the best of the best: Find out where and when the 2013 Parade of Homes is being held.
looking ahead:
advice: Replacing weedy areas, one daylily at a time.
On July 17, find out what is hot both on and along the roads of Central New York in Excellence in Travel and Leisure.
“Regarding weed control, whatever you do, do it yesterday. The key is to prevent a weed from producing seeds.” To read more see page 2
Excellence in Home & Garden July 10, 2013
To read more see page 2
2013excellence
All decked out
F
ew things are better than having a functional and beautiful outdoor space to entertain guests. There are many things homeowners can do to ensure their entertaining space is safe and functional. As the weather warms, include some landscaping and decorating components to your preparatory plans to make the space as comfortable and aesthetically appealing as possible. Here are a few key tips for readying your yard for entertaining possibilities. Expand on these basics to customize an area for your unique needs. ✓ Check the area for any needed repairs.
A supplement to Eagle Newspapers
Prepare for outdoor entertaining this summer
When refurbishing outdoor entertaining areas, emphasize comfort, safety and functionality. Prior to your first entertaining session, look over the deck or patio to take note of any flaws that may present safety hazards. Be sure to remedy all of the repairs needed to ensure guests will be safe. If you are unsure of any structural deficits, consult a contractor. ✓ Hire a reputable contractor. If you are just laying the groundwork for a new patio or deck, it is important to get the necessary permits and then hire a person who has been properly vetted. Check qualifications and licensing before hiring a contractor and ask to view a portfolio of his or her previous work. Word-of-mouth recommendations from trusted friends and
family members are good, and you can also double-check qualifications by contacting the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged or use a service such as Angie's List to read reviews of his or her work. ✓ Think about closing in a portion of a deck or patio. The use of a canopy, netting or even greenery to protect an entertaining space can help minimize weather-related damage to outdoor furniture. Having a bit of concealment also means you can create a private space that a neighbor or passersby can’t easily view. ✓ Plan well-defined areas. Establish a sitting
nook where guests can gather and talk. Have a bar or serving area where refreshments are made and served. Make sure there is a shaded area for when the sun is too uncomfortable to make sitting outside enjoyable. Similarly, have a sunny area where people can soak up a few rays or dry off after a dip in the spa or pool. Don't forget to establish a spot for the kids to See Decks on page 2
Leading woman manages construction firm with ease By Farah F. Jadran She drives around Central New York in her silver Suburban ready for meetings with government entities, but in an instant she can ditch the designer heels for the Timberlands in her backseat. “I just never know when I have to be on site and look at land,” said Joy Anthis Weatherup, construction manager and designer. When Joy steps onto a construction site, she’s in charge. Whether the team is working on an electrical phase or a framing stage, and there’s two men or 10, they’re looking to Joy as their leader. Without flat out saying it, Joy is, as are any women in the construction management field, a minority in her profession. However, she’s always been “the only one” for as long as she can remember. Since Joy was a young girl in high school,
she was working with her father for his fencing business, Central Fence. “My father felt like a kid should learn the value of hard work,” she said. So, while other kids were out playing or meeting up with friends, she was at the office with her dad. Joy would work on cost accounting and review blueprints, and her father would even send her to bid openings for large-scale municipal jobs, correctional facilities and airports, nothing residential. “Not only was I extremely young, and basically a little girl…I was uncomfortable at first.” But after a while, she was just one of the guys bidding on a big project. “The best advice I ever got was from my dad,” Joy said. “When I was still in high school he told me, ‘You could have 10 [college] degrees, but the world is full of people…and if you can’t get along with people, it doesn’t matter how educated you are.’”
Joy went on to earn her degree from Le Moyne College, while still working for her father. And since, she has a New York State Certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise. She’s currently in the process of recertifying her business to capitalize on a commercial construction management component of her business. “I love residential work and working with individual families, but there’s a lot going on with commercial and municipal…I’d be remiss if I ignored that.” Because there is a lack of women construction managers, her business has received even more opportunities because of its unique nature. Joy said more than ever, she has been meeting with several consulting agencies and engineering firms to talk to them about how a woman-owned business in construction can help them satisfy See Designing on page 5
I try and get into the heads of my clients. I try to figure out what they need. - Joy Anthis Weatherup
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