All it takes is one Key Piece to make your house a home. Our distinctive home furnishings will surround you with warmth, style, and comfort. We offer design and color consultations for any room.
W282 N7148 Main Street, Downtown Merton Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, 11-3 www.keypiecesdecor.com ~ 262-337-1728
Duesing Realty, LLC
Buyer’s agent | Listing agent | Consulting | Staging Duesing Realty does more than help people buy or sell properties. We solve problems & create solutions. We are the space between where you are and where you are going. Many agents think their most important job is satisfying the client. We believe that is the MINIMUM requirement. Having 30 years of experience in the housing industry & blending it seamlessly with a 10 year real estate career, I hope you will afford me the opportunity to walk this journey with you!
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Ed Liermann n Publisher
“Winter with White Roofs, an painting in oil by George Raab. This unique find is available at Riverview Antiques, located at 2045 West St. Paul Ave.,Milwaukee. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. For more information call 414-278-9999, or go to www.RiverviewAntiqueMarket.com.
I love my ornamental hanging creations! Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than bright colors and twinkling light. Making ornaments for the holidays is natural for me…and, I just can’t bear to put all that beauty away at the end of the season! So…I make ornaments that are suitable for year round use. Hang these whimsical art pieces in your window, or other light filled location, and enjoy the magic of color and light all year long! MoeChic. The Stonewood Village Barn. 17700 West Capital Dr. Brookfield, WI. 262-794-3204.
The holiday season is fast approaching. Time for lights, garlands, and table displays. Enhance your dining table or foyer this year with these beautiful glittered prancing reindeer as your centerpiece. Simple means elegant when picking out the right piece or pieces. Stop by Key Pieces and stroll through our festive boutique for other inspirational ideas. Key Pieces, W282 N7148 Main Street, Downtown Merton, Tues.- Sat. 10:00-5:00, Sunday 11-3, www.keypiecesdecor.com, 262-337-1728.
Elevate your holidays with this sleek Room & Board table and chairs. Whether you are looking for a unique buying experience or a friendly place to sell your treasures, The Ottoman Society, Milwaukee’s fine furniture consignment shop, is here for you. 13408 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, WI 53122 - Just behind Great Harvest Bread. 262-786-1786 or visit theottomansociety.com Stop in to see new items that come in daily.
Exclusively Yours
EXCLUSIVELY YOURS MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2025 VOLUME 7 9 ISSUE 1
Digital edition @ www.eymag.com
n n n 5 The Gallery
Browse offerings from a few of our area’s finest shops and businesses.
6 Fashion Gallery
Fashion awaits at The Garment Shop, Cambridge, Picardy Shoe Parlour of Mequon and Brookfield.
8 The End Of Suffering
For some people, the very notion that suffering can be eliminated elevates their skepticism. However, most would agree that suffering can be reduced. by Victor Parachin
14 In A Time Of Need…A Helping Hand
VETSNET, a Wisconsin-based organization, exists to help guide and support veterans in times of greatest need. by Anne Kaiser
17 Christmas Fantasy House
Key Pieces Home Decor & Gifts, was privileged to be one of the decorators at this years Christmas Fantasy House.
18 Experience Refined Living ~ At The Legend At Brandybrook
The perfect blend of elegance, comfort, and modern design in this spectacular 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath Synergy custom home.
22 Colorful Kitchen Inspirations
The kitchen is the heart of many homes, and careful planning is a necessity when it comes to redesigning this essential living space.
25 Picardy Holiday Ensembles
If you love women’s designers footwear, apparel and accessories, look no further. Check out Picardy Shoe Parlor, of Mequon and Brookfield, to view the latest in fall fashions.
27 New Wind Or Hail Deductible
At Robert J. Feest & Associates, they value their relationship with you and want to keep you informed about an upcoming change impacting the renewal of your Homeowners policy.
30 God’s Corner by Gertrude M. Puelicher
by Victor Parachin
For one, cut through the feeling that any challenging circumstance is permanent. All I teach is suffering and the end of suffering.
CLEARLY, THE ABOVE STATEMENT, attributed to the Buddha, indicates he was both a realist and an optimist when he taught that humans will suffer and that humans can bring an end to their suffering. For some people, the very notion that suffering can be eliminated elevates their skepticism. However, most would agree that suffering can be reduced.
