H&g spring 2014

The Newtown Bee’s

Spring Home & Garden 2014

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEWTOWN BEE - APRIL 11, 2014

2 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Home & Garden - 3

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Freshening Up Your Space Without Breaking The Bank SOUTHBURY —What do you see when you walk in the door of your home? A space that’s uplifting, or one that is dull and unexciting?

Your home should make you feel calm, creative, cozy, or refreshed; however, many people feel stressed by the clutter that has accumulated or are simply bored with their décor. Linda Gottlieb, an interior decorator with Décor & You — a full-service interior decorating franchise — encourages people to find inspiration in their home design, and ultimately make their living space feel like a retreat from the stressors of everyday life.

“Many people believe that changing the look and feel of a home is a difficult and expensive task,” said Ms. Gottlieb. “However, there are simple ways to spice up the atmosphere of your home drastically, without breaking the bank.”

She shares the following tips on how to refresh your home: *Color Splash: Paint is one of the most inexpensive and drastic ways to alter the mood of a room. Pick a color that you are drawn to, one that you would love to see every single day. If applying that color to an entire room makes you nervous, apply the paint to one accent wall instead. Hint: blue pigment can make you feel more relaxed and green colors invoke creativity. *Organize Beautifully: Over time, belongings can start to clog up the house and make a space look smaller and disorganized. One way to beat the clutter, while adding style, is to find storage containers that are unique and stylish. Using wicker baskets on top of, or below, existing furniture is a perfect storage solution for achieving a fresh look while still hiding items. *Bring a Room to Life: Not only are plants a beautiful and easy way to make a room look fresh and vibrant, they also have health benefits. Studies have shown that houseplants can make you feel happier. Use this mood-boosting excuse as a reason to treat yourself to fresh flowers every once in a

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Linda Gottlieb, a Southbury interior decorator with Décor & You, offers a number of ways to freshen up your home for spring including using plants — a beautiful and easy way to make a room look fresh and vibrant. while, too. *Mirror Mirror: Small space got you down? Tearing out an entire wall in order to make a room look bigger can be expensive, but adding mirrors is a quick and easy fix.

There are thousands of different styles of mirrors, many with beautiful ornate detail.

All of the options are cheaper than reconstructing the shape of a house, so splurge on one that you really love.

Decorating experts like Ms Gottlieb use the company’s proven StylePrint Design System to create a seamless process from design to execution for its customers. For more information about Décor & You decorating services, contact Ms Gottlieb at 203-4052159, lgotlieb@decorandyou.com or visit the Décor & You company website decorandyou.com.

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Tips To Improve Your Kitchen Without Renovating (StatePoint) — The kitchen is perhaps the most functional room of any home, but often it does not feel large enough or flexible enough. And great cooking starts with a comfortable kitchen.

While renovating your kitchen may not always be practical, there are steps you can take to improve it without breaking the bank or your kitchen walls.

Here are a few ways to make the most of your kitchen: Evaluate Your Kitchen — It is time to weed out the good, the bad, and the ugly. When is the last time you did a thorough inventory of your kitchen gadgets? After several years without an assessment, it’s possible you’ve acquired a substantial collection of electric openers, dicers, slicers, and spinners.

If all these tools help you cook, that’s fabulous. If not, they are simply taking up valuable cabinet, cupboard, and countertop space. Take a look at what you have and eliminate anything that is duplicative, broken, or somehow unnecessary.

Improve Functionality — Rethink your appliances. These days, you don’t need to settle for antiquated appliances that perform just one function. Innovations are making cooktops and ovens more functional and versatile, providing greater opportunities for spatial kitchen layout.

For example, you could pair a gas cooktop with an electric oven or install electric ovens side by side. Consider appliances from such brands as Verona, an Italian manufacturer that applies extensive cooking expertise to built-in ovens, cooktops, and ranges. Inspired by classical Italian designs, their hand assembled cooktops and ovens offer a choice of fuel type so you can mix and match radiant, induction, and gas heat sources. Information is available at www.VeronaAppliances.com.

Flexibility is also being built into today’s

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This is a great way to be a more flexible cook in a small amount of space. More information on flexible cooktops is available at www.ilveappliances.com.

Maximize Storage — Creative storage solutions will increase your work area and cabinets, while affording more space to move around. For example, an over-the-door spice rack can give you more room to prep food. A wall-mounted wine rack that holds both bottles and glasses can free up cabinet space and reduce the furniture footprint of your kitchen. Magnetic panels on the wall can be used to store pots, pans, knives, and metal utensils.

When it comes to your kitchen, don’t settle for anything less than top-notch, flexible appliances and an ideal use of the space you have. Whether you’re a serious chef or a casual cook, your kitchen can benefit from key upgrades and a thorough organizational sweep.

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4 - Home & Garden

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(StatePoint) — Going green at home does not have to turn your life upside down.

There are simple measures you can take in your kitchen and garden to run a planetfriendly home.

Reduce Waste — Ensure your kitchen is properly outfitted with labeled paper and plastic recycling bins. Keep these receptacles handy to encourage your family and guests to make use of them.

Take your waste reduction a step further by setting up a bin for food scraps, which you can add to your yard trimmings. Composting creates a natural fertilizer that makes a planet-friendly alternative to the chemical variety.

By recycling and composting, you can join the ranks of Americans reducing the waste they send to the landfill. In fact, recycling and composting prevented 86.9 million tons of materials from being disposed in 2011 in the United States, up from 15 million tons in 1980, according to government estimates.

Protect Wildlife You may think of your yard as “yours,” but you are actually sharing the space with furry creatures, insects, and birds. Habitat destruction and loss, as well other manufactured and natural threats, put beautiful species like hummingbirds at risk. Make your garden a safe haven with bird feeders and by planting native, sustentative shrubs, trees, and flowers.

Unfortunately, bird to building collisions, particularly with windows, are estimated to kill between 100 million and one billion birds in the United States alone, according to a new report from the Cooper Ornithological Society.

Ensure the safety of your airborne visitors by applying static-cling decals to your windows, which helps birds detect glass, there-

by avoiding injury or death. Decals from WindowAlert, for example, rely on special ultraviolet-reflecting coating that looks like etched glass to humans, but is quite visible to birds, and add a decorative appearance to your home.

The coating can fade over time, so remember to replace decals every six to nine months. More information can be found at www.WindowAlert.com.

Eat Local Source your food locally to reduce your carbon footprint. If possible, buy local, inseason fruits and vegetables that did not have to travel the world to reach your plate.

And while flowers are beautiful to look at — and the right ones can provide nectar for pollinating insects and birds — consider turning at least part of your garden into a space for herbs and vegetables to grow.

When dinner comes from your own backyard, it means fresher produce that is good for your family, and good for the planet.

Don’t just enjoy nature this season, take care of it. With a few small tweaks, it is not hard to run your home more sustainably.

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April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Home & Garden - 5

6 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Cluck Or Buzz Or Both: Finding ‘Magic’

By Kendra Bobowick Traci Torres of Monroe-based My Pet Chicken described her work raising backyard chickens as an “obsession.” Christy Hemenway of Gold Star Honeybees in Vermont finds “magic” in backyard beekeeping.

Both Ms Hemenway and Ms Torres, and her husband Derek Sasaki, talk about their practices, which can be adopted at home by local residents.

Why keep bees?

“There is a bit of magic to bees, and that is what hooks you,” Ms Hemenway said. She also feels “a sense of helping, having a little more control over the scare behind losing the bees.” She is referring to past years’ concerns with a dwindling bee population.

During an interview with Home & Garden at the recent New England Organic Farmers Association (NOFA) winter conference, she talked about changes in the bee population.

“Globally all is connected — bees and food are part and parcel…” She believes bee Colony Collapse Disorder, as noted in the news in recent years, is “absolutely connected to the toxins we’re putting into the environment because of the way we grow foods.”

She said, “All of it matters to bees, and all of it matters to you and I because it is our food supply that’s at stake.”

She points a finger at neonicotinoids, a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine, nicotine-based pesticides.

“Nicotine affects the central nervous system, and when you are as tiny as a bee, it doesn’t take much to affect you,” she said.

Ms Hemenway sees a scenario where “bees are going out into the field and encountering the pesticide, and come back, or try to come back, but their ‘GPS’ has gone haywire and they can’t get home.”

