Fall
2013 HOME IMPROVEMENT
Fall
3 8 12 14 16 2
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Dramatic, affordable changes for kitchens
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Six steps to a beautiful landscape Beware of tree trimming near wires
Eliminate this deadly hazard from your home
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Create a great-looking lawn Protect children from household hazards
Transforming look of vent-free fireplaces
Warm up those cool fall evenings with some mint Take time to make your home clutter free
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Hearty Meals for Chilly Evenings
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Dramatic, affordable changes for kitchens You can make a dramatic change to an outdated kitchen without a huge investment. Create new excitement by simply replacing your countertop. Have you looked lately at the design possibilities available today? An increasing number of color and texture choices makes it easy to satisfy every taste. As today’s kitchens have become more sophisticated with the use of high-drama materials such as stainless steel, chrome, copper, and black glass, the adjoining countertop surfaces should complement these colors. Here are some other improvements that have high impact without requiring a big financial investment: • Lighting can dramatically make over a room. Consider installing small task lights under cabinets to shed more light on countertop areas. Replace dated ceiling fixtures with new. • If you’re replacing countertops, why not install a new sink as well? Consult a local professional with the years of experience to guide you and help you bring new life to your kitchen, and enjoy a fresh look.
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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FCC Landscape Solutions By Carol Kinsley What better steps to improve your home than to tackle those outdoor chores? Leaves will be falling soon. Are you ready with a rake, or would you like someone to remove them for you? Rather than struggle with fertilizer and chemicals for a beautiful lawn, why not leave it to a landscaper? Harry Mulrine of FCC Landscape Solutions in Seaford is a full-service landscape company and then some. He is signing up customers now for annual 2014 mowing and/ or fertilizer contracts. “We also do hardscapes — pavers, patios, retaining walls — and landscape lighting,” Mulrine said. Need irrigation? An engineer will come check the size
and pressure of your well or your water supply, then design a layout just for you. FCC Landscape Solutions uses a trenchless vibratory plow to install poly pipe, which is more flexible than PVC and easier to work with in areas where there are roots. “We also do fall winterization and spring start ups for irrigation,” Mulrine added. Mulrine has been in the landscape business since 2005. He enjoys helping people out, and will take on anything to do with property maintenance, from asphalt sealing to trimming hedges to cleaning out gutters, and if there’s something he doesn’t do himself, such as removing large trees, he knows the right people to call. Check out the photos on Facebook, then call FCC Landscape Solutions at 302-7453127. You’ll talk to the boss every time.
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
H.C. Layton and Son Hardware started in 1898 By Lynn R. Parks Michael Layton, owner of H.C. Layton and Son Hardware in downtown Bridgeville, is quick to say what it is that differentiates his store from box stores. “Personal service and product knowledge,” he says. “We know what we are selling and we are able to help you figure out what you need.” In addition, “we carry a lot of stuff that a lot of other, bigger stores don’t carry,” he says. That inventory includes specialized tools — “things that you only sell one of in 10 years,” Layton says. Layton Hardware was opened 115 years ago, in 1898. On a recent sunny fall day, customers came and went, looking for the exactly right nut and bolt combination or some advice on how to hang a picture. In addition to a full line of hardware, the store
carries electrical equipment, including switches, wire and receptacles, Valspar paint, stains and varnishes and lawn and garden supplies. It sells window glass, cut to size, and has a line of Stihl chainsaws, grass trimmers and leaf blowers. For about 10 years, Layton says, his store has sold bicycles — the cruising kind, with one gear and coaster brakes. In the summertime, the bicycles sit outside the front door on the sidewalks. In the wintertime, they are replaced with sleds. In addition to sales, Layton Hardware can help homeowners out with small repairs. Employees are certified to repair Stihl equipment. And they will fix broken lamps and replace torn screen with new. “We will help you however we can,” Layton says. Continued to page nine
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Service Today Service Today, an employee owned company, is the area’s largest employee owned heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical home services company. As owners, our people are empowered to make decisions, and do whatever is right to best serve our customers. Employee ownership helps to eliminate the “9 to 5” and “not my job” mentalities. How does employee ownership benefit customers? • Customers always speak to an employee owner with decision-making power every time they call. • Customers receive service from employee owners who have a vested interest in their success. • Customers can rely on a “customer for life” mentality with the customers’ best interest always put at the top of the list. Ownership at Service Today means taking on complete end-to-end responsibility
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for a customers’ well-being and complete satisfaction. Ownership is not about a “job” it is about taking things on as a “mission,” being responsible, accountable, and, at all times, “owning up.” The dedicated team of “Owner Professionals” provide: • 24/7 service (we’re never closed) • Unmatched customer service • Highly trained/factory trained technicians • Same day replacement systems, guaranteed • Unparalleled honesty and integrity • 100% satisfaction guarantee We named our company “Service Today” because when a problem arises with your heating, air conditioning, plumbing or electrical systems, you need service today - not in a few days or weeks. Call Service Today at 800-659-2273 and experience the difference.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Everything from Additions to Roofing, including Water Damage of all types, Mold Remediation, New Kitchens, Granite, Tile, Bathroom Remodels, Tile Showers, Painting, Replacement Doors Windows, and Storm Doors