Ways to Defuse and Disable Suffering Practice better thinking.
Along with being a positive thinker, try being a better thinker. After all, the Buddha famously said: “Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.”
If you’re struggling, try to re-program your thinking.
Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm, who was born in England and embraced Buddhism as a youth, provides an example of how to do this. When Brahm was a novice monk in Thailand, he and a group of monks were assigned to move a huge mound of earth (left over from a construction project) to a less visible area on the monastery grounds. For three days they worked in the Thai heat, from 10 am until after sunset, using only shovels and wheelbarrows to complete the task.
At some point during those three days, the Abbot was called away from the monastery. When the job was finished the deputy gathered the crew of monks, telling them they had moved the earth to the wrong place. Annoyed but obedient, Brahm and the others labored for another three days in the tropical heat to move the mound for a second time. When the abbot returned, he called Brahm and the crew together and demanded to know why the pile of earth was in the wrong location. He ordered them to move it yet again.
Brahm recalls being livid and swearing in English. As he cursed and pushed the wheelbarrow, another monk, sensing his anger and frustration, spoke to him in his limited English, saying: “Pushing a wheelbarrow isn’t hard; how you think about it makes it hard.” That comment resonated with Brahm and empowered him to think better. With the mind shift, even the wheelbarrow load suddenly felt lighter and he felt freer.
Apply this wisdom to any struggles you’re experiencing. Here are some examples:
n Being unemployed isn’t hard; how I think about it makes it hard.
n Being divorced isn’t hard; how I think about it makes it hard.
n Being sick isn’t hard; how I think about it makes it hard.
n Being gossiped about isn’t hard; how I think about it makes it hard.
Defuse anger. Sadly, being controlled by anger increases and deepens suffering. To those who recommend “getting the anger out,” Psychology Today Editor at Large Hara Estroff Marano urges caution and reconsideration: “Anger doesn’t automatically dissipate by being unleashed. We rarely experience catharsis. Venting it in words or action doesn’t make anger easier to manage; often it only increases the intensity of the feeling. Anger often feeds on itself. Plus, by furthering aggression it often brings irreversible damage to those in the immediate vicinity.”
According to the Dalai Lama, anger is selfsabotaging. When asked if he is “angry” at China for invading Tibet and causing unimaginable suffering upon the Tibetan people, he responds this way: “If I were to develop feelings of vindictiveness, anger, or hatred towards the Chinese, who would be the loser? I would, because I would thereby lose my peace of mind, my sleep, and my appetite. At the same time, my bitterness would not affect the Chinese in the least. If I became
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extremely upset, that would also prevent me from making those around me happy.” Be like the Dalai Lama—when anger emerges, immediately apply its antidotes: patience, tolerance, compassion, and forgiveness.
Accelerate impermanence.
The Buddha introduced a simple but powerful concept called “impermanence.” It refers to the reality that nothing in life is firm and locked in place but is constantly changing and shifting.
Impermanence is a simple liberation teaching that empowers us to cut through the feeling that any challenging circumstance is permanent. Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh realized this. During the darkest days of the Vietnam War, a group of young people came to him, asking: “Do you have any hope that the war will end soon?”
“At that point, I could not see any sign of the war ending,” Nhat Hanh recalls with remarkable candor. “But I did not want either of them or myself to drown in an ocean of despair.” He remained silent for some time before responding: “The Buddha said that everything is impermanent. The war has to end one day. The question is, what can we do to accelerate the impermanence?”
Apply Buddhist impermanence to your life anytime you are suffering. Gently but firmly remind yourself that the situation will inevitably change, that the way you currently feel is not how you will feel in a few weeks or months. Add to that your own creative intelligence by reviewing all possible steps you could take to take to shift and shape the event toward a Shift from the negative to the positive.
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better,” is the straightforward but profound advice from the Dalai Lama. Much of the suffering we experience is the result of our own negative thinking. The fact is that maintaining a positive frame of mind reduces anxiety and suffering while raising happiness and joy. And, it’s surprisingly easy to retrain a mind which is habitually negative.
The ancient yogic sage Patanjali makes this suggestion: “When presented with negative, disquieting thoughts or feelings, cultivate an opposite, elevated attitude.” An almost identical approach is offered by twentieth-century writer Norman Vincent Peale (The Power Of Positive Thinking). Whenever a negative thought comes to mind, he writes, “deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.”