This could explain Colony Collapse Disorder, and the declining bee populations, she said. “The thing that’s weird is you have a thriving hive, and suddenly a few weeks later,

A baby chick is small enough to fit in a person’s cupped hands.

—Photos courtesy of My Pet Chicken you have no bees. No live bees, no dead bees, no bodies. How do you study something like that?”

A decrease in bees has implications for growing food. She said in a more recent interview, “We should think of those two things together…how could we think of then as separate? No bees — no pollination.

If you like food, you could get attached to bees.”

She said, “For anyone growing their own food, it’s crucial for the bees to move the pollen and grow the vegetables, and the rest of course — honey is awesome.”

Weed killers, especially for dandelions, which she calls “early season bee food,” are also a no-no.

“Don’t get rid of the dandelions,” she said.

The small yellow plants often treated with weed killer are “the early indicator of bee season,” and should be cause for a beekeeper’s “happy dance.”

Bees need protection from products, especially those used to rid the lawn of dandelions or other plants where they alight. “If

you have Roundup, get rid of it.” Certain ingredients in the weed-killing spray “have turned out to be a huge problem as far as toxicity.”

Preserving The Species Mentioning another threat factor to bees, and her solution for it, Ms Hemenway noted her signature top bar hives for backyard beekeeping.

“The idea with top bar hives is to preserve the species more than anything,” she said.

A top bar-style hive makes sense, she said.

“They allow bees to make their own wax without what we call a foundation — a piece of plastic coated with wax, embossed with hexagons, where you are the biology of the bee.” A top bar hive allow bees to make wax themselves and hexagons in the comb are the size they need — some are for food storage (honey), and others are for raising young bees.

For her, the beekeeping is about the bees, not the honey.

“The idea is to let them have the honey as

long as possible, and in the spring, let’s say they have come through the winter on their own food, that’s a really beautiful thing.” If there is honey remaining in the spring, “by all means, some of that honey has got your name on it,” she said.

Beekeeping is not labor intensive, she said.

People will want to spend as little as an hour a week for inspections, she said.

Gold Star Honeybees started in 2007, when Ms Hemenway first turned to top bar hive beekeeping, and started a beekeeping service company. By 2009, she had had designed the Gold Star Top Bar Hive.

In the summer of 2012, she wrote The Thinking Beekeeper, which was published in early 2013.

Ms Hemenway also directs those interested to see one of her talks on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=nVNkIOBLA0s.

To learn more about backyard beekeeping, top bar hives, and more, visit GoldStarHoneyBees.com.

For The Birds Traci Torres said, “Chickens sort of become an obsession.” She and her husband Derek Sasaki own My Pet Chicken in Monroe.

In a recent e-mail to The Bee, Ms Torres said the popularity of raising chickens has grown. She said that “urbanites and suburbanites all around the country are turning to chickens in droves.” The community of chicken keepers has “grown by leaps and bounds.”

Health benefits accompany home-raised chickens and their eggs “are undeniably more fresh,” she said.

“As with any pasture-raised animal, there are huge health benefits of eggs laid by freerange hens. Read more about the health benefits at MyPetChicken.com, which states, “Once you’ve dined on their eggs you’ll never reach for a dozen in the supermarket again.

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Home & Garden - 7

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

In Backyard Beekeeping, Chicken Coops only minutes or hours old, not weeks or months.

“You’ll even see the difference in the yolks, which are a healthy orange … Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than store-bought, too,” the website states.

Ms Torres also mentions health benefits for the chickens. Backyarder chicken owners “don’t need to debeak their hens to prevent them from pecking one another to death; instead, they offer their birds plenty of room to roam.” They also don’t need to add omega fatty acids to their feed: “Their chickens get them naturally, from pasture,” she said.

According to their website, the top tenlist of reasons to own chickens starts with the “great-tasting, nutritious eggs.”

Other reasons include each chickens’ “unique,” and “endearing” personality, taking a step toward sustainable living, chicken waste improves compost, and chickens will eat “any garden pest,” such as grubs and beetles, that they can find.

At the winter NOFA conference during an interview for the Home & Garden, Mr Sasaki said, “Chickens are a great way to have fresh eggs and get into animal husbandry.” He and Ms Torres got into their business about seven years ago, realizing that previously, the business of raising chickens had been geared toward a larger scale, he said.

His business “makes it easier on a smaller scale for homeowners to raise chickens.”

Through his website, a homeowner can order as few as three baby chicks. “The whole movement has really taken off in last several years,” he said.

Choosing Your Coop Determining what type of coop to use is first decision to make, and researching chickens and getting set up with the best breed comes next, he said.

Varieties of full-grown chickens are highlighted on MyPetChicken.com. Read “everything you need to know about raising chickens in your backyard” from the list of information on the website.

A coop and its chickens must also be protected. “A neighbor’s dog hopping over the fence” is often a problem. Mr Sasaki said, the dog “may not be out for chickens themselves, but just expecting that there is an animal to play with, and the size difference…even small dogs can do a lot of damage to a coop and chickens.”

Raccoons can pose a problem. “They go where the food is and there is lots of food [around a coop], and they are able to open boxes and figure out complicated things,” he said. He recommends at least two locking devices. “Do research ahead of time to be prepared,” he said. And avoid using chicken wire, “because raccoons can reach in and access chickens that way.”

Does he prefer keeping bees to chickens?

“You can’t interact with bees the way you do with chickens…people say chickens have personality.” He said, “We have stories about

chickens hopping on their owners’ lap — sit outside on a nice day and a lot of people enjoy watching their chickens, I have not heard of a lot of people going out with a glass of wine to watch their bees at the end of the day.” Overall, “They’re both good for different reasons,” he said.

Visit MyPetChicken.com and learn about a recently published My Pet Chicken Handbook, offering advice and The Tour is called “Hunt for the Hens” and will take place on May 31st, rain or shine.

There are 10 chicken coops throughout Redding (one being New Pond’s) - ranging from simple backyard coops to some rather elegant ones.

The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with (for an extra cost) a bag lunch available at the farm. We hope this will be a family friendly event and are encouraging people to bring their children. Price is $20

for adult- members - $25 non-members. $5 for all children, with a cap of $50 per family (members) and $60 (non-members). Lunch is priced at $12 for adults - $6 for children.

We will have a Silent or Chinese Auction at New Pond with some really fun prizes available - many are chicken related! We are hoping for at least 200 attendees. Tickets available at New Pond Farm: 203 938-2117answers for raising backyard chickens.

My Pet Chicken was incorporated in 2005, and launched the first e-commerce version of its website in 2006. “Our goal was simply to enable aspiring chicken keepers — we never imagined interest in chickens would have ballooned as it has,” Ms Torres wrote in a recent e-mail.

Since then the business has bloomed. They attribute the growth and popularity of chicken keeping to the personality, friendliness, and sociability of these “awesome” birds.

The customer service staff is “comprised entirely of chicken lovers and chicken keepers, who can relate to the questions our customers have and really hold their hands,” Ms Torres said.

Visit ByrdsBooks.com, a bookstore in Bethel, and learn more about an upcoming honey tasting and talk with the author Marina Marches, who will discuss her books Honeybee: The Accidental Beekeeper, and The Honey Connoisseur on May 3 at 5 pm.

For those who would like to visit a selection of backyard chicken coops, New Pond Farm in Redding is offering a “Hunt for the Hens” tour of ten chicken coops throughout Redding on May 31, rain or shine, from 10 am to 4 pm.

The examples range from simple to rather elegant. Tickets are $20 for adult members, $25 nonmembers, $5 for all children. Bag lunch at the farm, corner of Umpawaug and Marchant Roads, is available for an extra cost. For tickets or more information, call 203-938-2117 or visit newpondfarm.org.

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8 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Top Notch Adds New Gear For Cleaning, Improving Hardscapes

By Andrew Gorosko During the past several decades, many residents in Newtown and surrounding towns added pavers to their properties to create durable, attractive masonry landscaping elements, such as patios, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, and retaining walls, which collectively are known as “hardscapes.”

Pavers are decorative concrete blocks, bricks, tiles, or natural stones that are used for paving, instead of substances such as rolled asphalt or poured concrete.

Top Notch Landscaping, LLC, a Botsford firm that has been in business for 24 years, has installed and repaired many of the residential hardscape surfaces in this area which employ various types of pavers, explained Garret Henchcliffe, who is Top Notch’s president.