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Six steps to a beautiful landscape By Melinda Myers Gardening Expert
Don’t let a busy schedule stop you from creating a beautiful landscape. Incorporate a few of these changes in your fall landscape care. You’ll create beautiful results with a limited investment of time and effort. • Cut the grass, recycle fall leaves, and improve the soil with a pass of the lawn mower. Shred leaves and leave them on the lawn as you mow this fall. As long as you can see the grass through the leaf pieces, the lawn will be fine. As the leaves break down they add organic matter to the soil, improving drainage in clay soil and water holding ability in sandy soils. Or, as an alternative, use excess leaves as a soil mulch. Shred the leaves with your mower and spread a layer over the soil to conserve moisture and insulate the roots of perennials. Fall mulching gives you a jump on next spring’s landscape chores. • Improve your lawn’s health by fertilizing this fall with a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, like Milorganite. You’ll reduce the risk of disease problems and with slower weed growth in fall, your lawn, not the weeds, will benefit from the nutrients. Fall fertilization also helps lawns recover from the stresses of summer by encouraging deep roots and denser growth that can better compete with weeds and tolerate disease and insects. Northern gardeners can follow the holiday schedule and fertilize Labor Day and Halloween. Southern gardeners should make their last fall fertilization at least 30 days before the lawn goes dormant or the average first killing frost to avoid winter kill. • Do a bit of planting. Cool season annuals brighten up the fall garden and, for those in warmer regions, the winter garden. Consider adding cold hardy pansies. They provide color in the fall garden, survive most winters, and are back blooming in the spring just as the snow melts. Fall is also a good time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. The soil is warm and the air cooler, so the plants are less stressed and establish more quickly. Select plants suited to the growing conditions and be sure to give them plenty of room to reach their mature size. • Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs in fall for extra color next spring. Set the bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height deep. Then cover them with soil and sprinkle on a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer. This type of fertilizer promotes rooting without stimulating fall growth subject to winter kill. Base your bulb planting time on the weather not the calendar. Start planting after the night-time temperatures hover between 40 and 50 degrees. Be patient, waiting until the soil cools reduces the risk of early sprouting that often occurs during a warm fall. Those gardening in the far south and along the gulf coast can purchase pre-cooled bulbs to compensate for the warm winters. Or the chilling can be done at home by 8
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments and is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website, www.melindamyers. com, offers gardening videos and tips.
storing the bulbs in a 35 to 45 degree location for at least 14 weeks before planting. • Leave healthy perennials stand for winter. This increases hardiness and adds beauty to the winter landscape with their seed heads, dried foliage and the birds they attract. Plus, it will delay cleanup until spring when gardeners are anxious to get outdoors and start gardening. However, be sure to remove any diseased or insectinfested plants to reduce the source of pest problems in next year’s garden. • Start composting or add shredded leaves and other plant debris to an existing compost pile. Combine fall leaves with other plant waste, a bit of soil or compost, and sprinkle with fertilizer to create compost. Recycling yard waste saves time bagging, hauling and disposing of green debris. You also reduce or eliminate the need to buy soil amendments to improve your existing garden soil. Incorporate one or all six of these practices to increase the health and beauty of your landscape now and for years to come.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
H.C. Layton and Son Hardware Continued from page five
H.C. Layton, the founder of the store and Michael Layton’s grandfather, was born in Bridgeville in 1868. He graduated from Wilmington Commercial College and in 1897, went to work for a hardware store on the east end of Market Street of his home town. In 1898, just a year later, he bought an old basket factory on the west end of town and set up his own business. Three years later, his was the only hardware store in town. H.C. also purchased a garage across the street from his store and began selling Model T Fords. “He sold one car the first year,” Layton says. “Then he sold two the second year. The third year, the Ford company gave him a quota of four cars. He said he couldn’t do it, so he gave up the auto business.” Michael Layton’s father, Mike, was born in 1904 and graduated from Brown University, Providence, R.I., in 1928 with a degree in philosophy. After living in Philadelphia for a few months, he returned to Bridgeville and on June 2, 1929, became an equal partner in his father’s store. In 1957, he bought the remaining half from his father.
hil
After a stint in the Air Force, Michael went to Colorado in 1962 to work on a dude ranch. But when his mother wrote to him to tell him that if he did not come home to help with the store, his father was going to sell it, he returned to Bridgeville. He began work as a clerk that same year, earning $35 a week, and 20 years later, bought half of the store from his father. He inherited the other half when his father died in 1993. Layton says that his store has seen ups and downs. He is glad that it is one of the very few local hardware stores remaining. And he encourages citizens of western Sussex County to visit the store and acquaint themselves with the items that it sells. “A lot of times, people come in here and tell us that they’ve been everyplace else to look for what they wanted, and didn’t find it until them came in here,” he says. “I would encourage people to turn to us first.” For your information: H.C. Layton and Son Hardware is located at 406 Market St., Bridgeville. The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. For details, call 337-8540.
