The 42nd Annual Bangor Home Show

2, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

42nd Annual Bangor Home Show opens this Friday at Bass Park

By Brian Swartz CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS EDITOR

People attending the 42nd Annual Bangor Home Show will see “a lot of new products” as exhibitors pack their wares and head to Bass Park, according to Dean Appleman of All Seasons Promotions, based in West Springfield, Mass.

The show takes place every April at the Bangor Auditorium and Bangor Civic Center - with some ex-hibits spilling outdoors - and as has happened these last few years, Appleman reported that “right now, I am at maximum” for display space.

“My phone is off the hook,” he said. “The word got out in the U.S., and the Bangor Home Show is the one [that] everyone wants to end their season with.

“But I will squeeze everybody in somewhere,” Appleman said.

“Everyone wants to be in this show.”

The 42nd Annual Bangor Home

BDN PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Crowds pack the Bangor Auditorium during the 2011 Bangor Home Show (left); next door in the Bangor Civic Center, show visitors talk about water softeners with an exhibitor (above). The 2012 Bangor Home Show will bring hundreds of exhibitors and 18,000 to 21,000 visitors to Bass Park April 20-22.

Show will take place April 20-22 at Bass Park, where on-site parking is free. The show admission is $7 per adult, but area newspapers including the Bangor Daily News will offer discount coupons good for $2 off the admission price.

“It’s the most reasonable $5, with the biggest bang for your buck in the country,” Appleman said. And, he hastened to add, a show visitor can get a ticket stamped before leaving the show and return free any other time

during the weekend - simply by displaying the stamped ticket at the Bangor Auditorium ki-osks.

Admission is free for children age 12 and under when they are accompanied by an adult.

The show hours are: • 1-9 p.m., Friday, April 20; • 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, • 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, April 22.

At most other home shows, the doors officially close earlier, sometimes around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., Apple-man observed. The Bangor show “is still one of the longerhoured running shows in the country. I have first-time exhibitors ask me, ‘Why do you

stay open so late?’

“I tell them this Bangor Home Show could have 500 people in the building, buying product at 9 at night,” he said.

Appleman believes the mood is changing at his 2012 home shows, and he notices that exhibitors have responded accordingly.

“People didn’t want to buy last year,” he explained. “The economy is still tough, but in 2012, people re-alize they have to maintain their homes. The consumer confidence in buying is up this year; the smaller luxury products are becoming more popular.”

He mentioned “greenhouses See SHOW, Page 3

Show Continued from Page 2

priced under $10,000” as being attractive to “people … growing their own foods and produce.

Maine has some of the richest soil in the country.

“People want to cut their grocery costs and guarantee fresh food by growing their own,” he said.

“Maine Garden Supply is bringing greenhouses” to the Bangor show, Appleman said. “They tell me [that] they keep selling their displays, people want the greenhouses so bad.”

Saunas, decks, and hardwood floors “have never really lost their appeal,” he commented. “Flooring has always been hot. People want the gorgeous hardwood flooring in their homes. The high-tech hardwood flooring is popular. Bamboo [flooring] is hot.”

Out of doors, “stone work, outdoor patios, outdoor kitchens” are all the rage, according to Appleman. Homeowners are constructing outdoor patios with pavers as the flooring material and then installing patio furniture and an outdoor kitchen.

“Sheds are big; they’re coming back,” he said. “Alternative energy is still a hit with pellet fuels, gas inserts. People are looking to reduce their heating costs. A pellet stove or a gas insert can do that.”

At the Dead River Co. exhibit, employees will pass out show bags “to heighten the awareness” of that company’s acquisition of Webber Oil’s retail heating division, Appleman said. The bags will be great for carrying material collected at different exhibits throughout Bass Park.

For businesspeople operating home offices, shelving and officerelated furniture are popular, Appleman indicated.

Collectively, Bangor Home Show distributors will feature “something for every economic situation,” he said. “For the do-ityourselfer to the high-end homeowner, there will be products and services on display that can work with everyone’s budget.

