Progress 2024: West

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AJ’s Tree Service, owned by James A. Esposito Jr., has served the area for 40 years, offering 24-hour emergency work and free estimates. Located at 1366 Northway Road, Linden, their services include large tree removal, pruning and shearing, storm damage clean-up and more. To learn more, give them a call at 570-321-1970.

Home exterior trends for 2024

(Family Features) —

A home’s exterior is often the first thing guests or potential buyers see, meaning its curb appeal can have a significant impact on making a good first impression. Whether refreshing or renovating your home, staying current with exterior trends can help make a statement, increase your home’s value and enhance the comfort of your living space.

If you’re looking to refresh or improve your home’s function and style in the new year, consider these 2024 home exterior trends from the experts at Westlake Royal Building Products, a leader in innovation, design and production of exterior and interior building products including siding, trim, mouldings, roofing, stone, windows, outdoor living and more.

A Connection with Nature

Connecting people more closely with nature and natural elements, biophilic design can lead to increased well-being and productivity. Growing wellness and environmental concerns are driving demand for outdoor living space improvements and integration of nature in design, including elements like green roofs, living walls and large windows.

You can create dra-

matic outdoor spaces by contrasting light and dark colors. For example, matte black can be paired with materials like brick, stone, shingles and wood for an eye-catching twist. Bold, earthy tones such as navy blue, forest green, dark brown and red can also be combined with nature-inspired materials for organic texture and warmth. Other trending colors for 2024 include vivid teal and aqua blue, which can induce a sense of serenity.

High-Performance Siding

As climate change continues to intensify and lead to severe weath-

er, there is a growing need for high-performance, weather-resistant building products. Homeowners continue to favor resilient materials that require less maintenance or replacement such as recycled vinyl, engineered wood and fiber cement, which maintain beauty and function.

Designed with innovation and performance in mind, Celect Cellular Composite Siding, a premium PVC siding from Westlake Royal Building Products, replicates the beauty and aesthetics of wood while remaining low maintenance and durable for a lifetime.

(See HOME, Page C5)

THE COVER

HELMINIAK’S GREENHOUSES AND LANDSCAPING

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For multiple photos: Helminiak’s Greenhouses and Landscaping, located at 59 Helminiak St. in Williamsport, is getting ready for spring. Their greenhouses are now filled with violas, hydrangeas, pansies, trees, shrubs and much more. Gardeners can visit the family business starting the last week of March, when they reopen for the season. Helminiak’s will be well stocked for Easter. “When we open for the season, we will have hyacinths, Easter lilies, tulips and more,” said Mary Helminiak, who works for the family business that started in a basement in 1988. The business has flourished because of the family’s knowledge of local plants and how to properly care for them. For more information, visit helminiaks.com or call 570-323-1776.

ROGERS UNIFORMS

call 570-329-2111.

Sun-Gazette

Amanda Rogers, left, and Leeza Rundio, of Rogers Uniform, help customers from all sorts of professions.

From scrubs to fire boots to medical equipment, Rogers Uniforms has a wide range of products. Owner Jody Rogers, left, said, Rogers Uniforms, 700 W. Third St., Williamsport, also offers extensive screenprinting and embroidery services. For more information, visit rogersuniforms.com or

ceiling to floor,” said Schrader.

Overhead Door of Lycoming County helps homeowners and contractors

From Staff Reports

Jack Schrader, co-owner of Overhead Door of Lycoming County with wife Cindy Schrader, is proud of his work with the Genetti Hotel.

When the Genetti wanted to add garage doors to its restaurant, Windows on Fourth, Schrader was contacted to supply the hotel with Envy garage doors manufactured by Overhead Doors.

“Now people can just walk right in from the street,” Schrader said of the restaurant’s transformation.

Schrader is proud of the Envy garage door, which is on display in

his showroom, located at 633 W. Third St. in Williamsport.

“It is available in different mirrored finishes for the windows. You can’t see in but you can see out,” said Schrader. In addition, the contemporary garage doors’ tracks, hardware and fasteners are powder coated.

Schrader is also proud of the recent renovations that his building has undergone. “We redid both showrooms from ceiling to floor. We put in the latest and greatest doors that Overhead Door has to offer. I wanted it to look fresh,” said Schrader.