Technically known as “segmental systems,” paver systems typically contain grouting between their individual elements. That grouting, which often is a specialized type of sand, fills in the cavities between individual pavers.

Although the paver-based structures that Top Notch has installed over the years have the durability of masonry, the damaging effects of wind and weathering eventually leave their mark, diminishing those paved surfaces’ aesthetics, according to Mr Henchcliffe.

Appearance problems include stains caused by efflorescence, ground-in dirt, motor oil, grease, and rusting, as well as the presence of weeds, moss, and grass.

The methods of cleaning and rejuvenating discolored masonry are variable, based upon the particular type of problem, Mr Henchcliffe explained.

To better address keeping aging masonry surfaces

clean, Top Notch has acquired a large, industrial-grade pressure-washing system that employs various accessories based upon the specific cleaning task at hand.

For surfaces such as patios and sidewalks, a surfacecleaning accessory mounted on small wheels is used.

The stainless steel device looks similar to a large pushstyle lawnmower, but instead of having a rotary cutting blade beneath its 28-inch-wide housing, the device contains spinning tubes that eject hot water under high pressure to thoroughly clean masonry surfaces.

Biodegradable solvents may be used, if needed. Top Notch has an environmentally sound approach in its work, Mr Henchcliffe said.

“I don’t cut corners,” he added.

Selecting the correct water-nozzle size on the pressure washer produces the best cleaning effect for a given surface, he noted.

Mr Henchcliffe said that besides doing pressurewasher cleaning, keeping masonry surfaces at their best appearance requires repairs, grouting replacement, and sealing.

He said that only a small fraction of the paver-based structures installed in the United States are properly maintained.

Due to the durability of masonry, people may think that it is not subject to discoloration and other degradation, but it is, he said. “It’s a slow process,” he added.

Mr Henchcliffe said that his long experience in installing paver-based structures is helpful in knowing how to best clean them as an aspect of restoration work.

Garret Henchcliffe, president of Top Notch Landscaping, LLC, demonstrates how his firm’s surface-cleaning accessory for its new pressure-washing equipment is used to clean and beautify a patio built of pavers.

—Bee Photo, Gorosko

Garret Henchcliffe stands near the various equipment mounted on a trailer that comprises Top Notch Landscaping, LLC’s, new pressure-washing system. The device can pump nine gallons of water per minute at a pressure of 3,500 pounds per square inch.

—Bee Photo, Gorosko

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April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

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The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

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Fairchild Receives Coldwell Banker International President’s Elite Award Christine Fairchild of Newtown, a sales associate affiliated with the Cold-

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with the Coldwell Banker International President’s Elite Award. This distinguished honor is awarded to the top three percent of approximately 85,000 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system.

Fairchild was honored during a special celebration at the Mohegan Sun on April 3. Invited sales associates and guests enjoyed food, music, and dancing. Each year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage recognizes the work of exceptional sales associates and sales teams through its distinguished awards program.

With more than 24 years of experience, Fairchild has been successfully meeting the needs of homebuyers and sellers in the towns of Newtown, Brookfield, Bridgewater, Danbury and Monroe. She has been trained as a Relocation Specialist and Previews Property Specialist. Fairchild is also a member of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Newton Board of Realtors.

“Christine has distinguished herself as

one of the top real estate professionals in Newtown. She is well respected by colleagues and clients,” said Cathleen Smith, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y. “I am pleased to recognize Christine for her many achievements, and I am confident she will continue to achieve tremendous success in the future.”

Fairchild is affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Newtown, at 45 South Main Street. She can be reached there at 203426-5679.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company in Connecticut and Westchester County, operates approximately 52 offices with more than 2,200 affiliated sales associates serving those communities. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. For more information, visit www.ColdwellBankerMoves.com.

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Home & Garden - 11

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Moving Companies Generate Thousands Of BBB Complaints Last Year WALLINGFORD — Along with tax time, changing a job, and the holidays, one of the most stressful events for consumers is moving into a new dwelling.

According to Connecticut Better Business Bureau, consumers who are not careful can end up with a nightmare that can take weeks or months to resolve.

Consumers across the nation filed 10,762 complaints against moving and storage companies in 2013, for issues including lost or missing possessions, damaged furniture and other belongings, damage to the dwelling caused during a move, rude customer service, charges that greatly exceeded an estimate, and difficulty obtaining compensation for damaged and lost goods.

In the worst cases, consumers have had their belongings “held hostage” until they paid additional fees.

While the majority of moving companies are reputable, anyone with a truck and a website can claim to be a professional mover. The industry is plagued by con artists who do not adhere to established standards for honesty and ethical conduct.

The three most common reasons for problems with moving companies are consumers’ failure to thoroughly research the mover’s credentials, not preparing far enough in advance, and not buying sufficient insurance to cover their belongings.

Connecticut BBB says most moving problems can be avoided by following a few tips: Make certain you know who you are dealing with. Look up a prospective mover’s registration at fmcsa.dot.gov, which is operated by the US Department of Transportation. In addition, research movers at bbb.org/connecticut to check

other consumers’ experience and see whether there is a pattern of complaints against a particular mover.

Obtain three in-home estimates. Telephone estimates are notoriously unreliable.

Reputable movers will want to see the layout of your rooms and furniture, as well as any obstacles on the way to the truck.

Understand the limits of standard insurance. Released Value insurance is offered at no additional charge, however, protection is inadequate. The mover assumes liability for 60 cents a pound per article.

Under Released Value insurance, if the mover loses or damages a 10-pound television valued at $1000, you would only be entitled to $6 in compensation (60 cents x 10 pounds). Full Value protection covers the replacement value of all lost or damaged goods being moved. In this case, the mover would be obliged to repair the item, replace it with a similar one, or make a cash settlement for the current market value of the item or the cost of repair.

Know your rights. All movers are obliged to provide consumers with a document called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When Your Move.” It can also be found at ProtectYourMove.gov. Contact BBB and local law enforcement if the moving company fails to live up to its promises or threatens to hold your belongings hostage.

Plan early. Thirty-seven million Americans move every year, most often in May. Lock in a date two to four weeks before your move.

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The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

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14 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Hollandia Nurseries Celebrating

The sign for Hollandia Nursery located at 103 Old Hawleyville Road.

Visitors to Hollandia Nursery can peruse plants and other offerings.

By Eliza Hallabeck It has been a half-century since Hans and Sally Reelick opened Hollandia Nurseries, and the popular garden center has plans to celebrate the milestone throughout the year.

According to its website, ctgrown.com, Hans and Sally Reelick started Hollandia Nurseries in a small two-car garage. Today the company has two locations: Hollandia Nursery at 103 Old Hawleyville Road and Hollandia Gift & Garden just a short distance away at 95 Stony Hill Road, both in Bethel.

“They’re the ones who sowed the seed,” said Hollandia owner Eugene Reelick about his parents.

Mr Reelick explained his parents started out by offering landscape design services and “selling a few annuals and hanging baskets.”

From there, the Hollandia Nurseries grew.

Mr Reelick’s parents are now retired, and Mr Reelick runs the business with his business partner Ken Kolwicz, who has been with Hollandia Nurseries since 1967. Both men shared memories of the establishment from its history with The Bee recently. Mr Kolwicz remembers building the first wooden greenhouse on the farm, which is how the 21-acre area at Hollandia Nursery is referred to, and Mr Reelick has memories of growing up on the farm with his siblings, Holly and James.

Mr Reelick said he has vivid memories of the garden center, nurseries, and the Christmas tree farm that was on the site at 103 Hawleyville Road when he was a child. The property, he said, was “a small house, a lot of trees, horse in the backyard.”

That same house is still on the land.

As Mr Reelick explained, “Family owned, operated, and still living on the property.”

Before his father started Hollandia Nurseries, Mr Reelick said his father worked for the Dutch government in the agricultural department, attended university in Holland, interned at the Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands, the world’s largest flower gardens, and served in the United States army.

By the late 1960s, Mr Reelick said Hollandia Nurseries had moved to the area at 103 Hawleyville Road and the process of expanding into what it is today had begun.

“I have great, great fond memories of growing up here on the farm,” said Mr Reelick. “I mean it was incredible. It was just fabulous. Running around, and the customers…”

The homestead where he was born and raised is still used, but the family — Mr Reelick, his wife Nina, and their two sons, Hans, 12, and Peter, 10 — lives elsewhere on the property now.