Continued on page 26
by Anne Kaiser
For the numerous individuals who have bravely and selflessly given of their time and energy in support of our country’s armed forces, many navigate a challenging road as they re-enter society following service. While many qualify for and enjoy various community supports offered to veterans, for others, the journey towards re-establishing a long-term life path within the civilian population can be demanding, even fraught with unforeseen obstacles.
FORTUNATELY, VETSNET, a Wisconsin-based organization, exists to help guide and support veterans in times of greatest need. The program, directed by Wisconsin Veterans Network’s Executive Director Quentin Hatfield, “was established in 2016 to begin exploring how to identify services and connect veterans to them,” according to Hatfield. The idea for VetsNet originally arose in late 2015 and early 2016, when the board members of Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative realized, according to Hatfield, that “their clients for food and furniture had many other needs and the veterans they served did not know who served those needs or where those services were.” He noted that the board developed and established the VetsNet organization because “they recognized that there was a need to help veterans navigate the veteran services space to address issues like homelessness and prevention, energy assistance, connection to health services and benefits, home and auto repairs, education benefits, and a host of other issues.”
At this time, VetsNet solely serves veterans in Wisconsin, though the organization maintains relationships with organizations in other states that supply similar services. Hatfield indicated that VetsNet will also “do the groundwork” to help locate agencies that can help offer necessary support to
those in need elsewhere in the country.
Currently the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Network, Quentin Hatfield joined VetsNet shortly after he moved to Wisconsin. Before its formal incorporation in 2017, the board serving VetsNet began an official search for its leadership. As a Vietnam veteran, Hatfield had witnessed several friends and family members struggle during the transition back into civilian life following active service.
“I became very interested in the mission as I became aware of it,” he commented on his interest in serving fellow veterans navigating familiar challenges. Hatfield further brought powerful experience to VetsNet from a leadership perspective, having previously served as CEO of three different companies in different states.
In his words, this gave him “a skill set for leadership and the tools to establish a new brand and build awareness through outreach, public relations and single-minded focus on organization and recruiting skilled people to accomplish the mission.”
VetsNet was formally incorporated in early 2017 as a nonprofit. Prior to its formal incorporation, the organization had already helped 456 veterans secure needed assistance beyond the scope of Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative’s work. Since many veterans and their families find the network of existing veterans-based
A Helping Hand n n n
services complex to navigate, VetsNet aimed to ease this process. Working with the VA, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO)—including VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and others—as well as with over 500 other organizations serving veterans in Wisconsin, VetsNet aims to “serve veterans from any corner of the state with their needs,” according to Hatfield. VetsNet initially began by connecting veterans in southeastern Wisconsin to the over 150 veterans-service organizations in that part of the state.
VetsNet currently networks with and has partnered with veteran resource groups in other areas of Wisconsin, such as Madison, Wausau, Green Bay, Fond du Lac, and the Fox Valley region. Through these connections, Hatfield and the VetsNet staff seek to learn about the services each related organization provides, to better be able to partner with and “quickly meet the needs represented by our veteran population,” Hatfield explained. Hatfield seeks to understand and identify specifically what each veteran service organization offers as well as what veterans need to do to qualify for these services.
Because of the strength of these networks and connections, Hatfield explained that VetsNet was asked to represent the national program Onward Ops for the state of Wisconsin, starting in 2021. Through this partnership, Hatfield noted that VetsNet helps to “assist active-duty service members who are exiting the military to identify their needs prior to leaving active duty and [to] help them prepare a homecoming plan to address needs for housing, employment, medical and mental health services, VA home loan qualification and connection to VA health care when they exit active duty.”
In addition to thriving under Hatfield’s expert guidance, VetsNet further benefits from the
inside knowledge and experience of its staff. Apart from VetsNet’s business manager, the entire professional staff of the organization are veterans. Of the organization’s ten-member board, eighty percent are either veterans or active duty/national guard service members. “The combined experience of our staff and board guides much of our discussion about service development and identifying groups of veterans not being adequately served,” Hatfield said.
Hatfield has steered VetsNet towards inclusion, and in particular, towards successfully meeting the needs of veterans who might not otherwise receive adequate support. “Since inception, we have sought to identify specific segments of the veteran community who are underserved,” Hatfield explained. “To that end, recruiting people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds [and] different genders has been important to us to help us understand cultural differences, and specifically [towards developing] effective ways to communicate across the entire veteran community.”