Home exterior trends for 2024

(From Page C3)

Featuring a patented interlocking seam design, it keeps moisture out and almost completely eliminates seams. Plus, its Kynar Aquatec coating provides superior protection against ultraviolet rays, reduces energy demands and resists dirt, seasonal staining and insects.

Functional Outdoor Living Spaces

Focused on creating seamless connections between interior and exterior spaces, this evolution in outdoor design includes integration of outdoor kitchens and living areas. Elements such as fire pits, pizza ovens, outdoor entertainment and games can be incorporated to personalize the space and provide a unique entertaining hub. Using cohesive materials and textures that can withstand the elements and flow from indoors to outdoors, such as stone veneer, can help elevate the space and further tie it to the home’s interior.

Mixed Materials and Textures

Blending various textures, finishes and materials on a home’s facade can create a unique, visually dynamic look. Using a combination of materials like brick and vinyl siding or stone and wood can add depth and visual interest. An option like Versetta Stone delivers the authentic look and feel of stone in a panelized format that is easy to install with screws or nails and requires no metal lath or scratch coat. The stone siding features a tongue-and-groove system for perfect spacing, has a built-in rainscreen and can be installed almost anywhere without additional footings for support.

Transitional Takes on Tradition

A versatile design approach allows a home to transcend trends, ensuring its relevance and appeal over an extended period of time. In 2024, look for a rise in classic design trends featuring elements such as vertical siding, crisp white trim and other modernized traditional styles as well as a shift away from minimalism that incorporates more nostalgic, personal touches to home exteriors, ushering in more of a transitional style.

Find more ideas to update your home’s exterior at WestlakeRoyalBuildingProducts.com.

The offices were also remodeled with new carpeting and paint, while the building’s exterior brick had paint removed from it, uncovering the brick’s natural color.

In addition to garage doors for residential and commercial use, the business also offers Schrader Architectural Products. Since 1981, they have supplied specialty architectural materials to contractors and facility managers. For more information about Overhead Door of Lycoming County or Schrader Architectural Products, visit their website at schraderproducts.com or call 570-326-4749.

Sun-Gazette

Overhead Door of Lycoming County, located at 633 W. Third Street in Williamsport, is owned by Jack Schrader, shown below, and his wife Cindy. The family business offers a wide array of residential and commercial garage doors made by Overhead Door, along with Schrader Architectural products. Overhead Door of Lycoming County opened in 1965 and recently underwent renovations to the showrooms, offices and building’s exterior. “We redid both showrooms from

CINDY’S SMILING SAMMY

of

5 steps to get your yard ready for spring

(Family Features) — As the weather begins to warm and days get longer, it’s important to begin preparing your yard for a healthy growing season. While factors like climate, soil type and grass type can all impact how your yard grows, there are a few steps you can take during the spring months to help your lawn thrive.

From dethatching and aerating to fertilizing and mowing, tackling these simple chores can help ensure your yard looks its best and is prepared to fight off seasonal weeds, disease and drought.

Tune Your Mower

Before it’s time for the first mowing of the season, inspect your mower and

perform any routine maintenance necessary. That goes beyond sharpening, or replacing, the blade, and includes changing the oil, spark plugs and filter as well as filling with a fresh tank of gas.

Loosen the Thatch Layer

While it’s important to avoid working on your lawn until after the final freeze to avoid damaging the grass, raking your yard with a spring tine rake to loosen thatch — the layer of leaves, roots and dead grass that builds up between live grass and soil — before the first mow is equally important. Be sure to rake when the soil is dry; if it’s too soft or muddy, you may pull up healthy grass crowns.

Combat Compacted Soil

If your soil has become compacted — likely the effect of heavy foot traffic — and is too dense for water, air and other nutrients to reach the roots of your grass, aerating can help break it up and reduce thatch. A core, or plug, aerator can introduce tiny holes into your soil by removing plugs of grass and soil, which lets nutrients more easily reach the roots. An added bonus, the plugs can decompose on top of your grass, supplying more nutrients.

Fill in Bare Spots

If your lawn is looking sparse, overseeding, which involves spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, can help fill in bare spots. Be sure to choose the right type of seed for your

climate and soil type to ensure proper growth. Applying a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer at the same time can provide additional nutrients that are important for promoting healthy growth.