“The nursery grew every year with the needs for the clients,” said Mr Reelick.

Growing To Please Whether clients were looking for landscaping work, perennials, annuals, vegetables, or herbs, Mr Reelick said the nursery grew to fit the needs of its clients.

“I think what it really comes down to is giving the customers a place that they didn’t necessarily have to come to, to buy, but they could walk through and it was a setting that was just really enjoyable. Just colorful, neat, farmlike, whether it is the barn with the

The “Perennial Courtyard” at Hollandia Nursery.

Home & Garden - 15

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

50th Anniversary In Bethel antique cars and tractors, whether it is the newest… technical greenhouse for growing the optimum plants,” Mr Reelick said.

With the growth of the Hollandia Nurseries, Mr Reelick said the staff also increased.

“The expansion of the staff itself has just been really great… different staff members took on different tasks and allowed us to take Hollandia to where it is today,” said Mr Reelick.

The staff at Hollandia represent a range of different backgrounds, according to Mr Reelick, and, “the passion that they all exerted has just been phenomenal. It allowed us to do what we do.”

The combined knowledge of the staff at Hollandia, Mr Reelick said, adds up to centuries worth of everything the garden center and nurseries offer, including proper gardening facts and information.

Opening the Hollandia Gift & Garden location, Mr Reelick said, enabled the opportunity to offer a unique shopping experience to Hollandia’s customers.

According to its website, Hollandia Gift & Garden provides “a complete center for outdoor living including luxury outdoor furniture, Weber grills, masonry, statuary, birdhouses, lawn torches, gifts, and, of course, the best plants available in Fairfield County.” At Hollandia Nurseries, the website reads, “You will find over 20 acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens, barns, greenhouses, giant gazebos, and quaint shops. It’s not so much a store as it is a place where you can just lose track of time in a world of perfect plants and display gardens.”

All of the growing for Hollandia Nurseries is done at its 103 Old Hawleyville Road farm.

“Here at the nursery now we have the farm fresh eggs. We have honey. We produce our own honey. We produce our own vegetables for our farm stand. So it is from farm to table, which is really a unique situation today,” Mr Reelick said.

Something that Hollandia Nurseries offers its clients that Mr Reelick said “makes all the difference in the world,” is that it grows the plants sold at both of its locations.

And growing the plants is a long process.

“The calendar starts the preceding year,” Mr Reelick said. “As early as May the year before.”

According to Mr Reelick, plugs and seeds are ordered before to fill inventory the following year. New varieties of plants are ordered each year, and the staff has to be ready to also understand and combat new diseases and insects that may harm those plants. Much of the year, Mr Reelick said,

depends on the weather. While trying to keep its carbon footprint down, Mr Reelick said Hollandia will open its greenhouses and fill them with seeds and plugs one by one.

Plants are attended to based on need, and everything is readied for spring sales.

Labor Of Love A lot of labor goes into each plant, according to Mr Kolwicz.

Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Easter, Father’s Day, and July 4 are always busy times of the year for Hollandia, according to Mr Reelick, with customers coming in to find presents, decorations, and personal touches for landscapes.

This year Hollandia Nurseries is also offered its 23rd Annual Spring Garden Expo, running from April 4 to April 13. The Spring Garden Expo offers classes, workshops, and vendors onsite.

On Saturday, July 5, Hollandia Nursery is also offering a 50th Anniversary party that will be open to the public and will thank clients for being with them throughout the years, Mr Reelick said. All past employees are also invited to the event, he said.

A “50 Weeks… 50 Items… 50 Percent” special is also being offered this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company.

The special started in January and will run until halfway through this coming January.

The special allows those who sign up at ctgrown.com a new 50 percent-off item each week of the deal. Customers who sign up are be notified of the item on sale each week by e-mail.

Every year of his life, Mr Reelick meets someone who remembers him when he was a child or who knew his father, “and it is just really neat to hear that.”

Bethel, Mr Reelick said, has been a wonderful place to grow up.

“The community is phenomenal, and the town is a great place to do business in,” said Mr Reelick.

While working one recent Friday afternoon, Mr Reelick and his son Hans ventured through a greenhouse on the farm.

The pair walked past flowers planted in recycled burlap bags, other flowers that Mr Reelick described as smelling like “Bubblicious,” by a group of succulents, and finally by petunias that Mr Reelick called “an inspiration of color.”

While Hollandia Nurseries has had 50 years of growth already, Mr Reelick’s son Hans admitted to a few dreams he has for the business in the years to come.

As Mr Reelick said, the next generation of Hollandia Nurseries is already “in the branches.”

Hollandia Nurseries owner Eugene Reelick, top center, stands with his business partner Ken Kolwicz, left, and Mr Reelick’s two sons, Peter, bottom center, and Hans, right.

A display of plants at Hollandia Nursery.

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16 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Decorating With Collections Requires

By Nancy K. Crevier A collection, by definition, is a gathering, a grouping, or an assemblage of items, often intended for display. When a collection is properly displayed, it can enhance an environment and please the eye. On the other hand, a collection can become so unwieldy that it takes over a space. Not knowing how or where to display a collection can lead to beloved pieces being tucked away in boxes, where they can never be appreciated.

“We all have pieces we love and want to

incorporate into our homes,” said Beth Uniacke, whose interior design company Creative Designs is based in Newtown.

“Sometime they work, and sometimes not.

It can be a challenge to find the right way to display a collection,” she said.

People collect all kinds of things, from artwork to baskets to plates, said Ms Uniacke, and rather than hide those collections away, well thought-out arrangements can add a spark to décor. “A house should reflect a person’s hobbies and interests. I love it

Nora Murphy uses the floor to lay out possibilities for a wall collection display. Planning in this way gives the collector a means of easily rearranging for proper balance and scale, as well as harmonious textures and the important “common thread,” before hanging the collection.

—Connecticut Country House photo

Following the rule of a “common thread,” this collection of shells is divided by shell type, each displayed in the same kind of jar. —Connecticut Country House photo

A collection of brass candlesticks of different design work together on a mantel display. Overhead, a hidden cupboard is opened to show a gathering of similar glassware. Breaking up large collections into smaller ones placed in different areas is a technique for attractive display, says antiques collector and Weathered Way owner Kathy Williams.

—Bee Photo, Crevier

when I walk into a house and can feel a person’s personality. It’s the difference between a house and a home,” she said.

Not only do collections liven up a home, collections hold fine memories, she said.

But there are a few general rules to follow when decorating with collections, said Ms Uniacke.

More is not always better. There are very few instances when a large collection needs to be displayed all at once, all in one place, she said. “Rotate pieces in and out throughout the year. This way, you avoid clutter,” Ms Uniacke suggested.

Use the eye to make sure the collection works within the selected space. “Balance is important. For instance,” she said, “when working with a collection of photographs, I suggest clients lay out the pictures on the floor or a large table. Move them around, until they feel right to you. You might see that it is too heavy-looking on one side. Or a frame doesn’t work, perhaps,” she said.

Photographs happen to be one of Ms Uniacke’s favorite kinds of collections. “When you walk past a collection of photographs of a time and place, it puts a smile on your face, and there’s nothing better than that,” she said.

With photographs, try to keep different frame styles to a minimum, but do not feel various styles cannot be mixed. “Vary the sizes of the photographs. And like so many movable collections, you can change out the photos all year long,” she said.

Conserve Versus Clutter Collections of small items, such as figurines, can be displayed on shelves. Vary the height by perching some on top of small decorative boxes, and, as always, sort through the pieces and display only enough to give a sense of the collection without becoming cluttered.

Look around the home for out-of-the-way places to display a collection. “I had a client with a large teapot collection. We used the tops of her kitchen cabinets to display them,” Ms Uniacke said.

In the instance of adult teddy bear or doll collections, it is important to pare down the collection, particularly when the display will be in a more public space.

“It can definitely work, but you don’t want to overpower a room, in this case.

Remember, you can change these pieces in and out, easily,” she said.

Let the collection shine. “Don’t let the backdrop distract from your display,” said Ms Uniacke. Busy wallpaper is not a good background, particularly for artwork. “I suggest going with a solid color background,” she said, for a more harmonious visual effect.

Lighting is another option to make a collection stand out. “You can light from above, behind, or underneath,” she advised.

