Urban Views Weekly by Urban Views Weekly

DEC. 17, 2014

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com December 17, 2014 Urban Views Weekly

THE DEAL

Planning a Home Remodel That Actually Pays Off By Jason Alderman

• Opportunistic buying and installation times for various projects. Take replacement windows, for example. Collect bids in mid-summer and recheck them in late fall -- you’ll likely find significant savings on both windows and installation.

here was a time when contractors building McMansion-style home additions or Michelin-worthy kitchens were a regular sight in many neighborhoods – until around 2006, when the Great Recession began to take hold.

Here’s the good news: home improvements are starting to add value in a rising housing market. Here’s the bad news: you have to be very careful about the renovation or remodeling projects you select to avoid over-stretching your budget.

•

In 2014, completing successful home improvements comes down to two critical questions: • •

Will you get most of your money back when you sell your property? (The days of 100 percent-plus returns on renovations are over, at least for now.) How will project costs affect your overall financial plan?

Here are questions to fuel your planning: •

•

How long you plan to live in the home after the renovation. The Great Recession proved many homeowners didn’t recoup elaborate – or sometimes modest – improvement costs when selling their homes. Even in a recovering market, it’s good to be wary. For now, renovate for the long haul and your personal enjoyment, not overnight sale. Neighborhood style and standards. We’ve all seen it – the oversized addition that dwarfs the rest of the houses on the block, the $50,000 kitchen upgrade in a small home where a spruce-up for $10,000 or less would do. It’s important to know how your tastes align with what is salable in your market (see Cost vs. Value, below).

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• Available renovation tax credits on federal, state and local levels. Are there credits or tax incentives on structural equipment or appliances that can offset the cost of whatever you’re planning?

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Potential effect on property taxes. Could an elaborate renovation actually turn off future buyers thanks to higher maintenance Ervin B. Clarke Publisher costs and property taxes?

publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

•

Intelligence on recent purchase prices and home features. Flora C. Clarke Smart homeowners keep an eye on recent home sale prices in the Administrative Assistant neighborhood and the features – or lack of them – that made the flora@urbanviewsweekly.com transaction. Shelia O. Spurlock-Shaw Now here’s where you can find some answers. Remodeling magazine’s Advertising shelia@urbanviewsweekly.com annual Cost vs. Value Report (http://www.remodeling.hw.net/costvs-value/2014/) has become a leading consumer resource for pricing Brittany R. Hughes improvements and cost recovery nationwide, regionally, and in major Art Director metro areas. The online format allows users to compare project cost and recovery at sale all the way back to 2002.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST ARTICLES While the nation’s housing market is generally in recovery, some of the AND INFORMATION.

publication’s 2014 top-producing projects were surprisingly small. The www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com top three 2014 home improvements in terms of cost return were: •

Entry door replacement (96.6 percent cost recovery)

•

Attic bedroom addition/renovation (84.3 percent)

•

Wooden deck addition (87.4 percent)

continued on page 8

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VIEWPOINTS

Kindness Can Be Catching By Dr. T

n order to have a friend, you must indeed be a friend. Be ye kind one to another is a biblical directive and is akin to The Golden Rule. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. With the release of the Senate’s report on torture, or as some would call it “enhanced interrogation techniques” during the years immediately following the 911 attacks, it is incumbent upon us ALL to take a look at ourselves, our beliefs, and our individual ethics and morality. Where do you stand, and on what do you base that position? What has the United States of America done in the name of the people for whom this most perfect union was created?

