The Newtown Bee’s
Spring
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Garden 2016
A S u p p lement t o t he N e w t ow n Be e
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A P RI L 8 , 2 0 1 6
2 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
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Home & Garden - 3
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
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4 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Bethel Power Equipment Sells Top Brands, Fixes All Makes
The showroom at Bethel Power Equipment displays a wide range of brands and types of power equipment for residential and commercial landscaping and gardening. —Bee Photos, Gorosko The Honda-brand Turf Teq power edger speeds up the cutting of edges on flower beds for users who need to do an extensive amount of such work quickly.
The Exmark-brand Quest front-steering zero-turn riding mower employs a conventional steering wheel to control its direction of travel for people who prefer using a steering wheel over the dual steering levers that typically are employed in such zero-turn mowers.
Mark Guss, managing partner of Bethel Power Equipment, demonstrates the ease of using a Snapper-brand riding mower to cut the lawn. Although a basic design, some residential users prefer the Snapper to more elaborate lawn mowers.
By Andrew Gorosko Mark Guss, the managing partner of Bethel Power Equipment, LLC, says his firm has a simple motto that describes the business — “We sell the best and service the rest.” The company is located at 6 Francis J Clarke Circle in Clarke Business Park, off Route 53. Major equipment brands carried by the firm include: Exmark, Stihl, Echo, Little Wonder, Simplicity, Billy Goat, Honda, Bobcat, Shindaiwa, Toro, Mi-T-M, Muck Truck, and American Conveyors & Log Splitters. Bethel Power sells to the residential and commercial landscaping and garden markets, Mr Guss said during a recent visit to the showroom. Besides the retail sales operation, the firm has a large parts warehouse and an extensive service operation with five mechanics and a helper. “We’re one of the few power shops around that fixes all makes and models,” Mr Guss said. Business has been so good, he said, Bethel Power is planning to construct a new building on land next to the company’s existing building. Asked about some of the newest or most popular equipment clients are asking for this spring, Mr Guss mentioned the advent of the consumer-grade “zero-turn” lawn mower. Used for years by professional lawn maintenance firms to expedite their work, zero-turn mowers employ a hydraulic control system that allows a riding mower to basically rotate when it reaches the end of a cutting pass and then immediately resume cutting in the opposite direction. Zero-turn mowers also travel at a higher speed than lawn tractors used to cut turf. Bethel Power sells the consumer-grade Simplicity-brand Courier, a zero-turn riding mower controlled by steering levers. The Exmark-brand Quest zero-turn riding mower is also available with a steering wheel for people who prefer such directional control when cutting lawns. Clean & Dethatch Another popular lawn care device is the Stihl-brand Yard Boss power tiller, which offers accessories including a plastic rotary bristle brush for cleaning lawns, as well as dethatching turf. Dethatching removes a layer of dead turf grass tissue, known as thatch, from lawns, allowing water and nutrients to more easily reach grass roots. Bethel Power also has the Exmark-brand lawn aerator. The operator stands on this
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Home & Garden - 5
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
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Mark Guss tips back a Stihl-brand Yard Boss tiller to display an accessory plastic rotary bristle brush that can be attached to the device for cleaning lawns, as well as dethatching turf. self-propelled machine as it aerates lawns promoting air circulation around grass roots. Typically, the device is rented out by the day to commercial users or residential users, Mr Guss said. He has seen situations where a group of neighboring homeowners jointly rent the aerator and split the fee. Mr Guss said that some people simply prefer to use a basic Snapper-brand riding mower to cut their lawns. Snapper users typically are folks who have relatively small lawns to cut, he said. The Honda-brand Turf Teq power edger speeds up cutting edges along flower beds for users who need to perform an extensive amount of such work quickly. Such a unit can be rented on a daily basis, he said. As an alternative to a conventional lawn tractor with a mower attached, Mr Guss suggests the use of a dual-bladed Toro-brand Timemaster self-propelled rotary lawn mower with
a clippings bag. The mower makes a 30-inchwide cut. Bethel Power also sells a variety of specialized handheld tools for yard maintenance. Three major brands — Stihl, Echo, and Honda — each have versions of “split-boom” equipment, Mr Guss said. Stihl offers the Kombi system, Echo has the Pro Attachment series, and Honda produces VersAttach equipment. In each of the three handheld systems, multiple accessories are used with a standardized gasoline-engine power supply. Accessories include devices such as a blower, edger, trimmer, pruner, and bristle brush. Stihl also offers a Kombi system that uses an electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries. Reach Bethel Power by phone at 203-7905889, or visit the company’s website: bethelpower.com.
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6 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Cider Mill Designs:
Horticultural designer Kim Charles created this succulents display, a collection of Echeveria, hen and chicks, and weeping stonecrop, for adding pop to a restored home on the Property Brothers HGTV program. Kim Charles of Cider Mill Designs and pooch pal Alfie sit on the stone wall that doubles as a work bench in fair weather. Ms Charles repurposes unusual items from flea markets and tag sales as containers for her original horticultural creations. —Bee Photo, Crevier By Nancy K. Crevier Sandy Hook resident Kim Charles’s fulltime job is digital marketer for Stone Farm in Newtown, wholesalers for reclaimed stone and brick, “and outdoor living solutions.” But her own business, Cider Mill Designs, has solutions, as well: creating outside-the-box, oneof-a-kind potted arrangements that can make a small corner burst with color or add panache to interior design. Working from spring through late fall, Ms Charles sets up shop on the long stone wall that runs beside her home — a former 300-year-old cider mill. There she lets her imagination run wild, bringing together creative plant materials and creative containers to make custom arrangements and terrariums for her customers. She surrounds herself with her tools and ideas
Open terrariums, such as this orchid in a glass bowl, are a signature of Cider Mill Designs, and popular with Ms Charles’s A simple combination of herbs brightens the bar in a home, another Property Brothcustomers at markets and events. ers commission from Cider Mill Designs.
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in an inside work space when inclement weather or off-season orders demand her attention. The natural beauty of her property and the surrounding environment are always inspirations to her, Ms Charles said. The love affair with her cider mill home began as soon as she and her former husband purchased the property 20 years ago. The exterior of the ancient mill had been renovated, leaving them with a blank canvas inside and a blank canvas outside, where old established gardens rambled about the house. It was the perfect combination for the a fashion designer who was rapidly morphing into a horticultural designer. After graduating from Buffalo State University with a degree in fashion and business, Ms Charles moved to England where for two years she worked for a husband/wife design team in Nottingham — and met her future husband. “There were gardens everywhere. I became obsessed with them. There’s a lot of similarities between fashion design and garden design. It’s about pulling color and texture together in unique, new ways,” she said. Newly married, she and her husband then moved to Scotland for a year, before returning to London. “That last year I lived in England, my in-laws moved to Devon, in the south, and that truly propelled my shift from fashion to the horticultural world. That’s where many of the big, formal English gardens are,” Ms Charles said. While ideas were brewing for her, she still was not working with plants, nor did she immediately do so when the couple moved to America. Getting Started It was not until she decided to stay home
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Home & Garden - 7
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Reinventing Horticulture
Where Customer Service Never Expires Also created for a Property Brothers episode this past year, is this centerpiece by Cider Mill Designs, with three rare orchids and succulents. Designing colorful outdoor arrangements, such as this one, is one of Ms Charles’s favorite ways to use colorful midsummer perennials and grasses. with her children that Ms Charles really began to consider a business that would mesh her love of design and gardening. But first, she became a master gardener through the UConn Agricultural Extension program, and took garden design classes at Naugatuck Community College. “I thought, I’m really good at container gardening. I’m going to make these really outsidethe-box organic containers,” Ms Charles said, and Cider Mill Designs blossomed from there. Her first foray into the business was through the local farmers market. “My containers attracted people and the business grew,” she said. Two years ago, she realized she was so busy that she could expand. She brought on Christine Rising as a partner, and the two women have been able to double the number of markets and events at which they display their creations. Ms Rising’s specialty, she said, is hypertufas. Using odd molds, such as a bread tin, a cement and perlite mixture is poured in and allowed to set to make plantable containers. Filled with a light soil, the hypertufas are planted with succulents. “My container designs are simple and stylized, something you don’t see a lot of around here,” said Ms Charles. Browsing flea markets and tag sales — “The Brimfield Antique Show is my favorite place,” she confessed — she rounds up things like a section of an old grain silo, an antique pudding mold, or a few bedsprings, items most designers would not normally choose for a planter. She has hollowed out wine corks, added an air plant, and created living refrigerator magnets. Cider Mill Designs has been featured on four of the HGTV Property Brothers shows this past year, through her connection with Sandy Hook interior designer Bobbie Sue Smart. Ms Smart served as the local design lead for the episodes and, familiar with the work of Cider Mill Designs, asked Ms Charles to come up with concepts for four of the featured homes. “What I make gives a ‘pop’ to the finished reveal home. There was a little collaboration on things like color palette of a home, or the style of a home; then she let me go. That,” said Ms Charles, “was fun.” It is not unusual, she admitted, to find her wandering the aisles of area nurseries, her container finds piled onto a cart. “Then I can discover what plants will work,” she said, an easier task when the containers are right there. “I’m always searching out plant material, and looking for something new, all the time,” Ms Charles said, “and there are always new varieties.”