“The buying confidence of this show is at an all-time peak,” Appleman said. “People are waiting for this show. The tax returns have come back, and people are ready to buy.

Bangor Daily News, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, 3

“You couldn’t find a better collection of businesses that what we have at this show,” he said. “Luckily the winter hasn’t been so bad,” and some contractors worked through the winter months.

“Now they’re looking for projects for the spring and summer.

They want to meet potential customers and talk about their projects,” Appleman said. “This show is going to jump start everything.”

Appleman annually organizes six home shows in New England and usually ends that run with Bangor. The Portland show proceeds the Queen City’s, but the Bangor show takes the visitation

honors.

“Bangor has always drawn more people,” Appleman said, noting that “I’m anticipating a gangbuster [at-tendance], 18,000-21,000 people. In Portland I get a 30-mile radius [that] people are coming from. In Bangor, I get a three-hour radius.

“This show has a reputation and a name. They come down from Fort Kent and Madawaska,” he said.

In November 2013, All Seasons Promotions will add a seventh home show by introducing the Eastern States Fall Home Show at the Eastern States Exposition in

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A US Cellular representative chats with visitors to the 2011 Bangor Home Show.

West Springfield, Mass. “When I do this one, the vendors will be coming from all over,” Appleman said.

“We are having a good show season,” he said. “I’m looking forward to Bangor.”

He invited Bangor Home Show

visitors to check out the All Seasons Promotions’ Web site at www.homeshows.com.

Above Appleman’s signature, the Web site stresses, “We bring together the region’s finest builders, remodelers and local businesses.”

4, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

Maine businesses foresee rising demand for home improvement

For many Maine businesses, economic activity is trending upwards in 2012, and as homeowners converge on Bass Park in Bangor for the 42nd Annual Bangor Home Show, they will find that exhibitors and non-exhibitors alike are anxious to discuss homeimprovement needs

If the first quarter of 2012 is any indicator, then Broughman Builders will be busy this spring and summer.

Owned by Mike and Daisy Wight and located at 6 Acadia Way in Ellsworth, Broughman Builders constructs modular and stick-built houses and remodels existing homes. The company will have a large display inside the Bangor Civic Center during the Bangor Home Show.

The Wights expect to talk with many people interested in building new homes. After “an average year” in 2010, “the end of 2011 was dramatically different” in terms of

BDN PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Daisy and Mike Wight are looking forward to meeting Bangor Home Show visitors who stop at the Broughman Builders display inside the Bangor Civic Center.

new construction, Mike Wight said, and the first quarter of 2012 “was the best [quarter] we’ve had

in 33 years.

“People had been sitting on the fence, waiting to see what was

At the PDQ Door exihibit inside the Bangor Auditorium, co-owner David Plowman discusses garage doors with a visitor to the 2011 Bangor Home Show. His business is one of many companies that annually return to the Bangor Home Show.

going to happen to the economy in general,” he said. “The economy is slowly getting better, interest rates are lower than this time last year, the banks are loosening up [on lending],” and fewer “existing homes are on the market.

“People with the money to spend or the desire to build have decided to do so,” Wight said.

Broughman Builders carries three modular lines: • Quebec-based Pro-Fab, which builds “the highest quality modular home you’re going to buy,” he said;

• Pennwest, which builds “their homes … very efficiently” in “a state-of-the-art facility” in Emlenton, Pa., Wight said; • New England Homes, located in Greenland, N.H. Broughman Builders added this line last November.

According to Wight, modular homes offer several advantages, including a quick turn-around, quality construction done in a climate-controlled environment, and a secure work site. Manufacturers can customize modular homes; See BUILDING, Page 5

Building Continued from Page 4 extensive warranties are offered on almost all materials and products sold with such homes.

Broughman Builders can handle an entire home-construction project or just those aspects requested by a homebuyer, Wight indicated.

He can take care of necessary permitting and can also work with planning boards and other entities involved in building projects.

The Wights are seeing “some bigger homes coming back a little,” and “most everybody is going with LP-condensing boilers, which are very much more efficient than oil boilers of years ago and today,” Mike Wight said.