Among those who have served in the armed forces, Hatfield said that current members as well as veterans of the National Guard and Reserves “are often overlooked or don’t qualify for services other veterans do, so we have expanded our service offerings to include them and specifically reach out to them.”
In addition to seeking diversity within its staff and helping to reach out to a more diverse population of veterans, VetsNet seeks to continue to expand the scope of its governing board. As VetsNet grows, one goal, according to Hatfield, is to recruit board members from outside the southeastern Wisconsin region. Hatfield said he hopes that this might allow for expanded representation “of the various areas of the state which include both other urban areas and vastly rural areas whose veterans have differing needs.” In this manner, VetsNet strives to continue to broaden the positive impact it has on veterans’ lives, through Continued on page 20
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STEP INSIDE TO A BRIGHT, open-concept main level designed for both everyday living and entertaining. The chef’s kitchen is a true showpiece, featuring premium custom cabinetry, high-end countertops, Wolf/SubZero-level appliances, and an oversized island that serves as the heart of the home—ideal for gatherings and casual meals. The kitchen flows seamlessly into the dining area and great room, where expansive windows bathe the space in natural light and frame serene views of the professionally landscaped property.
The main-floor primary suite is a private retreat, offering a spacious bedroom, a spa-inspired en suite bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in shower, and an expansive custom-built closet designed for organization and style.
The finished lower level is an entertainer’s dream, thoughtfully curated for relaxation and recreation. Enjoy a spacious family room with custom built-ins, a high-end wet bar perfect for hosting, a dedicated exercise room, and even a putting green area for year-round practice.
Outdoor living is just as impressive. The backyard features meticulous landscaping, a covered patio ideal for outdoor dining and lounging, and a private, tree-lined setting designed for peace and enjoyment.
Situated in the prestigious Legend at Brandybrook community, this home provides access to a world-class golf course, clubhouse amenities, and a lifestyle marked by luxury and leisure. Move in and experience unparalleled living in one of the area's most sought-after neighborhoods. n
Continued from page 16 increasing the population it serves and further expanding the access veterans have to the varied services they need.
VetsNet receives the bulk of its operating funds through a combination of grants, individual gifts, and corporate funding. VetsNet is unable to accept government funds, with the exception of one state-based grant recently received over the course of a few years. “Accepting federal funding limits the number of veterans we can serve, based on the Congressional definition of who is a veteran, effectively eliminating eligibility for almost half of the veteran population,” Hatfield explained. “We are continually fundraising for the emergency needs of the veterans we serve who do not qualify with any of our partner agencies. In 2024 and thus far in 2025, we have exceeded our budget for emergency needs by almost 40% both years due to the increased cost of every basic necessity,” Hatfield said.
Though VetsNet does not host regular fundraising events, and deals with sensitive or personal information or situations that limit the opportunity for volunteer involvement, the organization belongs to several veteran resource groups throughout the state. These groups continually host events that benefit from the help of volunteers, and VetsNet can help interested individuals join events that fit their talents and areas of interest or expertise.
Hatfield noted a special opportunity for those wishing to help facilitate VetsNet’s mission in person. “One sure way to be involved is to sign up to be a sponsor for a returning service member who is soon to be a veteran. The sign-up is easy, the training can be tailored to an individual’s schedule, and it’s online. The website for sign up is: www. onwardops.org,” he said.
Hatfield summarized the positive work that VetsNet has already performed and the vital services the organization provides: “Most people assume that veterans have access to a vast array of services and benefits and, for 50% of veterans, that is largely true. What most people don’t realize is that there are vast numbers of those who wore the uniforms of our armed services who do not qualify for services for various reasons, mostly related to the amount of active-duty service they had. Our belief is that if you wore the uniform and stood ready to serve our nation in service, either domestic or foreign, you are a veteran and should receive assistance when needed.” n A Helping Hand n
n n n
THE KITCHEN IS THE HEART of many homes, and careful planning is a necessity when it comes to redesigning this essential living space. Picking out cabinetry–and a color for those cabinets, in particular–can be a challenging process.
Everything from the style of your cabinets to the amount of natural light your space receives are key factors to consider when choosing an updated hue. While white cabinets are an everlasting choice, and wood-stained cabinetry once held 70% of the market, painted cabinets now account for 70% of sales, signaling a significant shift among homeowners and their preferences.