Pieces displayed in a cabinet, as valuable collections often are, can be lit with recessed lighting, to showcase special design elements.

It takes some practice and intuition to determine the right pieces to use, she said.

Grouping by color or size can work, but is not really necessary unless going for a monochromatic scheme. “Use your eye to tell you when pieces are fighting with each other. Stage the pieces together. It might take a few tries before you find what pleases you,” she said.

“We are drawn to the things we love,” Ms Uniacke said. That passion comes through in collections thoughtfully displayed.

“What’s lovely about collecting things is that you remember when you got them.

The journey to find things is just as important as having them,” agreed Kathy Williams, owner of Weathered Way in Hawleyville. As proprietor of the vintage collectibles and handmade furniture shop, and having been in the antiques business for 12 years, Ms Williams has a great deal of experience in collectibles and display.

“It’s a natural skill I seem to have, and that I love to do,” she said, and offered suggestions to others hoping to make personal collections a part of the home décor.

Using the same kind of frame and lining them up horizontally or vertically can give a sense of unity to photo collections displayed on the wall, says Beth Uniacke of Creative Designs.

—Bee Photo, Crevier Collections Add Color Collections are one way to add color to a room, she said. Items can be selected to stand together because they are in the same color family, or by choosing complementary colors put together. Avoid combinations of colors that are jarring to the eye, said Ms Williams, and do not feel obliged to put an entire collection together in one space. Smaller groupings of select items from a collection in various places around the home are an attractive way to display a large collection.

When grouping objects, use variations in height and shape to add interest, and texture, said Ms Williams is very important. Grouping items for contrast — wood and metal, for example — or for similarity are two techniques that work.

Combine interests with a commonality of texture or color or style into unexpected vignettes, she suggested.

“You don’t want to make your house look like a junkyard,” cautioned Ms Williams. “A little goes a long way.”

Do not forget that outdoor space can be used to showcase a collection. Statuaries, birdbaths, and other garden ornaments belong there. “A collection of garden gnomes is quirky and fun,” Ms Williams said, or a collection of brightly reuphol-

Create a vignette using items of a similar era and color theme to display all or part of a collection. Here, three sets of opera glasses from a collection are displayed on a vintage apothecary case, along with other items that create balance and harmony.

—Bee Photo, Crevier

Home & Garden - 17

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

A Sharp Eye, Pared-Down Approach stered pillows on old porch chairs.

“Something you love is always going to work in your home,” she said, “and collections are automatic talking points when you have guests.”

Above all, do not hesitate to call in a friend or expert with a “good eye” if you lack self-confidence in creating tasteful collection displays.

“Sometimes a collection can sneak up on you,” said Nora Murphy. “You have a lifelong love of something — white plates, figurines, books — and they end up all over the house. It’s time to pull all the pieces together, and it’s a collection,” she said.

Ms Murphy is the founder and editorin-chief of Nora Murphy Country House, an online lifestyle magazine. She is a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology and for many years was responsible for brand projection for Ethan Allen.

“Collections are taking things you love and projecting them to go with the ‘vibe’ in your house. And,” she cautioned, “it has to work for your everyday living.”

Mass It Together Her number one rule, she said, is to mass it together. “A collection looks like a collection. It’s a matter of grouping. It’s important to have variety in scale, and

A large collection of items from sea, land, and sky make a pleasing display when attention is paid to texture, colors, and balance.

—Connecticut Country House photo

there has to be a common thread, whether it is theme, color, or style,” Ms Murphy said.

A collection can be as small as three items. Grouped tightly, they can be eyecatching. Like the other designers, she stressed the importance of rotating pieces of a large collection in and out. “When you restyle a collection seasonally, it keeps it fresh,” she said. For those who have multiple collections, she suggested rotating the entire collections on occasion.

“Too much is not a good thing,” she said.

Open shelving or glass-fronted display cases require an orderly display, and any items exposed should be kept dusted and clean. Use cupboards with doors for a “peek-a-boo” effect, Ms Murphy suggested, showing off the collection when wanted, and hiding it when it does not suit the mood of the room or season.

Artwork, photographs, and books can have great impact on décor. “Group the books by categories, such as gardening, decorating, cooking, fiction, and so on. If you have the same genre of paintings, like hunting, landscape, or such, you can use different frames. It is pulled together by the common thread of the genre. With photographs, group them on a surface or hang them all on one wall. But it’s the same rule of thumb [as any collection]: have a variety of scale, and have a common denominator of subjects, frame styles or frame materials. Depending on your personality, you might want an orderly line of photographs, or a tightly hung clustered grouping. It makes a great sight line in the house, either way,” Ms Murphy said.

Different items can be a collection if they share a similar quality, such as the finish, the color, the design, or in the case of furniture, an era. Ms Murphy cautioned about going for the “eclectic” look, though. “It has to be balanced, and

This display of a collection of European and American redware pottery works together, says interior design pro Nora Murphy, with similarity in colors, glazes, simple decorative motifs, and a common thread of a dotted piece on each shelf creating a pleasing look.

—Connecticut Country House photo scaled, or have complementary or monochromatic colors, or the same textures. It’s not,” she said, “a free for all.”

Beloved items can be gathered anywhere in the home and look great, as long as there is a common thread, Ms Murphy said, “and can create quite a powerful focal point.”

Grouping wisely, incorporating balance, color, and a common thread, agreed the three experts, will make any beloved collection a point of pride.

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The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

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Call Before You Dig Month Message Should Resonate Year-Round The efforts of Call Before You Dig, Inc (CBYD) are being supported by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who named April “Call Before You Dig Month” in Connecticut. April is always National Safe Digging Month as well.

Gov Malloy issued a proclamation reminding Connecticut residents and companies that conduct excavation work using power or mechanized equipment that state law mandates that they notify Call Before You Dig by calling 811 two full working days before any work commences.

“The law requires individuals, contractors, utilities, and public agencies planning to excavate with mechanized equipment to notify CBYD at least two full working days before digging,” the governor said in his proclamation. “This guards against the accidental digging up of buried facilities whenever excavation, whether by digging, blasting, or demolishing, is undertaken in order to protect the public, decrease utility service disruptions, and reduce the high cost of damage repairs.” He went on to say that CBYD has a proven record of reducing damage to underground facilities and protecting property while also providing for the safety and welfare of both excavators and the general public.

The first full month of spring usually brings with it temperatures warm enough to begin landscaping and construction projects, and those, in turn, bring the danger of exposure to and hits on vital public utility lines.

Digging without knowing what is below the surface risks causing property damage, injury and even death, according to representatives of Call Before You Dig, a nonprofit corporation that is responsible for operating a call center in Hamden to handle excavation notifications as well as making the public aware of the danger of digging blindly.

The organization comprises a clearinghouse of owners and operators of underground utility facilities, including gas, electric, water, and communications companies.

CBYD’s mission is “To protect the public safety with regard to excavations near underground facilities by providing a communication link between excava-

tors, public agencies, and public utilities; anytime, anywhere.” The push for public awareness is made in April because the warmer weather usually signals the onset of construction season for contractors and homeowners, whether it’s a new pool, landscaping, or a new deck.

The homeowner, the do it yourselfer, or company that is doing the work is responsible to call CBYD. Homeowners or excavators can simply call 811 and the CBYD staff will guide people through the process. If someone such as a landscaper is performing the work, then the landscaper should call. Once the call is made to the CBYD call center, the utilities have two full working days to respond, therefore people must call 811 with at least two full working days’ notice.

CBYD notifies the utility companies when an excavation will occur. Utility representatives come to the digging site, at no cost to the caller, to mark the location of underground utility lines. This protects against a range of problems, from the inconvenience of disrupted utility service to the potential of explosions or electrocutions.

CBYD wants to make the public aware of the utilities that needed on a daily basis but generally take for granted, for example, 911 calls that people need to make or airline traffic communications.

CBYD also provides guidelines in separate manuals for professional excavators and homeowners on its website cbyd.com.

The State of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) provides governmental oversight to the CBYD program. It plays the role of the enforcer for CBYD and excavators. If somebody violates the regulations, PURA will investigate it, bring violators in for a hearing and possibly prosecute with fines.

Compliance with the notification law not only ensures the safety of people and property, it also protects diggers from fines and lawsuits. Safety is a shared responsibility. If in doubt, make the call to 811. Calling CBYD free and it’s the law. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Visit call811.com or cbyd.com for more information about 811 and the callbefore-you-dig process.

