Quick Tips for Dryer Efficiency Did you know the fabric softener liquids and dryer sheets that make our clothes smell so great leave residue in our dryer’s lint screen? This residue blocks the air flow and can lead to longer drying times and over extended periods, a shorter life span for our dryers? You can’t see the residue, but it’s evident if you run your dryer lint screen under water. The water will “pool” up rather than flowing straight through the screen. It is extremely easy to remove this residue and help your dryer run more efficiently. First, be sure to remove lint from the screen after every dryer load. Next, every three to four months, take the lint screen out and wash it with hot water and some mild dish soap. Rinse it thoroughly and allow it to fully dry before placing it back in the dryer. These two easy steps will mean quicker dry times, which means less energy used, and fewer maintenance calls, as well.
STOP THE JUNK MAIL! Did you know that 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water were used to produce U.S. mail for just one year? 44% of all U.S. mail is discarded unopened equaling four million tons of waste paper each year with only 32% being recycled?. By putting an end to a good amount of the useless junk mail we receive, we are all able to help our environment. But how? Contact the Direct Marketing Association at www.dmachoice.org. Through this site you can be removed from many companies mass marketing mailing lists for up to five years. www.CatalogChoice.com provides a free way to opt out of most catalogs plus common mailing lists. To stop receiving credit card or other credit related offers , opt out permanently at www.optoutprescreen.com Another way is to save all of your unwanted mail, and once a month call or email the companies and ask to be removed from their mailing lists. This is the most effective way, but can be more time consuming.
WASHING MACHINE WISDOM Just a reminder that it is not a good idea to wash a load of laundry if you are leaving your apartment or going to bed for the evening. It may seem like a great way to save time, but we have had instances in which washing machines have malfunctioned and overflowed, causing flood damage. While this isn’t the resident’s fault, you can help us avoid future issues such as this, by holding off on doing that laundry until you are home and can alert us immediately if something is wrong with the appliance. Thank you!
The Gramercy Leasing Office will be closed on March 15th. We will reopen at noon on March 16th. If you have a maintenance emergency, please call our office phone number and follow the instructions. Don’t forget that Daylight Savings time begins Sunday, march 13, 2016. Be sure to turn those clocks ahead one hour.
Spring Broccoli Salad This delicious salad is easy to make and provides tons of vitamins C and K, plus it’s just plain yummy! Ingredients: 1 head of broccoli, cut into small florets 1/4 cup red onion, chopped 1/3 cup raisins 1/2 lb. bacon, cut into small pieces 3/4 cup sunflower seeds 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar 3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar 1 cup low-fat mayonnaise Directions: Cook bacon pieces in a skillet over medium heat until evenly browned. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, vinegar, and mayonnaise. Set aside. Toss the broccoli, red onion, and raisins. Pour the mayonnaise mixture on top, and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Prior to serving, add in the bacon and sunflower seeds. Additional add-ins: 1 cup chopped sugar snap peas and/or 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese.
At Your Service! Gramercy Villas Maintenance has always been available to change light bulbs that may go out in your apartments, as the ceilings are high and we want to make certain that our residents are safe. This being said, there is a change in policy that will take place this month going forward. When we receive a maintenance request for a light bulb replacement, there will be a charge of $2.50 for each bulb. This charge will be added onto your resident ledger. Please be certain, when paying rent, that you include this additional amount in your payment. If you choose to purchase your own bulbs and have us install them, we are happy to do so. Please check with us first regarding the proper bulbs to purchase.
Beginning on March 7th and running through April, the City of Meridian Water Division will be conducting their annual flushing of the 450 miles of water mains. This process is done to clear out the naturally occurring sediment that may accumulate during the low water flows of the winter months. While harmless, this sediment may cause your tap water to temporarily appear a light brown, red, or blackish color. If this happens, simply run the cold water faucet in the bathtub at full stream for a few minutes until the water runs clear. It may also cause water pressure fluctuations, which will be temporary.
Container Gardening: Lots of Veggies in a Little Space Living in an apartment doesn’t mean that you can’t grow a plentiful garden. You can make the most of a small space by planting a container garden which can be kept on your patio, balcony, or for smaller plants like herbs, on your window sill. Using any container, from terra cotta pots to recycled bowls (be sure you drill holes in the bottom for drainage), you can grow a variety of veggies for your summer salads and side dishes. There are a few specific vegetables that do especially well in containers: Tomatoes: All types do well in pots, but the smaller varieties, like cherry and grape tomatoes produce quickly, making for a great harvest. They can be difficult to start from seeds, so starting with seedlings will ensure a success. Peppers (Bell and chili): As with tomatoes, these are best started from seedlings, but once they have a good start, they are quick producers and do very well in containers. Red mini-bells are quick producers and are delicious on a salad. Lettuce – Plant the seeds in a container that gets plenty of full sun exposure and you’ll get a great crop of lettuce for salads and garnishes. You can plant many varieties in the same container and the mix will look, as well as taste, great. Spinach – The plants love the sun and will continue to grow more leaves as you trim off what you want to use. Scatter the seeds in the container and thin them out as they grow. Green Onions – These are pretty and easy to grow. They don’t take up much space in your containers and really like the sun. Carrots – Any variety will grow in containers, but you’ll want to look for quick-maturing varieties because they can take up to 80 days to be ready for harvest. Cucumbers – Add some crunch to your salads with cucumbers. They are quick to grow and smaller, bush varieties are perfect for container gardens. Green Beans – Easy to grow and when harvested regularly, they’ll just keep producing more. Stick to bush beans, which have short self supported stems rather than pole or climbing beans which can grow 5-6 feet tall. Be sure to start with containers that have drainage and good all-purpose soil from the gardening section of your store. Add your seeds or seedlings, a little water, and a bit of sunshine and soon your deck or patio will be boasting a bumper crop of veggies.
Property Manager Sue Dominiak Maintenance Eric Sallee Porter Chase Borchardt
Gramercy Leasing Office Hours Monday through Friday 12 pm – 6 pm
For after-hours emergencies, please call our office phone at (208)995-2823 and follow the instructions below: -Press 0 for a maintenance emergency - Press 9 to repeat the menu