There is no one, who calls himself or herself a citizen of this nation, who can be dismissed or excused from this interrogation. Ignoring it will not make it go away, and it cannot be forgotten. It is a stain on the very integrity and foundation of our so-called “American” values and, by association, a stain on all of us. How can we expect to be looked upon as leaders in the global community when our moral compass is so variable and our ethical perspectives situational? “Enhanced interrogation techniques” is a euphemism for TORTURE in the same way as sexual assault can serve as a euphemism for RAPE or racism for WHITE SUPREMACY. There are words we Do NOT want to look at. We don’t want to accept what the DENIAL of the specificity and clear intentionality of what those terms mean and our acceptance, or lack thereof, says about us as a people and as a nation. If kindness begets kindness, then it would also follow that inhumanity and deliberate cruelty reproduces the same. A culture of fear creates in people and governments responses that are not based on ethical decision making or moral and humane response, but rather unfettered irrational aggression towards that “thing” we fear. We succumb to

our most BASE human response, which ironically serves to define the “other” as disconnected from our own humanity. We must de-humanize them and reduce them to a label of enemy combatant, threat, risk, jihadist, criminal and so on. They no longer are connected to the human race at all. We are so fearful that all we want to do is destroy the threat and cut it out or kill it like a cancer. We want to declare and define our response as a surgical and clinical approach with limited collateral damage, all in the name of “keeping America SAFE.” We must rationalize it. Make some type of sense out of it because without that reasoning we would have to relegate our efforts to the level of barbaric, immoral and a crime against humanity, not only against our targeted enemy but against ourselves as well.

The example that you set is the example that others will not only follow, but also how others define you. We do not always have control over the things that happen to us, but we do control our response. Recognition of wrongdoing and humble acknowledgment of mistakes made goes a long way to open up dialogue and discussion. How do we change behaviors in order that such atrocities never happen again? What are we going to DO about our violation of the Geneva Convention on torture?

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. DrT@margins2thecenter.com

Artistic Director and Founder of The Conciliation Project www.theconciliationproject.org and a Professor of Theatre at VCU Up Next Week: The Hope of Peace...

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A Very Speci Hang all the mistletoe I’m gonna get to know you better this Christmas And as we trim the tree How much fun it’s gonna be together this Christmas Fireside is blazing bright And we’re carolin’ through the night And this Christmas will be A very special Christmas for you and me “This Christmas” - The Temptations

By J. Chevonte’ Alexander

his time of year is always special. Children are making their list twice; familiar bells are ringing outside of retail stores; houses a with lights; the Sunday ads are getting thicker with holiday s grocery list item; and the holiday spirit is definitely in the air. The h something different for everyone, and Urban Views Weekly asked its this holiday season mean to you and what are you most looking forwa

My family uses the holidays as a time to reset from the demands of day-to-day life. We swap stories, as we reminisce the day away with hugs, memories, and home-cooked goodies, never forgetting just how blessed we are. Wesley Folston

Christmas at ‘Casa Wright’ starts with family breakfast. Grandparents and Aunts all arrive in their pajamas; we open presents and enjoy family time. No social media, no cell phones, just family! Priscilla Wright

My husband and I began a spending the early part of went to Cine Bistro for dinne ing some couple time on suc prised how many other coup Sabrina Hamilton Adams

Every year after thanksgivin dinner we put the tree up, and on Christmas morning my so and hubby cook breakfast for everyone. I have 5 grown childre and 6 grandchildren; it is never a dull moment at our house.

Erica Higdon, Baltimore, M A Holiday Tradition that my family and I have always done is to have Christmas brunch and then have gifts distributed by my mother, and only my mother. She and my Father will make a brunch feast and then we will go into One of our Christmas traditions is that my siblings, their ki the living room to open gifts. I love this time with my family to joke, and I come together every year to decorate my mom’s tree. laugh, and guess what “Santa” brought, but also hope to start traditions when we were kids. We listen to all of the soulful Christmas c of my own one-day with my future children. Taryn Laster-Whitehead, Washington D.C., Founder, ANNJANELIVING

On behalf of the Urban Views Weekly team and 6 Urban Views Weekly December 17, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

ial Christmas for Me

ts and checking them and yards are adorned specials; egg nog is a holiday season means s readers, “What does ard to?”