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FLOORING DESIGN CENTER

Showroom: 203-261-2597 • Warehouse: 203-380-2789 450 Monroe Tpke, Monroe, CT 06468

Our

42nd

Family-Owned

Year!

1

$

Any 00 O F $1,0 Purchas F 00 o e r Mo of Until re 5/ 15/1

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Stair Runners & Carpets Vinyl & Laminate Linoleum Finished Hardwood Commercial Flooring Hours Mon-Wed 8:30-5:30 Thurs & Fri 8:30-7:00 Sat 8:30-5:00

FREE CONSULTATION, MEASURING & ESTIMATES

www.CourtesyCarpetinc.com

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Home & Garden - 19

20 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Year-Round Backyard Safety Tips For Families (StatePoint) — Your backyard is a space where you enjoy quality time with your family all year long. But accidents can happen anywhere — even in the oasis of your backyard. For parents, taking extra safety precautions out back should be just as important as childproofing done indoors.

To prep and maintain your yard for outdoor safe play and relaxation, here are several important steps: Lawn — Remove tree stumps and level concrete footings to avoid tripping. Lawn debris such as rocks could become projectiles when cutting the grass, so be sure to clear the yard. Additionally, children should never be nearby while you are using motorized equipment. Store potentially dangerous tools, equipment, and chemicals completely out of the reach of children, such as in a locked shed or garage.

Fencing — A yard without a fence is like a house without walls. Fences help protect children from danger, keeping toddlers out of swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, or away from traffic or strangers. Fences can also improve pet safety, keeping your pets in your yard and other animals out, and can reduce your liability by preventing injuries to uninvited guests on your property.

With that in mind, be sure your fences and gates are functional and free of rust that can render them useless or dangerous.

“Rusty metal gate hardware that no longer functions properly or becomes a threat to children is a top homeowner concern, according to our research,” says Jim Paterson, senior vice president of D&D Technologies, which manufactures gate

THE SEEDS HAVE AWOKEN, THE PETALS UNFOLDED, THE FLOWERS BLOSSOMED. IN THE SPIRIT OF SPRINGTIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO VISIT AND TAKE A STROLL THROUGH SHAKESPEARE'S GARDEN AT HISTORIC BURR FARM.

annuals.perennials.trees & shrubs. decorative garden accessories.landscape design. installation. barn shop. gift certificates.

latches and hinges made of ultrastrong engineering polymers.

Eliminate this worry by installing highquality fencing impervious to seasonal weather, ground settling, and other factors that can cause gates to become misaligned over time. Opt for gate hardware that can be easily adjusted to function properly over the long-term. For example, some models of TruClose self-closing tension adjustable hinges are vertically and horizontally adjustable.

Additionally, be sure to install pool barrier access gates with adjustable self-closing hinges like TruClose and self-latching gates where the latches are out of the reach of children, such as the Magnalatch Safety Gate Latch. Both products carry lifetime warranties and are adjustable both vertically and horizontally for easy adjustments.

Homeowners can peruse a bevy of rustfree gate hardware and child safety latches online at www.ddtechglobal.com or in person under the Stanley Hardware brand available through most Lowe’s stores.

Sun Protection — When the sun is bearing down, skin can be susceptible to burns and permanent damage year-round. And children’s skin can be even more sensitive to harmful UV rays. Your yard should have plenty of shady areas to seek respite. Plant trees and watch them grow. Install a canopy. Adorn patio furniture with an umbrella.

Your backyard can be one of the most exciting places for your children to play through the entire year. A little prevention along the way will keep it safe and fun.

TIM WILDER TREE CARE 3rd Generation CT Licensed Arborist Over 30 Years Experience in Arboriculture • • • •

Removals Pruning Cabling Spraying

• • • •

Fertilizing Diagnosis Aerial Lift Stump Grinding

QUALITY VALUE TRUST SERVICE

Prompt Professional Response & Service

Open: Mon - Sat • 8am-5pm ~ Sun • 9am-5pm

203-775-2214 located at the historic Burr Farm

25 Obtuse Road South Brookfield

• FREE Estimates • Licensed • Insured

NEWTOWN, CT (203) 270-1012 Ct Arborist Lic. #62799

CT DEP Reg. #B-1704

ISA Certification # NE-0735

Buy Directly from the Area’s Leading Manufacturer.

WHOLESALE BARK MULCH

BARK and WOOD MULCH Color Enhanced Mulch (4 colors) Cedar Mulch • Screened Topsoil Certified Playground Mulch

Celebra t 33 Yearing In Busin s ess

Ask about FREE Delivery!

203.426.2909 Fax: 203.426.1637

4 TODDY HILL ROAD • NEWTOWN, CT

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Home & Garden - 21

22 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Get It DONE! THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR EVERY PROJECT

[ up to 4 hours ]

with any 2014 lawn mowing program

Aerators – Power Washers Overseeders – Thatchers Hedge Trimmers – Skid Steers Excavators – Post Hole Diggers and Much More!

Family Owned and Operated Since 1983

203-826-7559

108 Federal Road, Danbury

www.deckertools.com / Since 1962

Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30am-5:30pm

Apex Glass LLC LLC

Frameless Shower Doors, Mirrors, Tabletops Replacement Windows, Storm Doors & Windows We do screens on site, usually in a few days!

10 Riverside Road www.apexglass.com

Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm • Saturday 9 am - 1 pm HIC. 0638718

203-426-4475 Fax: 203-426-3633

?

Are You Ready for a STIHL BG 55

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STIHL BR 430 A professional-grade backpack blower with excellent fuel economy.

It's 57.5 oz. fuel tank means fewer refills while features such as advanced anti-vibration system.

ElastoStart starter and back padding provide reduced fatigue.

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STIHL BR 600 MAGNUM® The all-in-one backpack blower sets the standard with it combination of power, fuel efficiency and durability.

Boosts the highest air volume and velocity of all the STIHL backpack blowers with low-emission engine technology.

151 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 est. 1981

203.426.5012

www.newtownpowerequipment.com

Home & Garden - 23

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Homeowners, Homebuilders See Value in ‘Smart’ Appliances (StatePoint) — When you think of “smart technology,” you may think of your smartphone, tablet, or vehicle, but soon, you may also think of such household appliances as your dishwasher, refrigerator, or laundry pair.

Home building professionals nationwide increasingly are working with manufacturers to install smart appliances into new and remodeled homes, in light of new government standards, technology advances, and a focus on energy efficiency.

“Smart appliances provide greater convenience, reduce energy consumption, and help people live a more sustainable lifestyle,” says Maureen Sertich, North America sustainability lead at Whirlpool Corporation, which manufactures Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, and Amana appliance brands. “These transformative technologies allow consumers to

learn about their energy use and connect to their appliances online to actively manage their home’s energy consumption.”

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 13 percent of the energy used in a typical home can be attributed to just four common appliances — the refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer, and clothes dryer.

But that will soon change, as leading companies take steps to improve upon energyefficient designs of these four appliances, with the added assistance of smart appliance technology.

For example, Whirlpool Corporation recently launched 6th Sense Live technology, which allows homeowners to control appliances from their computer or smartphone. For instance, homeowners can activate their washer’s fan for forgotten wet clothes; and the refrigerator will send a text

message when the power supply has been disrupted so people can know if their food is safe to eat.

Smart appliances from these pioneering brands can also track energy consumption

and connect to the “smart grid,” a modernized electric grid being rolled out nationwide that uses communications technology to more effectively manage electricity demand. This means that, with consumer permission, the appliance can respond to utility signals asking it to postpone or cutback operations when energy demand is high or more expensive.

This year, one of the nation’s largest production home builders, KB Home, is collaborating with Whirlpool Corporation to roll out these smart-grid ready appliances to all KB Home communities nationwide.

More information on smart-grid-ready and sustainable appliances can be found at SmartGrid.gov or Whirlpool.com.

Learning more about smart technology for your home can save you money and make your home more planet-friendly in the process.