“Some clients will bring me odd containers,” she said, and then she lets her natural inclinations and customers’ input guide her as to what the outcome will be. “I like to have a client that I know I can surprise,” she said. Unique Creations Over the five years Cider Mill Designs has been in business, she said, customers have come to understand that they will get something very special from her. “They allow me to be as creative as I want,” she said. She never makes the same creation twice, so her customers know the are getting a completely original work from her. Some of the Cider Mill Designs are not custom made, but are fashioned for sale at markets and shows. “I do sometimes fall in love with some of them, and hate to sell them,” she admitted. She has also made a name for herself through her terrariums. She deviates from the norm by planting her miniature landscapes in open glass containers, rather than the traditional closed style. “You can really see the plant material this way. There’s not the condensation that builds up in a closed container,” she said. And while an open terrarium requires a bit more attention to watering, the longevity of the arrangement remains the same. Cider Mill Designs also provides consultation for outdoor garden ideas, but does not install entire landscapes. She is happy, however, to plant “pocket gardens,” small-scale gardens planted imaginatively on a portion of a property. All work by Cider Mill Designs utilizes organic soil, and strives to use as many perennials as possible, “In hopes they’ll be repurposed,” said Ms Charles. Some of the perennials will regrow in the container, but others will thrive if removed at the end of the growing season and planted permanently elsewhere. While only part-time, Cider Mill Designs is her passion, Ms Charles said. “I love to be able to show people the creative side of the plant world. I love to prove to somebody with a nightmare shade spot that you can do something with texture and color there. I love to make something, and know it will be unusual,” she said. To schedule a consultation or to find out how to purchase a design from Cider Mill Designs, contact organicgreenchick@gmail.com, or visit cidermilldesigns.com. The newest creations by Cider Mill Designs can be viewed on Facebook at Cider Mill Designs.
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8 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
A Fruit Tree Pruning Lesson Blossoms At The Victory Garden By Eliza Hallabeck Pruning a fruit tree, Certified Master Arborist Dan Dalton explained, “is a hands-on kind of thing.” And learning about that important hands-on activity is what drew 35 hearty gardening enthusiasts to The Victory Garden at Fairfield Hills on the sunny but brisk morning of Saturday, March 5. Many came prepared, wearing gloves and holding pruning clippers in their hands. Mr Dalton, who works for Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co., opened the lesson saying the whole point of pruning fruit trees is “trying to create a structure strong enough to hold fruit.” Trees need sunlight to flower and the flowers set into fruit, “then we are making pies,” said Mr Dalton, who is part of a team that oversees one of the rows at The Victory Garden and is a board member of the Newtown Forest Association. Victory Garden site coordinator and founder Harvey Pessin, who is also a Newtown Forest Association board member, introduced Mr Dalton to the group at the start of the lesson. Roughly 150 volunteers, Mr Pessin said, manage and grow rows at The Victory Garden, which grows food to donate to the local food pantries. The fruit trees at the garden were planted in 2013 and were sponsored by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, Metropolitan State University, and Inver Hills Community College in partnership with the Newtown Parks & Recreation Department to help provide further harvest for local families, according to a press release. Mr Dalton explained when pruning people should aim to allow as much light to penetrate the tree as possible in order for it to fruit, and he advised the group to clean up “anything” on the tree that may be broken. The biggest part of fruit tree maintenance is
ed was called “the open center,” which he said shapes the tree like an upside-down umbrella without a handle. He pointed out a sour cherry tree that had a center stem last year, but he had cut it out. This year, he said, he would prune away branches on the inside to help the “light penetration” and “create more of a bowl shape.” Pruning, Mr Dalton said, comes down to simplifying the structure of the trees. “You’re really trying to simplify it into something that doesn’t have all these sticky sprouts on it,” said Mr Dalton as he described the different cuts that can be used while pruning trees. Holding sheers, Mr Dalton demonstrated ways to trim branches, and took questions from his audience, who asked how Mr Dalton determines how to prune trees and about fruit trees on their
Certified Master Arborist Dan Dalton of Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co., demonstrated a number of pruning techniques at a hands-on workshop on pruning fruit trees at The Victory Garden at Fairfield Hills on Saturday, March 5. —Bee Photo, Hallabeck During a recent workshop on fruit tree pruning, Master Arborist Dan Dalton of Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co. explained that the entire point of this annual exercise is to take away any parts of the tree that “don’t meet the objective, which is growing fruit.” pruning, Mr Dalton said, and a good time to prune a fruit tree is in early March. “We’re going to basically take away any parts of the tree that don’t help us meet our objective, which is growing fruit,” said Mr Dalton. The Victory Garden, Mr Dalton said, has a variety of fruit trees. Pruning should occur before the trees “wake up” in the warmer months, Mr Dalton explained. “We want to set their structure for the
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own properties. While pruning strategies vary for the different fruit tree species, Mr Dalton said, “We’re trying to create a good structure, whether it is central leader or open center, and we’re trying to get enough light into the plant so that it will flower fruit.” Reach Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co locally at 203-348-4111, or visit almstead.com. More information about The Victory Garden is available online at foodpantrygarden.org.
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Home & Garden - 9
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Town & Country Garden Club Plant Sale Has New Date, Location
The Town & Country Garden Club, “the folks who keep the traffic islands blooming,” announce a new date and change of location for its annual Plant & Shrub Sale: Saturday, May 21, from 9 am to 3 pm on the front lawn of Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street. Plant Sale Chairperson Mary Ellen Weiner expects that longtime supporters of the sale will appreciate the convenient access and ample parking available at this highly visible location. The new date, Saturday May 21, allows two more weeks of warming temperatures for the more than 200 member-grown plants to develop and bloom. Club President Sandy Motyka invites the public to support the club’s only fundraiser where they will find neonic-free flowering plants, hardy landscaping shrubs, and the advice of experienced and master gardeners– all in time for Memorial Day planting. Club members will provide a wide variety of perennial plants that have been grown in their own gardens: flowers, herbs, ground cover, shrubs, grasses, and vines. Committee member Joy Kopesky points out that locally grown plants have a high possibility of transplant success. “They know the soil, weather, and temperature and seem to have less stress.” Professionally grown plants from Planters’ Choice, many field-grown locally, will be offered at hard-to-resist prices. They will include flowering shrubs, trees, and spectacular specimen plants. New this year will be attractive containers filled with plants that enhance cooking, such as herbs, tomatoes, and chili peppers. “Think of flavor along with some early summer color on an indoor kitchen window sill,” says committee member Chris Lincoln.
The Garden Bookshelf is another new feature this year. According to committee member Jan Gardner, an exciting selection of gently used gardening books, plant references, how-to books, and more will be available at very favorable prices. The Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown is the club that meets in the evening, says Ms Motyka, adding, “though most Newtowners know us from seeing us working on the traffic islands.” Meetings are held at 6:30 pm on the second
Wednesday each month at the Senior Center. Programs are free and open to the public. “We just celebrated our 50th anniversary,” Ms Motyka said. “You would think there is nothing new to learn, but we continue to explore all aspects of garden design, flower arranging, plant science, and environmental issues. We are an open and friendly group and welcome new members. After all, we have much in common — our love of the natural world around us.” For more details, contact Membership Chairperson Judy Beers at 203-426-2785.
Barbara O’Connor of Planters’ Choice is an integral part of every garden club plant sale. A 50-year member of the Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown, she is the liaison with Planters’ Choice of Newtown and Watertown, the commercial nursery that mentors the club and provides shrubs and flowers for this special sale.
Early bird shoppers are a major factor at the annual Town & Country Garden Club Plant and Shrub Sales. Shoppers mix with garden club members, as they set up the 2015 sale. Last year the sale was held at The Inn at Newtown. With the recent closing of the Main Street landmark, the 2016 sale will instead be held at Newtown Middle School on Saturday, May 21. —Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown photos
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10 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Residents Begin A Local Effort To Protect
By Kendra Bobowick “Do you want to hear a long story?” asked Mary Gaudet-Wilson. Her tale began with a student in New Milford and has ended in a current effort to protect pollinators, which include bats, dragonflies, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Pollination assists fruit production and occurs when the bee or other insect visits from flower to flower. “It’s critical to farming,” Ms Gaudet-Wilson said. She had heard a story “about a girl who wanted to establish a butterfly garden. She had been saving her money,” Ms Wilson said. “So she went and bought a lot of plants.” Once her garden was planted, the little girl made an unpleasant discovery, “She went out and found dead bees under the blossoms.” Soil scientists later confirmed neonicotinoids “neo-nics” were in the soil — chemicals harmful to pollinators such as bees. The problem is on a larger scale than a backyard garden. “A lot of our farms are inundated with pesticides…it’s harming our bees,” Ms Gaudet-Wilson said. “Neonicotinoids are used in pesticides and they get into soil,” she said. She then visited the “big box store,” where the student had purchased her garden plants and supplies and, “I saw labels that had names that people might not recognize.” She said that certain pesticides “are quite toxic to bees, that’s established.” However, “there were no red flags” for consumers to understand what they were buying. Ms Gaudet-Wilson provided a list of the following neonicotinoids and warned: “Do not buy plants” treated with neo-nics or garden products which contain: imidicloprid (bayer), thiamethoxam (syngenta),
clothianidin (bayer), acetamiprid (scotts), thiocloprid (bayer), dinotefuran (matsui). She soon started the Protect Our Pollinators (POP) effort in August of 2015. The group’s goal is “to advocate for pollinators by 1) increasing pollinator habitat, 2) decreasing the amount of insecticides they may be subjected to, and 3) bringing these issues to the public,” she said. In August, she said, “I started to talk to neighbors and we wanted to do something — inform the public about what to do to prevent this, our pollinator population is diminishing,” she said. Six members coming from Newtown, Danbury, and New Milford currently make up the Protect Our Pollinators effort. “We are hoping this can be regional,” Ms Gaudet-Wilson said. She offered statistics, referencing Dr Kimberly Stoner’s work with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station: Dr
Stoner confirmed for The Bee the loss of 57 percent of beekeepers’ honey bees from April 2014 to April 2015. The source for that statistic is available at bip2.beeinformed.org. She also offered information on bumblebees at the state endangered species list for invertebrates, available at ct. gov. Also per information she regularly gives in talks, Dr Stoner offered additional details on two other species. Bombus affinis and Bombus ashtoni are listed as” species of special concern” and could mean “that they are considered likely extirpated from the state.” Bombus terricola (listed as threatened) has not been seen since 2009. Another species, Bombus pensylvanicus, has not been seen since 2006. Ms Gaudet-Wilson said, “Bees are definitely in decline and the monarchs [butter-
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flies] are way down.” Protecting Our Pollinators How do residents prevent harm and how do they improve the pollinators’ habitat? “You almost have to know the names of the chemicals that are harmful, because labeling requirements have not been met,” Ms Gaudet-Wilson said. A gardener going to the store to look for something to protect the roses might not be aware of the presence of “neo-nics,” so her group is trying to get the word out about chemicals, she said. She suggested writing them down on a card and keeping it in a wallet or purse. She also found out that one of the chemicals was in use on Newtown’s playing fields, “and that is being phased out,” she said, crediting Newtown’s Parks and Recreation Department, which maintains the fields. Other things put bees and butterflies at risk including another neonicitinoide in coating on seeds for corn or soy. “When these are planted it’s in the soil and pollen and there have been significant bee die -off,” she said in a recent e-mail. “Neonicotinoids come into the environment by seed coating (agricultural and nursery), foliar spray (nursery and home owners), soil drench (nurseries) and application to lawns to reduce grubs etc (homeowners, lawn care maintenance, public playing fields and golf courses). They are systemic in that they translocate to all parts of the plant, including the pollen, nectar, flowers, leaves, etc. They are water soluble so they also get into the soil where they can last a long time, some up to two years.” Another problem is loss of habitat as the state loses fields and meadows to development. Property owners can do their share in the garden. “We’re encouraging people to plant
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Home & Garden - 11
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Our Pollinators pollinator gardens and perennial gardens,” Ms Gaudet-Wilson said. A pollinator garden is planted with plants beneficial to pollinators, and could include herbs, trees. She has offered another list of suggested native species for pollinators: *Top Five Trees — red maple, river birch, black cherry, white oak, sassafras; *Top Five Shrubs — serviceberry, spicebush, flowering raspberry, red osier dogwood, high bush blueberry; *Top Ten Standing Perennials — swamp milkweed, yellow wild indigo, white turtlehead, Joe Pye weed, sneezeweed, woodland sunflower, wild bergamot, foxglove beard-
tongue, axillary goldenrod, smooth aster; *Top Five Groundcovers — Parlin’s pussytoes, Pennsylvania sedge, wild strawberry, Canada Mayflower, creeping phlox. Her group will put up information around town about pollinator week, June 20–26. On April 9 they will be at Roxbury information fair, and on April 23, they will be at the annual Earth Day celebration at Newtown Middle School. On May 12 members will be presenting at the Brookfield Garden Club. Also, visit their web page at propollinators.org, or find them on Facebook at protectourpollinators, or reach the group through e-mail at propollinators@gmail.com.