“All your modular homes come with EnergyStar ratings,” he said.

“They’re very energy efficient.”

Daisy Wight, the company’s new sales representative, looks forward to speaking with Bangor Home Show visitors. “The Home Show is crazy in terms of the kinds of leads that develop,” Mike said. “It kicks off the quoting year. We’ll sell seven to 10 houses of a show like that.

“This will be our sixth year” at the Home Show, he said. “We will be in the same spot in the civic center.

“I think a lot of people will be looking for information on new homes” at the 2012 show, Mike Wight said. “I believe this is the

Bangor Daily News, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, 5

turn-around year [for housing construction]. The leads and the people who want to build, it’s phenomenal.”

For more information about Broughman Builders, call (207) 667-7870 or email mike@broughmanbuilders.com.

- Brian Swartz Al Benner Homes, at 314 Main Road in Holden, will host an open house in conjunction with the Bangor Home Show so that attendees can explore both events. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 22. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

“We’re going to have approximately 25 homes on display,” said Larry Benner, general manager.

“We’ll have factory representatives here to answer questions, and we offer factory discounts on our lot models and homes that are ordered.”

Al Benner Homes, one of the largest manufactured home dealers in central Maine, has been in business for 34 years. Energy Star certified single-wide, double-wide and modular homes are available, as are pre-owned homes.

“The open house gives folks a chance to go through the homes and see the difference between a double-wide and a modular, and how much they have improved over the years in construction and quality,” Benner said.

Located at 314 Main Road,

Holden, Al Benner Homes is able to provide a turn-key experience from the financing and home purchase to land sale, site preparation, and landscaping.

“We have different types of financing available, including Maine State Housing,” said Al Benner. “Right now is an ideal time to buy because interest rates are at record lows.”

The company also provides customization of homes. There are 15 lots available in the company’s 60lot Sunny Hollow subdivision in Bangor, and Al Benner Homes can put in the well, septic, electric, and foundation on a customer-owned lot. Al Benner Homes works with subcontractors to provide garages, porches, decks, driveways, and paving.

“We can do pretty much anything anybody desires,” said Benner. “Recently, we’ve expanded our services to include transporting mobile homes, parts, and service.”

For more information, call 9891070 or visit www.albennerhomes.com.

- Sheila Grant ReVision Energy is dedicated to helping people and businesses transition away from fossil fuels to sustainable solar energy. We are a full-service renewable solar-energy contracting company that provides a full range of engineering, design, installation, and equipment service for homes, businesses, municipal buildings, and non See ENERGY, Page 8

A METER COLLAR THAT MAKES CONNECTING A PORTABLE GENERATOR SAFE AND EASY

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A 2011 Bangor Home Show visitor learns about the latest in vacuum cleaner technology from a knowledgeable exhibitor.

6, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

Exhibitor Booth 304 Stillwater Avenue Furniture . . . . . . . 270A, 271 AAA Northern New England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 ADT Night Watch Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 ADT Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Aerus Electrolux . . . . . . . . . . . . 112, 113, 156, 157 Air & Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Allen/Freeman/McDonnell Agency . . . . . . . . . . 282 Allenfarm Fence Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288, 289 American Concrete Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321 Andersen Windows . . . . . . . . . . 130, 137, 311, 314 Andy’s Pool Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326A Another Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265, 280 Apple Creek Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276, 277 Aqua-Max of Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211, 212 Aquaduct Seamless Gutter Systems & Home Improvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233, 234 Aquatic Development Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Armor Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Atlantic Designs Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 Avon/Mirabella Candles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 B.W. Hewes & Associates Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Back In Balance Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Bangor Daily News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Bath Fitter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149, 320 Blazing Needles Embroidery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268 Bluegreen Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Bonsey Bothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Boulderz Poolz & Spas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Breakwater Design Build Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Broughman Builders Inc. *** . . . . . . . . . . 226, 227 Camden National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Camp & Cottage Store, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Carefree Window & Siding Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Central Maine Moving & Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Central Maine Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 Circle D Sprayform Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120, 121 Coastline Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 College Pro USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Collegiate Entrepreneurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Comfort Furnace Infrared Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 Commotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300B Cross Insurance *** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Daily Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Darling’s Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Dave Ireland Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 Dave’s World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246, 247 Dead River Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Dogwatch Hidden Fence of Greater Bangor . . . . 139 Dorr’s Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . C Outdoor Village Downeast Kitchen Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Downeast Seamless Gutters . . . . . E Outside Village Ed’s Sheds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outside location Elco Geothermal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Ellsworth Building Supply . . . . . 141, 142, 316, 317 Energy Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B/A Evergreen Home Solutions. . . . . . . A Outside Village Festiva Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 Frank Webb’s Bath Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208, 209 Fresh Air Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 F.W. Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130, 137, 311, 314 G.E. Strout Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Gagne & Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323 Glencross Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273, 274 Global Power Products/GenerLink *** . . . . . . . 135 Godin’s General Contractor Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Bangor Daily News, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, 7