COMPLETE LANDSCAPE SERVICES

SAFER. HEALTHIER. LANDSCAPES.SM www.kodiaklandcare.com Kodiak Tree & Landscape Co., LLC Licensed Arborists Newtown, CT 06470

203-270-6238

Visit The Newtown Bee website at www.newtownbee.com

CT #S-4562 CT DEEP #B-1864

24 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

Yacko & Sons Newtown, CT

Tree Service

Licensed Arborist Pruning Same Day Estimates

Tree Removal • Stump Removal Brush Chipping • Bucket Truck Kevin Yacko, Owner

Jeff Cowden, Cert. Arborist

Fully Insured Lic. # HIC0627338

ISA 0213AU, CT S-6063

203-733-2859 We Keep Water Out! Experts In Drainage & Basement Waterproofing

Wet Basement Systems • Guaranteed 20 years • Excavating • Septic Systems Newtown, CT

Serving Newtown For Over 18 Years

• Site Work • Wet Basements • Wall Cracks • Drainage

“IF IT’S IN THE DIRT WE DO THE WORK”

• 24 Hour Response

20% OFF Any Yacko & Sons Service Exp. 5/30/14

COUPON

u o Y k ThanYour for ness!

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Since 1991

LANDSCAPING Newtown, CT

NEWTOWN HARDWARE

Landscape Construction Design / Installation Pavers, Planting, Lighting, Hardscape & more

2 yr workmanship warranty on hardscapes.

Hardscape Restoration Hot & Cold water pressure, surface cleaning & sealing

Come See Our Expanded Selection of Lawn & Garden Supplies...

Outdoor Living Accessories Grills - FREE Assembly & Local Delivery Bagged Mulch, Stone and Soils “Your time is valuable, and we value your time!”

61 Church Hill Road, Newtown 203-426-4076

Monday-Friday 8-6:00 • Saturday 8-5 • Sunday 9-3

Propane Tanks Filled

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203-426-1191

Our CT certified landscape architect will design your project big or small.

HIC #0613967

Garret Henchcliffe

Home & Garden - 25

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

Is It Time To Repaint Or Replace Your Front Door?

(StatePoint) — Homeowners who are looking to save on energy bills can also start right at the front door. Evaluating your main entry door at least once annually for its operational capabilities and energy efficiency features is good practice, say experts.

“Most homeowners can get years of service out of their front doors, but there will come a time when a door needs to be replaced,” says Derek Fielding, director of product management for Therma-Tru Corp, a leading manufacturer of entry doors. “It’s important to annually evaluate and maintain your main entryway.”

According to Fielding, there are several ways to determine when it’s time for a replacement. *Open and close doors on both dry and wet, humid days to ensure components operate smoothly. If your door doesn’t close securely or fits tightly on humid days, it’s most likely leaking air on dry days. *Inspect weatherstripping around the sides. On a bright day, stand inside and look for daylight flowing through the door perimeter. If light is coming in, then external air and possibly moisture also are likely to be entering. This means it’s time to determine if your foam-filled weatherstripping may have lost some of its compression, is cracked or worn out. *Examine locks to ensure they operate smoothly and are strong enough to help protect your home. Multipoint locking systems, like those that can be requested on Therma-Tru doors, offer peace-of-mind. *Touch your door on both hot and cold days. If you feel the exterior temperatures from the inside, you may not have adequate insulation. Consider upgrading to an Energy Star-qualified door with a multipoint locking system that offers a tighter fit against weatherstripping. *Check the appearance. For wood doors, check for warping or rotting. For steel, check for dings and rust. Check that the style matches the design of your home.

If it becomes apparent you’re in the market for a new door, consider fiberglass, which is known for energy efficiency, reliability and style customization, according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

“A solid fiberglass door is up to four times more energy efficient than solid wood, plus you get the benefits of resistance to rot, rust, dings and weather,” says Fielding.

Key factors in dependability are multipoint locking systems that engage a series of locks at several places on the frame, as well as an adjustable security strike plate that can withstand up to three times the force of standard strike plates.

More information can be found at www.ThermaTru.com.

Another factor to consider is the material inside your door. A dense polyurethane foam helps achieve high thermal performance values. If you choose to add decorative glass to fiberglass doors, you can also find energy-efficient features if you comparison shop.

Make An Impression One of the simplest ways to make a big impact on your home’s exterior is with your front door. But if you are tired of the old standards colors, you’re not alone — experts predict bolder trends this year.

“Exuberant hues will be popular this year as a way for homeowners to show the world their energy,” says Kate Smith, a color trend

Whether it’s a fresh coat of eye-popping color, or a whole new door, experts offer a wealth of information on how to help make your front door provide the first of many great impressions of your home to visitors. forecaster and president of Sensational Color. “For those going for a classic feel, colors that are vibrant, yet at the same time, offer comfort, warmth and reliability will reign.”

For homeowners looking to express their “colorful selves,” consider selecting a paintable fiberglass door with a smooth finish. For example, those from Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection and Pulse feature clean lines, crisp angles and attractive glass configuration options, and are ideal for adding personal expression to a home.

According to Smith, the top five door colors for the “exuberant homeowner” in 2014

include: *Capri: A tropical blue that wakes up natural woods and neutral surroundings, this hue adds a splash of energy. *Raucous Orange: This color demands attention with its energetic tone and makes the perfect punctuation point for homes with a modern look. *Dynamo: This flirty violet hue instantly updates traditional color schemes for a trendier home front. *Relic Bronze: A deep, almost brown mustard color, “Relic Bronze” reflects aged beauty. *Quixotic Plum: This sophisticated deep purple is where trendy meets timeless.

The top five door colors for those following the more classic trend of comfort, as identified by Smith include: *Georgian Bay: Brighter than dark navy, this step-above reserved blue is a trusted color when it comes to the welcoming message it sends to family and friends. *Show Stopper: Like classic red at dusk, Show Stopper adds a touch of mystery to this bright hue. A slight spin on traditional red, this color warmly welcomes people to a home. *Polished Mahogany: The deep, rich shade of brown has a staying power that traverses trends and captures a solid feeling for homeowners. *Classic French Gray: Stepping out of the shadows to stand on its own, this cool, neutral gray will continue to rule the palette in 2014. *Gulfstream: This bright, modern blue has an of-the-moment appeal. At the same time, it still feels rooted in something familiar and nostalgic for homeowners.

Whether you follow new trends or stick to tradition, don’t forget to take your entire home’s exterior into consideration. From roof to door, a “top down” approach can help you pick color combinations that are eye-pleasing and flow naturally to create curb appeal.

Power, Performance and Value!

20381 Personal Pace® 3-in-1 SALE PRICE $549.99

April, May & June 2014

$50 Rebate*

Final Cost $499.99+ tax *On Model 20381 only Not comb. w/other offers.

• Personal Pace Self-Propel • Guaranteed-to-Start (GTS®) • Toro Premium OHV w/auto choke • Super Recycler Cutting System • Premium Cast Aluminum Deck • Mulch, Side Discharge, and Rear Bag • 5-Year Full Warranty

SS 4235 TIMECUTTER SALE PRICE $2,599 Reg. $2,799

$100 Instant Rebate!* In April & May 2014

*On Model SS 4235 only. Not comb. w/other offers.

• 22hp Kohler® V-Twin engine • 42” Mowing Deck – 2 Blades • Dual Hydrostatic Transmission • 3 Gallon Fuel Tank • 7 mph Maximum Speed • 3-Year Limited Warrantee

20372 Variable Speed SALE PRICE $379 • Personal Pace Self-Propel • Guaranteed-to-Start (GTS®) Engine • Toro Premium OHV w/auto choke • Recycler Cutting System with Atomic® Blade • Mulch, Side Discharge, and Rear Bag • 2-Year Full Warranty

Tillers • Chain Saws •Trimmers • Tractors • Lawn Mowers • Snow Blowers Established 1959 “Where Service Excels!”

L&R Power Equipment 122 Main St, Monroe, CT • 203-268-8400 Hours: 8-5 Mon-Sat

26 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

n o e v a S

Spring Home Improvements

JOHN SPECTOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN Buy Direct from the Grower & Save

40% to 70% OFF

On Landscape Design & Installation Mulching • Lawn Installations • Sodding Patios • Stonewalls & Walkways • Tree Services Gravel & Regrading Driveways • Drainage Systems

203-263-4650 • 203-586-8541 35 Years in Business

Universal Tile & Marble Natural Stone, Ceramic, Porcelain, Vanities & Sinks

Countertops, Design, Installation, Kitchen Cabinets

Where we have the best Ideas Colonial Park Plaza - 103 South Main St. Newtown, CT. - 06470 Tel: (203)270-8309 - Fax: (203)270-8003

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Frank Pruner Gutter Cleaning, LLC

REFRIGERATORS • WASHERS & DRYERS DISHWASHERS & RANGES DISPOSALS • AIR CONDITIONERS • DEHUMIDIFIERS EXPERTS ON ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

Established 1989

(203) 426-3103

Free Estimates • Fully Insured

FRANK COLACURCIO Contracting & Home Improvements From Demo to Doorknobs...