While there are virtually no limitations when it comes to the paint, stain and glaze options available to complement your overall kitchen design, the current stylings reflected in Wellborn Cabinet’s annual color trends provides an opening to a range of impactful colors, such as grays, blues, blacks and wood tones, and a mixture of these on-trend hues.
While gray cabinets have been a popular design choice for several years, much like shades of white, no two grays are exactly alike. Cabinet colors live on a color spectrum that ranges from warm to neutral to dark; warm grays have yellow or brown undertones while cool grays have hushed hues of blue.
Neutral gray, or Ash, is a true black and white mixture of colors. However, many homeowners are opting for warmer or cooler shades instead. For example, light gray cabinets can create a chic, modern motif for homeowners looking to liven up their space while avoiding completely white cabinetry. One of the latest gray trends is a warmer gray that can look almost beige, earning the nickname “greige.” Shades of dark gray - whether painted or stained - are also options for making a luxurious, traditional statement that can span ever-changing color trends.
One of today’s hottest trends in kitchen cabinetry is the use of shades of blue, which provide calming and restful effects and the feeling of harmony and serenity. Pops of blue can be used as an accent color on islands or on either upper or base cabinets. To balance out these dramatic darks, many homeowners are opting to pair a bold color choice like a navy hue - such as Bleu - with neutral to warm whites, such as wool and bone white, to create a crisp, clean look. Gold hardware can be used on navy cabinetry for an upscale and regal look while silver-tone hardware provides a contemporary finishing touch.
While lighter shades of blue, like aqua, are perfect for keeping spaces light and airy, one of the latest colors to emerge is a mid-tone classic blue.
A balanced option like Sapphire from Wellborn Cabinet, which is a classic, mid-tone royal blue available in the Premier and Estate Series framed cabinetry, as well as the full-access, frameless Aspire Series, can help create energy and inspiration for dining or cooking.
Mixed Wood Tones
Even with the rise in painted woods, stains are seeing a surge in popularity. The application of stain to natural wood can enhance the character of the cabinetry. Neutral color, dimension, texture and soft luxury can be layered into nearly any space to create a blended balance.
Wood grains typically pair well with whites, grays, blues and brass tones - all of which are popular colors in modern kitchens and other localized entertaining areas such as in-home refreshment areas or bars.
Dark Drama
Often overlooked as more of an “accent” color, black has become livable, luxe and inviting with textured woods adding rustic, homely charm. For example, Wellborn Cabinet offers a decorative laminate veneer option in matte black. Edgy but classic, black cabinets can pair perfectly with nearly any design element still in its natural wooden state to create a distinct style that is all your own.
Multi-Tones and Unexpected Pops of Color
While all-white palettes have long reigned supreme in the kitchen for their timelessness and versatility, straying from neutral tones can add an energetic and welcoming feel to nearly any space. Smaller kitchens that once had an all-white look are getting a facelift by adding a burst of bright, bold color on either the upper or base cabinets. Adding colorful retro appliances or using the island as a canvas for an energetic and welcoming pop of color can also make a similar statement and help create a space unique to your style and personality.
Many homeowners are even pairing two or more complementary colors to create two- and three-toned looks. For example, lighter gray, Shale or blue can be used for the upper cabinets with darker shades used below for the base cabinetry, or a neutral hue can be used on the uppers with a contrast color on the bottom. In three-toned kitchens, an additional color or material is introduced to create asymmetry in the palette to help define zones or functions and keep the eye moving.
Find more on-trend kitchen inspiration and color options at Wellborn.com. n
Mequon • Brookfield
Continued from page 12
Cultivate gratitude.
Suffering can be significantly reduced and downsized through gratitude. This is what guides Buddhist nun and author Pema Chodron. In her eighth decade, she candidly admits that aging has prompted her to complain, from time to time, about her appearance and aches. However, she quickly shifts from what’s wrong to what’s right. In her case, the ability to go for long walks while in her eighties is a source of gratitude.
“My older sister, who used to be a big hiker, has arthritic feet and can no longer walk far,” she explains, adding that “her arthritis makes me realize, every time I go for a walk, how grateful I am for my legs and feet and hips. How wonderful that they all work, and I can be refreshed and invigorated by my walks, rather than end up in so much pain that I don’t want to do it anymore.”=
Drop perfectionism and pessimism.