This exhibitor list and map is accurate as of April 12, 2012. There may be late changes before the show starts, so be sure to browse the entire show!

APRIL 20, 21, 22 Vendors in bold red type are also advertisers in this Special Section. Those marked by asterisks *** are also featured in the exhibitors article on page 4.

Granicrete of Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Granite Shop, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164, 165 Granville Stone & Hearth . . 304A, D Outdoor Village Green Thumb Lawn Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309B Greenway Equipment Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . 324, 325 Greenworks, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Main entrance Hammersaw Solar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 Hammond Lumber Co. *** . . . . . . . . . . . . 319, 322 Harbor Shore Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Hazelton Woodworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Health Craft Cooking Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 Hickory Dickory Decks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Hilltop Log Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 Holgerson Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Home Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Home Energy Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 Intercoastal Concrete & Waterproofing . . . . . . . 210 Invisible Fence of Central Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

Irving Energy . . . . . . . . . 152, 153, Outdoor Exhibit F Island Pool & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302A, 303 Jerky Hut, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Civic Center Lobby Kent Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Kitchen Craft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 205 Kuhns Bros. Log Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Legacy Home Improvements Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . 133 LePage & Eaton Countertops . . . . . . . . . . 150, 151 Liberty Mutual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Little Giant Ladders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Lumber Liquidators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263, 264 Lymans Farm Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 M & K Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Maine Alternative Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Maine Cedar Specialty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230, 231 Maine Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107, 108 Maine Residential Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Mainely Metals Mailswing Mailboxes . . . . . . . . . 254

Maplecrest Lilies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Mill Mall Furniture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270A, 271 Missy’s Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 MMJ Promotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 My Pillow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Myerowitz Chiropractic & Acupuncture Clinic . . . 236 Nagy Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118, 237 Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Food Pantry . . 114 Nelson’s Candies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 New Form Building Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . 244, 245 Northeast Flagpole Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318A Northeastern Log Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Nyle Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Oak n Pine Cabinet Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 One Stop Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Osher Environmental Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Overhead Door Co. of Bangor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 P.D.Q. Door *** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304B, 305 Palmers Magnetic Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . 228, 229 Paul’s Pellets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B/A Civic Center Pella Windows & Doors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327, 330 Penquis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Pine State Drilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Pine Tree Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Pinetree Foam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Portland Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256, 257 Princess House Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 Prudential Northeast Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Qualey Granite & Quartz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 Quality Home Products . . . . . . . . . . . 112, 124, 248 Rainaway Seamless Gutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 Red Brick Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 ReVision Energy *** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Reynolds Custom Woodworks . . . . . . . . . . 150, 151 R.H. Foster Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161, 326B Rhonda LaVoie, Scensty Consultant . . . . . . . . . . 291 Roy Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Sandollar Spa & Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129, 307 Select Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Sherwin-Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Showcase Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Silverline/American Craftsman . . . . . . . . . 251, 252 Simply Cannoli Sleep Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 217, 218, 219 Snap Space Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Softub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221, 222 Somerset Stone Center & Excavation . . . . 147, 148 Sun Dog Solar Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Swift Chimney Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Swift Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 TC Hafford Basement Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 To The Queen’s Taste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232, 243 Top Quality Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Tub Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 Tuffy Bear Discount Furniture . . . . . . . . . . 158, 159 Twin City Tint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 U.S. Cellular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Up & Up Post and Beam Homes Inc. . . . . . . . . 309A V.L. Walton’s Flooring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 Vienna Raised Bed Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Viking Lumber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130, 137, 311, 314 Vita Mix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B/A Ward Cedar Log Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Williams Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 WJD Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B/A

8, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

Energy Continued from Page 5 profits.