FCC

COMPLETE REMODELING & RENOVATIONS Kitchens, Baths, Finished Basements, Wet Bars, Tile, Countertops, Replacement Windows, Doors, Flooring, Vinyl Siding, Decks & More Sandy Hook, CT Phone: 203.241.7391

CT Licensed – Insured Over 30 Years of Service

Stone, Brick, Blocks, Walls

Steps, Porches, Sidewalks, Bluestone, Pavers, Belgium Block, Fireplaces, Stucco, All types

Call the owner 203-770-9273 FREE ESTIMATES

Family Owned Since2000 2000 Family Owned&&Operated Operated Since 24 Hour Emergency Service • Next Day Delivery • Discount Fuel Oil Dealers Full Service • Energy Assistance Program

Off Road

Diesel*

203-775-0221

HOD #009

1 Tamarack Ave, apt 12 Danbury, CT 06810 Fax 203-917-3390 lunomasonry@hotmail.com

All Clean,

LLC

SPECIALIZING IN Window Washing Carpet Cleaning (Truck Mount) Gutter Cleaning • Power Washing

KEVIN BARRETT Established in 1994

allcleanct.com • 203-270-0000 Discounts Available w/Multiple Services

Commercial

Fully Insured

Residential

3B’s Paving and

Landscape Design LLC Excavation • Walkways & Patios • Retaining Walls Lawn Installation • Spring & Fall Cleanups Belgium Block Borders • Planting Services

S

UTHBURY

S T O N E & S U P P LY

FREE ESTIMATES License #614946 & Insured

References & Portfolio available

AdvancedApplianceCT.com

PROMPT • PROFESSIONAL • REASONABLE

203-364-0377 • 203-264-7259

For Reliability, Quality Masonry & Polite Service

Cell: 860-417-8500 Home: 860-274-6458

(203)

FREE ESTIMATES

FN Masonry Stonewalls, Brick Walls, Bluestone, Steps, Fireplaces, Chimneys, Patios, Sidewalks.

We can also do any Masonry Repairs!

SENIOR DISCOUNTS

Newtown 426-2776

Gutters & Leaders Cleaned & Flushed Quality Screening Available Minor Repairs • Tree Trimming

Over 24 year experience

New Customers Welcome

Over rs 20 Yea nce Experie

www.frankprunerguttercleaning.com

Luno Masonry Work New Customers Welcome

ADVANCED APPLIANCE REPAIR

SouthburyStoneandSupply.com

203-743-4469 WASHED GRAVEL • WASHED CONCRETE SAND WASHED MASON SAND • PROCESS • TRAP ROCK FILL • SCREENED TOPSOIL We deliver to more homeowners than anyone in the area Large & small orders • Prompt deliveries

$ 203-268-PAVE (7283)

Paving • Sealing • Masonry Drainage • Hot Crack Repair CONCRETE RESTORATION SPECIALISTS! www.pavementservicesllc.com Lic #HIC0626518 Fully Ins

55 Bullet Hill Road, Southbury, CT 06488 Phone 203-264-1118 southburystoneandsupply@yahoo.com

SINCE 1922

LLC

Mulch • Top Soil • Decorative Stone Masonry & Landscape Supplies Pipe & Geotextile Fabrics Grinnell Pavingstone & Retaining Walls • Etc.

50

OFF 0r 10% whichever is less

Driveway Sealing & Hot Crack Repair

Home & Garden - 27

April 11, 2014 - The Newtown Bee

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS APPLIANCE REPAIR Advanced Appliances, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

HOME DÉCOR Chintz-N-Prints of Newtown, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

BUILDING SUPPLIES/WINDOWS Apex Glass, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 East Haven Builders Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

HOME IMPROVEMENTS/REMODELING/REPAIRS Frank Colacurcio Contracting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

CREDIT UNION Mutual Security Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 DUCT/DRYER VENT CLEANING Dependable Duct Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 EXCAVATION Yacko & Sons Excavation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 FABRIC & NOTIONS Chintz-N-Prints of Newtown, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 FLOORING Red Baron Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Courtesy Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 FLOOR RESTORATION/CLEANING Red Baron Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 White Glove Cleaning–Janitorial, LLC . . . . . . . . .8 FURNITURE Woodbin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 GARAGE DOORS Overhead Door of Brookfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

JANITORIAL SERVICE White Glove Cleaning–Janitorial, LLC . . . . . . . . .8 LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/CONTRACTORS/ HORTICULTURIST A&L Landscaping LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Cleancut Lawn & Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Giglio Landscape Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Holmes Fine Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 John Spector Landscape Design . . . . . . . . . . . .26 LRM Inc Landscape Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Top Notch Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Ryan Property Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 LAWN TRACTORS Newtown Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 MASONRY/PAVERS FN Masonry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Gault Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Luno Masonry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Southbury Stone & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 MULCH/LANDSCAPING Ferris Mulch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Southbury Stone & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Walsh Wood Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

GIFT & GARDEN Hollandia Nurseries & Gift & Garden . . . . . . . . .22 Shakespeare’s Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

OUTDOOR HOUSE CLEANING & CARPETS All Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

GUTTER CLEANING Frank Pruner Gutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

PAINTING SUPPLIES Newtown Color Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

HANDYMAN Handyman Express of Newtown . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

PAVING/LANDSCAPE 3 B’s Paving & Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

HARDWARE/PAINT Newtown Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

PAVING/SEALING Greg’s Driveway Sealing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Pavement Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

HEATING FUEL ABC Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

PLUMBING & HEATING Tim Conlan Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

POOLS/ENVIRONMENTS/SPAS J&J Pool And Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 L&J Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 NeJame & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Newtown Pools, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 POWER EQUIPMENT L&R Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Newtown Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . .18, 22 West End Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Bethel Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 REALTORS Christine Fairchild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 REFUSE REMOVAL Associated Refuse Hauler of America . . . . . . . .14 SAND & GRAVEL Bethel Sand & Gravel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 SEAMLESS GUTTERS/WINDOWS/DOORS Martin’s Aluminum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 STONE CLEANING/PAVER Top Notch Hardscape Restoration Specialists . .22 SURVEYOR Brautigam Land Surveyors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 TICK CONTROL Newtown Arbor Services, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 TILE & MARBLE Universal Tile & Marble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 TOOL RENTALS Decker Tool Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 TREE SERVICE/LANDSCAPE Bartlett Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Kodiak Tree & Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Newtown Arbor Services, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Wilder Tree Care, Tim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Yacko & Sons Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 WINDOW CLEANING/POWER WASHING Solimine Window Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

YOUR HOME MAKES A U NIQUE STATMENT. YOUR GARAGE DOOR CAN TOO .

2013 WOMEN’S CHOICE

AWARD

AMERICA’S BEST FOR HOME GARAGE DOORS

"upgrading your garage door is one of the top ranked home improvements return on investment"

Magazine

(203) 740 7691 Overhead Door Company Of Brookfield 549 Federal Road, Brookfield, CT www.overheaddoorbrookfield.com

28 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - April 11, 2014

G N I R G P N I S N A E F L F C

O % 0 1

s Vent ryer ned.

D g mbi udin Excl to be co Not

Don’t hire any “Quacks” to clean your ducts!

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Call for a FREE Inspection & Quote 203-364-1950 Cleaning Heating & Air Conditioning Ducts & Dryer Vents Improves Energy and Improves Air Quality

Also don’t forget Cleaning your Dryer Vents prevents FIRES.

Family Owned & Operated Over 10Years

Your local Newtown Duct Cleaning Service.

www.dependableductcleaning.com sal@dependableductcleaning.com

Your satisfaction is our reputation.

PMS 2465 / purple

Newtown Bee, January 31, 2014— “The Fire Marhsall noted this week that during the past year, malfunctioning clothes dryers have caused three structure fires in town ...the leading cause of home dryer fires is failure to clean those dryers”.