Start Seasonal Mowing

When the ground is dry enough and your grass is long enough to require cutting, begin seasonal mowing. Be sure to use proper techniques, including varying your mowing direction each time to avoid creating patterns or ruts, and avoid cutting grass too low, which can make the lawn more susceptible to weeds and drought stress. In general, never remove more than onethird of the grass blade at a time. Find more tips to help get your yard ready for warm weather at eLivingtoday.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Cindy’s Smiling Sammy Grooming & Boarding, 400 Fox St., Avis, offers a variety of services for the community’s furry friends. Business hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, 7 to 11 a.m. Saturdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays. All boarded animals must be picked up or dropped off and checked in or out by time

closing. Special pick-up or drop-off times can be arranged in advance for a $25 fee.

JIFFY MARKET & DELI

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Saar’s Tree Service is owned by Michael J. and Taryn Saar. The business was started by Michael’s father in 1956, and Michael took over and became president in 1999. Pictured, Saar’s provides services at a residential property removing a tree. Their equipment provides the crew with safety and efficiency in completing the job. They pride themselves on quality of work including clean up. Contact them for any residential or commercial needs at 570-769-2482.

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Dadant, 2925 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, offers beginner bee keeping classes throughout the year. Their next packaged bee pick-up date will be April 20.

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Jiffy Market and Deli owned and operated for 25 years by Alan Willits and his late father Marvin Willits, who left us a year ago. We offer a variety of hot & cold subs, sandwiches, groceries, deli & more. 115 Pennsylvania Ave. Jersey Shore 398-3499.

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Jayme (Hilsher) Sherman, shown above, started Hilsher Designs in 2022. The company offers a variety of services including logo designs, social media graphics and digital advertising. Hilsher also can coordinate all things print related, from getting the quote to sending the files to delivery.

In need of a design? You’re in need of Hilsher Designs

Hilsher Designs is a female, minority-owned graphic design company located in Williamsport.

The business was started in late summer 2022 by Jayme (Hilsher) Sherman. Jayme’s career first started in February 2014 at her family printing business

formerly known as Hilsher Graphics.

After the unfortunate closing of the print shop, the opportunity presented itself to keep part of the family business alive.

That was the beginning of Hilsher Designs.

Hilsher Designs has your

business covered from digital to print solutions!

The business specializes in graphic design with a focus on logo creations, print design (marketing collateral), social media graphics and digital advertising. At Hilsher Designs, you work directly with the graphic artists, no

middle-man or project managers. Need your designs printed but don’t know where to go?

Hilsher Designs can coordinate all your printing needs. A printer will be selected based upon the best price and project timeline.

From the initial quote, to

sending print-ready files and handling postage, shipping and delivery … you are covered from start to finish.

To get started on your next project or for more information, contact Jayme at jayme@hilsherdesigns. com or visit the website at hilsherdesigns.com

CLINTON COUNTY MEMORIALS

MARKLE’S PLUMBING AND HEATING

TAMMY COAKLEY/ Special to the Sun-Gazette

Pictured is a beautiful Superior Black headstone, newly available at Clinton County Memorials & Gibson Monuments, 1061 Kryder Road, Mill Hall. The shop, established in 1895 and now owned by the Noll family, offers services including full cemetery installation, in-cemetery engraving, monument and foundation repairs, garden stones, name signs, brick engraving and more. Find them online at gibsonmonumentco. com or give them a call at 570-726-3602.

Sun-Gazette

Markle’s Plumbing & Heating, located at 1020 Dewey Ave. in Williamsport, has been providing local residents with plumbing and heating services for over 70 years. Sharon Markle, who works at the family business, said, “We do gas furnaces and boilers for heating. On the plumbing side, we do faucet repairs and replacement, water heater installation and install water conditioning systems.” Markle’s Plumbing & Heating is a full service repair company for residential and commercial clients. Markle said, “We have two hydrojets, which are good for blowing out big lines at factories, hotels, hospitals and nursing care facilities.”

The company also does emergency calls after hours. For more information about their services, visit marklesplumbingservice.com or call 570-322-4920.