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Sherman Heating Oils welcomes Dallas Bryan Sherman Heating Oils welcomes Dallas Bryan as operation manager. Dallas Bryan grew up in Delmar and graduated from Delmar High School 1980. He then furthered his education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He returned to Delaware in the mid-’80s and decided to work for a friend that owned an HVAC business where Dallas was trained to install HVAC equipment. He was introduced to the propane industry in 1987 as a service technician setting propane tanks, running gas lines and servicing appliances. He then took up residence in Seaford in 1988. Bryan has received his certification for gas piping and Rinnai tankless hot water heaters.
In addition he also completed a Certified Employee Training Program (CETP). Used by propane marketers nationwide, PERC’s Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) has become the industry’s flagship curriculum in workforce training and certification. In 2005 Bryan was promoted to propane service manager. His duties included scheduling of propane service calls, tank installations, installation of hearth products and appliances. He also developed a keen sense on how best to handle customer relations. To prevent costly repairs, during the heating season, Bryan suggests a scheduled yearly maintenance of your equipment. To reach Bryan, call the Milton office at 302-684-4008.
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Did you know Sherman sells, installs & services ALL types of Hearth Products? • FIREPLACES • PLUMBING • HEATING • PROPANE • HEATING OILS • GENERATORS 10
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
By Carol Kinsley Does your garage need a make-over? Can you even fit the car in? Slide-Lok of the Eastern Shore can help you achieve your garage storage goals with stackable units that come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can create your own layout, depending on the amount of storage you need. Dave Mooney Jr. is owner of family-run Slide-Lok of the Eastern Shore, which has been in business for more than nine years and serves all of Delaware as well as most of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Operating out of Harbeson, Del., Mooney himself will attend to your project with the assistance of his crew. Mooney specializes in garage interiors and concrete coatings by Slide-Lok, an industry leader in the fastgrowing garage and home organization market. Slide-Lok completes its 26th year in business this October, making it the oldest and longest continuing garage interiors brand in North America. Slide-Lok offers a wide array of options from garage cabinets to overhead storage and Slat-Wall. Slide-Lok cabinets are made of plywood, not particle board, using dovetail construction. Slide-Lok Garage Floor Coating Technologies are a liquid coating applied with a brush and roller, explained Adria Kimmey, the office manager. “The product we use is called polyaspartic. It comes in six standard colors, but we are able to do custom colors as well. When coating a garage, we also will coat the foundation block which seals the seam between the floor and the wall. “Polyaspartic creates a vapor barrier which prevents mold and mildew from forming and creating a musty smell. The product can be used indoors or outdoors and is chemical resistant,” Kimmey said. “It works well on patios, porches, balconies, basement floors and other areas. Slide-Lok’s Garage Floor Coating carries a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty not to chalk, fade or turn yellow, and a 15-year warranty not to peel.” Slide-Lok of the Eastern Shore has completed commercial jobs for McGee Motors in Georgetown, Kent County Motors in Dover, Sea Colony in Bethany Beach and Vanderwende’s Ice Cream Shop in Bridgeville. “We have also completed garages in Heritage Shores, Independence, and Nassau Grove in Lewes,” Kimmey noted. “Upgrade your garage floor. We can install it today and you can drive on it tomorrow,” Kimmey said. Slide-Lok also makes accessories including floor mats and car pads, which can be sized to fit your vehicle and color-coordinated to fit the decor of your garage or workshop. To see what Mooney can do for you, visit slide-lokoftheeasternshore.com, find it on Facebook or call (302) 945-2200.
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Beware of tree trimming near wires It’s disturbing how many homeowners are injured trying to trim trees near overhead electrical wires. Do-it-yourself satisfaction! Successfully tackling a project on your own that may otherwise cost a lot certainly can be gratifying. But do-it-yourselfers who attempt to work with trees near overhead electrical wires often underestimate the danger potential. Terrible accidents can happen when a homeowner uses pole-mounted cutting tools and/or metal ladders to trim backyard trees and shrubs. Too often, an energized overhead wire is not noticed and is touched by pruning tools, causing injury or death. Two recent examples include: • A Florida resident was hospitalized after attempting to cut palm branches while standing on a ladder. One of the branches made contact with a power line and severely shocked the man. The local fire department responded to four similar incidents during the previous year. • A homeowner climbed a ladder to trim a tree branch that was dropping leaves into his above-ground swimming pool and causing a nuisance. A branch came in contact with the power line, shocking the man with a jolt of electricity and sending him into cardiac arrest. He fell 20 feet to the ground, but was revived by medics at the scene. These are not freak accidents, they are preventable. Tree limbs can conduct electricity. When trees grow near overhead electrical wires, they can contact the wires and become energized. Trees and wires are dangerous, full of electrical power that can injure or kill humans. There are several things that can go wrong for do-ityourselfers trying to trim tree