As a trusted industry leader in solar design, installation, and service, we achieve our vision by maintaining the highest standards of technical accomplishment and customer satisfaction. Since our start in 2003, we have installed more than 2,500 solar systems.

Fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the region are shrinking as a result of our installations, while we help

New Englanders save money with lower utility bills.

ReVision Energy is fortunate to have an outstanding team of committed people creating success at our three locations: Liberty and Portland in Maine and in Exeter, N.H. Our frequent collaboration between offices ensures the highest level of technical expertise to be found in the Northeast, as well as the best pricing for our clients Visitors to our booth at the Bangor Home Show can sign up for a free site assessment, talk with one of our solar experts, and learn about current solar tax incentives.

Come check out our display of

solar electric and solar hot water equipment. We’ll also have videos showing how solar power works.

For more information about how solar systems work, ReVision Energy, or current solar incentives, visit our Web site at www.revisionenergy.com. If you miss us at the Bangor Home Show, you can still sign up for a free site visit by calling (207) 589-4171 or emailing meghan@revisionenergy.com.

- ReVision Energy Since opening in 1953, Ham mond Lumber has grown from the Belgrade location to 12 stores statewide. The company has displayed at the Bangor Home Show for more years than 16-year veteran Steve Hardy, Hammond’s Bangor store manager, can remember.

Hammond Lumber carries windows, doors, sinks, tubs, lighting fixtures, and other building components, along with lumber. The company offers composite decks, docks, garage packages, kitchens, baths, and many other products and services. Hammond also provides design services, from drafting to free estimates, and free delivery within 24 hours of the order within “striking distance” of any store.

“This is a good time to renovate a kitchen or bath or to upgrade windows and doors,” said Hardy.

“We have some great deals on granite and other solid-surface countertops.

“As more people look into kitchens, it turns out to be a good investment and drives the resale value of your home even higher. By replacing windows and doors, you upgrade to more

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A visitor at the 2011 Bangor Home Show checks a carpet sample at an exhibitor’s booth. Almost every conceivable home-improvement product and service will be on display during the 2012 Bangor Home Show, slated for April 20-22 at Bass Park.

energy efficient models that save heating costs and add to curb appeal,” he said.

Hammond will have a kitchen display, windows, doors, composite decking, flooring, roofing, and other products at the Bangor Home Show. The company will also have literature available on vinyl railings, tubs, showers, countertops, granite, and other items not displayed, and Hammond usually offers sale prices during the show, as well.

“I think it’s valuable for con-

sumers to go to the show so that they can see the people they may speak with over the phone or over the counter at the store, and see the products that Hammond will promote,” said Hardy. “We’re local and in the community, which makes it easy and comforting, knowing it will be the same people you talk with at the show and speak with at the store.”

For more information, call Hammond Lumber’s Bangor location at 945-9416.

- Sheila Grant

Bangor Daily News, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, 9

A lighting plan can transform the interior mood of a home

According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), lighting should complement your lifestyle. When planning your lighting, the ALA suggests you look at the activities that occur in each room of your home, the atmosphere you want to create, and the decorative elements you wish to emphasize, taking note of those areas that serve multiple purposes and those that will require more than one type of lighting.

for dining and entertaining. They can also be used in bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping or a grand piano.

• Pendants provide both task and general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are suspended from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters, or other work areas.

• Ceiling fixtures offer general

lighting and are used in foyers, hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, etc.

• Wall-mounted fixtures are great for general, task and accent lighting needs. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom or living room lighting.