A common teaching image used to establish whether one is a negative or positive thinker involves a sheet of paper with one small black dot on it. When people are asked what
they see, the majority point to the dot—the flaw—rather than seeing a blank sheet of paper. This reveals that people tend to focus on imperfections and issues.
If you’re a perfectionist, a pessimist, or both, the result is more anguish and suffering. An example of this everyday issue emerges in the life of actor Kirk Douglas. Early in his career when he was unknown and performing in plays, a New York Times theater critic wrote this review of his performance in The Wind is Ninety: “Kirk Douglas is nothing short of superb.” Obviously, it was a glowing endorsement of his acting
skill. Yet, as Douglas told it, as he lay in bed that evening, he was repeatedly saying to himself one word from the review: “Nothing … nothing,” and thought, “why couldn’t they just say ‘Kirk Douglas is superb’?”
When you are struggling, try applying this seventh-century Indian Buddhist proverb to your life: “Look carefully at suffering itself to see whether it can be corrected or not. If it can be corrected, put all your effort into correcting it. If there’s nothing to be done about it, why be unhappy? The unhappiness only adds more suffering to the suffering.” n
n n n HERE AT ROBERT J. FEEST & ASSOCIATES, we value our relationship with you and the Insurance business you have placed with us and want to keep you informed about an upcoming change impacting the renewal of your Homeowners policy.
Due to the increase in weather-related claims in recent years, many insurance companies are implementing a separate deductible for Wind or Hail losses, which will become effective upon your policy renewal.
Understanding the Change
Your standard property deductible covers most losses, but the new Wind or Hail deductible creates a specific, separate out-ofpocket amount for damage caused by these events.
n Where to Find It: Your standard deductible and your new Wind or Hail deductible amount can be found on your Home Declaration page under the Property Deductible section of your Homeowners Renewal Declarations page.
n Read your policy every year so you are aware of any changes and updated coverage limits. What is a Wind or Hail Deductible?
If there is damage to your home due to Wind or Hail, this deductible is the portion of a covered claim you would pay out of pocket. This deductible only applies to damage caused by Wind or Hail, including tree damage and debris removal. Your standard property deductible applies to all other covered losses.
Example
Suppose you have a $1,000 property deductible and a $2,500 Wind or Hail deductible on your insurance policy. If a hailstorm causes $15,000 worth of damage to your home, the Wind or Hail deductible would apply. This means you would pay your $2,500 deductible toward the loss, and your insurance company would cover the remaining $12,500.
(Note: This example is hypothetical, and the deductible amounts mentioned are not necessarily your actual deductible amounts).
How is a Wind or Hail Deductible Determined?
The Wind or Hail deductible is determined based on the following factors:
n Your Coverage A– Dwelling limit.
n The location of your home.
n The AGE of Your roof, and TYPE of Shingles you have on it.
The Wind or Hail deductible will be reviewed at each renewal to determine the minimum deductible amount for your policy. This amount could change at each renewal, so please review your Homeowners Renewal Declarations every year.
Important Roof Valuation Change
Additionally, if your roof is 10 years or older, many companies are changing your roof valuation from Guaranteed Replacement Value to a Depreciated Actual Cash Value basis. This is another crucial detail to check on your renewal.
Clean out those Clogged Rain Gutters BEFORE the snow flies!
Preventative Home Maintenance can help avoid costly roof claims and repairs.
Gutters are designed to direct meltwater away from your house. When they are clogged with leaves, debris, or already frozen solid, they become part of the problem rather than the solution.
n Blocking Drainage: A clogged gutter prevents the melted snow (liquid water) from flowing off the roof and down the downspout. Instead, the water is trapped right at the edge of the roof, pooling on the eaves.
n Fueling the Dam: This trapped, pooled water is the ideal starting point for an ice dam. As the water freezes, it forms a solid, non-porous barrier of ice in the gutter and on the roof edge. This ridge then acts like a dam, blocking any subsequent meltwater from
Event
Warm air escapes from the attic, heating the main roof deck.
Water flows down the roof slope.
The water hits the unheated, freezing edge of the roof or a clogged gutter.