branches. For example, if proper tree cutting techniques are not understood, the cut branch can swing in unpredictable directions as it falls and could easily land on an energized wire. Don’t be fooled by the voltage of the lines. You may think that working on the trees or shrubs near your home’s service line is safer than working near the high voltage secondary distribution lines on the pole by the street, but that’s simply not true. There are three-wire (called “triplex”) lines connecting the power lines on the pole to your house (meter). Service wires leading from the pole to the house can pack a punch. The type of shock you might have received (and survived) when changing a household light switch is not the same type of shock you will receive if you contact a low-voltage utility wire. A common house switch carries 120 volts but the electric flow is usually limited to 10, 15 or 20 amps. A common “house drop” (service wire) contains 240 volts and up to 20 amps or more. Given the right set of circumstances, even the shock a person gets from a common light switch can kill, but at the same time, it is easier to break electrical contact 12
Given the right set of circumstances, even the shock a person gets from a common light switch can kill... while standing inside a house. If a person is climbing a ladder or is in the tree, it may be more difficult to break contact with the energized wire. This means that the service line over a typical yard could easily kill a person. Here are a few tips to avoid trees in wires: • Look for power lines before pruning trees and large shrubs. If lines are anywhere near the tree, don’t attempt any tree work. Professional tree climbers have the training and equipment needed to perform these tasks safely. • Never climb a tree in order to prune it. Even if the wires aren’t currently touching the tree, remember that the trees branches will shift once you begin climbing or removing limbs. • Wearing rubber-soled shoes or rubber gloves while tree pruning will not protect from a fatal shock. • Never extend long-handled saws or pruners into a tree without checking for power lines. Electricity is always trying to go somewhere, and it will easily travel through metal, water, trees, and/or the ground. • Don’t move ladders or long-handled pruning tools around the yard without first looking up. Always read and heed ladder-use safety labels. More importantly, hire an insured, tree care professional with the experience, expertise and equipment to safely take down or prune trees in wires. Require proof of liability insurance, and check to see if the cost of the work is covered by your insurance company. FREE ESTIMATES All Work Guaranteed
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
K and B Construction By Carol Kinsley Brian Papp Sr. has been involved in construction since he was a teenager, working for his grandfather. After years of experience working with others building homes from the footers to the ridge cap, in 1993 Papp moved his family to southern Delaware and began what eventually became K and B Construction Inc. The business is named for his children, Katherine and Brian Jr. Papp is a residential building and remodeling contractor, licensed and insured, lead-safe certified and accredited by the Bet-
ter Business Bureau. K&B is also an Energy Star approved builder. Most of Papp’s work has been in Sussex County, but with an MHIC license (#130580), he now offers service in Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester counties in Maryland. Based in Bridgeville, K&B specializes in additions, decks, porches, garages, roofing, siding and window and door replacements. The website, www.kandbconstruction.co (not .com), features several homes “stickbuilt” by K&B, one at a time. Papp explained, “Long ago I decided to keep the
business small, doing one job at time. I’m on the job every day with a helper. That way I keep customer satisfaction high, quality high and costs down. For larger jobs, I hire more help.” He added, “We are confident that we can build any size or style house in a timely and professional manner at a fair price. We can build on your lot or we can build your new home on one of ours.” K&B offers free estimates and senior discounts. Call on a firm where customer satisfaction is the top priority. Call K & B Construction at 302-337-8186.
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brian@kandbcontruction.co www.kandbconstruction.co Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Create a great-looking lawn By Ralph Palmer Soil Service
A beautiful lawn adds pleasure to your life and value to your home. It’s surprising how little time and effort it actually takes to create a great lawn. And now is the best time to get started. The warm days and cooler nights of September and October are perfect weather for our lawns. To start a new lawn or rejuvenate an old one it’s always good to have a soil test. Walk your yard and take a slice of soil from the top down six inches in about a dozen random spots, mix them together, and send them to a reputable lab through your lawn care center. The results will tell you how much lime and fertilizer you will need. The lime and fertilizer can be applied ahead of seeding, or all three can be done the same day. Liming is usually done at 50 lbs. per thousand square feet once every three to five years while fertilizer is applied each spring and fall. A good “slow release” nitrogen fertilizer is best for a lawn, but a general purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 14-7-14 can add more plant food at a lower price than the slow release products, if needed. Our soils typically do well with 2 lbs. of nitrogen per thousand each application. Fertilizer numbers are expressed as percentages of nitrogenphosphorous-potassium so a 10% nitrogen fertilizer times a 20 lbs./1000 rate gives 2 lbs. nitrogen. The best grasses for our area are tall fescues. The basic choices are Kentucky 31, an old standard,
A beautiful lawn adds value to your home.