I started a couple of things last year with my daughter that I hope to keep up through the years. The first is making Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve. She had a blast rolling out the dough and cutting out all the shapes. The second is Christmas pajamas. She got to open one gift on Christmas Eve and it would be Christmas pajamas and other goodies like popcorn and hot chocolate to have while we watch a Christmas movie. Anike Clark McKoy

Our family celebrates with Christmas breakfast. Everyone forms a circle and state for what they are thankful. Afterwards, the adults swap names with adults and children with children for the gift exchange. Shonda Hawkins

a new tradition last year. After the day with our mothers, we er and a movie. It was nice havch a busy day and we were surples were there.

ng on en

ids . She still has ornaments from carols and have a great time!

LaTasha Rasberry

Kwanzaa has been celebrated in my family as a time of cultural reaffirmation; traditionally we have celebrated with my family members in New York City. As a little girl, I can remember gathering at my family’s house to celebrate the seven principles known as the Ngzuzo Saba. There would be tons of food, fellowship, dancing and fun. As an adult, we STILL gather and teach the young! We also attend an annual Kwanzaa event at the World Famous Apollo Theater and take all the women in our family, from the youngest to the eldest. With today’s modern technology, and for those that may have moved away, my Auntie, who’s one of the matriarchs of the family, will send out a mass text starting on the first day of Kwanzaa until the last day asking “Habari Gani” (which means What’s the News?), and whether you are 5 or 50 you better be able to recite verbatim what the principle of the day was. Holidays for me are all about family. I come from a lineage of Strong, African women. They believe that the old shall teach the young along with the concept of family first. They also teach principles that allow you to be true to yourself no matter what else is happening around you. I am because they were! Because we are strong women, born of strong women, who are born of strong women, we celebrate your strength.

Excerpt from “We Speak Your Name” by Pearl Cleage

Nicole Jones

d family, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com December 17, 2014 Urban Views Weekly

CIVIC BEAT

FUNdraising Good Times Social change and nonprofits – more than fundraising

erguson, MO. Staten Island, NY. Cleveland, OH. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. These cities and the deaths of these African American males – men and boys – are in the headlines. So are people’s responses. These incidents are a catalyst for social change on many levels. Changes in policing, the use of the grand jury system, the role of the prosecutor. Changes in how we view and value the lives and bodies of black men and boys. Right now people can’t get past the double standards, and across the country – in ways big and small – people are demanding change.

rorities and fraternities, civic and professional organizations. It’s about people of all faiths, colors, and backgrounds. Now is the time to come together and be part of something larger, whether formally or informally. This is not a time for “us vs. them”. In the words of the president of the United States, “It’s about closing the gap between our professed ideals and how they are applied in day-to-day situations.” At the same time, don’t get too caught up in the moment and emotions. Social change takes time. Are you committed to the work of changing policies and attitudes when the cameras are gone? This is the true test of the value of a nonprofit.

There is a role for everyone to play, especially grassroots organizations. Regardless of your size, you can make a difference. You are a catalyst whether reaching one person, 100 people, or 1,000 people at a time. Change comes in many ways. It comes in the way you treat young people in afterschool programs, how you coach your basketball team, the explicit messages you send about the value of Black lives, and the way you resolve conflicts and de-escalate arguments.

Finally, you don’t have to be big to make an impact. The civil rights movement was a consortium of grass roots organizations, some of which later evolved into larger organizations. Fifty years later, the situation is the same: you can make a difference.

You have a right to participate. As the old sayings go, “the crying baby gets the milk” and “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. Be focused and committed to make During times of local or national protest, you can demonstrate with others. You can also work sure you are heard. Grassroots organizations: America needs you! behind the scenes, bringing water and serving meals to peaceful protestors. You can provide training, counsel, or transportation, create signs, collect money for legal fees, or recruit volCopyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw unteers. You can identify areas in local law and policy that need to be changed and advocate. You can be part of pushing a larger agenda. Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For Social change requires participation by all, same as it did in the past. It’s about churches, so-

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From Home Remodel page 2

Remodeling reported that the value of remodeling projects began to slide nationally with home values in 2006 and only began to recover in 2013. As home resale values rise, so will cost recovery on incrementally bigger projects. As the publication notes, it’s a cautious environment.