How Can You Help ‘Save The Bees’? Mary Gaudet-Wilson, who is heading up local grassroots advocacy, provides the following tips for residents to help better protect pollinators: *Read labels and know the names of individual neo-nics so that you can avoid buying these products. *Ask your nursery managers about their sources of plant stock and seeds. *Plant native plants that make good foraging for pollinators. *Minimize lawn areas by putting in raised beds or pollinator gardens. *Plant clover instead of grass when over-seeding lawns. *If you have a lawn care service, make sure that they are not using neo-nics or other harmful chemicals. *Talk to your friends and neighbors to encourage them to buy plants and products that are safe for your neighborhood. *Encourage the town to use organic lawn and turf practices. *Encourage the town to incorporate “butterfly gardens” at local parks and public spaces. *Ask your state/federal representative to support measures which support pollinators either through reduction of pesticides or increased habitat for pollinators. A bill has been proposed aimed to protect pollinators’ health in the current Legislative session — view text of the measure at: cga.ct.gov/2016/ TOB/s/2016SB-00231-R00-SB.htm.
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The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
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Home & Garden - 13
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
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14 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Connected Appliances Aim To Deliver New Levels Of Convenience WASHINGTON, DC — In the market for a new home appliance? Have you considered smart, smart-grid enabled, or connected appliances? It’s a brave new world out there for appliance consumers now that “smart home” integration is reaching new technological heights, and providing universal accessibility for even the most technologically challenged. A new white paper by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers highlights the potential of connected home appliances to bring new levels of time-savings and convenience to their users and addresses how manufacturers are tackling concerns about data privacy and the safety of connected appliances. While connected home appliances are still an emerging market, the additional convenience that comes with features like remote operation, automated ordering, alerts, and remote repairs promise the meaningful, life-enhancing benefits that are the top priority of home appliance manufacturers and users. AHAM’s white paper, Home Appliance Connectivity: Limitless Potential, provides answers to a number of important consumer questions about connected home appliances, including: *The difference between smart, smart-grid enabled, and connected home appliances *How connected appliances will allow consumers to save more time *How smart appliances can reduce their users’ energy costs *The steps being taken to preserve high safety standards in connected appliances *Concrete steps users of connected appliances can take to protect their personal data Getting Connectivity Connectivity is not simply another new feature. It will allow consumers to save additional time, conserve energy, integrate the use of renewable energy, and pave the way for faster and more accurate repairs. The world of new features connected appliances offer will continue to grow and evolve as technology improves and new customer needs are recognized and met. It won’t be long before appliances like these, which already are being produced, become common sights in homes: *Dishwashers that can be operated remotely if you forget to turn them on before leaving home *Refrigerators that can order new groceries when supplies run low *Ovens that can let you know when your dinner is ready *Clothes dryers that can send you an alert when the dryer vent needs to be cleaned *Appliances that can be repaired remotely, without anybody visiting your home *Electric toothbrushes that monitor whether children spend enough time brushing Appliance manufacturers are developing products that offer
While connected home appliances are still an emerging market, the additional convenience that comes with features like remote operation, automated ordering, alerts, and remote repairs promise the meaningful, life-enhancing benefits that are the top priority of home appliance manufacturers and users. these and countless other features that could make consumers’ lives much easier. What’s It Mean? According to the white paper, as appliance manufacturers introduce connectivity to products, a number of terms may be used to describe this new functionality. Some of these terms are used interchangeably: “smart,” a blanket term used to describe enhanced, interactive functions that may or may not require an Internet connection; smart-grid enabled, which refers to a device’s ability to interact with a modernized energy grid; and connected appliances, which utilize an Internet connection to offer new and enhanced features. *Smart appliances: “Smart” is a general term to describe a multitude of enhanced features and functions available on appliances today. Some of these devices may have the capability to adapt their own functionality and offer enhanced features according to user habits or needs. These “smart” appliances may or may not be connected to the Internet. *Smart-grid enabled: The smart grid is the ongoing modernization of America’s electricity delivery system. Rather than the one-way system of utility companies delivering electricity
to the consumer, the smart grid creates a two-way exchange and allows homes to send information to utility companies regarding energy use and power needs. This allows utilities to provide more efficient power delivery. Smart appliances provide a tool for utilities to increase the efficiency of the entire grid by responding to their signals to reduce or delay their consumption of energy. *Connected appliances: Connected appliances offer a new level of interactivity and an array of new features. Many allow users to access them remotely via a phone, tablet, or as part of a home energy or automation system. They may also include smart appliance functions that allow them to interact with the smart grid. AHAM has also been working with the Energy Star program to integrate smart capability into the specifications for appliances, which have been completed for refrigerator/freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and room air conditioners. These specifications detail how a smart appliance will respond and provide energy management once a signal is received and provide a platform for greater efficiencies to the electrical grid.
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Home & Garden - 15
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Echo, ecobee Among Latest ‘Smart Home’ Pairings Once in awhile, a logical pairing of home efficiency systems comes along that cannot “bee” ignored. A pre-Valentine’s Day announcement from the manufacturers of the innovative HVAC controller ecobee heralded an exciting new relationship — with Amazon and its Echo device. The ecobee3 smarter Wi-Fi thermostat with room sensors is the first thermostat to be directly compatible with Amazon Echo, offering homeowners added convenience and comfort in their everyday lives through Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Alexa, according to a February 12 release. The Toronto-based company says Alexa, the brain behind Amazon Echo, will be able to facilitate requests from across the room. For example, users can say, “Alexa, set my thermostat to 72,” or, “Alexa, increase the temperature in my house,” to control their ecobee3. As the No. 2-selling Wi-Fi thermostat in North America, the ecobee3 is the only thermostat that uses sensors to deliver comfort in preferred rooms. And its unique design resolves a what its creators say is a basic flaw in traditional thermostat design of only measuring temperature in one location, which contributes to hot and cold spots throughout the home. The ecobee3 saves homeowners an average of 23 percent on their heating and cooling bills (based on an October 2013 analysis), and is touted to be compatible with 95 percent of residential homes in North America. Creating further environmental benefit, the ecobee3 does not rely on batteries that must be tossed when they are exhausted. Its innovators say ecobee3 receives power through a C-wire or its power extender kit . Charlie Kindel, director, Amazon Echo and Alexa, says using only your voice to control the temperature in your house is another great way to create smarter homes. The ecobee3 is available for $249 on/in
Manufacturers of the innovative HVAC controller ecobee recently announced a new relationship and compatibility — between its ecobee3 smart thermostat and Amazon’s smart home Echo controller, pictured on the tabletop. Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, and Home Depot. That kit comes with one free wireless room sensor and supports up to 32 sensors. Additional room sensors can be purchased in a package of two for $79 each. Not an Echo user yet? The ecobee3 is also compatible with Apple HomeKit, Sam-
sung SmartThings and Wink. In fact, the ecobee3 is designed to be compatible with 95 percent of residential heating and cooling systems in North America and does not require a C-wire when using the included power extender kit. To ensure ecobee3 will work in your home, visit ecobee.com/compatibility. Ec-
obee Inc introduced the world’s first Wi-Fi connected smart thermostat in 2009. The company’s award-winning thermostats have enabled hundreds of thousands of consumers to control their home comfort anytime and from anywhere, using their smartphone, tablet, or computer. For more information visit ecobee.com.
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16 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Beneath The Surface: A Mushrooming Business By Nancy K. Crevier Visitors to Alrick Man’s farm will not find neat rows of greens or tilled fields ready to be sown. Instead, they may find the fruits of his labors bursting through a pile of woodchips or poking up through mulched leaves and hay, or spot his harvest popping from the sides of sawed off logs if the weather is warm enough. Mr Man is a mushroom farmer — and the fungi he nurtures blend naturally into the landscape of his Parmalee Hill property. “One of the most wonderful things about when we moved [to Newtown from Fairfield] is that things are not so tailored around here. You can drive ten miles on the roads around here and still find wild raspberries and stuff. I love it,” he said. It is also an inviting environment for growing wild mushrooms, he added. His primary mushroom crop is that of the “West Wind” shiitake. What appear to be stacks of firewood are actually “garden plots” for incubating and growing the flavorful mushroom used in many Asian recipes. “I started about six years ago,” Mr Man said, seeking a strong strain of shiitake that could be grown in quantities to commercialize. The West Wind has turned out to be a reliable producer and what started out as one log inoculated to grow a few mushrooms for home recipes has, well, mushroomed into an enterprise of 500 black and red oak logs serving as nurseries for a harvest of 50 to 60 pounds of shiitake mushrooms a week, each harvest season. The initial planting of the logs is labor intensive, Mr Man admitted. Small trees are cut into two- to four-foot logs, and then several holes are drilled into each log. Preparing 100 logs is a full day’s project from start to finish. The holes are then injected with a mixture containing mycelium, the thread-like root system that allows the growing mushroom to receive nutrients. To keep the seed mixture moist and keep out competing fungi, each plug is coated with beeswax. The mycelium spreads throughout the log, and when temperatures stay between 45 and 75 degrees, the shiitake mushrooms develop. Mr Man grows his shiitakes only on the red or black oak logs, he said, as that variety of wood provides the best nutrients for a high-quality mushroom. As soon as the mush-
Alrick Man sits on a pile of logs incubated with mycelium of shiitake mushrooms. Behind him, a specially constructed fence will soon have dozens of logs standing up against it, and mushrooms will soon cover the surfaces of the logs, ready for harvesting. Mr Man’s fascination with wild mushroom foraging has expanded into a small commercial enterprise. —Bee Photos, Crevier
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Hobby To Horticulture His venture into commercial mushroom growing has been a thing that morphed from a hobby interest, Mr Man said. “I’m doing this because I got tired of mushrooms that tasted like dirt,” he said. He started learning about wild mushrooms and foraging in the wild. What he tasted got him very excited. “Each variety tastes different. I’ve had peppery ones, sweet ones, and nutty-tasting ones. There are so many flavors. I was like a kid in the candy store,” he laughed. Then he and wife Susan visited a farmers market in Brattleboro, Vt., and tasted shiitakes for sale there. In talking with the farmer, they found out that he offered seminars on growing mushrooms, and signed up for it. “These people were living totally off the grid,” he said, and while he doesn’t recall that the one log they got to take home from the seminar ever produced, they did come away with enough knowledge to know that they could grow their own mushrooms at home. He knew that a friend’s mother, in France, made a living growing and selling mushrooms, and thought he could not only share the exciting flavors of the wild mushrooms with friends, but could grow enough to sell to restaurants and other outlets interested in a truly fresh product. A log inoculated with the shiitake mycelium must gestate for one year before it begins to produce. Once a log has produced, Mr Man moves it on to the next step — force fruiting. Large cattle troughs are filled with cold water and inoculated logs. The soaked logs are then stood upright against a specially constructed fence. “Within six days, I can harvest, and these logs are good for five to seven years,” Mr Man said. He plans to plant 500 to 600 new logs this spring, with a “short, long-term goal” of harvesting 300 to 500 pounds of shiitake mushrooms a week. The harvest lasts as long as weather conditions remain moderate, he said. While the shiitakes are his main commercial crop, Mr Man is experimenting with cultivating other wild mushrooms.
rooms are cut, they are air-cleaned with compressed air and refrigerated in five- and ten-pound flats. He stays away from fertilizers and pesticides, and hopes to apply for organic certification in future years. And many mushroom varieties are naturally pest resistant, anyway, he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
The Wild Ones Beneath a hillside covered in natural wood chips, life is beginning to stir. Digging down into the soil one day in mid-
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(1)FINANCING AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED BUYERS. NOT ALL BUYERS QUALIFY. MINIMUM PURCHASE PRICE REQUIREMENT APPLIES. SEE STORE OR CUBCADET.COM FOR IMPORTANT DETAILS. MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED. TRANSACTION FINANCE CHARGES MAY APPLY. SEE YOUR CUB CADET RETAILER FOR DETAILS OR GO TO CUBCADET.COM FOR FULL DISCLOSURE. FINANCING SUBJECT TO TD BANK, N.A. APPROVAL. PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. *Product Price — Actual retail prices are set by dealer and may vary. Taxes, freight, setup and handling charges may be additional and may vary. Models subject to limited availability. **See your local dealer for limited warranty details and information. Certain restrictions apply. †as rated by engine manufacturer Specifications and programs are subject to change without notice. Images may not reflect dealer inventory and/or unit specifications. © 2014 Cub Cadet 2013_3PV_Q
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www.newtownpowerequipment.com (1)FINANCING AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED BUYERS. NOT ALL BUYERS QUALIFY. MINIMUM PURCHASE PRICE REQUIREMENT APPLIES. SEE STORE OR CUBCADET.COM FOR IMPORTANT DETAILS. MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS (1)FINANCING AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED NOT ALLMAY BUYERS QUALIFY. MINIMUM PURCHASE PRICE SEE STORE OR FOR FINANCING IMPORTANT DETAILS.TO MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS (1)FINANCING AVAILABLE TOBUYERS. QUALIFIED BUYERS. NOT ALL BUYERS QUALIFY. MINIMUM PURCHASE PRICEORREQUIREMENT APPLIES. SEE STORE OR CUBCADET.COM FORSUBJECT IMPORTANT DETAILS. MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED. TRANSACTION FINANCE CHARGES APPLY. SEE YOUR CUB CADET RETAILER FORREQUIREMENT DETAILS GOAPPLIES. TO CUBCADET.COM FORCUBCADET.COM FULL DISCLOSURE. TD BANK, N.A. APPROVAL. PROGRAMS REQUIRED. TRANSACTION FINANCE CHARGES MAY APPLY. *Product SEE YOUR CUB CADET RETAILER FOR DETAILS GO TOand CUBCADET.COM FORfreight, FULL DISCLOSURE. FINANCING SUBJECT TOSUBJECT TD BANK,TON.A. PROGRAMS REQUIRED. FINANCE CHARGES MAY APPLY. SEE— YOUR CUB CADET RETAILER DETAILS ORmay GOvary. TO CUBCADET.COM FOR FULL DISCLOSURE. FINANCING TD APPROVAL. BANK, N.A.Models APPROVAL. PROGRAMS SUBJECT TOTRANSACTION CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Price Actual retail prices are setFOR byORdealer Taxes, setup and handling charges may be additional and may vary. subject to limited SUBJECT TO(1)FINANCING CHANGE TO WITHOUT NOTICE. *Product — Actual retail prices areinformation. set by dealer vary. Taxes, freight, setup andSEE handling charges maycharges be additional mayand vary. Models subject to limited SUBJECT CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. *Product — Actual retail prices are setand by may dealer and may vary. Taxes, and handling may beand additional and may vary. subject to limited AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED BUYERS. NOT ALLPrice BUYERS QUALIFY. MINIMUM PURCHASE PRICE REQUIREMENT APPLIES. STORE OR CUBCADET.COM FOR IMPORTANT DETAILS. MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS availability. **See your local dealer forPrice limited warranty details and Certain restrictions apply. †asfreight, rated bysetup engine manufacturer Specifications programs areModels subject to change availability.REQUIRED. **See your local dealer forreflect limited warranty details andYOUR information. Certain restrictions apply. †as rated by†as engine Specifications and programs subject toAPPROVAL. change availability. **Seemay your local dealer forMAY limited warranty details and information. Certain restrictions ratedmanufacturer by engine manufacturer Specifications programs subject toPROGRAMS change TRANSACTION FINANCE CHARGES APPLY. SEE CUB CADET RETAILER FOR2014 DETAILS OR GOapply. TO CUBCADET.COM FOR FULL DISCLOSURE. FINANCING SUBJECT TOand TDare BANK, N.A.are without notice. Images not dealer inventory and/or unit specifications. © Cub Cadet 2013_3PV_Q without notice. Images mayImages not reflect inventory unitPrice specifications. © 2014 2013_3PV_Q without notice. maydealer notNOTICE. reflect dealerand/or inventory and/or specifications. 2014 2013_3PV_Q SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT *Product — unit Actual retail prices are Cub set© byCadet dealerCub andCadet may vary. Taxes, freight, setup and handling charges may be additional and may vary. Models subject to limited availability. **See your local dealer for limited warranty details and information. Certain restrictions apply. †as rated by engine manufacturer Specifications and programs are subject to change without notice. Images may not reflect dealer inventory and/or unit specifications. © 2014 Cub Cadet 2013_3PV_Q
Home & Garden - 17
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Tempted by the unusually warm late winter weather in March, a few shiitake mushrooms sprout on one of 500 inoculated logs. Once temperatures stabilize between 45 and 75 degrees, a prolific number of mushrooms will burst from the logs. What looks like a stack of neatly piled firewood logs is actually a shiitake mushroom garden. Each log has numerous holes drilled into it, and has been inoculated with a mycelium mixture that will spread through out each log, bringing forth a harvest of mushrooms. March, Mr Man exposes the mycelium of the native Stropharia mushroom, more commonly known as a wine cap mushroom. Similar in appearance to the Portabella mushroom, with a reddish brown cap, the wine cap is a “tremendous producer,” he said, with caps two to ten inches in diameter. It grows quickly, as well, maturing in just 24 hours. When overnight temperatures reach 50 to 60 degrees, the tiny root structures will go into high gear. With good moisture and moderate temperatures, he expects to harvest ten pounds a day from the 10-by-15-foot patch. “This is a crop I hope will become an inexpensive staple to replace the white mushroom,” he said, giving area chefs an everyday mushroom that outperforms the ubiquitous white mushroom in flavor and quality. “The wood blewit is probably my favorite wild mushroom,
though” Mr Man said, scraping aside damp leaves and straw to expose the mycelium that will grow into a fall harvest of the purplish-white mushroom. These mushrooms, a bit slower growing than other varieties, are extremely flavorful, he said. “I would like to get at least a dozen of the mushrooms I pick in the wild, and propagate them for area chefs,” Mr Man said, in addition to the wine cap and wood blewit. “I may try to do an indoor setup, down the line, if there is enough commercial interest,” allowing him to extend the harvest period. He also plans to look into growing pink and blue oyster mushrooms at some point. Right now, his harvest of “A” grade shiitake mushrooms goes to area farm-to-table restaurants, and are sold at farm-
The white mycelium is the root system that grows throughout logs inoculated with a shiitake mushroom mixture, and is the nourishment system for the growing fungi. Mr Man has found that red and black oak with a greater band of sap wood than heart wood grows the healthiest mushrooms.
ers markets. The “B” grade mushrooms — with caps smaller than three inches in diameter, are given to friends or used at home. “I like to sauté up a couple of pounds of mushrooms early in the week, and then have them on hand to stir into Basmati rice or fold into ground beef and make into burgers for quick weekday meals,” Mr Man said. His favorite home recipe includes sautéing his own mushrooms with wild harvested bay scallop mushrooms that he finds in the Connecticut forests. “I still love foraging,” he confessed, and hopes to share his love of mycology with area residents in the future. He will be hosting members of the Horticultural Club, he said, “And look for some mushroom growing seminars in 2017. Growing mushrooms,” Mr Man said, “is relatively simple for a home gardener.”
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18 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Common ‘Kitchen Helpers’ Can Make Painting Easier If you’re looking to make your next interior painting which can begin the drying process. They’ll be good project easier, take a look around your kitchen. You’ll to go when you get back to work. likely find a host of helpful items that can simplify During very short breaks or interruptions, you every step of your project, from surface preparation to can place brushes or rollers inside a Ziploc bag as paint application, and cleanup and storage, too. insurance against accidents, especially if children or Here are some examples, courtesy of Debbie Zimfamily pets are about. mer, expert on home painting with the Paint Quality There’s also a role for a lint roller when reusing Institute. a roller cover from the day before or from a previWhen painting walls or ceilings, it’s always importous project: Run it along the nap to remove loose ant to clean the surface before applying the new coatthreads and “fuzzies” that could otherwise embed ing. Speed up this prep work by using a Swiffer to in the fresh paint or simply make application more quickly wipe things down. difficult. Don’t have s Swiffer? Then wrap a clean, moistened If you’re one of the adventurous souls who create rag around a mop head to minimize your effort. their own paint color by combining two or more Plastic wrap is a great all-purpose painting companleftover paints, then be wise and use a measuring ion. Among other uses, it’s the best way to protect spoon or measuring cup when mixing the hues tolighting fixtures from spatter, especially when paintgether. ing the ceiling overhead. And write down your “custom” formula on a piece Just wrap your fixtures in plastic, press the plastic of masking tape placed right on the side of your tight, and you won’t have to worry at all about stray paint container. That way, you’ll be able to produce paint flecks and droplets. (Tip: Top quality 100 pera close match if you ever need more. cent acrylic latex paint spatters less than ordinary Assuming that you have only a small amount of paint.) leftover paint when your project is completed, transDon’t have enough drop cloths to cover heavy furfer it to a screw-top jar for storage, sandwiching a niture? You can often purpose plastic wrap for this layer of plastic wrap between the lid and the jar bejob, too. fore closing it tightly. The jar will take up much less Press the plastic wrap down around the edges and room than a standard-size paint can and you won’t your furniture will be safe from paint spatter. To prohave to worry that rust particles will spoil your paint. tect sofas and other oversized items, cut apart large To avoid guesswork and/or trial and error when plastic trash bags instead and tape them firmly in doing future touchups, use masking tape on all paint place. containers to label the brand of paint you used, as But for safety reasons, never use slippery plastic to well as the sheen and color, the date you applied the Debbie Zimmer, expert on home painting with the Paint Quality Insti- paint, and the rooms where you used it. protect floors. When you start to paint, keep paint cans, stirrers, tute, suggests when painting walls or ceilings, it is always important to While some of this information appears on the brushes, and similar items in an empty cardboard wa- clean the surface before applying the new coating. Speed up this prep paint label, it may be obscured by paint drippings, ter or soft drink box. This is a great way to contain work by using a Swiffer to quickly wipe things down. so it’s best to be thorough. drips. As you can see, there are lots of helpful items in Also, as you apply your paint, keep an old, wet dishcloth or moistened paper towels handy. and around your kitchen that can make painting easier and trouble-free. What’s more, all Either can be used to quickly pick up errant droplets before they dry and become more of them are either very inexpensive, or free! difficult (or impossible) to remove. So be smart, be resourceful, and make use of what you have when doing interior painting. Aluminum foil can be used to keep paintbrushes or rollers from drying out when you For more information on home painting, visit the Paint Quality Institute blog at blog. take a break from your painting. Just wrap the applicators tightly in the foil to keep out air, paintquality.com or go to its painter-friendly website at paintquality.com.
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Home & Garden - 19
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
What To Know Before Renovating Or Building A Home (StatePoint) — Building a home or making upgrades? One of the most important factors to consider is the material used. While “all-natural” may be an appealing quality on your plate, in construction, manufactured products often provide more options and value. Seek out materials offering durability, energy-efficiency, and resistance to threats like fire and wicked weather. Many such high-quality products are domestic, so you can support US manufacturing while making key choices. Start a new home with a solid precast concrete foundation. Those from Superior Walls are customized for individual homes and installed in one day — far faster than alternatives like poured concrete. Rigid foam insulation in these concrete panels wards off heat loss and creates a barrier against sidewall water penetration. These features make the basement dampfree and a more comfortable area for extended living space in the home. Perhaps your toilet rattles and leaks; maybe your tub and sink look dingy no matter how much you clean them. If it’s time to replace bathroom elements, use newer materials offering water efficiency, style, and safety benefits.
Look for a toilet marked with the WaterSense label, which indicates it’s been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance. The free Water Savings Calculator at the Mansfield Plumbing website can help you determine your return-on-investment. For a coordinated look, consider a suite of products that work together, like the Affordable Style Designer series from Mansfield Plumbing. You get a toilet, tub, and sink, all in the same style.
Switching to an easy-access SmartHeight toilet can be another smart move. Options in the bathroom like grab bars, walk-in tubs, and pedestal sinks, all provide enhanced safety and comfort. Over time, windows can look old and become difficult to operate. Make wise replacement choices that add beauty and privacy to key areas of your home without compromising light entry. Whether it’s an acrylic block window over a bathtub or a set of decorative glass windows
in the kitchen, privacy windows are a great accent for any room. Those from Hy-Lite are offered in a variety of styles, sizes, and enhancements. Operable awning, casement, slide, and single hung units can easily be opened to encourage airflow. Its Home Designer Collection features nods to architectural styles like Metro, Mission, Prairie, and Baroque to complement any home. Your roof is your protective layer, between the elements and you. Ideally it should be impact- and fire-resistant, as well as beautiful. Natural slate and shake roofing materials evoke traditional charm; however they tend to degrade over time. Look for the manufactured alternative. Polymer slate and shake roofing tiles capture the authentic look of natural materials but are more resistant to chipping, flaking, and splintering. For example, DaVinci Roofscapes offers an impressive array of more than 50 colors and blends for an enhanced look, plus they resist fire and severe weather. Its roofs also come with a lifetime limited warranty, saving you big on repairs, inspection, and maintenance down the line.
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MILLWOOD, NY 87 Millwood Rd P: 914-941-8080 F: 914-941-2814 Mon.- Fri. 7:30- 4:30
THE SEEDS HAVE AWOKEN, THE PETALS UNFOLDED, THE FLOWERS BLOSSOMED. IN THE SPIRIT OF SPRINGTIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO VISIT AND TAKE A STROLL THROUGH SHAKESPEARE'S GARDEN AT HISTORIC BURR FARM.
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20 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
These Newtowners Are Keeping Cuddly Critters
For The Wool Of It! By John Voket From backyard pens and small farms across Newtown, several residents have taken to tending crews of critters that provide fleece which they turn into yarn and eventually warm, cushy blankets, cozy hats, scarves, throws, socks, rugs, and even towels. The Newtown Bee’s Home & Garden caught up with three of these backyard keepers recently to learn about this fascinating process, and the flocks of sheep, llamas, Pygora goats, and alpacas that wander the hills and dales of their properties. AJ Collier operates Rowanwood Farm, which keeps a variety of farm animals including a dozen miniature llamas. She confessed that when most of her childhood friends were enchanted by horses or mythical unicorns, she was obsessed with llamas. “It’s been my life’s dream — and it’s taken a long time, but now I’m living that dream,” she said. While Ms Collier is the only farmer in the state of Connecticut licensed for llama trekking, she also employs her menagerie to provide therapeutic benefits to seniors and special needs youths; conducts summer camps; and hosts workshops on knitting, spinning, needle, and felt work in a small classroom on her Sandy Hook property. Rowanwood Farm takes its name from several Ash trees on the parcel, which, coincidentally, have long been used to manufacture spinning wheels. Ms Collier has always owned animals, and is expert at caring for In one of the work areas in her local farmhouse, Jane Phillips displays a bolt of raw fleece and the soft luxury yarn she spins from her herd of huacaya and suri alpacas.
Peter and Carol Sepe of Sepe Farm on Toddy Hill Road display a pelt and one of the official Connecticut Wool blankets woven from the wool of the dozens of sheep maintained on their property. Recently, Ms Sepe has begun using some of the family’s wool output to spin yarn she knits into hats that may be offered at one of the farmers markets she and husband Peter support.
