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features

28 8 Fall in Love with White 10 Designer Kitchens 16 Dining Al Fresco 20 Remodeling the Empty Nest 22 QVCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jill Bauer 26 How to Clean and Care For Natural Stone and Granite 28 Local Goes Local

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PUBLISHER Karen A. Kovacs EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa Walters ART DIRECTOR Sherilyn Kulesh DIRECTOR OF SALES Blair W. Johnson FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR Gabrielle Mwangi FOOD EDITOR Kimberly Cambra DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Amy McDermott CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason A. Bleecher, Mike Hirata Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Diane Burns, Kimberly Cambra, Rosemary Caligiuri, Donna Dvorak, Jillian Dunn, Drew Giorgi, Carla Glatts, Nayana Hegde, Ed Hewitt, Rich Jeffreys, Pattie Krukowski, Kenny Spaulding, Mary Cushing Doherty, Esq., Michael Upton, Michelle Welliver

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profile Colonial Marble & Granite: People Matter By Sharyl Volpe

ccording to James Freeman, Senior Vice President of Colonial Marble & Granite, when this industry-leader started out in 2007, confusion ran rampant for customers. Figuring out how to compare the bottom line costs across competitors took a degree in calculus. This inspired the client-focused Colonial to engineer a unique and simple program that made it easy to walk through their vast warehouse with a firm grasp on the reality of the “want to have” and “need to have”. “Even before times got tough, simplicity was number one,” says Freeman. “We designed a spreadsheet for clients to use, with options, upgrades, and details.” Combining this with the security of knowing that the price you expect ends up being the price you do pay has brought sweet success for partners Angelo Bekas and Nikos Papadopoulos. You come in expecting price “A” and you can walk out with Price “A”. It is hard to find businesses with options as transparent as Colonial. So perhaps by now you know Colonial Marble & 8

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Granite, either from word-of-mouth, media coverage, or from your own experience with their exemplary service, selection and craftsmanship. But did you know that they organize a BBQ cookout for their customers and employees every Saturday of the year, rain or shine? Major holidays too? That’s a commitment to community. And this example of giving back extends past contracts and clients. Colonial Marble & Granite is a proud and active community supporter through sponsorships of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams as well as fundraisers for a wide variety of non-profit causes. The list includes everything from the Ardmore Public Library to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. “For example, we worked with our sports partners to have an autographed basketball from the 76ers Andre Igoudala, a signed puck from the Flyers Jeff Carter and a soccer ball signed by the entire Union team. All of these prizes were donated for auction with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association.” For some, having granite in their homes is a dream come true. For others, it’s purely a matter of investment. In any case, Colonial Marble & Granite invests itself in the dreams of those in need and shares its success with its community. LL

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HOME & GARDEN

Fall In Love With White By Pattie Krukowski

love the sweet crisp smell of fall. Leaves change, fire pits blaze and cozy, well-loved cotton throws come out of hiding. Days get shorter and evenings get cooler. I read a lot of the “in” interior decorating and design ideas for every season and although I like to be in the know, for me it’s not the need to incorporate the latest design trend, it’s about discovering a new way to set the tone of a room or event with suggestive elements. Brighten and soften this season with soothing shades of white and watch the rustic colors of fall really radiate.

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After being in love with southern Vermont for years, my husband and I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a small second home in Manchester Village. The property was situated in the middle of town along its alabaster white and grey marble sidewalks. It was a traditional white clapboard house with black louvered shutters flanking each of a gaggle of windows. We painted the shutters white and hung the palest of grey stained teak lattice panels and the house came alive. In spring, tiny white bell pendants hung from lily of the valley stalks that meandered through a messy bed of