•

For more detailed information, seek knowledge on a more local level: •

•

Get to know your neighbors. If your neighbors have done home improvements inside and out, politely ask if they’ll share their story.

Befriend a broker. Real estate brokers and agents are happiest when they’re closing deals, but they like to build long-term relationships, too. The best brokers are happy to share neighborhood renovation value intelligence in exchange for a house tour. They can’t sell a house filled with overpriced improvements.

Before major projects, consider a home inspector. A home inspector’s job is to determine if the structural and mechanical aspects of a property are up to code. If a home hasn’t had a structural or mechanical upgrade for many years, professional inspection may detect trouble spots and intermediate upgrades that could be far more valuable than cosmetic work. Talk to a tax professional. Federal and state tax credits and deductions may be available as part of any project you do. The IRS has a current summary (http://

8 Urban Views Weekly December 17, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

•

www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Energy-Efficient-Home-Improvements-Can-LowerYour-Taxes) of 2014 energy credits and related resources.

Check your credit reports and scores. If you need to borrow to complete a project, it’s a good idea to check your credit reports and current credit score to determine whether you’ll qualify for a loan. You have the right to get all three of your credit reports – from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax – once a year for free. You can do so by ordering directly from AnnualCreditReport.com. Talk to a financial planner. Any home improvement project is potentially major when compared to what you earn or have in savings. A certified financial planner can help you evaluate potential projects against the competing financial goals in your life like saving for retirement and your children’s college tuition.

Figure out what you can do yourself. Whether it’s painting, landscaping, carpentry or electrical work, helping with a few DIY finishing touches on a home improvement project can save money. Just make sure you have the time and skill to pitch in.

Bottom line: Approach a home renovation as you would any other major financial decision – do your homework and see how it fits into your overall financial plan. Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

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SAVOR

Holiday Flavors| The Warm Up Appetizing Appetizers

party is complete without an assortment of appetizers spread throughout the kitchen and dining room. Convenient and bite-sized, appetizers are the perfect way to keep your guests happy – and full – while you put together your stunning final course.

So whether you’re looking for party ideas weeks ahead of time or seeking some last-minute guidance, here are a few simple appetizers sure to please the palates of your guests. Quick and Easy Shrimp

Shrimp can be your best friend when trying to pull off a quick holiday appetizer, as long as it comes ready to be cooked. After steaming, sauteing or boiling your own fresh shrimp, add a squeeze of lemon zest for an extra punch.

Some dipping sauce options can include tartar, cocktail, honey mustard or even homemade hot sauce (cook, puree and then strain the juices from about 10 sliced jalapenos, two tablespoons of minced garlic, one tablespoon of olive oil and one cup of white vinegar). Relish Tray

Spice up your traditional vegetable tray by going with a platter of roasted red peppers, green and/or black olives, cheese cubes, sliced pastrami, marinated artichoke hearts and

Holiday Flavors| Big Meals The Main Course Duck, ham or turkey? What is your idea of the traditional holiday main course? No matter your answer, we all know that simply throwing your meat into the oven is not the way to wow your guests. It takes the detail work to really make your meal pop. From the perfect ham glaze to the rich homemade turkey stuffing, put in a little time this year on the extras and your main course will be the talk of the day. Duck a L’Orange

The key to serving the perfect duck is cooking it on low heat – and having the perfect glaze for afterward. Add a mixture of one stick of butter, ½ cup of orange juice and a tablespoon of vinegar into your cooking dish once your duck is browned.

Continue cooking until the meat is done and remove the duck fat sitting on top of the juices. Strain the remaining juices, whisk in a cup of your favorite jam and cook it on low heat on the stovetop. Once this mixture thickens, remove it from the heat and pour it over your duck. Glazing the Ham

If you’re throwing in a ham on Christmas morning, try a combination of two cups of marmalade, two cups of brown sugar and one cup of Dijon mustard for a mouth-watering glaze

10 Urban Views Weekly December 17, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

pickled peppers. You can also add hard breadsticks or pretzel rods for some crunch. Homemade Salsa

If you’re in a pinch, there is nothing wrong with serving store-bought salsa. But you can do better than that. Grab a few handfuls of fresh produce from your local grocer and get to chopping.

