Home and Garden 01/21/17

Look inside for these specials and many others.

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

IDE AS FOR YOUR

entertainment space THROW A SENSATIONAL SUPER BOWL PART Y KEN MOON: INDOOR FOUNTAINS AND HEAT-SAVING WINDOWS PRIMULAS BEAT WINTER’S DOLDRUMS

IDE AS FOR YOUR

entertainment space

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

W

ith the Super Bowl around the corner, you may be taking a closer look at your living spaces and wondering if they have been optimized for entertaining friends and family on game day and throughout the year. Luckily, there is still a bit of time to make some changes or do some rearranging to best accommodate guests before the Super Bowl; or even just to optimize your own game-playing or movie-watching experience. Having a home theater or entertainment room in the house,

whether in the basement or on the main level, provides the ultimate gathering space to laugh, cheer and have fun with friends and loved ones.

TRANSFORM THE LIVING ROOM

If you do not have a separate space — such as a basement or large room — to use as an entertainment room, you can always make some tweaks to the living room. Many homeowners double up their living room as their entertainment space, and it can work out wonderfully if executed right.

The first step — as with any entertainment room — is having an appropriately sized

television, ample comfortable seating and an excellent sound system. Ensure that there is enough space to walk around freely without bumping into furniture. You can also have a couple of video game options for some added fun. It’s helpful to have an attractive TV stand with closed cabinets to hide away wires, consoles and DVD players — keeping it organized and neat.

Entertainment and food are usually linked, so make sure there is an appropriately sized coffee table or end tables for guests to set down their hor d’oeuvres, snacks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. If it’s not in the budget to make all the changes at

once, make one change at a time. Switching to a quality sound system, to start, is an easy way to enhance the experience. Also — sometimes all it takes to create more space is to move some furniture, such as pushing a couch up against a wall or putting extraneous furniture elsewhere, for example.

BOOST THE BASEMENT

If you have a large basement space that you aren’t making much use of, you’re in luck. Basements are the quintessential area to spread out and simply enjoy life. While the rest of the home might follow a specific design scheme, the basement can get CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

HG 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

Super Bowl party THROW A SENSATIONAL

METRO SERVICES

T

he culmination of the American football season is on the horizon. Millions of people will tune in to watch two teams battle for the title of champion. While the teams may be busy prepping their last-minute offensive and defensive strategies, sports fans across the country are doing their own strategizing by planning the perfect game-day party.

The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Since that day, ardent fans and novices alike have been celebrating football by hosting their own viewing parties at home. These parties present yet another way for friends to get together.

As the opening kickoff draws closer, here are some keys to Super Bowl party success.

KNOW YOUR PLAYING FIELD Your home is only so big, and that means you will have to limit the number of people you can invite. Crowding too many people into the house can be uncomfortable and dangerous, never mind trying to talk and hear above the cacophony of too many people. Take inventory of how many you can seat comfortably. You may need to move out larger furniture and move in folding chairs if you plan to accommodate more guests.

SIZE UP YOUR COMPETITION Super Bowl Sunday is a once-a-year event. There will be thousands of like-

minded individuals planning their own parties and utilizing the same services in your local area. Those who need to rent tables and chairs and rely on a caterer — or the services of the nearest pizza joint — should plan early. If you would like to have a football gathering, start laying the groundwork a few months in advance.

This way you can leave deposits for any vendors and be secure in knowing you will have what you need come gameday.

ESTABLISH YOUR PLAY BOOK Will this be a chips-and-dips type of party or will you be offering more substantial fare? Is it adults-only or are guests able to bring their kids along?

Make a list of questions that need to be answered and set up the party parameters. This way you will know what to stock up on in advance. Consider allocating a separate room in the house for kids’ play or for adults who are there for the social aspect of the party and will not necessarily be glued to the television.

CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT What is the Super Bowl without a means to watch the game? Retailers often offer the best deals on new

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televisions this time of year because they know sports fans want to upgrade their televisions for the big game. If yours is a TV that has seen better days or doesn’t offer the high-definition picture guests have come to expect, this may be the time to cash in holiday gift cards for a new flat-screen. If buying new isn’t a possibility at this time, there are centers that will rent electronics.