Connecticut’s only licensed llama trekker, AJ Collier of Rowanwood Farm in Sandy Hook keeps a number of miniature llamas among her menagerie, which she shears to produce yarns and other craft materials she sells at a modest workshop she maintains. Ms Collier also hosts seniors and special needs youths at her facility, as well as hosting educational summer camps, weaving and knitting workshops, and other related activities. —Home & Garden photos, Voket
them from her career as a veterinary technician. She maintains several other state and federal licenses tied to the care and maintaining of various species, including exotic and zoo animals, and has served as curator at two Fairfield County nature centers. Her miniature llamas include breeds indigenous to Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, and she is engaged in breeding to help ensure the survival of the species — especially her endangered Argentinean llamas. “Llamas are generally very loving, trusting, kind animals,” Ms Collier related. “They’re totally domesticated for over 6,000 years, and they do not exist in the wild — more domestic than a dog.” When it comes to harvesting the llama fleece that eventually becomes yarn or wool for spinning and crafts, Ms Collier handles most of the process herself. “Every fiber has its own quality. Wool from a sheep is waterproof, has a lot of crimp, which is good for felting — while the llama fleece is warm, insulating and it’s hypoallergenic,” she said. “I clean the fiber and cart it into bats — then spin the fiber into yarn. I also do needle felting and hand dye all the fibers. If I have a super large quantity, I’ll ship it off to a mill if I can’t keep up with the volume.” Her workshop is a work in progress, but bags of her hand-dyed wool abound in what Ms Collier says come in virtually unlimited color varieties. She also creates needle felting artist boxes she sells at craft shows, drop spindle kits, wool weights, and homespun yarns. “I’m in a lot of directions,” Ms Collier confessed. She doesn’t knit or crochet herself, but brings in experts to teach others. Ms Collier instead teaches spinning and weaving — and hosts occasional workshops, including one planned in June with renowned European wet felt artist Brigitte Eertink. Folks can get to know Ms Collier and her miniature llamas at nature hikes that will be happening this year at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary at Fairfield Hills, Webb Mountain Park on the Shelton/Monroe border, and Sticks and Stones farm in Newtown. Learn more at rowanwoodfarm.com or call 203-270-8346. Sepe Farm Newtowners and passersby on Toddy Hill Road will have to look quickly to see the small sign pointing them to Sepe Farm, which is a destination for consumers seeking lambs and sheep for both their culinary and fiber resources. Carol and Peter Sepe met in college and are retired educators, and their daughters Hilary and Erin, and son-in-law Jonathan, are also engaged in the business — however, from afar. Carol Sepe grew up on Long Island in a home surrounded by potato fields, although she was not engaged in farming in her youth, while Peter has raised sheep from childhood, when he became hooked as a 4-H participant. “Our daughters were also involved in 4-H, and I was an agriculture teacher in Stamford and in Storrs,” Peter Sepe said. He is also the current director of the Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association Daughter Hilary is an licensed USDA inspector and food scientist at Gerber, while Erin and Jonathan operate their own farm in northeastern Connecticut. A few days before Easter, the Sepes had more than 40 sheep on hand, including tiny triplets that were born a few days earlier.
Jane Phillips raises more than two dozen gentle huacaya and suri alpacas at Newtown’s Homewood Farm. Once a year all her alpacas are sheered for their individual types of luxury fleece, which she gets milled into apparel yarn or processes herself into a slightly more course yarn that gets woven into products like rugs.
Home & Garden - 21
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
AJ Collier of Rowanwood Farm in Sandy Hook displays a colorful crafting kits she designs for children who come to one of her craft camps or workshops. Serious weavers and knitters can also find Ms Collier’s handdyed llama wool in a virtually unlimited color palette. Carol Sepe holds one of the triplets born on the Toddy Hill Road farm recently. The family, including daughters Hilary and Erin and son-in-law Jonathan, offer a variety of Connecticut-grown lamb products and USDA inspected lamb. Today, the Sepes cannot produce enough sheep for the demand from chefs and those who enjoy lamb as a food staple. Several times a year, the Sepes shear their sheep for wool that eventually is turned into certified Connecticut Wool blankets that are sold online and at farmers markets an other venues. Others are kept long and eventually contribute to pelts that can be used as rugs or throws. “We’re into the whole animal concept,” he said. “This operation has to be sustainable.” The collection of breeds the Sepes keep yield various types of wool that can serve different functions once they are prepared for fleece and yarn. They keep cross-breeds along with pure-bred Lincolns, Hampshires, Suffolks, and three more rare Dorpers. “We shear the wool right here and separate the fleeces,” Peter Sepe said. “And we invite people to come and learn how we raise them. We have the meat breeds, the wool breeds, and everything in between.” The sheared wool has to be clean and pristine in order to be milled into the wool for Connecticut blankets, but Carol Sepe sells yarn and is knitting hats from surplus blanket yarn to sell at a farmers market in Granby near Erin and Jonathan’s farm. “The sheep business can get so diversified, you may not be able to do anything well,” said Peter Sepe. “When Carol met
me I was doing a lot of pelt work, making slippers, mittens, and I made more than a thousand hand-crafted Roosevelt teddy bears.” While the Sepes love their work and all the sheep they meet and care for, the thing they both love most is the people they meet, many of whom are learning about everything sheep for the first time. Get to know them by visiting sepefarm.com or call 203-270-9507. Homewood Farm Local Realtor Jane Phillips established her Homewood Farm and originally outfitted it thinking she would keep horses, but eventually took a fancy to huacaya and suri alpacas. “We started with horses and donkeys — and we still have three miniature donkeys, but now we have 24 alpacas and no more horses,” Ms Phillips said. She said alpacas are related to llamas, and have very gentle, mild-mannered personalities. “They’re naturally curious, and very peaceful,” she said. “They’re not mean or aggressive.” Ms Phillips’s alpacas are highly valued for their hypoallergenic fleece, and they are all sheared on one day. “It’s kind of a big event,” Ms Phillips said. “We bring in a
shearer, and each fleece is marked and identified by each alpaca it comes from. Then it’s sorted by different grades from different parts of the body.” Her best quality fleece is sent off to a Connecticut fiber mill, while Ms Phillips puts in the extensive amount of time to process some of that fleece herself. “It has to be clean, and dry, and then I hand spin it myself into alpaca yarn,” she said. “Alpaca fleece takes dye well, and it can be combined with sheep wool to make really nice apparel.” Ms Phillips was always into fabric and fiber since childhood. She was a knitter all her life but now that she has the “manufacturing” capacity for raw materials, she has transitioned into spinning and weaving as well. Her first weaving project involved velvety-soft alpaca rugs, which are actually woven from what Ms Phillips calls “second-cut” fleece that may be slightly more course and durable then the puffy angel hair consistency of the first-cut fleece. She said it is her suri alpacas that provide the softest luxury fleece, while the huacaya fleece is more “crimpy and bouncy.” Eventually all the fleece from her annual shearing party comes back home where Ms Phillips creates the rugs, hats, gloves, socks she knits, and that she machine weaves into other items including towels she uses as personal gifts and for her own use.
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22 - Home & Garden
Are You Ready For SPRING Cleaning?
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Tim Wilder Tree Care 3rd Generation CT Licensed Arborist Over 30 Years Experience in Arboriculture • • • •
We Have Ready-To-Go Roll Off Services & Containers That Fit Your Needs! For SMALL Clean Up Jobs: 4 & 6 Cubic Yard Size Containers 4 Cubic Yards (4.5ft L x 6ft W x 4ft H) 6 Cubic Yards (5ft L x 6ft W x 6ft H)
Removals Pruning Cabling Spraying
• • • •
Fertilizing Diagnosis Aerial Lift Stump Grinding
QualiTy Value TrusT serViCe
Prompt Professional Response & Service
• FREE Estimates • Licensed • Insured
NEWTOWN, CT (203) 270-1012 Ct Arborist Lic. #62799
CT DEP Reg. #B-1704
ISA Certification # NE-0735
Catch Us On The Web! http://www.thebee.com For MODERATE Clean Up Jobs: Light-duty Mini Roll Off Services 10 Cubic Yards (12ft L x 8ft W x 3ft H) 12 Cubic Yards (14ft L x 8ft W x 4ft H) 15 Cubic Yards (14ft L x 6ft W x 4.5ft H)
For LARGE Clean Up Jobs: Our Biggest Trucks & Containers 20 Cubic Yards (22ft L x 8ft W x 4ft H) 30 Cubic Yards (22ft L x 8ft W x 6ft H)
Awaken Your Home.
Discover the best in home decorating product choices.
Carpet • Tile • Flooring Stone • Fabric Wallpaper • Lighting Window Treatments Custom Draperies Bedding • Upholstery Countertops and more!