• Bath/vanity lighting strips supply task lighting while supple-

Types of Lighting

There are three basic types of lighting — general, task and accent — and a good lighting plan combines all three to light an area according to function and style.

• General lighting is a basic form of lighting that replaces sunlight and provides an area with overall illumination. It radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely.

• Task lighting helps you perform specific tasks such as reading, sewing, cooking, doing homework or playing a game. It should be free of distracting glare and shadows and bright enough to prevent eyestrain.

• Accent lighting adds drama to a room by creating visual interest.

As part of a decorating scheme, it is used to spotlight paintings, houseplants, sculptures and other prized possessions. It can also highlight the texture of a wall, drapery or outdoor landscaping.

Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it.

Types of Lighting Fixtures

Once you’ve selected what you want to light, you’ll have to decide how you’re going to light it. There are many different styles, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures to choose from. Here are some examples to consider: • Hall/foyer fixtures create a congenial atmosphere while providing the general lighting you need to greet guests and safely move about your home. Use ceiling, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways.

• Chandeliers add sparkle and style to a dining room while giving you the general lighting you need

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Bangor Home Show visitors check out exhibitors’ booths inside the Bangor Auditorium.

menting the general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures.

• Portable lamps can deliver general, task and accent lighting while giving you the flexibility to

move the light whenever you want.

Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchieres are available in a variety of styles to complement any décor.

Prevent wildfires near a home

As part of their wildfire prevention program, Maine forest rangers have become experts at educating homeowners on how they can reduce the risk of wildfire near their homes. This program is known as the “Wildland Urban Interface” program; it has lead to Maine having four nationally recognized “Firewise Communities USA” and a prestigious “Telly” award for the DVD titled “Defensible Space, it could save your home.”

The DVD can be viewed by visiting http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/fpd/pages/wui/wui.html. It offers tips on using “Firewise” landscaping and “fire resistant” building materials that could save your home from a wildfire.

Maine forest rangers have also been recognized by the USDA Forest Service for their “Defensible Space Chipping Program,” which utilizes volunteers from fire departments and local citizens to help reduce brush near homes in Firewise communities.

Maine forest rangers work under the Maine Forest Service’s Forest Protection Division within the Department of Conservation. Their mission is to protect Maine’s forests from wildfire, provide natural resources law enforcement, respond to disasters and emergencies, and to enhance the safe, sound, and responsible management of Maine’s forests.

Forest rangers have the final on-site authority and responsibility for all wildfires statewide. Their duties include prevention (education, prescribed fire and law enforcement), presuppression (wildfire equipment maintenance and readiness), detection (ground patrols and air detection flights), and, of course, wildfire suppression. They also investigate more than 500 wildfires annually.

For more information on these programs, please, visit www.maineforestservice.gov or call 1-800-750-9777.

Enter to win great prizes and save on new heating equipment!

Heating oil, propane, and diesel for your home or business • Great Prices • Over 99% On Time Fuel Delivery • Expert Equipment Installation and Repair

1.888.310.1924

or irvingenergy.com

10, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

Homeowners will work with different businesses on 2012 projects

Mainers planning to build or remodel homes this year will work with various businesses before construction projects are completed. From obtaining a loan to insuring a home to installing a garage door or a generator to keep the lights on during a power failure, Mainers can rely on these businesses to assist with home-related projects.

In 1918, Katahdin Trust Co. opened its doors in Patten to fulfill a need for a true community bank.

Over the years, generations of Maine families and businessowners have enjoyed Katahdin Trust’s unique brand of service-driven, relationship-based banking as the bank expanded to 14 locations throughout Aroostook County.

During the past 24 months, Katahdin Trust Co. has introduced its signature banking in the Bangor area with branch locations on Western Avenue in Hampden and in the Broadway Shopping Plaza in Bangor. In May, a third location is scheduled to open in the Christ-

During the 2011 Bangor Home Show, a Hammond Lumber Co. staffer discusses home-improvement projects with show visitors.

mas Tree Shop Plaza on Springer Drive in Bangor, according to Danelle Weston, Katahdin Trust Co.’s regional vice president.