WATCH THE CLOCK Hardcore fans will not want to miss any of the action. Therefore, refreshments and other components of the party will have to coordinate to the timing of the game. Do the bulk of food preparation before kickoff and allow guests to mingle and fuel up before the game starts.

Save finger foods and other snacks that are easily accessible for when the game starts. Guests can take a break at halftime and grab food and beverages that are set up buffet-style in another room. Hosts and hostesses also may want to consider serving as food “butlers”

and constantly come out with new finger foods on trays and go around the room to ensure everyone doesn’t miss a moment of the game.

DON’T RUN INTERFERENCE. There’s not much entertainment that needs to be scheduled on game day apart from the game itself. Ensure that the television is situated so nobody’s view is obstructed and that people moving in and out of the room need not cross in front of the TV to get food or use the restroom.

While it may be customary to decorate your home with a few decorations, ensure any decorations do not obstruct views of the game. To make things comfortable for the largest number of people, consider having two TVs tuned into the game running in separate rooms. This way, guests can mingle and not be tied to one area.

Super Bowl parties are fun ways to enjoy the last football game of the season and have a houseful of guests celebrate and socialize.

Join Us! House Plant Propagation: Make and Take a Planted Container This hands-on workshop will cover the basics of caring for house plants including selection, lighting, watering, and taking cuttings Thurs, Feb 2, 2017 17 N. Spruce Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

$30 per person

(covers materials and all supplies)

Register at Eventbrite :www.eventbrite.com/e/house-plant-propagation-make-and-take-a-planted-container-tickets-30268136812 For additional information, visit or call (719) 520-7688 or visit http://elpasoco.colostate.edu . No refunds.

When you have questions, Colorado State University Extension has credible answers.

SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3

Primulas’

VIBRANT COLORS

beat winter’s doldrums

BY NORMAN WINTER, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES

F

orget about fake news, it’s fake flowers that have my attention. Actually, they are not fake; they are the brilliantly colorful primula. Recently, the astonishing color and beauty had passersby gawking in amazement.

It took about 72 hours of temperatures in the 20s and I was begging for mercy, and just like magic there they were, in a grocery store of all places, offering the respite so needed during an arctic blast.

I do not understand why every florist, flower shop and garden center doesn’t have a truck full of half a dozen or more, varieties for us to buy. There is no plant that can cure the winter doldrums like the primula.

Primula comes from the Latin word which means “firstling of spring,” which quite accurately describes this plant. There are about 400 species of primulas, which are mostly alpine perennials with short rhizomes. Since they are alpine perennials and I have always lived in the hot south, I have treasured them in containers. You may be able to enjoy yours in the morning sun or afternoon shade of the landscape.

These are not lantanas that will bloom until fall but will simply give you 12 to 14 weeks of unimaginable color that no other plant can match and at an otherwise bleak time of the year. If you see them at a garden center or flower shop looking like they are waiting for adoption, give them a try; you will never go without again unless of course, you can’t find them.

PRIMUL A COME S F ROM T HE L AT IN WORD WHICH ME ANS “FIRSTLING OF S P R I N G ,” W H I C H Q U I T E A C C U R A T E LY D E S C R I B E S T H I S P L A N T.

••

I love their brightly colored flowers clustered together. Some of the mixes are so pretty an artist’s palette would be jealous. They also do well in mixed containers grown with pansies, daffodils,

HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

mustard or kale. Choose a good light, well-drained mix for your container, and then plant at the same depth as they grew in the original pot. Look for plants with healthy foliage that fills up their container.

I am partial to the Primula acaulis varieties like the Orion series and the beauty of the bi-color selections in the Danova series. These are fairly short plants with short flower stalks, but they have colors that are so bold you will feel like a kid opening up the first box of crayons.

The next tallest of the primulas come from another species or group known as Primula obconica hybrids. These plants can reach 12 to 18 inches in height producing taller flower stalks. The colors are very pretty, not as bold but look like fine depression-glass. The Libre and Juno series are the most popular in this group.

Another species you might like is the Primula malacoides with taller stalks but airy clusters of slightly smaller flowers.