sun bleached river rocks. Well-established, white and pallid green hydrangeas had to be tied to the lattice in mid-summer to keep the melon sized blooms from weighing themselves down to a droop. Square, white plantation planters purchased at a barn sale and repaired with a thousand tiny nails and a tube of wood glue graced each side of the extra wide front door. Each fall, we dried and tied those hydrangeas in bunches and stuffed the planters till overflowing. We couldn’t wait for “Roger’s Famous” cider donuts to start frying up at the Equinox Valley Nursery down the street. They only make donuts during this time of year and they are delicious. We would order a coffee and several donuts too many, grab a wagon and walk the pumpkin patch in search of a pair of the most symmetrically superior specimens there. Once home, we plopped the fat and lumpy pumpkins against all that white and loved the shocking orange contrast. Once inside, rich, honey colored, wide plank maple floors looked even richer against ivory painted walls, built-ins and bookshelves. Exposed whitewashed railroad ties framed a sunken living room paneled in rough-cut, darkest brown barn board. We unveiled one wall down to brick and glazed it with a thick coat of cream. An oatmeal colored, well worn, heavy cotton slipcover hung loosely over the sofa. Several faded moss-green velvet floor pillows sat stacked on the knotty beige Berber. In the corner, a gas stove with a deep brown porcelain finish stood on an antique brick hearth. The mantle above it was a 3-inch thick slab of local white marble with unfinished edges. It was home to several tarnished silver picture frames and a cluster of beeswax tapers in mismatched white candlesticks. French doors flanked by triple width tulle sheers led to a simple brick patio with weathered teak Adirondack chairs. A large cement birdbath bowl we found in the basement was used as a wood burning fire pit. Exploding red and gilded gold leaves of the Taconic Mountains provided the perfect backdrop. We owned that little house for 6 years and truly enjoyed every minute we spent there. The same general ideas we used to renovate that house can be used to transform a room or set a fall table. “Neutralize” a room by exchanging color with the “un-color”. Think

texture; the more texture the better. A white room with no architectural or textural details looks unfinished while a room with wainscoting and crown molding displays white as a power color. Pearly velvet drapes and a ribbon shag rug set the tone. Flannel and cable knit throw pillows further the effect. Paint the back wall of a dark china cabinet or bookshelf white and line the shelves with linen napkins before putting back its contents to enlighten the look. Make a template and have a piece of Carrera white marble cut and polished to top an accent table. Need a whitewashed fall centerpiece? Cluster vessels of both fresh and dried eucalyptus with mercury glass pumpkins on a serving tray and incorporate other cream toned tchotchkes to make it yours. I used a mother of pearl clutch purse as a cocktail napkin holder and placed a verdigris weathervane behind the tray to provide interest and height; the weathervane came from the top of a cupola of another property we renovated in Vermont. The bullet hole through the center is always a good conservation starter. Next chunky pumpkins, odd shaped gourds and rusty mums will hit the local markets. Add them to the mix as an introduction to fall. Invite friends you desperately need to catch up with and serve Humboldt Fog cheese smeared on honey buttered toast with bowls of fresh figs and pears. Pour tall, rum spiked Goombay Smash’s and garnish with grilled blood orange slices and bid farewell to summer. Pattie Krukowski is a freelance writer and interior decorator for Matott Construction in Doylestown, PA.

Volume 5 | Issue 1 Local Living

DESIGNER

Kitchen

here’s a reason the kitchen is called the heart of the home: It’s where you and your family gather to cook, to eat, to socialize, and, sometimes, just to catch up over a quick snack or a cup of coffee. In many homes, the kitchen has evolved into an all-purpose room, including a dining table, computer desk, entertainment area, even a fireplace. Today’s kitchens are practical, welcoming, and fun. They feature sophisticated colors and innovative components. They also look more like the rest of the house, complete with furniture-like cabinets, wood flooring, and artwork. The perfect recipe for a beautiful kitchen calls for giving a lot of thought to both the components and the activities that take place in the room, from cooking and cleanup to snacking and socializing. Above all, the perfect kitchen is both comfortable and a pleasure to work in.

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Local Living Volume 6 | Issue 1

Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

WHY WAIT?

ATTRACTIVE FINANCING

MONTHLY INTEREST FOR 25 MONTHS*

DOWN PAYMENT REQUIRED

On Purchases of $1499 or more with your Colonial Marble & Granite credit card. $29 account activation fee will apply. 25 Equal Monthly Payments Required.

GET YOUR NEW GRANITE COUNTERTOP FOR $1,499! Indoor Slabyard

3 AREA LOCATIONS

Thousands of choices and hundreds of colors

KING OF PRUSSIA SUPER SHOWROOM: 475 South Henderson Road | King of Prussia, PA 19406 (866) 307-6200 or (610) 994-2222 PHILADELPHIA SHOWROOM: 2000 Washington Avenue | Philadelphia, PA 19146 (215) 732-7800 NEW CASTLE SHOWROOM: 240 S. DuPont Highway | New Castle, DE 19720 (302) 947-3000

WE’RE LOCATED IN: Philadelphia, PA

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*Oﬀer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases of $1,499 or more. No monthly interest will be charged on promo purchase and equal monthly payments are required equal to initial promo purchase amount divided equally by the number of months in promo period until promo is paid in full. The equal monthly payment will be rounded to the next highest whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would be required if the purchase was a non-promotional purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 26.99%; Minimum Interest Charge is $2. One-time Account Activation Fee of $29 charged at time ﬁrst purchase posts to account. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for their applicable terms. Subject to credit approval.