“We are proud to expand our presence in the Bangor area, and this new location will include full banking services as our commercial loan office currently located on Stillwater Avenue will be relocating to this new facility,” Weston

said. “Our brand of banking has been warmly embraced by friends old and new throughout the region.”

Weston also pointed out the great opportunity that area homeowners now have with the great specials available at Katahdin Trust Co. “Customers are finding our home-equity specials very attrac-

BDN PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Taking a load off the feet, 2011 Bangor Home Show visitors test the comfort of a mattress set up at a Bangor Civic Center exhibit.

tive for refinancing their existing mortgage because of the low fixedrate options. And these products can be used for just about anything, making them a great choice for home improvements or vacations,” she said.

Weston also commented that the bank has a home equity line of

credit that allows for even more flexibility with interest-only payments and the option to make larger lump sum payments if a customer wants to reduce the principal at their own pace.

The bank recently announced a new fixed-rate home equity prodSee INSURANCE, Page 11

A visitor to the 2011 Bangor Home Show examines a fireplace, a bench, and other home decor that an exhibitor has created from stone.

Bangor Daily News, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, 11

Insurance Continued from Page 10 uct for well-qualified customers who can afford a short repayment schedule, but may have limited or diminished equity in their homes.

“The difference is that this one allows customers to borrow 90 percent of the value of the home,” explained Weston.

“We’d love for people to come in and get to know us,” she said. “We enjoy having the opportunity to meet new customers and to tailor the right home loan solution to meet their unique financial needs or goals. And, aside from the products we offer, we are equally proud of the service we provide.”

For more information about Katahdin Trust Co. and its products and services, contact Danelle Weston at (207) 862-2211.

- Sheila Grant

Woodrow Cross, 95, started the Cross Insurance Co. at his kitchen table in Bangor in 1954.

“It’s still a family business,” said Sandra Phinney, who manages the personal insurance department at the Bangor office. “He still comes into the agency every day. His work ethic, his business expertise, and the way he deals with people are the mainstays that have grown this business over the years.”

Cross Insurance has offices in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. An independent agency, it works with more than 50 other insurance companies.

“We have personal insurance products, such as car, home, recreational vehicle, and business insurance, as well as life and health insurance, both at the individual level and as an employee benefit for businesses,” said Phinney.

One thing that sets the agency apart, she said, is that while locally owned and operated, it has the size and geographic reach to offer a wide variety of products.

“That gives our clients the best of both worlds in having a local agent in their town, yet our size allows us to work with more companies and have more options, and a lot of times, that equates to more savings,” she said.

Being local also allows the company to understand the needs of commercial businesses such as contractors, logging and, trans-

BDN PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Exhibitors displayed many products and services during the 2011 Bangor Home Show. Popular points of discussion were heat pumps (above) and Maine-made furniture (right).

portation, she said.

“We really enjoy the Bangor Home Show,” said Phinney. “It’s a chance to get out there to have fun with people. Insurance isn’t everyone’s favorite topic, so we just really enjoy meeting people, and we usually have some great prizes so that people will stop and talk with us and find out we’re nice people.

We want to help them protect the assets that they’ve worked hard for from catastrophe.”

For more information, call Cross Insurance Agency at 9477345.

- Sheila Grant PDQ Door Company is a statewide one-stop shop for garage doors, garage door openers, security doors, screens and awnings, shutters, and more from quality, top-name brands such as Liftmas-

ter, Raynor, Sawmill Creek, and C.H.I. PDQ Door offers a wide variety of beautiful, functional and durable garage doors and security products for a home, cottage, or commercial building.

David and Debra Plowman, along with their business partners Kerry and Heidi Fifer, started PDQ Door Company Inc. in 1994 with six employees. Today the company employs more than 50 people and operates in six Maine locations: Hampden, Rockport, Waterville, Bath, Houlton, and Presque Isle.

According to David Plowman, PDQ stands for “Pretty Darn Quick,” and that’s the company’s goal: to provide service as soon as possible for its customers.