When you get your plants keep them moist and fed with a dilute water-soluble, 20-20-20 fertilizer that has micronutrients.

Avoid overhead watering to lessen fungal diseases. I use a small watering can with a tiny spout that allows me to pinpoint where the water goes. Be sure to deadhead old flowers for a tidy appearance and increased flower productivity. Pots of flowers with riveting color until spring is well worth it to me.

Norman Winter is director of the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Twitter: @CGBGgardenguru.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Flawless indoor fountains and heatsaving windows

KEN MOON

that first?

– Theresa You can install insulation blankets — also known as batts — directly under that floor or the “ceiling” of the crawl space. Ordinary batts have a layer of tar paper on one side, which acts as a vapor barrier to keep moisture from migrating toward cold exterior walls. In your case we want just the opposite. It’s vital that water vapor be able to travel back and forth between the upstairs and the crawl space until equilibrium is reached.

Otherwise moisture would be trapped between the floor and the paper — and that can lead to mold formation.

So use six-inch Fiberglass batts without a paper facing.

Over time the insulation can jar loose from all the foot traffic above this space, so it’s a good idea to string some fine wire perpendicular to the joists to act as a sort of cradle. Or if you prefer, the Simpson Company makes pre-cut, stiff wire insulation holders which simply snap in place.

The radon mitigation should come last. Why? If you do it first, then all the tromping around by the insulation installers may cut holes in the plastic membrane, which could let radon wend its way back into the space.

Dear Ken: I have a small indoor fountain. It sits on a glass top table, and after a few hours the glass is covered with tiny white spots. Nothing

Winter Call Someone You Can Trust

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Ken: I have two rooms over a crawl space which are very cold. What kind of insulation should I use?

Also, I need radon mitigation down there. Should I do

Get ready for

I’ve tried will stop it. Any ideas?

– Lynn Try some distilled water. You can find it in the grocery store in gallon containers. Distilled water is simply ordinary stuff that’s been boiled into steam, then condensed on a cool surface, so all of the dissolved minerals — which are leaving that spotty residue behind — are removed.

Alternatively, you could install a reverse osmosis (RO) system under your kitchen sink. This will also remove all minerals and most other contaminates from the water stream.

One caveat, though: this system will extract minerals like iron, manganese and fluoride which are necessary for good health. So you should get your drinking water elsewhere in the house.

Dear Ken: I’m looking for new windows. Do I need double or triple panes? What other options should I look for?

– Chelsea Triple pane windows are a rather expensive add-on which aren’t cost effective along the Front Range. One choice that I do recommend is low-e (emissivity) glass. This is a metallic coating on the inside of one the glass panes that helps reflect heat back into the house in the winter and helps repel glare and heat in the summer. It will add somewhere between 10 and 20 percent to the cost of the windows — some dealers will “throw in” low-e as an incentive — but will pay for itself in a relatively short time.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m. Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

35 years in Business • Roofing • Painting • Windows • Stucco Over Siding • Gutters • Siding Replacement • Deck Repair • Fence Repair • Driveway Replacement

Call 719-694-3271 SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7

loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey across 1 Robin on ’60s TV 9 Mischievous kids 15 What one taking a flight doesn’t use?

16 Mustang rival 17 Abomination 18 Common soccer result 19 Coach Eric Taylor’s wife on “Friday Night Lights” 20 Biting criticism 22 Hardboard brand 24 William Donovan’s WWII org.

25 Dropped jaws 28 Computer media 30 Cold sound?

31 “Star Trek” rank: Abbr.

32 __ St. Louis 35 Exodus pronoun 36 Liquid diet component 38 “The Time Machine” race 39 Traffic sound 40 Jethro Tull frontman Anderson 41 Big name in printers 42 Library exchanges 44 Drea de Matteo’s role on “The Sopranos” 46 Sources of remote power 48 Balderdash 50 Dark personification 52 Speeds (up) 56 More affected, in a way 57 More than familiar with 59 Arrive copiously 60 Some summer homes 61 Toll road convenience 62 Site of Napoleon’s last exile

10 Participates in a camp activity 11 Grace closing 12 Fruity chip go-with 13 Hybrid hatchback 14 They may leave prints 21 “We __ Start the Fire”: Billy Joel 23 Shakespearean title word 25 Power eponym 26 Dos cubed 27 Goes wild 29 Contemporary “Be yourself” 31 Great spell 33 “Are we there yet?” reply 34 Brown of publishing 36 Marshland waders 37 Dreaded figure?

41 “__ e Leandro”: Handel cantata 43 “Yup!” 44 “Nope!”

45 Longtime “Sexually Speaking” host 46 Catching flies, so to speak 47 Pollo partner 49 Sweeping stories 51 “Look, amigo!”

53 One of a cube’s dozen 54 Engine with a lot of juice 55 Slugger who began and ended his career as a Texas Ranger 58 Hwy., e.g.

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

by mike Peters

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

down 1 Overpower 2 Radius neighbor 3 Office quantity 4 Some breaks in the NFL action 5 Nursery noise 6 Base command 7 “Think Like a Man Too,” e.g.

8 Exhaust 9 Terrier type HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by Chad Carpenter

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9

dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

by Paul gilligan

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: I am 24 years old.

I am a happy person overall, but lately I’ve been feeling down.

With everything going on in today’s world, and the state of society these days, it scares me at times. I felt safe in the ‘90s. Not AMY so much seemed to be happenDICKINSON ing back then. Life was simpler.

Is what I’m experiencing normal, or is it something more? — Feeling Down in CT Dear Feeling Down: Life definitely felt simpler for you in the ‘90s, because you were a child in the ‘90s. Chances are that in 1997, for instance, your life revolved around getting through ninth grade.

I was an adult in the ‘90s, and life did not necessarily seem better or simpler then — at least to me. Our national life ratcheted between good times and bad, calm times and scandal, peace and conflict.

What you are experiencing now might be a very real trough, or it might be your growing awareness of your own personal responsibilities and relative sense of powerlessness.

I do believe that people who feel overly worried, scared or depressed about national and international affairs would feel better by controlling the constant wash of news and fake news they are exposed to, and by getting off the couch and doing something.

Please take this opportunity to volunteer in your community and do your best to make this world a better place.

Dear Amy: You criticized “From We to I” for insisting that her boyfriend not refer to his life with his ex-wife using “we.”

I’m in her camp. He needs to avoid phrasing responses in ways that make her think about his past. The proper question she should pose to him is whether he wants her to be thinking about him with his ex as they move forward. — Disappointed Dear Disappointed: After almost 30 years of marriage, insisting that her boyfriend basically pretend that he had been alone the whole time seemed unrealistic to me.

—

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

ADVICE

Question: I want my folks to upgrade their h u m i d i fi e r.

Their apartment complex just got a new boiler; the heat is relentDR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN less, and my dad had nosebleeds last week. How do I help them find the best one?

— Josh F., Queens, N.Y. Answer: For optimal comfort and health, you want your home to have a relative humidity in the 30 to 50 percent range. Heating systems easily can drive RH below 10 percent, and that’s nosebleed territory. So, you might want to get one humidifier for the bedroom and one for the living room, etc. Definitely start with one in the bedroom, and the sooner the better.

There are two types of humidifiers: warm mist and cool mist. Warm mist sends out steam, while cool mist uses a fan to blow humidity out into the room through a filter. You’ll need to consider factors such as machine noise, maintenance of water tank and filters, whether you want the machine to have a humidistat and a timer (to regulate the room’s humidity throughout the day) and, of course, the size of the room being humidified.

Maintenance: It matters! If you don’t keep humidifiers clean, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. So: • Use water that’s been well-filtered and/or distilled. Impurities in tap water may be inhaled, and that can trigger respiratory problems.

• Use humidifiers with removable tanks that can be emptied and cleaned.

• Twice a week, wash the tank with a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide or a 3:1 mixture of distilled water and vinegar; let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with tap water.

• Change filters regularly; never let them develop discoloration or mold.

Humidifiers aren’t very expensive, and good ones greatly improve quality of life.