LIC# PA 040713 | NJ 13VH06363500 | DE 2011604522

HOME & GARDEN

Feasting on Alfresco By Pattie Krukowski

ome of my fondest memories are of times spent grilling and dining with family and friends in the tropical retreat my parents created in the backyard of our South Florida home. Just ten steps from the sliding glass doors facing the backyard, they built an electrified, screened-in room that rested on a poured and painted cement floor. The vinyl, corrugated roof extended over an additional area to shade a charcoal grill, ice cooler, camping stove and blender. Inside housed two distinct areas. The first, a dining set where we shared countless meals and played ridiculously competitive penny poker. The second, a lounging area defined by several benches made cozy with beach towel covered cushions to flop on after dragging yourself out of the DIY pool kit my father assembled. The

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ladder from the custom built cedar sunbathing deck led to a patio stone walkway past several beds of umbrella trees which created a living fence of privacy from our neighbors who sat a mere 40 feet away. Walkways were framed by railroad ties my father and uncle conveniently â&#x20AC;&#x153;found in the woodsâ&#x20AC;?. All this took place on a parcel of land not measuring more than 7,000 square feet and all this was dreamt up and painstakingly fabricated by two very creative individuals, numerous friends willing to work for grilled fish and keg beer, and one local 84 Lumber store. Fast forward to today. Award winning landscape design and construction companies specializing in pools, hardscapes and outdoor structures make the most loved, indoor spaces green with envy. Custom cabinetry, restaurant

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Local Living Volume 6 | Issue 1

quality cook tops and grills capable of rotisserie roasting a Thanksgiving turkey while steaming fresh artichokes are just a dream away. Outdoor stainless steel wine refrigerators big enough to hold catering trays and 55 inch flat screen TV’s are defining elements in today’s top of the line alfresco kitchens. Humble backyards are being transformed into entertainment spaces that rival the most luxurious of resorts, making one beg for a stay-cation. Depending on your personal taste, you can choose from a number of styles of structures to dictate the boundaries of your outdoor kitchen and living space. Permanent walls are transformed with the use of innovative and avant-garde glass “NanaWall” systems. Open air pergolas covered in flowering vines and veiled with billowing drapes remind us of that week spent in Napa. Perhaps a simple knee wall of stone surrounding a patio, leaving nothing but a ceiling of stars to gaze, is more your style. Building with synthetic, virtually maintenance-free products appeal to some while others are drawn to natural, salt of the earth materials. Create a conversation space using strategically placed outdoor living room and dining room furniture. Set the mood with a fire-pit or water-element resting on a radiant heated puzzle of thermal blue stones in various shades, shapes and sizes. Indoor/outdoor “Turkish” rugs complete an outdoor room when lying on a stamped concrete floor made to look like natural stone. State-of-the-art outdoor grills and cook tops come in all sizes and configurations. Kalamazoo brags with a “don’t just grill, create envy” tagline and rightly so. Their products contain a hybrid grill that lets you burn both wood and charcoal simultaneously and an artisan pizza oven that can bake a Neapolitan style pie in three minutes or less. Lynx

offers their ProSear Grill, which has an infrared variable burner allowing you to sear a baseball steak then “throttle back” to prepare delicate seafood. A perfect addition would be their warming drawer to keep finished foods toasty until you’re ready to serve them. The “Big Green Egg” has been impressing outdoor chefs for years with their modern-day evolution of ancient clay cooking vessels which provides the ability to grill, smoke and bake at exact temperatures and if you’ve ever been lucky enough to savor a pork butt that has been smoked for eight hours in one of these contraptions, you’ll add one to your list of “must haves”. Gracious hostesses who cater to the” juice box” crowd by day and the “mojito of the moment” crowd by night know the importance of serving up a cold one. Refrigeration, icemakers and beverage dispensers contribute a whole new convenience when incorporated in an outside space. Perlick has a patented 48 inch Signature Series which combines 12 cubic feet of refrigeration with a number of configurations including their most popular: a beer dispenser capable of allowing three types of draught to be served from one unit. So tonight, put the game on the big screen, turn the ceiling fan on to blow the mosquitos away and practice sliding frosted mugs down the long granite bar to your parched patrons munching chipotle smoked chicken wings hot off the “Egg”. Who knows what you’ll be cooking up tomorrow night. I think grilled oysters and clams accompanied by a chilled Viognier sounds like a good start. You choose the rest. LL Pattie Krukowski is a freelance writer currently residing in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

Remodeling the Empty Nest The kids have left home, and you’re left with extra space. If you’re looking for ideas for your empty nest, here are a couple transformation ideas for a newly vacant bedroom. By Jackie Dishner

you live. But from a practical standpoint and resale value later, it’s worth it.

If you plan to stay in your home, you’d be wise to invest in a renovation that might include built-ins, lighting, and new furniture. The cost to renovate can begin at $10,000 and increase depending on what you want to do and where

A Master Suite for Guests

ome families prefer to leave bedrooms alone when their children move out after high school; they want their children to have a familiar place to come home to. But for the parents who want to find a new use for that space, experts have some suggestions.

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If the price sounds steep, it doesn’t have to be. Hardware stores offer do-it-yourself books, products, and ideas that can cost a lot less, but only if you don’t intend to hire designers and labor or to tear out walls. Maintaining a guest room or guest suite is top of the list. It can include adding full bathrooms, king-size beds, and sitting areas. Some homeowners might even add a wet bar

and big-screen TV. It’s not about having more square footage—it’s about having the square footage do more.

A Room of One’s Own

Some couples might decide to have separate bedrooms in which to retreat and even sleep. They want their own space, even their own private bathrooms. He gets the shower. She gets the Jacuzzi. Living together 24/7 is tough. Spouses still want a place to do their own stuff: watch investments, read a book, watch football, smoke a cigar, whatever. So that extra bedroom becomes a nice way to do that.

A Place to Play

Another trend is having a space to set up the card table. It’s the new cool thing. More and more baby boomers are playing games like mah-jongg, bunco, Uno, and poker. Without the kids at home, they have more time to host card parties and want a room to play. All you have to do is clear out the bedroom furniture and put in a round table and club chairs, shelving or cabinets, and wooden floors, experts suggest.

which you can buy at Lowe’s or Home Depot for less than $200, and it’s an easy nail-in weekend project. Buy extra cedar planks to trim the rest of the walls in the room. Then the entire space becomes a great place to store seasonal outdoor equipment and clothing that might otherwise take up space in the garage.

Wrap It Up

If you have all the storage space and bedroom you need, I suggest a hobby room. You can even create a gift-wrapping room. It’s great for families with grandchildren. Use organizing systems, including peg boards and pullout drawers, to create a fun place to hang ribbon rolls and store gift wrap bags and ready-made bows. Drawer organizers that you’d use for jewelry or makeup make a handy place to store gift tags. You can get creative or carried away. Whatever you do with that extra space, make sure it blends well with the rest of the house.

Home Work

Other families with less space might keep the spare bedroom but add a work area with a desk in the corner. It gets the computer out of the family room and provides a more private place to go online. If you’re going to do this, Pottery Barn makes great bookshelves that don’t take up too much space. For those who need more than just a desk area, the newly empty bedroom is also the perfect place to put a home office. For a more professional look, hire someone to design and install custom millwork. Decorate with a mahogany desk, bookcases, and cabinetry for storing paperwork and supplies.

Store It

There’s always a shortage of space! You can make good use of a small bedroom by transforming it into a cedar closet. It’s a safe storage space we can all use. Just line the walls of the closet with cedar plank,

Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

You're Home with Jill® Jill Bauer, QVC’s Home-Savvy Hostess, joined the multimedia retailer as a program host in 1993 with a philosophy inspired by simplicity: surround yourself with things you love. While she has a vast knowledge of QVC’s products and brands, she’s most relied on for her insight on products and ideas for the home. Since 2000, Bauer’s lifestyle show, You’re Home with Jill®, provides viewers with tips on how to make all the comforts of home a little more stylish, while offering simple solutions for a busy lifestyle. With a different theme every show, Bauer offers creative decorating ideas, suggestions for gracious entertaining and gift-giving, or delicious dishes from the kitchen. From crackers to pancakes… Jill is sharing with you some of her favorite seasonal recipes!