and the many varieties of turf type tall fescues. Kentucky 31 is a wide bladed coarser grass that does well in difficult growing conditions and with limited water. The turf types, such as Guardian 21 and Winning Colors, require more care to look best. Irrigation is a huge help. The turf types are much greener, fine bladed, softer and generally prettier that Kentucky 31. Disease and insect resistance and shade tolerance are similar for all tall fescues. It takes at least a minimum
SLAUGHTER
of three to four hours of sunlight for these grasses to thrive. To plant seed it’s always best to use a seeder, aerator, or thatcher to get the seed to contact the soil rather than simply throwing it on top of undisturbed ground. Seed should be applied at 5 lbs./1000 for over-seeding an established lawn or 10 lbs./1000 for bare ground. After seeding it’s best to water lightly several times a day if possible to keep the soil surface damp. This time of year seed should
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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germinate in five to seven days. By late October into November it may take up to two weeks as soil temperatures cool. Once the seed begins to grow resume normal watering if necessary. When the new grass reaches mowing height of 3-3 ½ inches, cut it. The mower will make marks in the tender new lawn but they will disappear in a few days. Once your grass is up and looking good you’ll want to maintain it. Crabgrass and broadleaf weeds are best controlled in the spring. Crabgrass is an annual that dies each fall and grows from seed each spring. Crabgrass pre-emergence prevents the seed from growing for three to four months and should be applied by the end of March. Broadleaf weeds are killed by contact controls. The dry materials must stay on the weed leaf for one to two days for the best results. Liquid controls need to dry for six hours on the leaf to work. Broadleaf weeds can be treated anytime they are present and actively growing. It usually takes three weeks for weeds to die. Although springtime seeding is not
recommended it may be necessary. Crabgrass pre-emergence treatments prevent any seeding for up to four months and is not compatible with spring seeding. Broadleaf weed controls require a four-week delay between application and seeding. You often must choose between seeding or weeding. Moles, watering, and mowing are other issues. Moles can quickly mess up a lawn with their tunnels. They are searching for beetle grubs, their favorite food. Grub controls once or twice a year often but not always control mole damage. To keep a green lawn during the summer requires one-two inches of water per week, rainfall and watering combined. It is best to water no more than two to three times a week. Watering every day promotes shallow roots and keeps the soil surface too wet. It is preferable to water early in the day to allow the lawn to dry. Mowing our tall fescue at 3-3 ½ inches is best. Shorter cutting removes too much leaf surface, stressing the grass plant and allows sun-
light to reach the soil promoting weed growth. Cutting more than one-third of the grass height can create a thatch problem. Our main disease problem is brown patch. It occurs during periods of high nighttime temperatures. Excessive fertilization, moisture, and poor air circulation make it worse. The lawn rapidly begins to turn brown in ever-larger circular patterns until the weather changes. Regular fungicide applications can prevent it. Reseeding in the fall fixes the dead spots. The final lawn challenge is wiregrass. If you have wiregrass (bermuda grass) and want to get rid of it, the only option is a total vegetation control such as Roundup. Begin spraying in August, every two weeks until there is no more green wiregrass. You can then seed September and October. You must, however, continue each year to look for and spray any recurring wiregrass. So go ahead and spend the time this fall to spruce up your lawn. Your property will look better and you’ll be proud of the results.
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Protect children from household hazards It is important to pay attention to your children’s welfare when you begin home improvement projects. These simple steps, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency can help you save children from environmental hazards in and around the home. • Always store pesticides and other household chemicals, including chlorine bleach, out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. • Always read directions carefully because pesticide products, household cleaning products, and pet products can be dangerous or ineffective if too much or too little is used. • Before applying household chemicals, remove children and their toys, as well as pets, from the area. Keep children and pets away until the substance has dried or as long as is recommended on the label. • If your use of pesticide or other household chemical is interrupted by a phone call or a knock at the door, reclose the container and remove it from children’s reach. Always use household products in child-resistant packaging. • Never transfer pesticides to containers that children may associate with food or drink (like an empty juice container), and never place rodent or insect baits where small children can get to them. • Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys
often, and regularly clean floors, window sills and other surfaces to reduce potential exposure to harmful contaminants. • Inquire about lead hazards. When buying or renting a home or apartment built before 1978, the seller or landlord is now required to disclose known lead hazards. • Keep power and other tools away from curious hands. Don’t allow children to play with tools. • Inhaled dust and debris can be as hazardous as some chemicals, especially for young, developing children. Always keep children away from dusty areas, like where sanding is occurring. Use plastic to prevent dust from traveling to other rooms of the home.
Fall Home Improvement Tip
Your paint job looks great, but as time goes on dings or chips can appear. However, dragging out an entire gallon of paint for small touch-ups is a hassle. Instead, purchase small plastic bottles with screw caps. Ladle in some of the paint color you’ve used and label with the room or trim to which it is applicable (e.g. living room molding). Should a touch-up be necessary, simply retrieve the small container and use an inexpensive art paintbrush to dab some concealing color.
Kiwanis Club of Seaford 59th Annual Auction
Saturday, October 5, 2013 Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club in Seaford Preview at 9 a.m. Auction 9:30 a.m.
The auction is open to the public. Admission is free. Refreshments will be on sale. The auction will feature items such as toys, furniture, lawn care products and/or services, gift certificates and hundreds of articles for sale to the highest bidder. Also up for auction is a 1978 450 5L Mercedes convertible with hard top.