—

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chair of the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

ADVICE

Dear Heloise: Another birthday has gone by, and I’m looking at my gifts. They’re pretty, they’re nice, but I couldn’t possibly keep them all for the past 84 years.

The flowers die, and the hand lotion and perfume will last HINTS forever. What I need is an hour FROM of your time. Shovel snow, fix a HELOISE leaky faucet, close windows for the winter, help with shopping, pay a beautician to come and cut my hair, mop the kitchen floor, adjust the TV — the ideas are endless!

It’s my fault. When I’m asked what I want for my birthday or a holiday, I clam up. I just can’t ask for help. So I say nothing.

I want to share my feelings and those of many people my age. Thanks for listening. — Helene B., Martinsburg, W.Va. Helene, thanks for your powerful letter.

Readers, putting some thought into your gifts can help seniors get services they can really use, instead of well-intentioned but unnecessary trinkets. — Heloise Dear Heloise: My kitten has started scratching my couch! Help — what should I do? — Helen M. in Denver Helen, cats scratch; it’s instinctive behavior.

The goal is to teach your cat where to scratch and where not to scratch.

• Provide kitty scratching posts and rub them with catnip, which will attract the cat.

• Scolding the cat usually is ineffective.

• Talk to your veterinarian or groomer about nail grooming. Dulling the claws may help lessen any damage to furniture. Declawing usually is NOT recommended.

• Finally, cover the couch corners with something undesirable to the cat — double-sided tape and aluminum foil work well, as does one of my favorite household helpers, vinegar.

Pour some into a labeled spray bottle and spritz on the couch. Cats hate the smell of vinegar and will avoid!

—

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) This can be a good day to indulge in sightseeing trips or meet new people. Do something that sweeps you away from dull old routines and that will satisfy your urge for adventure.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) A bright young person who is merely passing through your life could offer an idea that solves a puzzling problem.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) When you are out of your element, you sometimes hear what wasn’t meant. You might go to awkward lengths to show you can be trusted.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) It is time to be a trendsetter. An “off with the old, on with the new” attitude might camouflage a warm and loyal heart. Make people feel like they fit in no matter how awkward the situation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You prefer to be the center of attention. Since you might feel that your wants and needs are the most important, you might briefly disregard the needs of others. A minor tiff can clear the air.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Pursue a shared learning experience to oil the wheels of communication.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) A minor conflict can make you aware of the buttons that need to be pushed in order to turn the tides in your favor.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Get back in step with the world. As the moon flies through your sign, you could feel a tad more sociable than usual, so find an excuse to mingle. You can please someone all the time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You may focus on too many fantasies. Some of your ideas are worth pursuing, so write them down and revisit them at a later date. Home-based social activities might present surprises.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) It is suitable to voice your opinions, but don’t appear to be a hypocrite. You can’t go far with “do what I say, not what I do.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Put your ideas about a buying spree on the back burner. Give someone enough time to alter an opinion and come around to your way of thinking.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) A baby can’t learn to walk when carried. Sometimes you must trust someone to make their own mistakes. A misunderstanding can occur if you refuse to set someone free to make a decision.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jan. 21 You have the ambition, but not necessarily the know-how, to put successful career or business tactics into motion in the next five to six weeks.

Wait until April to make crucial investment or business decisions. In May, you may be inspired to turn a hobby into a moneymaking effort or you may simply be contented with a romantic weekend built for two. July can be an excellent time to take extra steps to ensure your financial security.

SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

GOREN BRIDGE

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠k8♥J7652♦A7♣J943 NOrTH eAST SOuTH WeST 1NT Pass 2♦* Pass 2♥ Pass ? *Transfer to hearts What call would you make? q 2 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A 6 5 2 ♥ q 10 5 2 ♦ A J 10 6 ♣ q Partner opens one heart and right-hand opponent bids four clubs. What call would you make? q 3 - North South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ k q J 9 6 5 3 ♥ k 10 5 ♦ J 6 ♣ A SOuTH WeST NOrTH eAST 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass ?

What call would you make?