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Savory Cheese Wafers Makes 30 Crackers

Jill’s Note:

This recipe comes from my Grandma Bauer, who always loved having a little something to “nibble.” She taught me to make these when I was quite young as it’s such a simple recipe! I added the touch of cayenne as I grew older because I really love the combo of the savory cracker, the sweet nuttiness of the pecan and a dash of spice. These should keep for several days in an airtight container. Ingredients • 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp flour • 1/8 tsp salt • 1/8 tsp ground cayenne •1/2 cup extra sharp shredded cheese, loosely packed • 2 Tbsp butter, room temperature • 1 Tbsp heavy cream • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Preparation Combine all of the flour, salt and cayenne in a food processor. Pulse together. Add the cheese, butter, cream and pecans and pulse until a dough just starts to form. Roll the dough into a log about 12” long. Seal it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Then, on a lightly floured surface, slice the unwrapped dough into 1/8” thick rounds. To decorate, use a fork to carve a crisscross pattern on the top. Bake on a cookie sheet for about 15 minutes, or until crisp. Let the crackers cool completely before serving.

Pumpkin Pancakes with Salted-Caramel-Bacon Syrup Makes 10–12

Jill’s Tip: Pumpkin is just too good to only be a fall ingre-

dient, especially when you add it to pancakes and then drizzle them with salted-caramel-bacon syrup! Want even more bacon? Cook an extra slice, crumble it and stir it into softened butter for smearing on those warm pancakes. Ingredients Pancakes • 2 cups buttermilk • 1 cup canned pumpkin purée • 2 eggs • 3 Tbsp applesauce • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 2-1/2 cups Bisquick • 1/3 cup sugar • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1/2 tsp salt

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Syrup • 8 oz Smuckers salted caramel ice cream topping • 8 oz pure maple syrup • 1 tsp kosher or coarse sea salt • 3 slices crisply cooked bacon, crumbled Preparation 1. To make the pancakes, whisk the buttermilk, pumpkin puree, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the Bisquick, sugar, pumpkin spice and salt. Combine the mixtures and let the batter rest for 5–10 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat with melted butter or a nonstick spray. Pour 1/3 cup of pancake batter onto the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes or until the edges look dry and bubbles form on top of the pancake. Flip and cook for 2 minutes on the other side. 3. To prepare the syrup, combine the salted caramel ice cream topping, syrup and salt in a medium-size bowl. When ready to use, add in the crumbled bacon. Pour the syrup over the pumpkin pancakes.

Bread in a Flower Pot Jill’s Tip:

The pots must be seasoned before baking. To do so, preheat the oven to 425°F and generously coat the pots with vegetable oil. Turn the oven off and place the pots inside the oven on a cookie sheet. Remove the pots when the oven has cooled. Repeat this process once more,preheating to 325°F and removing when cool. Ingredients • 1 cup warm water • 1 package active dry yeast • 2 Tbsp honey • 2 Tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp salt • 2–3 cups all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup milk • 2 Tbsp sesame seeds (optional garnish) • 2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds (optional garnish) • 2 Tbsp poppy seeds (optional garnish) Preparation 1. Combine the warm water and the packet of yeast in a small bowl, stirring until the yeast is dissolved. Wait 2 minutes and then add the honey, olive oil, salt. 2. Place 2 cups of the flour in a large mixing bowl. Add the liquid ingredients to the flour and mix until combined, adding additional small amounts of flour as needed. 3. Place the dough onto a floured surface and knead, until dough is soft and smooth, about 2–3 minutes. Place the dough in clean bowl, cover with a towel and let it rise for 1 hour. 4. Punch down the dough, place it back onto a floured surface and knead again for 1 minute. Form the dough into a loaf and slice off 2”–3” pieces, according to the size of your pots. Roll each piece of dough into a ball and place them into the oiled flower pots. 5. Let the bread dough rise until doubled in height, approximately 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F. 6. Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle with the seeds, if desired. Bake for 20–30 minutes, depending on the size of your pots, until the bread is golden brown and firm to the touch.

Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

good to know

How To Clean & Care for Natural Stone

aintaining your stone is an integral part of your natural stone experience, as well enjoying the longevity that natural stone offers to clients. Please use this information as a guide to ensure you are doing everything possible to keep your natural stone products looking like they did the day they arrived in your home or business. Below are some different maintenance suggestions based on the type of natural stone care you are performing:

General Care Care and Precautions

Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the surface of many stones. Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.

Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations Floor Surfaces

Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.