Call or Stop in today! 203 Main Street South, Southbury, CT
203.264.8155 | www.alcher.com
Benn's Masonry
"Your Imagination Is Our Creation"
Foundation - Fireplaces - Retaining Walls - Stone Walls Patios - Walkways - Poolscapes - Masonry Repairs - Chimneys
and So Much More
• Licensed • Insured • Experienced • Free estimates
Please contact us for more information
203-426-8870
www.associatedrefuse.com 2010 Business of The Year Winner Newtown Chamber & Rotary Club
Visit our store in Newtown for all your Masonry needs! 91 South Main Street, Newtown
Call 203-405-7279 or 203-270-9293
Home & Garden - 23
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo Showcases 2016 Consumer Trends
Come See What You’ve Been Looking For
In mid-March, more than 7,500 manufacturers and retailers flocked to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association’s HPBExpo 2016 in New Orleans to showcase innovative products and the latest trends in home heating and indoor-outdoor living. If you’re looking for ideas for your hearth or patio, the HPBA’s top trends for the hearth and barbecue industries for 2016 include: *Integrating Smart Technologies. As the world embraces smartphone apps and technology, more hearth and barbecue products are becoming “smart” enabled. From fireplace temperatures controls to grills and propane tank monitoring systems, app-friendly products will abound in 2016 to give consumers more control at the push of a button. *Experimenting with Accessories. As consumers look for options to grill and barbecue in new ways, specialized accessories are set to surge in 2016. According to recent HPBA consumer research, pizza stones, fish/broiling baskets, cedar planks, rotisseries and grill woks are among the top accessories consumers plan to purchase. *Improving Biomass-burning Products. This is the first HPBExpo since new EPA regulations on woodstoves were announced in May 2015. New mandates for wood burning and pellet products will affect how manufacturers may redesign products to meet more stringent emission standards. HPBA anticipates this trend toward reduced emissions and increased efficiency to accelerate in 2016 and beyond. *Upgrading Outdoor Kitchens. Today, ten percent of grill owners have an outdoor kitchen, featuring primarily premium grills, furniture, lighting, and outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. Of these outdoor kitchen owners, 35 percent are likely to upgrade in the next three years. Features such as storage spaces, refrigerators, dishwashers, built-in sinks, bottle rails, cocktail bars, seating options, and food preparation areas, as well as entertaining features like televisions and surround sound, are among the products HPBA anticipates gaining prominence. *Embracing Clean, Modern Fireplaces. Linear fireplaces continue to interest consumers with their sleek, modern design. Coming in sizes up to 12 feet wide, with high-heat tolerant glass and no-trim options for builders and homeowners as well as electric models with multicolored, realistic flames, linear fireplaces are being sought by consumers for a sophisticated, contemporary style.
Table & Chair Workshop! Customize Every Aspect of Your Furniture
Here’s How It Works! Choose a Tabletop and Base
Choose Chairs • Table Height • Counter Height • Bar Height
Choose Your Color and Style
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Mix and Match to Perfection!
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Like Us On Paint — Stain — Supplies
NewtowN Color CeNter “Your Paint and Stain Headquarters”
5 QUEEN ST., NEWTOWN • (203) 426-4449 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Sat 7:00 am – 3:00 pm • Sun 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Clip & Save
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Come See Us About Wallpaper!
Largest Display of Dining/Kitchen Furniture in CT
203-775-3032 www.dinettedepot.com
NEW LOCATION
227 Federal Road • Brookfield Across from Brookfield Costco
Hours: M-T 10-6 • TH-F 10-8 • SAT 10-6 • SUN 11-5
24 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
Simple Seasonal Tips to Keep Plumbing Operating Smoothly (StatePoint) — Proper seasonal maintenance can keep your plumbing running smoothly. Experts say that even those with no experience can inspect for issues and perform simple tasks to prevent costly repairs. “You don’t have to be a crackerjack plumber to handle basics and protect your home,” says Jeff Devlin, host on HGTV and DIY Networks, who offers homeowners some key plumbing tips. Kitchens and Bathrooms *Ensure drains have strainers to prevent debris from clogging drain lines. Check faucets for drips and leaks. *Inspect the toilet tank and bowl for visible cracks. Check for hidden leaks by adding six drops of food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. *Ensure toilets flush properly. If the handle must be held down to flush, or jiggled to stop water from running, you may need to replace parts. *Clean mineral deposits from the shower head. Unscrew it and soak in vinegar overnight. Then gently scrub with an old toothbrush.
Water Heater: *Carefully drain several gallons from the tank to flush out corrosion-causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater. Consider replacing those older than 15 years with a new, energy-efficient model.
D&D Home Services Custom Kitchens, Millwork, Painting Home Maintenance, Gutter Cleaning Decks, Doors, Windows, Siding, Interior/Exterior Trim
Dean Anglace
Daanglace@gmail.com
203-241-2129
Fax 203-264-0340
Appliances: *Check your dishwasher, washing machine ,and ice maker’s supply hoses for bulges or leaks. Replace hoses showing signs of weakness or those older than ten years. Use stainless steel hoses, which are more reliable and less prone to bursting.
Landscap n’s F ing a u Masonry LLC J ALL WORK GUARANTEED Landscaping Spring/Fall Clean-Up Planting • Mulching Trimming • Tree Work Gardens & More Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Masonry Stonewalls Walkways • Patios Chimneys • Steps Brick & Block Work Juan Fajardo
203-312-6782
*Clean your washing machine lint trap, and place a wire trap or a piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose that drains the washer. General: *Pour water into infrequently used drains to fill traps and prevent odors. Slow floor drains should be snaked to ensure they’ll carry water away during flooding. *Take a reading on your water meter before bedtime. The next morning, without using any water overnight, take another reading. If it’s changed, you have a leak that should be repaired. Outside: *Free yard drains, gutters, and downspouts of debris. Check for bird nests in plumbing vent pipes. Check faucets and hose bibs to ensure water flows freely. If an outdoor faucet drips, or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced. “Be proactive,” says Devlin. “A few minutes of prevention could save you tens of thousands of dollars in costly repairs.”
Luno Masonry Work Over 25 years experience
Stone, Brick, Blocks, Walls
Steps, Porches, Sidewalks, Bluestone, Pavers, Belgium Block, Fireplaces, Stucco, All types
Call the owner 203-770-9273 FREE ESTIMATES
1 Tamarack Ave, apt 12 Danbury, CT 06810 Fax 203-917-3390 lunomasonry@hotmail.com
Saven fall home improvements O All Clean,
LLC
SPECIALIZING IN Window Washing Carpet Cleaning (Truck Mount) Gutter Cleaning • Power Washing
KEVIN BARRETT Established in 1994
allcleanct.com • 203-270-0000 Call About Fall Specials!
John Spector LandScape deSign Buy Direct from the Grower & Save
40% to 70% OFF
On Landscape Design & Installation Mulching • Lawn Installations • Sodding Patios • Stonewalls & Walkways • Tree Services Gravel & Regrading Driveways • Drainage Systems
203-263-4650 • 203-586-8541 35 Years in Business
Frank Pruner Gutter Cleaning, LLC Established 1989
Complete Remodeling
(203) 426-3103
www.frankprunerguttercleaning.com
Gutters & Leaders Cleaned & Flushed Quality Screening Available Minor Repairs • Tree Trimming Free Estimates • Fully Insured
Fully Insured
Free Estimates
Colacurcio Contracting and Home Improvements
Lic. #609869
WILLIAM BARLOW PAINTING
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Sheetrock Repair & Powerwashing Professional/Dependable Service Gutter Cleaning & Odd Jobs Cabinet Restoration • Local References
PHONE 203-264-9394 CELL 203-910-7525
Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Decks, Tile, Countertops, Flooring, Replacement Windows, Doors
Handyman Services Lic. & Insured Since 1985
203-241-7391 Bethel Handyman Hardware is Now
STONY HILL HARDWARE Serving Your Community For Over 30 Years!
Complete Line of Hardware, Paint, Lawn & Garden, Hand & Power Tools, Snow Removal and Much More!
34 Stony Hill Road, Bethel (Rte 6, between Big Y & Target)
Open M-F 7:30 - 6, Sat 8-5, Sun 9-3
203-792-4043
Home & Garden - 25
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
What Factors Affect Your Home Insurance Rates? The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently released its latest Homeowners Insurance Report, providing the most recently validated data on market distribution and average cost by policy form and amount of insurance. “This report provides the most comprehensive collection of homeowners insurance data in the world,” said John M. Huff, NAIC president and Missouri insurance director. “In addition to being the largest insurance repository of data and analysis, the NAIC also provides an abundance of resources to help consumers understand how to make informed decisions about protecting their homes and apartments.” National and state-specific premium and exposure information for noncommercial dwelling fire insurance and for homeowners insurance package policies are included in the report. It also contains data descriptions and a discussion about the way certain economic, demographic, and natural phenomena impact the price of homeowners insurance. “Nationwide, homeowners’ premiums
rose an average of six percent,” Huff added. “Major cost drivers for insurance rates include exposure to catastrophes, the value of homes, and construction cost.” Data from the report was collected from insurance statistical agents for all states except Texas and California, both of which supply data directly to the NAIC. Factors Affecting Cost Many factors impact the cost of home insurance, resulting in large differences in average premiums throughout the United States. In general, real estate values and construction costs tend to be higher in areas of greater population density. Because the amount of home insurance needed is based on the value of the home, premiums are often higher in more heavily populated places. Vacation and retirement areas, as well as areas experiencing rapid economic growth, also tend to have relatively higher real estate values. Construction costs vary based on the type of residence, availability of building materials and factors such as local climate and building regulations. Higher expect-
ed repair costs for value-added designs to reduce damages to the structure from earthquakes or hurricanes will impact the price of insurance. Catastrophe Exposure Degree of exposure to catastrophe affects the cost of insurance to homeowners. Brush and forest fires, tornadoes, high winds, hail, freezing rain, snowstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, riots, and even terrorist attacks are all types of catastrophes that can occur in the United States. Every place in the world has an exposure to some type of catastrophe, but some areas are more prone to certain types. Brush and forest fires are more common in the West. Hurricane exposure is greater in areas near the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Exposure to tornado damage is greatest in the central and southwestern United States, even though tornadoes can and do occur in nearly every state. Earthquake exposure also exists throughout the country because seismic faults are located in all regions. Terrorist
attacks also are not specific to any geographic area, but have typically occurred in larger urban areas. If you are looking to understand exactly why you are paying the amount you are for homeowners or other types of insurance protection, the report offers tables showing state and countrywide exposures by policy type, individual policy form, as well as insurance coverage amount, which is divided into ranges with total exposure percentages provided for each range. According to the report hurricanes and Superstorm Sandy with its hurricanelike devastation represented seven of the Top ten Most Costly occurrences from an insurance perspective since data collection began. A 2011 Alabama tornado, the Northridge, Calif., earthquake, and of course the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania rounded out the list. Learn about how the insurance industry calculates the cost of what you pay for your insurance by visiting naic.org/documents/prod_serv_statistical_hmr_zu.pdf
ANG Construction Specializes in Masonry Work and Landscaping
New Customers Welcome
Family Owned & Operated Since 2000
Emergency Service • Next Day Delivery • Discount Fuel Oil Dealer Full Service • Energy Assistance Program
203-775-0221
HOD #009
ADVANCED APPLIANCE REPAIR
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Lamp Shades & Lamp Repairs
Chimney • Fireplace Stone • Brick • Blocks Tile •Veneer Flagstone • Sidewalk
203-768-4056
Lic # HIC 0619895
Free Estimates
Mike’s Masonry
Stone Walls Brick Patios | Pavers
Custom Re-upholstery • Slip Covers • Head Boards Cornices • Extensive Selection of Fabrics Foam Cut To Size • Outdoor/Indoor Cushions
270 Greenwood Avenue Bethel, CT 06801 203-794-1872 • bethelupholstery.com Mention this ad & receive 15% off on fabrics only
For Almost 20 Years – The Original
BEN’S MASONRY LLC You Name It We Do It
203-262-6502 Any Size Job Indoors & Out
Call Mike For Any Type of Repairs Free Estimates Fully Licensed & Insured
203-527-9665
HIC#0618859 Insured
203-233-1118
S UTHBURY
Since 1962
S T O N E & S U P P LY
American Pride LLC
273 Greenwood Ave, Bethel • 203-792-5300
Hours: Tues – Thurs 9:30am – 5:00pm • Sat 9:30am – 3pm • Closed Sun & Mon
LLC LLC
Mulch • Top Soil • Decorative Stone Masonry & Landscape Supplies Pipe & Geotextile Fabrics Grinnell Pavingstone & Retaining Walls, etc.