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Seaford Allstate Insurance By Carol Kinsley It’s more than just a slogan: “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” When Tony DeSanctis in the Seaford office is your agent, you’ll find the customer always comes first. “We do what’s right for the customer,” DeSanctis said. “We treat them professionally, honestly and with respect.” The Seaford Allstate Insurance agency has been serving Sussex County for more than three decades; it’s the oldest Allstate agency in the county. DeSanctis, who purchased the agency three years ago, is the fourth agent in all those years. Already he is very involved in supporting the community,
especially Seaford and Laurel High Schools, and The Arc (the Association of Retarded Citizens). “We are a family business,” DeSanctis said. His wife, Janet, is the office manager; his son, Tony, or LT, a recent business graduate from York College of Pennsylvania, is in sales and marketing. “We know our customers by name and they know us,” DeSanctis said. Recognized as a Premier Service Agency by Allstate, the Seaford office is a full-service agency, selling auto, home. business and life insurance, and also offers financial and retirement planning. “We have a very knowledgeable staff, with Sarah Backus,
a licensed sales producer, and Joyce Rosas, who works in customer service,” DeSanctis said. To make sure customers’ needs are current, the staff makes every effort to conduct an annual insurance review. “Customers’ situations change,” DeSanctis continued. “They get married, have a new baby or put on an addition to the house.... I love being an agent. It gives me a chance to help people. We want to make sure our customers are protected.” The Allstate office is conveniently located in downtown Seaford, at 105 High Street. For more information or an appointment, call 302-6298841.
Should an accident or disaster ever strike in your life, it’s important to know that your assets will be well protected. We’re committed to offering our customers the lowest possible rates on the best possible insurance coverage. To find out how easy and affordable it is to protect your home and family, call me today to schedule your FREE Consultation.
302-629-8841 Tony DeSanctis Agency Principal
AUTO • HOME • LIFE Proudly Serving Sussex County for Over 3 Decades
105 High Street, Seaford, DE 19973 Fax: 302-629-9720
Email: adesanctis@allstate.com
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Transforming look of vent-free fireplaces Many articles stress the importance of recovering renovation dollars when selling a home. Homeowners find that, by adding a gas fireplace to their home, they are adding value to the resale price. Homeowners are discovering that one of today’s most economical ways of transforming an unused or unsightly space into the family’s favorite gathering spot is by installing a vent-free gas fireplace for supplemental heating. Vent-free fireplaces come in a great variety of types, styles, and colors, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Whatever your home’s decor, you’ll have a choice of vent-free fireplaces to bring it to a stunning new level of elegance -- at a surprisingly affordable price to install and operate. Vent-free gas fireplaces are economical because they provide 99.9 percent energy efficient heat with no need for a chimney or a hole in the wall. Over 20 million American homes have vent-free gas fireplaces, logs, inserts, and space heaters that operate on natural gas or propane for supplementary heating. Vent-free gas fireplaces have an outstanding safety record. All U.S. gas code groups and 49 states
A vent-free gas fireplace adds warmth, beauty to any room.
allow the sale and installation of vent-free appliances. Every ventfree gas product sold in the U.S. is equipped with a precision-engineered Oxygen Detection SafetyPilot (ODS), which automatically shuts off the gas supply if the oxygen level in the room approaches a defined minimum set by American National Standard. Because of this and other vent-free safety features,
Make your home child safe Experts warn that miniblinds and corded shades purchased before 2001 can pose a potential strangulation risk to young children. Inspect your home for outdated window coverings, and consider replacing them. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 175 infants and young children have died from accidental windowcord strangulation since 1991. Corded window coverings made before 1995 often have a looped 18
pull cord that can serve as an unintended noose when within reach of a child. Eliminate Looped Pull Cords - For miniblinds and pleated shades made before 1995, consumers should cut the looped pull cord just above the tassel and remove the equalizer buckle, if any. Thread replacement tassels onto the newly cut cords and knot into place. Parents should install cordless window coverings in children’s bedrooms and play areas.
there is no need to open a window to ventilate a vent-free gas heating appliance. Consult a local dealer when looking at the options for a ventfree installation. They know the local regulations and proper installation methods to keep your home safe and comfortable during the heating season.
$20 investment saves lives
One of the least expensive improvements in which a home owner can invest can wind up saving not only his house, but his family as well. Smoke detectors, which cost as little as $20, are required by state law. A smoke detector must be located on each level of a single-family home, including the basement. Sussex County requires that a mobile home have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area. Smoke detectors should also be cleaned regularly; a vacuum cleaner hose run over the surface removes dust that can interfere with its detection device.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Tri Gas and Oil’s 50th anniversary By Carol Kinsley Tri Gas and Oil is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The family business has been caring for the comforts of home since the days of founder Lee D. McMahan, who began McMahan Poultry. Back then, poultry houses were heated with coal, which was labor intensive. McMahan tried to find a means to heat the houses more efficiently. When he started using oil, neighbors wanted to try it, too. Soon McMahan and a friend, Gilbert Banning, started a business buying and delivering fuel for neighboring farmers. The tradition continues today, supplying agricultural, residential and commercial customers with the best energy solutions available. Tri Gas & Oil provides propane, home heating oil, kerosene, underground tanks and highquality appliances. Tri Gas is also very involved in biodiesel and alternative fuels. Julie McMahan Thomas, granddaughter of the founder, focuses on customer service and marketing. Her father, Keith McMahan, is CEO. Her brother Nash is president, and younger brother, David, oversees all operations. There have been a lot of changes since 1963, Thomas noted. “Back in the ‘90s there was a short-
age of fuel on Delmarva. We had to go as far as Mississippi to get fuel, so we implemented a rail facility and now several of our competitors, along with our own drivers can benefit from this technology. “We want to have the best products, means of transportation and efficiencies, while remaining
competitive with pricing,” Thomas said, “but there is one thing we don’t budge on: customer service.” Thomas said 24-hour service is more than a promise. “We have someone sitting in the main location 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. There’s always a live person to answer the phone and take care of an emergency.”