The dam grows with each subsequent cycle, trapping more water.
draining. Long Icicles hanging off your Rain Gutters will also appear as the water in the gutter melts in the sun, and re-freezes quickly at night when the temperature drops.
n Physical Damage: The sheer weight of a gutter packed with ice and trapped water can strain the fasteners, causing the gutters to sag, detach, or rip completely off the fascia board. This structural damage is often irreversible without professional repair or replacement.
The Destructive Freeze-Thaw Cycle
The combination of warm air leaking from the attic (the “melt”) and cold outdoor temperatures (the “freeze”) is the primary mechanism that destroys your roof structure.
How It Wrecks Your Roof
The most significant damage occurs when the trapped water backs up and penetrates the roof system:
n Water Intrusion: Asphalt shingles are designed to shed water downward, not to withstand pooled water backing up underneath them. The trapped water works its way past the shingles, underlayment, and flashing, leading directly to the attic.
n Insulation & Ceiling Damage: Once in the attic, the water soaks the insulation, rendering it ineffective and heavy. It then leaks through the ceiling, causing brown water stains, peeling paint, and eventually, saturated drywall that may collapse.
Location/Effect
Snow melts on the warm part of the roof.
Water runs until it hits the cold eave (roof overhang) and/or the clogged gutter.
The water refreezes instantly, forming the initial ice dam.
The pooled water is forced backward and upward under the roof shingles and flashing.
n Wood Rot and Mold: Prolonged moisture inside the roof deck, rafters, and walls creates a perfect environment for wood rot and toxic moldand mildew growth, which compromise the structural integrity of your home and pose significant health risks.
n Shingle & Flashing Damage: The constant presence of freezing and expanding water can lift and loosen shingles, crack roof flashing (the metal seals around chimneys and vents), and essentially destroy the integrity of your roof surface, making it vulnerable to future leaks even after the winter is over.
We Are Here to Help!
With all the coverage changes and updates, insurance can be extremely confusing, but we are always here to answer your questions and help you sort through it.
Since 1995, we have always been a Customer Relationship Oriented agency, with an emphasis on super-outstanding service, and that will never change. THAT is who we are, and THAT is what we DO!
Be sure to call our office, or email us if you have additional questions about this change and how it applies to your specific policy. n
Robert Feest
Robert J. Feest Insurance Agency
262-641-0644 ~ www.RFeest.com
by Gertrude M. Puelicher
n n n
THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER automatically brings to mind a day filled with human good—food, drink and Pro Football. Thousands look forward to it as a day to be savored, emotionally as well as gastronomically. Few are interested any longer in its origin. For those, however, who still believe in the importance of giving thanks, and who are concerned, perhaps, that Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday has lost the essence of its origin, a study of the word “fullness” as it is used in the Bible may prove helpful.
For most of us, our cup is really full and running over; yet how often we resort to negativism. How often we speak in terms of limitation rather than in terms of fullness. The patriarchs of the Old Testament rarely permitted themselves to speak or think limitation. In Deuteronomy we read that Moses said to the Israelites, “and for the precious things of the Earth, and the fullness thereof,” and in First Chronicles, “Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; let the fields rejoice and all that is therein.”
In Psalm 16 we find that inspiring verse, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy,” and the first verse of Psalm 24 literally lifts one’s spirits: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.”
In the Gospel according to John (1: 16) is the type of statement that should make us ponder over all we have received of God’s
fullness: “and of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace.” Our trouble is that too often we accept with temporary gratitude, a sort of, of the moment “Thank you, God, now that’s straightened out” business, and then we promptly forget. We must not only possess gratitude, we must let gratitude possess us, gratitude that permeates not only our minds, but our hearts, our whole being.
In Romans, Paul speaks of the “fullness of blessing.” Think of what peace could come to our world if we could give everyone of whom or to whom we speak a silent “fullness of blessing.” To me that would mean sending God’s love from our heart to their heart. In his address to the Ephesians Paul said, “that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Each can interpret that his own way, but surely to be filled with the fullness of God is to be filled with all the qualities that comprise the spirit of God—love, peace, integrity, loyalty, humility.
There is no room in “fullness” for limitation of any kind, physical, mental, economic. We experience what we think. That is the reason it is important often to “think what we are thinking.” Might it not be wise for this month of November to think fullness of gratitude for all that is ours? Might we not do well to follow Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians, and “In everything give thanks.” n
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