wrong, that’s okay. Everybody fails at something. You’ve just got to do it yourself to succeed.”

BUSINESS

www.bobcircosta.com

Beyond Diversification: Intermarket Analysis

Scott B. Kamenir, CFA Managing Principal Waypoint Intelligence 33 River Street Chagrin Falls 440.394.8067 scott.kamenir@waypointintelligence.com waypointintelligence.com

D

iversification is the foundation of portfolio management.

By diversifying among major asset classes, such as equities, bonds, commodities, real estate, and currency, investors can control risk taken in a portfolio. Beyond including each of these in a portfolio, there are some key relationships between these classes that tend to hold over time, and an understanding of this can help investors determine the most favorable places to be invested at various points of the market cycle. The ongoing study and monitoring of these relationships is referred to as intermarket analysis, and being familiar with this can serve to improve the risk and return qualities of a portfolio.

InflatIonary relatIonshIps Intermarket analysis depends on the forces of inflation and deflation. In a normal inflationary environment, stock and bond prices are positively correlated, i.e. they move together. Low interest rates, and consequently higher bond prices stimulate economic activity, boost company profits, and are generally good for stock prices.

In an inflationary environment, there is a negative correlation between bond and commodity prices. Bonds are sensitive to the direction of inflation. If commodities are strong (an indicator of inflationary forces), markets begin pricing in higher interest rates, therefore bond prices decline.

DeflatIonary relatIonshIps The intermarket relationships in a deflation are generally the same, however in a deflationary environment stocks and bonds are negatively correlated. When the general price level declines and the economy slows, investors begin to lose confidence in companies’ ability to perform well, therefore are more willing to hold safer, fixed-income investments. Funds tend to flow out of stocks and into bonds.

Dollar & CommoDItIes There is a negative correlation between the dollar and commodities. A significant portion of the world’s commodities are priced in dollars, therefore a strong dollar tends to cap commodity prices. If the dollar weakens, commodity prices get more expensive and are inflationary.

BUSINESS

InDustrIal m e ta l s & BonDs Bond prices are negatively correlated with industrial metals prices.

Rising prices for metals is inflationary, and points to a stronger economy and expectations for higher interest rates cause a decline in bond prices.

Conversely, weakening industrial metal prices are a deflationary force, leading to lower interest rates and higher bond prices.

Investors can track what is going on in the metals markets for clues to the economy and financial markets in general. Rising prices of industrial metals signals increasing demand, a sign of a healthy economy leading to equity market strength. Falling prices reflect decreasing demand, hence a weak economy and potentially weak equity markets.

ConClusIon There is no shortage of analytical approaches when it comes to managing a portfolio. Having an awareness of the various intermarket linkages, however, can help investors to know which asset classes to over or underweight at the appropriate time.

Using intermarket analysis throughout the portfolio management process can improve the risk and return profile of a portfolio. Through understanding the relationships among asset classes, investors can deploy capital in a more thoughtful way with a higher level of confidence and conviction.

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Multi-Generational Insurance Agents

Give You the Protection You Need

By Mike Cabrerra Photos Vincent Gorman

O

nly 30 percent of familyowned businesses are active into the second generation, according to the Harvard Business Review. Of those, just one-third remain active and privately held for the third generation to lead. Three generations of State Farm agents in Shaker Heights have successfully challenged those national statistics. “As we tell everybody, it’s in our blood at this point,” Robin Gorman says.

“It’s become a passion of ours.”

Not only has Robin followed in her father’s footsteps, but she also operates

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out of the same office location as he did (although it’s since been remodeled). It all started with Glenn Robinson, one of the first African American State Farm agents in the Northeast. Glenn led a very successful 30-year career with the agency, establishing a name for himself in Cleveland, and especially in the Shaker Heights community.

“State Farm has been in business for more than 100 years, and they’re always considered to be the cream of the crop among insurance agencies,” Robin says.

“So we feel like we’re working for the best.”

BUSINESS

State Farm is the number 1 auto and home insurance agency in the industry.

With more than 100 products to offer, agents are able to design the most comprehensive protection possible for their clients. “We’re able to help customers manage everyday risk and realize their dreams through retirement planning and other services we offer,” says Loren Walker, the third generation in her family’s business.

Loren recalls spending days as a young girl in the office with her mom and grandpa.

Her entrepreneurial spirit awoke as she

watched her mom and grandpa build their businesses from scratch. “My grandpa laid the foundation for my mom,” Loren says.

“I saw her work hard, a lot of late nights.

There were times when she had to stay in the office until the morning.”

As Loren got older, she spent time working at Robin’s office. It wasn’t long before Loren began bringing in clients.

After graduating from college, Loren moved to Nashville to pursue a master’s degree, during which time she continued to gain experience through working at another agent’s office. A natural fit in the industry, Loren created her own agency in 2008 in Tennessee. About four years later, State Farm offered her a job as territory sales leader in Nashville, a position that puts her in charge of agents in the area.

“Hard work and determination were things that my parents really stressed to me,” Loren says. As she progressed through her career, she and her mom became a team. “We learned from each other,” Loren says. “I knew I could always call her for ideas and support.”

The teamwork between Robin and Loren translated to even better service for their clients, which is their top priority. “We look forward to helping people achieve

their everyday goals, and that’s a vital service that we offer,” Robin says. “We make sure that others are fully insured in all areas of life, fire, home, health, business, commercial, and now, annuities and securities.”

“We have that insurance discussion with everyone from a transient resident who just moved to the area — maybe they’re a resident at the Cleveland Clinic or a college student — on up to elderly retired individuals,” Robin says. “And we match coverage to their needs.”

Robin’s office is located at 16812 Chagrin Boulevard, across the street from Shaker Towne Center, in Shaker Heights. You can reach her at 216.283.0080.

Robin Gorman, State Farm Agent Loren Walker, Sales Leader 16812 Chagrin Boulevard Shaker Heights 216.283.0080

BUSINESS

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Mercedes-Benz

Explores New FroNtiers

By Trina Annand

94

FineLifestyles

CLEVELAND

WHEELS

W

hile driving is often an expression of freedom, it is also commonly associated with the drudgery of the commute. Not wanting driving to be relegated to a chore, Mercedes-Benz has sought new ways to infuse drivers with passion.

Since the creation of their first automobile — a three wheeled “motorwagen” in 1886 — Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of innovation. Breaking barriers in technology and culture is second nature to the company; Bertha Benz is heralded as the first female driver to complete a 120 mile solo tour as publicity for her husband’s automotive creations. Over the last century, Mercedes-Benz has become a household name signifying high quality luxury.

Though Mercedes-Benz didn’t develop its trademark three pointed star until the early 1900s, the shape has become a mark of distinction. “We are a brand that is synonymous with

leadership. We have lead the way through 125 years of development and evolution of the automobile. Innovation is the engine that will keep us at the forefront of redefining the automobile for the next 125 years,” says Stephen Cannon, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its most recent glimpse into the future of the automobile: the F 015 Luxury in Motion.

“Quality time and private space are the true luxury goods of the future and this car offers you both,” describes Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Google and Apple are not the only companies developing autonomous vehicles; it is a concept that has been around since the 1950s. The Luxury in Motion is Mercedes-Benz’s automotive opus, a self-driving machine that considers not just its passengers, but the people outside its doors as well. Safety is top of mind. Not merely a self-contained capsule, the car interacts with the world around it. Those crossing in front of the vehicle will notice the LED grill, which acknowledges their presence and follows their path across the road. The Luxury in Motion also projects a lit crosswalk for pedestrians to signal to them when it is safe to walk after appraising other vehicles’ movements. “The car of the future is good looking, smart, polite and helpful,” says Zetsche.

At present, Mercedes-Benz also continues to create more down-to-earth leaps in technology, such as PRE-SAFE®, which senses impending accidents, alerts the driver, closes the sunroof, and adjusts seat belts and headrests before impact. Attention Assist measures a driver’s reactions through a series of over 70 indicators, sensing whether they are becoming drowsy and audibly alerting them to take a break, thus reducing accidents caused by fatigue. Through integrated safety technology, MercedesBenz has created one of the safest cars on the road today.

Driving is often seen as necessity, but it is also a luxury and a privilege, something the design team at Mercedes-Benz is fully conscious of by designing safe, fun and luxurious cars for whatever the future may bring.

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