Three generations of a family-owned and operated business, with a longstanding commitment to the communities served — that’s Tri Gas & Oil. Find out about the Promise Plan: price protection, automatic delivery and a never-run-out-of-fuel guarantee. Call 800-6387802 or visit www.trigasoil.com.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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Warm up those cool fall evenings Cool autumn evenings call for something to warm the family up from the inside out. Rich ‘N Creamy Mint Cocoa is perfect for a cool afternoon or on an early weekend morning.
Rich ‘N Creamy Mint Cocoa
Makes 10 1/2-cup servings
•2 • • • •
cans (12 fluid ounces each) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk 1 2/3 cups (10-ounce package) Nestlé Toll House Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels 1 cup water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Topping suggestions: whipped cream and Nestlé Toll House Baking Cocoa
HEAT evaporated milk, morsels and water in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat. Stir in liqueur and vanilla extract. POUR into ten 4-ounce demitasse cups or five mugs. Top with whipped cream and dusting of cocoa. VARIATION: Substitute evaporated lowfat 2% milk for the regular evaporated milk.
Take time to make your home clutter free Cyndi Seidler, author, columnist and organizing expert, suggests that if there is chaos of clutter around us, we’ll feel cluttered in our mind, therefore overwhelmed. “It is difficult to focus and get anything done in a chaotic environment, so the first thing to do is to put order into it,” she says. Seidler advises to set a goal of eliminating troublesome clutter areas by a certain timeline. Then, do a little bit each day. She offers these tips for dealing with clutter: • Sort cluttered areas by using labeled categorized boxes. Sort items into these. • Examine each item individually and determine its value. Do you really need it? What would happen if you got rid of it? When was the last time it was useful to you? • If you haven’t used something 20
in a year, it probably isn’t useful to you. Let it go. You probably won’t end up needing it someday. • If it’s broken and hasn’t been fixed in months, chances are it never will be. Think of getting rid of it. • Don’t keep more than what you
need or use. Free up your space. • Use decorative baskets to store magazines, newspapers, or loose items in. • Use plastic shoe-box containers or sliding drawers for under cabinet shelves. Categorize and store loose items into these. • Use plastic stackable containers for dry goods in kitchen cabinets. • Use organizing tools (storage products, files, etc.) to store items that are loose on the desk, shelves, or cabinets. • Donate unwanted items to your favorite local charity within one week of decluttering. When you consider that a disorganized person spends about six weeks a year looking for things in his or her home or office, taking advantage of the chance to get better at being organized is a wise undertaking.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Hearty Meals for Chilly Evenings Brisk autumn evenings call for warm, homemade meals that bring the family together around the dinner table. Dishes that deliver savory flavors are sure to win over their hearts, as well as warm them. If your taste buds call for a fall classic, cuddle up with a piping hot bowl of chili. The sweetness of brown sugar complements the blend of fresh garlic and Italian sausage in this recipe for Chiliville Chili. Because it’s made with Johnsonville Italian Ground Sausage, you can customize the robust flavor of this dinnertime staple by picking your favorite of the mild, sweet or hot varieties. The best part - it’s all natural with no fillers, artificial flavors or colors, so you know you’re feeding your family the best. For more recipes, visit www.johnsonvillekitchens.com. Chiliville Chili Yield: 10 to 12 servings 1 package (16 ounces) Johnsonville Ground Italian Sausage (Mild, Sweet or Hot) 1 pound ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 3 celery ribs, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions 2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (14.5 ounces) beef broth
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 crushed red pepper flakes Cheddar cheese, shredded (optional) In large saucepan, cook sausage and ground beef over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add onion, celery and garlic. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, cumin and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese if you like and serve immediately.