♠ k J 8 7 3 2 ♥ 9 ♦ A k 10 2

NOrTH eAST SOuTH WeST Pass 1NT Pass 2♥* Pass 2♠ Pass 3♦ 4♠ Pass ? *Transfer to spades What call would you make?

♣q2

♠qJ3♥Ak74♦7♣AqJ62 SOuTH WeST NOrTH eAST 1♣ 2♠ 3♦ Pass ?

What call would you make? q 6 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠q52♥65♦Ak9532♣J7 Right-hand opponent opens one diamond. What call would you make?

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

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away with displaying sports memorabilia, movie posters, light up signs and more. The ultimate entertainment room will consist of three core components — a TV area, game area and wet bar. Take note of square footage, because a cluttered basement where people can barely move around is never pleasant.

The TV area will follow much of the same rules as noted in the living room section.

The game room can include such favorites as a pool, foosball, air hockey and/or ping pong table. You can also kick it old school with a PAC-MAN or pin ball machine; and let the nostalgia hit for all who visit. A wet bar can complete the space, with a fridge, sink, wine cooler and cabinets; which allow for easy refills on beer, soda, spirits and snacks without having to go up to the main level.

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storage space in your basement or an oversized guest bedroom that’s never used; this area may be best suited for a home theater. The steps for building a home theater, according to HGTV, include choosing a space that is at least 20 feet long to 13 feet wide; framing and insulating with soundproofing in mind; prewiring a surround sound, video projector and lighting; installing a sound barrier; setting up video and sound systems; and installing comfortable theater seating. You want to make sure you have dimmable lighting, and quality audio and visual. From there, you can take your theater as far as you please — with purple or blue twinkle lights on the ceiling, red velvet drapes on the walls, a working concession stand in the corner, a small lobby with movie posters, or anything else you wish. Adding smart TV capabilities can allow you to choose from hundreds of movies and TV shows to stream.

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JAN 21, 2017

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ForForfurther furtherinfo infoononproducts products && warranties: warranties: (719) 373-1515 For further info on products & warranties: ColoradoGazetteOffer.com ColoradoGazetteOffer.com ColoradoGazetteOffer.com New orders only. Payment options available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Beldon Home Solutions is neither a lender nor a broker. All advertised financing is provided by an unaffiliated third-party lender, arranged and negotiated directly between the customer and such lender. Estimated advertised financing assumes special Enerbank financing available to well-qualified buyers on approved credit. Loans provided

by EnerBank USA (1245 Brickyard Rd. Suite 600, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) on approved credit, for a limited time. Repayment term is 60 months.

4.99% fixed APR, effective as of Jan 2017. Minimum loan amounts apply. The first monthly payment will be due 30 days after the loan closes. Other restrictions may apply. Exp 2/28/17

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New orders only. Payment options available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Beldon Home Solutions is neither a lender nor a broker.

All advertised financing is provided by an arrangedcredit. and negotiated directly betweenis neither the customer andnor sucha New orders only. Payment options available withunaffiliated minimumthird-party purchase lender, and approved Beldon Home Solutions a lender lender. Estimated advertised financing assumes Enerbank financing available to well-qualified buyers on approved Loans and provided broker.

All advertised financing is provided by anspecial unaffiliated third-party lender, arranged and negotiated directly between credit. the customer such by EnerBank USA advertised (1245 Brickyard Rd. Suite 600,special Salt Lake City, UTfinancing 84106) onavailable approved credit, for a limited Repayment termLoans is 60provided months. lender.

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84106)Theonfirst approved for awill limited time.

Repayment 60 months. restrictions Expas2/28/17 4.99% fixedmay APR,apply. effective of Jan 2017. Minimum loan amounts apply. The first monthly payment will be due 30 days after the loan closes. Other restrictions apply. Expoptions 2/28/17available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Beldon Home Solutions is neither a lender nor a New orders only.mayPayment

broker. All advertised financing is provided by an unaffiliated third-party lender, arranged and negotiated directly between the customer and such lender. Estimated advertised financing assumes special Enerbank financing available to well-qualified buyers on approved credit. Loans provided

by EnerBank USA (1245 Brickyard Rd. Suite 600, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) on approved credit, for a limited time. Repayment term is 60 months.