Frameless Shower Doors, Mirrors, Tabletops Replacement Windows, Storm Doors & Windows.
55 Bullet Hill Road, Southbury, CT 06488
10 Riverside Road
SouthburyStoneandSupply.com
Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm • Saturday 9 am - 1 pm
Phone 203-264-1118
We do Screen and Window Repairs! www.apexglass.com
203-426-4475 Fax: 203-426-3633
A.G. Masonry, LLC
Remodeling Building and remodeli Specialists Big to small, we do it
Specializing In All Masonry Work • Sidewalks • Stucco • Belgium Blocks • Bricks • Flagstone
• Interior • Pavers • Stone • Patios • Fireplaces
NEW REPAIR
Ned 203-912-5789
• Wet Basement • Drainage • Concrete • Foundation • Blocks
FREE ESTIMATES
Office 203-791-8284
Viny 203-512-6024
Apex Glass
Lic # HIC0545892
WOOD MULCH
Color Enhanced Mulch (3 colors) Screened Topsoil Kurt Lenahan, Owner In Business Since 1993
(203) 426-2909
4 TODDY HILL ROAD • SANDY HOOK, CT
Est. 1992
New home constructio • Locally-Owned Skilled craftsmen• Fully Insured and• Licensed Cost-Effective Design Solutions • Home additions • Remodeling specialists Skilled Craftsmen • Finish Basements • Kitchen & bath redesig • Locally-owned business Energy Efficient • Remodeling solutions • Fully insured and licensed Upgrades Home Repairs Small & Large • Energy efficient upgrad • Thoughtful design solutions • Garages & outbuilding • Cost-effective building options
QUALITY KITCHEN AND BATH REMODELING CALL 475 529-1455 Call Jeff Shantar • 475-529-1455
26 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
R. Mathison Floors, LLC
(203) 343-3058 • (203) 426-0778
Still Going Strong! Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations when only the best will do.
Robert Mathison
SEE OUR NEW LOCATION 45 Years in Business
Showroom by appointment FREE Estimates
Specializing In Floor Refinishing • Carpet • Tile
COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL
52 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, CT
www.MathisonFloorsLLC.com
— FREE — Your Yard
Our Treatment is Most Effective and Least Expensive... Easy estimate request on our website!
Newtown Arbor Services Newtown’s Premier Licensed Tree Service
Ct Lic# 62391 Pest Reg# B0262
203.426.4024
newtownarborservices.com
directory of advertisers APPLIANCE REPAIR Advanced Appliances, LLC...........................25
LAND CLEARING Lenahan Land Clearing & Grinding Inc......25
BIRD FOOD/FEEDERS/GARDEN ACCENTS Wild Birds Unlimited...................................18
LANDSCAPING A&L Landscaping, LLC...............................13 ANG Masonry & Landscaping.....................25 Ferris Mulch.................................................17 Giglio Landscape Services...............................4 Juan’s F Landscaping Masonry, LLC.............24 John Spector Landscape Design....................24
BOOK STORE Byrd’s Books.................................................12 BUILDING SUPPLIES/ WINDOWS/ DOORS/SHOWERS Apex Glass, LLC..........................................25 East Haven Builder Supply...........................19 CARPET CLEANING Red Baron......................................................9 Construction Shantar Construction Co.............................25 CUSTOM CABINETRY Tortora Marble & Tile Design Center............8 EXCAVATION Bennett, H.L..................................................8 FABRICS FOR HOME DÉCOR Chintz-N-Prints.............................................5 FENCING Addessi Fencing............................................12 FLOORING/CARPETING/ TILING Alcher Interiors............................................22 R. Mathison Floors, LLC.............................26 Red Baron......................................................9 FUEL OIL/PROPANE GAS ABC Fuel Oil, LLC......................................25 FURNITURE Dinette Depot..............................................23 Wood Bin, The............................................12 GARAGE DOORS Overhead Door Company of Brookfield........3 GIFT & GARDEN Hollandia Nursery..........................................7 Shakespeare’s Garden....................................19 GUTTER CLEANING Frank Pruner Gutter Cleaning, LLC.............24 GUTTERS, WINDOWS, DOORS & ROOFING Martin’s Aluminum Products.......................10 HARDWARE/PAINT Newtown Hardware ....................................10 Stony Hill Hardware....................................24
Experience Tells! Over 30 Years in Business Quality Inground Pools Gunite & Vinyl Liner We Provide Complete Pool Renovations • Weekly Maintenance Service Virtual Pool Design • Liner Replacements Acid-Washing, Re-Plastering • Salt Water Systems Pool Water & More • Financing Available
HOME DÉCOR Alcher Interiors............................................22 HOME IMPROVEMENTS Colacurcio Contracting & Home Improvements................................24 D&D Home Services...................................24 Shantar Construction Co.............................25 Superior Remodeling....................................11 INSURANCE Allstate Insurance/Stockwell Agency.............18
FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION!
KITCHEN & BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALLATION Southeast Kitchen & Bath..............................2 Superior Remodeling....................................11 Tortora Marble & Tile Design Center............8
155 Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT (203) 791-0307 • www.ljpools.com
LAMP REPAIR American Pride.............................................25
Swim With L&J Pools Lic#0572941 • Swimming Pool Builder Lic#SPB.0000061 • Plumbing Lic# PLM.0279925-SP1
MASONRY/PAVERS A.G. Masonry, LLC.....................................25 ANG Masonry & Landscaping.....................25 Ben’s Masonry, LLC.....................................25 Benn’s Masonry Supply................................22 Juan’s F Landscaping Masonry, LLC.............24 Luno Masonry..............................................24 Mike’s Masonry............................................25 MULCH/LANDSCAPING Ferris Mulch.................................................17 Lenahan Land Clearing & Grinding Inc......25 Southbury Stone & Supply..........................25 PAINTING CONTRACTORS William Barlow Painting, LLC.....................24 PAINTING SUPPLIES Newtown Color Center................................23 PAVING /LANDSCAPING Southbury Stone & Supply..........................25 PAVING/DRIVEWAY SEALING Greg’s Driveway...........................................14 POOLS/ENVIRONMENTS/SPAS Hat City Pools................................................5 J&J Pools.....................................................21 L&J Pools....................................................26 NeJame & Sons Inc......................................28 Newtown Pools............................................13 POWER EQUIPMENT/ LAWN TRACTORS Bethel Power Equipment..............................27 L&R Power Equipment................................15 Newtown Power Equipment.........................16 POWER EQUIPMENT RENTALS Decker Tool Rental......................................12 REFUSE REMOVAL Associated Refuse Hauler Of America..........22 Giglio Landscaping........................................4 ROOFING/DECKS & RAMPS Superior Remodeling....................................11 SAND & GRAVEL Southbury Stone & Supply..........................25 SEPTIC INSTALL & REPAIRS Bennett, H.L..................................................8 SURVEYORS Brautigam Land Surveyors...........................23 TREE SERVICES/LANDSCAPE Bartlett Tree Service......................................11 Connecticut Tree Doctor, LLC.....................13 Newtown Arbor Service...............................26 Tim Wilder Tree Service...............................22 UPHOLSTERY Bethel Upholstery.........................................25 WINDOW CLEANING/ POWER WASHING All Clean, LLC.............................................24 Solimine Window Cleaning...........................6 WINDOWS/DOORS & SHOWERS Apex Glass, LLC..........................................25 East Haven Builder Supply...........................19
Home & Garden - 27
April 8, 2016 - The Newtown Bee
Bethel Power Equipment Sales ★ Service ★ Parts
“We sell the BEST and service the rest!”
Fairfield County's Largest Outdoor Power Equipment Store
Shop The Area's Largest Showroom with The Most Models of America's #1 Brands On Display Professional Service For All Makes and Models with The Area's Fastest Turnaround Time
6 Francis J. Clarke Circle, Bethel, CT 06801 (in Bethel’s Clarke Business Park)
203-790-5889 • www.bethelpower.com FREE Set-up & Delivery
Pick-ups Available
28 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - April 8, 2016
a beautiful pool
by an experienced builder with a name you can trust
The only pool care system with an algae FREE Guarantee!
The Area’s Leader in Pools & Spas SOUTH STREET’S www.mypoolscool.com
NEJAME & SONS 91SOUTH STREET, DANBURY • 203-743-4663
Family Owned and OperatedSince 1921