Family Features
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Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
VISA
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SchagrinGas was founded in ‘32 by grandfather of present CEO SchagrinGas was founded in 1932 by Harry Schagrin, grandfather of present company CEO Rick Levinson. His grandfather had been in the carnival business, Levinson said, providing carnival setups for fire companies on the Delmarva Peninsula. “One day he happened upon a hardware store where they had a new gas cooking stove. He brought the information back to his mother-in-law and eventually purchased one for her house,” Levinson continued. “My great-grandfather had a five and dime on a corner in Middletown. He started to sell the stoves there. He used to farm out the propane to a small company to hook up, but decided, ‘Why not get into the propane business ourselves and do the hookups?’ ” Small 100-pound cylinders were the mainstay use for propane in the 1930s. SchagrinGas grew slowly over the next decade. Levinson’s father went to work there in 1946 after serving in the Air Force in World War II. “He was an on-the-road salesman, driving around the countryside. He picked up a lot of business,” Levinson said. “Then the bulk business began, and larger tanks were used. Our first gas plant was opened in 1950. We had a 30,000 gallon tank. We brought in transport gas and redelivered it with trucks. “I joined the company in 1973 out of college and worked with builders. That’s what spurted the business along — new home construction in the late 1970s to mid-’80s. Essentially SchagrinGas has grown to five different locations from the one Middletown main office — Elkton has been operating for 55 years; West Grove, Pa., for 21 years. We opened an office in the Rehoboth/Georgetown area in 2000, and the retail store selling appliances in Hockessin opened in 1987.” There have been challenges over the years. Levinson remembers the price controls in the mid- to late-’70s. “We were not allowed to increase the price of gas to the customers even though all fixed expenses, such as wages and insurance, kept increasing. It’s quite difficult to do business in that situation. Fortunately, we held on, because we were large enough. When President Ronald Reagan deregulated, things began to improve for the entire industry.” Another big problem was shortage of product over the years because of refinery problems. “Winter was a challenge because of breakdowns. We were limited to 40 to 50 percent of what we were supposed to get. To overcome that problem, we put in our own rail siding in 1992 in West Grove. That enabled us to bring in jumbo rail cars of 30,000 gallons from Canada or Texas. Having much more storage capacity gave us flexibility. Even when refineries were in bad straits, we had product when others did not,” Levinson explained. 22
One of the biggest things to happen to the propane industry is increased availability because of the fracking scenario, he continued. “We’re getting two to three times as much propane out of the ground as we used to, all domestically produced. We don’t have to import propane any more; all production is in North America.” Looking back, Levinson always knew he would join the family business. “I used to go to work with my father on Saturday mornings when I was 7 or 8 years old.” His children have also joined the family business. Andrew, his son, has been with the business since 2002 and is company president. His daughter, Jill, joined in 2007 after college. SchagrinGas not only provides propane but also designs, installs and services generator systems, as well as anything that uses propane gas, from heating to air conditioning and more. Emergency service is provided around the clock, every day of the year. For more information, call 800-341-4022 or visit www.schagringas.com.
At Merry Maids, we know precisely, meticulously, immediately, always the kind of clean you mean. You will receive the highest level of professional care. From the consultation to the expert cleaning and the follow-up, be completely satisfied every step of the way. Guaranteed. Ready for a professional clean? Call us today. merrymaids.com Seaford/Bridgeville
302-629-2600
Become a new weekly or bi-weekly customer at Merry Maids and receive $100 off. ($20 off of your first 5 cleanings). New customers only. Can’t be combined with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Offers are non-transferable. Cash value 1/100 of 1 cent. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P. All rights reserved.
Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
Plant Retrievers Fall is the perfect time for Outdoor home improvement projects. The weather’s conducive to working outdoor, and fall is a better time to plant trees and shrubs than summer because it’s not so hot. Whether you’re looking for top quality nursery stock in larger sizes to enhance your home’s curb appeal, create a privacy hedge or shade your home to cut energy bill, Plant Retrievers in Georgetown is ready to serve you. Maybe you’re thinking of putting in a walkway, sitting walls, a patio or to create an outdoor living area. Plant Retrievers carries Cambridge Paving stones with Armortec or Techo Bloc Paving stones as well as all the accessories. A display area is available to view 24/7 just off the highway. Stop in Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sorry, we are closed on Saturday and Sundays. Plant Retrievers is one of the largest stocking dealers on the Delmarva peninsula. Plant Retrievers doesn’t grow it own plants, but
brings in top quality plant material to service the landscape trade in the local market. Owner Mike Wick says: “We have a very nice mix of plant material so that landscapers and homeowners can come in and put together a nice plant package (trees, shrubs and perennials). We like to sell the bigger plant-shrubs, hollies, trees and especially evergreens for the instant gratification.” Wick explained he doesn’t want to compete with “big box” stores’ garden departments or with landscapers whom are his customers. Plant Retrievers is conveniently located at 13418 Seashore Highway between Georgetown and Bridgeville. Don’t let the “Wholesale Nursery” sign fool you. Stop by and take a stroll around the yard. “We pride ourselves in catering to the needs of all our customer weather contractors or homeowners alike needing between 1 and 100 plants,” Wick said. For more information call (302) 337-9833.
YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR NURSERY AND OUTDOOR LIVING PRODUCTS
13418 SEASHORE HWY.
302-337-9833
GEORGETOWN, DE 19947
WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF
Trees, Perrennials and Grasses Knock Out Roses and Encore Azaleas We can deliver everything we sell! We sell OX Blades and Levels at our store.
www.Plantretrievers.com email: Sue_plantretrievers@yahoo.com
fax: 302-337-9834
All Your Landscape & Hardscape Needs Fall Home Improvement | Morning Star Publications 2013
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