Other Surfaces

Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, 28

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stone soap (available at hardware stores) or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

Bath and Other Wet Areas

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

Dos and Don’ts

DO Dust mop floors frequently DO Clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap DO Thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing DO Blot up spills immediately DO Protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats DON’T Use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces DON’T Use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners DON’T Use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers

Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

Local

goes local

Festivals of Fall

s our summer glow starts to fade, fall’s finest foliage is waiting on the horizon and there is no better place to get a sneak peek than in the northeast. From Pennsylvania to Maine and everywhere in between, the season shines with a variety of festivals to add some color to your calendar this fall. The Big E: West Springfield, MA (Sept. 18–Oct. 4) If you are looking for it all, be sure to check out The Big E. Also known as The Eastern States Exposition, this festival runs for seventeen days each year following the second Friday after Labor Day and celebrates each of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. More than 1 million visitors attend each year to enjoy daily Mardi Gras parades, signature equestrian shows, a circus spectacular, a historical village and endless food and craft vendors. Read more about the fair’s signature dessert and other fun fair facts at www.thebige.com.

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By Kristen Egan

National Apple Harvest Festival: Biglerville, PA (Oct. 3, 4, 10 & 11) In scenic Adams County, just 10 miles outside Gettysburg, visitors have been celebrating the season for more than 50 years with every type of apple concoction imaginable. A snapshot of attractions include hundreds of art and craft vendors, an antique car show, a petting zoo, native American dancers, hay rides, orchard tours, and even tractor square dancing. A full schedule of events and a line-up of other visitors (including Johnny Appleseed) can be found at www.appleharvest.com. Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular: Providence, Rhode Island (Oct. 1–Nov. 1) Fall’s most iconic image lights up Rhode Island’s Roger Williams Park Zoo where 5,000 jack-o-lanterns line the zoo’s Wetlands Trail. Named one of the top 5 pumpkin festivals in New England by Yankee Magazine, pumpkin lovers from all over the world come to appreciate the creativity and artistry that goes into this month long evening exhibition. One South African was put to tears last year over a tribute to

Mandela, and this year’s theme, “The People’s Choice”, will showcase many more cultural and historical highlights for visitors to enjoy. Learn more about this year’s theme at www.rwpzoo.org. There truly is something for everyone this season including dogs who can unite at Pooch-A-Palooza in Topsfield, MA, runners who can spice things up at the North American Wife Carrying Championship in Newry, ME, and garlic lovers can take their pick of a number of festivals throughout the area with many hosting garlic eating competitions. For a few festivals closer to home check out Winetober Fest in Skippack, PA, the Reading Terminal Market Harvest Festival in Philadelphia, or Kennett Square’s Mushroom Festival. Learn more about other events throughout New England at www.visitnewengland.com. Kristen Egan grew up in Perkasie, PA and now resides in Charlottesville, Virginia where she works at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. She enjoys traveling, writing and helping others plan memorable excursions.

ETCHED In Stone 17 May 2015 - LUCY & BUD CARTY “We are very pleased with the recent installation of granite countertops and tile backsplash done by Colonial. Selections of materials were facilitated by professional staff. The hardest part was selection of colors as there were so many choices. Installers were quality workmen and did an outstanding job.”

06 Apr 2015 - DAVID AND PAM CACCIA “The granite was more beautiful than expected and your workers were very good.”

02 Apr 2015 - JOHN AND DONNA LANE “Installers were great.”

02 Apr 2015 - FRANK & CARLA STRIFFLING “The guy came to measure for the top. The uses of a computer to measure was out of this world. Totally first class.”

31 Mar 2015 - STAN & CAROL GIPE “Very satisfied with everything. Would recommend to others.”

30 Mar 2015 - LAURA & SEAN HARKIN “Colonial Marble and Granite found us just what we needed in our price range. Never did I feel oversold. The job was completed on my time frame, as I have a busy office in which I needed to continue operating. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the crew. Stellar team work and product!!”

30 Mar 2015 - ANDREW MARINO “The crew did a nice job to fit the counter to some irregular walls in my older home.”

27 Mar 2015 - LYNDA SIMMONDS “Have been happy with all the jobs you have done for me, Nick my salesman is always very professional and helpful, have sent a number of friends and have not had a negative comment from anyone keep up the good work.”

26 Mar 2015 - DOLORES HASTINGS “Ordering process was easy and painless. All my questions were answered knowledgeably and professionally.” Volume 6 | Issue 1 Local Living

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*Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases of $1,499 or more. No monthly interest will be charged on promo purchase and equal monthly payments are required equal to initial promo purchase amount divided equally by the number of months in promo period until promo is paid in full. The equal monthly payment will be rounded to the next highest whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would be required if the purchase was a non-promotional purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 26.99%; Minimum Interest Charge is $2. One-time Account Activation Fee of $29 charged at time first purchase posts to account. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for their applicable terms. Subject to credit approval.

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