Toss a combination of chopped Roma tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, green pepper and avocado into a mixture of lime juice, salt and pepper for a zesty take on the traditional salsa. Bite-Sized Tortilla Roll-Ups

Start this sure-hit appetizer by spreading a thin layer of cream cheese on a large flour tortilla. Many cream cheese flavors are on the market, so get creative. Then top the cream cheese with layers of the following ingredients: • Turkey. • Ham. • Chicken. • Sliced tomato. • Baby spinach leaves or lettuce. Roll your tortilla tightly and chill them for up to an hour. Then cut your rolls into slices for easy eating.

sure to please.

A unique salsa of pineapple, spring onion and the juice from two limes will serve as the perfect complement for this spectacularly glazed ham. Stuffing the Turkey

Why not go unique with your turkey this year? Ditch the storebought stuffing for a homemade concoction like this:

1 stick of melted butter. 1 stalk of diced celery .

½ cup diced red onion.

¼ cup of chopped pistachios.

Saute the ingredients together and stir in four cups of breadcrumbs and ½ cup of the jelly of your choice for a delicious take on the traditional holiday stuffing.

When it comes to stuffing the turkey, press the mixture into the cavity and secure it with a skewer. Then tie the legs together and tuck the wings underneath. This will keep your stuffing secure during the cooking and basting process.

Holiday Flavors| Kitchen Tips Cooking Safety

hristmas is a time for gathering as a family around the tree or dinner table – not the fire extinguisher. But home fires involving cooking peak on major holidays such as Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Additionally, unattended cooking equipment is the leading cause of home cooking fires, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International.

So be safe this holiday season by following common-sense cooking practices in the kitchen. Take these tips from the National Fire Protection Association, as well. • • •

Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop.

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Holiday Flavors| Watching Calories Holiday Health

he holidays pose the biggest challenge for people trying to stick to their calorie count or exercise routine. Creamy pies and generous portions can cancel out all the hard diet and exercise work you’ve done throughout the year in the blink of an eye and the shovel of a fork. Sports nuts know Christmas is a great day for NBA basketball, keeping you plunked down on the couch instead of enjoying some holiday exercise.

Take some simple steps this year to change all of that, and escape the holiday season with your waist line under control. Because after all, the holidays are about family togetherness, and your family wants you around and healthy this time next year. Non-Food Tradition

One of the easiest ways to beat the “holiday hungries” is to partake in an enjoyable, activity-based family tradition. This can mean a flag football game or a sledding trip to your favorite hill. It can also mean a simple walk around the neighborhood or a Frisbee game with your dog. No matter what you decide to take up this Christmas, make it a tradition. Having something to look forward to that isn’t food-related will keep you from grazing all day at the appetizer table.

Also, drink a large glass of water between your activity and meal. This will help you feel fuller and keep your portion sizes under control. Strategies for ‘The Guest’

Sometimes being the guest at a large holiday party can challenge your commitment to eating healthy. You’re not in control of the menu, and you don’t want to be rude by eating only a small amount of food.

Try to balance out any unhealthy temptations by bringing a lighter recipe. This will provide a healthy option for both you and anyone else looking to maintain their dietary discipline throughout the holidays. Jump-Start Your New Year’s Resolution

With diet and exercise the perennial No. 1 resolution for Americans, there should be no reason to wait until Jan. 1 to begin your new routine. That’s a lot of pressure and expectation for one day, which may discourage you from enjoying your exercise and eating habits. Give yourself a two-week head-start for an easy transition into 2015. Start by jogging or biking before Christmas even arrives, and you will be in great shape for your holiday get-together, not to mention the new year.

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