Whether it’s sales, service, or installation, PDQ Door prides itself on acting quickly and efficiently when it comes to its cus-

One product that always captures attention during the Bangor Home Show is an all-in-one ladder that folds into multiple configurations for use indoors and outdoors.

tomers’ needs.

“Same-day service is the norm for us,” said Plowman. “We also offer 24-hour emergency service and have a full line of parts in stock to be able to serve our cus-

tomers when they need us.”

Last year, the International Door Association named PDQ Door the 2011 Door Dealer of the Year, a first for Maine and New See DOORS, Page 12

12, Wednesday | April 18, 2012, Bangor Daily News

Doors Continued from Page 11 England and a rare honor bestowed by the 5,000-member IDA. At the Bangor Home Show, PDQ Door will display the new Liftmaster 8850 garage door opener with battery backup and MyQ technology that allows a homeowner to control the garage door from a smart phone and other

applications. PDQ Door will also feature an R-18 wooden carriage house-style garage door and an R17 steel insulated carriage housestyle garage door that looks like wood, but is actually a low maintenance steel.

Global Power Products, located in Lawrenceville, Ga., manufactures the GenerLink automatic transfer switch, the industry’s most reliable and effective solution for safely connecting a generator to your home.

The use of a portable generator by homeowners during a power outage can be lethal if the equipment is not utilized properly. The GenerLink Automatic Transfer Switch ensures the home is removed from the utility grid when a generator is used, thus eliminating the possibility of the back feeding of electricity.

The unit can be installed in less than 20 minutes, gives you access to your entire electrical panel, and ships with a standard 20-foot cord that ensures a connected generator

is outside, in a well ventilated area to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It is also beneficial for a utility during the regeneration of the lines because anyone with a GenerLink installed will remain off the grid, reducing the “cold load pickup.”

The GenerLink is a breakbefore-make transfer switch. It is UL 1008 listed and conforms to the National Electric Code section 702. Many utilities in the United States and Canada have approved the GenerLink for installation in their service territories.

In Maine, the Bangor HydroElectric Co., Central Maine Power, Kennebunk Light and Power, the

Madison Electric Co., and Maine Public Service have approved the GenerLink for installation into their service territory.

During the Bangor Home Show, GenerLink representatives will be at booth 135 to answer your questions and offer live demonstrations of the GenerLink transfer switch.

Global Power Products also manufactures surge-protection devices and solid-state electric meters for residential and commercial applications. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please, visit the company’s Web site at www.generlink.com or www.globalpowerproducts.com.

If you think this is the only place to f ind money hidden in your home, think again.

Beyond the cushions, thousands of dollars could be hidden in your home.

Let us help you find it.

For many years, a steam mop demonstration that takes place throughout the day has been a popular attraction for Bangor Home Show visitors.

Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loan 5 year or 10 year

%

2.99

APR 1

Low, fixed interest rate • No annual fee Provides tax benefits for many borrowers2 Borrow up to 80% of your home’s equity Think you don’t have enough equity in your home?

We also have a special rate with lower equity requirements.

www.katahdintrust.com 52 Springer Dr, Bangor Opening May 21!

609 Broadway, Bangor • 942-3146 | 57 Western Ave, Hampden • 862-2211 Plus, 14 branch offices throughout northern Maine.

1 Subject to credit approval. 2.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) effective 12/19/11. Subject to change without notice. Maximum loan-to-value ratio is 80% for 2.99% APR; special rate available for loan-tovalue ratio of 90%. Loan amounts from $25,000 to $200,000. Must be a first mortgage. Property insurance required. On a $75,000 ten-year fixed rate home equity loan with terms as stated above and 30 days until first payment, monthly payment would be $723.88 and total repayment of $86,866.65. Monthly payment shown as an example does not include tax and insurance payments, which will result in a higher payment obligation. Prepayment fee of $125 if closed within first 24 months.

Current customers will be charged a documentation fee of 1% of the loan amount with a minimum fee of $250 or maximum fee of $1,500 for loans refinance with less than the $25,000 minimum or less than $10,000 in new money. 2Please consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest.