Home and Garden 12/03/16

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016 Look inside for these specials and many others.

home: HOLIDAY FUN AT

• EXCITING HOME ADDITIONS • DIY PRESENTS • GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN

Exciting HOME A DDI T IONS

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

T

he holiday season has arrived, and in the midst of gift-buying and gift-giving, you may forget to treat yourself! How about instating a household agreement that instead of individual gifts this year, you and your loved ones create that home renovation or addition you’ve always dreamed of? This is the gift that keeps on giving — since most spend the majority of their free time at their home.

The days of homes only having the standard kitchen, living room and bedroom setup are just about over; with more non-conventional and dynamic possibilities emerging every day. There are so many ways to enhance a home to be more fun and exciting, so why not make it happen? While some projects are more costly and large-scale, others just require a little bit of imagination and tweaking of spaces.

1. HOME THEATER

If you have some unused space in your basement, it is the perfect place for a home theater. Why spend $50 or more taking your family out to the movies if you

go downstairs to your very own theater with some freshly baked — or popped — goodies? Entertain yourself and your visitors with recliners, a large flat screen TV and a top-notch audio system. With some red velvet draped on all the walls and black ceilings with dimmable colored and twinkling lights, it can be the ultimate movie-watching atmosphere. You can also set up your system to connect with Netflix, Amazon, Vudu and other movie streaming websites for near-endless viewing options.

2. HOME SPA

An indoor or outdoor home spa is the way to go for relaxation and enjoyment on those cold winter nights. Spa prices vary widely, so shop around and see if you can find some generous deals. It’s a great idea to look into certified pre-owned models as well. For indoor spa rooms, you can play up the design of the room with an Asianinspired theme, a ski lodge-inspired theme or an outer-space theme with twinkling stars on the ceiling. You can really make it anything that you want design-wise, but there are some important details to keep in mind for setup, including proper ventilation, drainage, flooring and wiring. It

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is a wise choice to seek professional help with the installation of your spa.

3. HOME STUDIO

It’s important to have a creative outlet.

Whether you are an artist, musician or dancer, having a room in the house that encourages and nourishes your art can be deeply beneficial. A music studio can be completed by sound proof walls, professional recording equipment and instruments. A home dance studio can be an empty room with wood floors, a ballet bar and perhaps mirrors on the wall to check your form. An art studio can have different easels, task lighting and plenty of storage room for your art supplies. You can even create a video production room; complete with lighting, a green screen, great acoustics and an editing station.

4. GAME ROOM

There are so many possibilities when it comes to game rooms. If you have a generous sized-room or basement space available, fill it with fun activities. This room can include a pool table, ping pong table, old-school pin ball machine, air hockey and a video game corner with all of

your favorite consoles. You can also stock some shelving with an abundance of board games and a deck of cards; accompanied by a suitable table for playing them.

5. TOY ROOM

If you are tired of seeing your kid’s toys scattered throughout the house, why not keep it all contained in a toy room? Even a smaller space can work perfectly for this. You can paint the walls a bright, fun color and cushion the floor for safety. The key here is having tons of simple storage space. Big cloth color-coded bins are a nice option, and can encourage your kids to — maybe — clean up after themselves.

Fill the room with all of those toy cars, dolls, stuffed animals, coloring books, kid instruments and more that are cluttering your otherwise spotless home.

These are but a few ways to transform your home into a place of fun, entertainment and relaxation. Creating these fun home spaces provides all the more reasons to stay indoors with your loved ones and bond. Top it all off with some Christmas music, hot cocoa and festive décor and you will have the perfect home for the holidays.

DIY

HOL IDAY GIF T S

••

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

COOKIE MIX IN A JAR

Who doesn’t love cookies during the holidays? You can have a lot of fun personalizing your jars and making them special with all of your favorite ingredients and decorations. All you need for the container is a 12-ounce mason jar with lid, ribbon of choice, fabric of choice and recipe and direction tag to attach. For chocolate chip cookies — in this order — pack in three-fourth cup flour, onefourth teaspoon of baking soda and salt, one-third cup white sugar, one-fourth cup brown sugar and the remainder of space with chocolate chips. Close the jar, top with cut fabric and tie a ribbon around it to keep it snug. For the attached tag, this recipe calls for four tablespoons of butter, one egg and one-fourth teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Directions: 1. Set chocolate chips aside 2. Mix butter with sugars 3.

Stir in egg and vanilla 4. Stir in flour 5. Mix in chocolate chips 6. Bake at 350 degrees for 13–15 minutes.

ZEN GARDEN

A beautiful Zen garden in an office or living room can inspire a moment of relaxation. Instead of spending $40 you can make your own for $10. From a craft store,

like Michaels, you can purchase beach sand, stones of choice, votive candles, a glue gun, and an eight inch by 10 inch, thick picture frame with finish of choice. To assemble: 1. Remove frame back and glass 2. Rip off stand 3. Return the back — but not the glass — to the frame and glue it into place around the edges 4. Turn the frame over and fill with sand 5. Have fun decorating with stones and a candle as desired 6. For the rake, you can either use a fork, make your own from dowels or buy one online for as little as three dollars.

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Kitchen chalkboards serve many purposes. You can jot down recipe ideas, write out your favorite inspirational quotes or scribble a surprise love note to your sweetie before work. All you need is a cutting board with handle for hanging, a wall hook, a can of chalkboard spray paint and plenty of colorful chalk. Before spraying the cutting board, make sure it is clean, dry and dust-free. Then spray with three coats of the chalkboard paint. After letting it dry completely, wrap it as a gift or hang it on the wall in the kitchen and enjoy. This DIY gift idea is from Liz Fourez’s blog, LoveGrowsWild.com.

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Gifts for the Gardener

SATURDAY, DEC 3, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3

Gardening

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OFFERS PAYBACK AT THE HOLIDAYS

BY DEAN FOSDICK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ardeners make good friends, especially during the holidays when they give out foods preserved from their gardens.

The top five canning recipes used during the holidays are for applesauce, cranberry sauce, jalapeño jelly, apple pie filling and sauerkraut, according to a recent survey by Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball-brand mason jars.

There appears to be a distinctive second season for food preservation — a spike from late November into December made by canners who want to share homemade gifts in jars.

“Many consumers can syrups, jellies and sauces to give away as holiday gifts, along with crafting and decor use for the holidays,” said Jeff Marvel, a Jarden spokesman.

The jars themselves can be collector’s items, and serving accessories on tables or sideboards.

“People prefer to see the vibrant colors

of their fresh-packed tomatoes or peaches in clear glass,” said Judy Harrold, Jarden’s Consumer Affairs manager. “Things like granola and layered cooking mixes tend to look better in colored jars. The same goes for non-food items like candles, potpourri, bath salts and collectibles.”

Gardeners’ holiday gifts are driven in part by the kinds of edibles harvested late in the growing season, and in part by traditional holiday menus.

Younger canners are using ingredients from all over, Harrold said. “They rely more on farmer’s markets than they do backyard gardens for their produce. And they only go to the grocery store when they don’t have an ingredient to fit into their recipes,” she said.

All of the food preservation techniques — canning, freezing, dehydrating, fermenting and cold storage — delay or stop spoilage while sealing in flavor and nutritional value. But home canners must use the proper techniques so they don’t pass along any food-borne illnesses.

“Under-processing canned goods could

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lead to bacteria in the food without any outward signs of spoilage,” said Elizabeth Andress, a University of Georgia food safety specialist.

“Gift giving is not a good time to experiment or try new procedures,” Andress said. “If you’re talking canning, don’t experiment with anything in the low-acid realm at all.” That would include meats and vegetables.

Also, ensure that the jars you use are meant for canning.

“Some jars are intended for non-canning purposes, like crafts,” and can’t withstand the heat or temperature changes of the canning process, Andress said.

Be descriptive with jar labels. You can make your own or find labels made to order online.

“In addition to letting the receiver know exactly what the food is by listing the ingredients on the label, it’s a nice touch to recommend how to use it,” Andress said. “Things like apple rings or chutneys or pepper jellies. The latter is especially good with cream cheese.”

Homegrown treats can be exchanged as holiday gifts.

Labels add a personal touch and in many cases include the ingredients as well as suggestions about how the foods should be used. Gardeners make good friends, especially during the holidays, as they share their homegrown harvest.

For more, see this Penn State University Extension fact sheet: extension.psu.edu/food/ preservation/news/2012/ gifts-from-the-kitchen Photo by Dean Fosdick, The Associated Press

AROUND THE HOUSE

Holiday lighting safety

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Readers: You may have noticed that enterprising landscaping companies — in order to even out their seasonal cash flow and stay busy — are advertising their KEN MOON services to install your Christmas lights for you.

If you have any trepidation about hanging from a ladder, you should consider hiring one of these firms. Of course, make sure they have worker’s compensation and liability insurance before you hire them.

If you’re in a DIY mood, however, here are a few safety tips. Instead of moving your ladder, it’s tempting to lean to the left and right reaching for hooks for each string. That should be avoided, as it is a good way to take a sideways tumble. My ladder has a stabilizing bar at the bottom, which helps keep me upright and instills a sense of greater security. The bar has rubber feet on each end and is about twice

as wide as the ladder itself.

Make sure the light strings are plugged into a ground fault (GFCI) protected outlet.

That way, you can be sure that any stray voltage leaking into the ground will trip the breaker and take that outlet off line until the fault is repaired. The GFCI circuit usually protects the bathroom, garage and exterior plugs. To help identify it, look for those tiny push buttons in one of the plugs. If you need to wire in another one someplace else, don’t fret; a GFCI outlet with the self-contained safety apparatus is less than $15.

Don’t plug strings of lights into any one circuit endlessly without checking how much current you’re using. Sum up the amperage rating of each light string, and, when you get to a total of about 12 amps or so, you should think about utilizing another circuit.

Also, check the ratings of the extension cords and timer you plug your display into it. A 14 gauge exterior-approved cord is

Dear Ken: How do I get permanent black marker off a medium colored wood table? I hope I don’t have to sand and refinish.

– Shelly Try a little hair spray. It contains some alcohol and will dissolve many so-called permanent stains. One of my favorite uses for this simple remedy is on clothing. I’m always leaving ball-point pen marks above the pocket on light colored golf shirts. I spritz on a little hair spray and throw the shirt in the washing machine; works every time. One other idea: go to the marker manufacturer’s website customer service

All Discount

Dear Ken: Do you have any ideas for sealing around the base of a toilet besides caulking?

– John Not really. If you don’t want to call attention to it, why not try some clear tub and tile caulk? Personally, I like the DAP brand. One other thing: only seal three sides of the toilet base. Leave the back open and uncaulked. That way, if there’s a leak under the bowl, it will “telegraph” itself through the unsealed crack before there’s too much damage to the floor below.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m.

Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

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denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

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Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

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mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

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by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Blondie

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muTTS

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Funky winkerBean

luann

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PeanuTS

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non SequiTur

new york TimeS CroSSword

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By Patrick Berry edited by will Shortz

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey across 1 Pickup trucks from a foreignowned company made and sold only in North America 13 Familiar story line 15 Durable, as a wristwatch 17 Goes no further 18 Moon, in Montreuil 19 Imitation 21 Ford contemporary 22 To some degree 23 Jugged ___ (old British delicacy) 24 Jazzman Montgomery 25 White sheets 26 Second part of a historic trio 27 Some prizes on “The Price Is Right” 28 Dance with high kicks 29 They’re put in barrels 32 Keeps a mock rivalry going, say 33 “___ in Moscow” (1959 children’s book) 34 Funereal tempo 35 Air spirit, in folklore 36 Metallic stickers 37 “Golly Gosh Oh ___” (Conway Twitty song) 40 Entertainment Weekly interviewee 41 Niche religions 42 Low lament 43 ___ Parker, director and star of 2016’s “The Birth of a Nation” 44 Not staged 45 Land line?

46 Sitcom mom whose kids were named Becky, Darlene and D.J. 49 $100 purchase in Monopoly 50 Something played at 1980s parties

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 20 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 37 38 39 41 42 45 47 48

Niche religions Dovekies, e.g.

“This is ___” Single-rotation skating jumps Covers Ruins the reputation of Discombobulated Small carp Hit hard Add value to Winemaking byproduct Monetary resources Go down toward home?

Campus newbie Symptoms of guilt Liqueur in a margarita Bready bunch?

Pitch, e.g.

Affirmed’s rival for the Triple Crown Protégé of Stalin Compiler of an 1855 reference work “The Jack ___ Show,” 1959-85 Start of a Spanish greeting Australian monitor lizard Show some leniency Starter follower Is a quick learner?

His house in Giverny is a now a museum Smuggler’s hideaway Monarch’s reign, perhaps Cool ___

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

by mike Peters

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

down 1 Ticket waster 2 Eat fast, slangily 3 Dresses down HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 3, 2016

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by Chad Carpenter

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

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dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

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by Paul gilligan

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: My sister recently died suddenly. My husband does not like my late sister’s husband.

My mother invited my sister’s husband to share our holiday dinner. I have a problem with him right now because after 35 AMY years together (she even waited DICKINSON for him while he was in prison for more than a decade), he announced that he had met someone two months after my sister’s death. We all believe he was dating this woman before my sister passed.

Currently, my mother, brother in-law and I are in grief therapy. Our counselor suggested we do things together that my sister liked, as a form of healing. My mother believes this could be an exercise for healing. My husband refuses to go and has said I am being disloyal to him if I go. He said I should put him before all of them.

My husband and I have gotten into huge arguments over this and have even talked about divorce. He knows the reason why I want to go to my mother’s. I told him he is being controlling.

I don’t know what to do. I am torn and feel miserable.

Your advice? — Torn and Miserable

ADVICE

DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN

Question: Are chemicals in plastics really dangerous for your health? If so, how can I eliminate those risks? — Kathy G., St. Louis

Dear Torn: My reaction is that you should share this dinner with your family and your husband should do this with you — for you.

Including your late sister’s husband in this meal makes this challenging for everyone, but you can assume that this is likely the last holiday meal you will share with him, and if this helps you and your mother find peace with this huge loss, then your husband should try to be helpful.

Yes, married couples should put one another at the center of each other’s lives. Right now, this applies to him. He should be kind and gentle toward you, even if it causes him some discomfort.

I’m glad you are getting grief counseling, but I also think that a tension-filled holiday dinner is not necessarily going to help all of you. I think if you and your mother took a walk together and visited one of her favorite places together, this might help you both more than plowing through the awkwardness of this high-stakes holiday meal.

Answer: You can’t look around your office, home or fridge without seeing plastic. But what you might not see is the risk that hormone disruptors such as phthalates, BPA and BPS in plastics — as well as personal-care products, pesticides and those thermal receipts you get at stores, restaurants and gas stations — pose to your health.

A recent study from NYU Langone Medical Center concluded that gradual but constant exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals increases rates of male infertility, birth defects, endometriosis, obesity, diabetes and some cancers and premature death from heart disease and stroke. It also doubles your risk of dementia, diminishes IQ scores and contributes to escalating rates of autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The study also estimates that health care costs and lost earnings from daily exposure to those chemicals (as well as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, found in flame retardants, furniture and packaging) exceeds $340 billion annually! You can add to that, $200 billion in dementia-related costs in the U.S. alone.

We know you can’t get plastics, phthalates and pesticides completely out of your life, but you can reduce your exposure.

• Never microwave food that comes in plastic containers (even if they’re labeled as safe!) and hand-wash plastic food-storage containers.

• Avoid plastic containers with the recycle numbers 3, 6 or 7 on the bottom.

• Use fragrance-free cosmetics and personalcare products — phthalates are commonly used in fragrances.

• Don’t handle thermal paper receipts; they’re loaded with BPA. If you do, wash your hands with soap and water.

• Opt for glass containers whenever possible.

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

—

—

ADVICE

Dear readers: Cats are so cute, and we love them and want to keep them healthy. What are some “people foods” that they should not eat? Here are some foods, and the reasons why: Tuna: Cats love seafood, right?

HINTS Well, tuna fish for people doesn’t FROM have the nutrition cats need.

HELOISE And too much tuna? Too much mercury, which can be poisonous. Tuna specially made for cats is available — look for it.

A saucer of milk: We’ve all seen this familiar and ordinary device in comic strips, on TV, etc., but many cats cannot digest milk, which can lead to tummy trouble and diarrhea.

Meat fat and bones: Fat can cause upset tummies, and bones can splinter, which could get stuck in the intestines.

Raw eggs: Loaded with bacteria, raw eggs are a bad idea, and the egg whites can disrupt vitamin B absorption in cats.

Dog food: A small amount occasionally is not harmful, but don’t substitute dog food for cat food — the nutritional needs of the cat will not be met.

Treats: Too many can lead to a fat cat.

Keep the number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at your fingertips in case your cat ingests something it shouldn’t. The number is 888-426-4435. This line is staffed with veterinarians and is answered live 24 hours a day. — Heloise Dear Heloise: Here’s my method for packing a duffel bag for a weekend getaway: First, I lay two pairs of heavier jeans or pants in the bottom of the bag to form a base, and to give the bag some shape. Next, I roll a couple of sweaters, a nightgown and a few T-shirts and yoga pants for relaxing and tuck them in and around the sides of the bag. Then a handful of underwear and socks goes in the middle. I lay a pair of heels and a pair of flats wrapped in newspaper sleeves next. Finally, my makeup and toiletry bag go in. A lot can fit in a duffel bag if it is packed correctly. — T.W., via email —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) Some unpredictability spices up relationships.

Spring a pleasant surprise on someone to keep an old romance fresh and vital.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You have an astute grasp of how to make things work to your advantage. Opposition to plans is an indicator you should abandon them. Luckily, you probably have a loyal friend in your corner.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Homebodies receive hugs. Invite friends or neighbors over for a casual dinner or football party. Your hospitality spills over so you may meet new friends whether you are window shopping or pumping gas.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Fascinating new acquaintances can brighten your weekend. But don’t count on a new romance becoming a permanent attachment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Be persuaded to join in some lighthearted fun.

Enjoy the good times while they last and share your heart.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Don’t let a joke fly right over your head. You may be so focused on serious issues that you might not appreciate the kindly intentions of light-hearted banter.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Consider making key changes in how you handle the budget over the holidays. Neighbors may make friendly overtures or you might be invited to attend local events.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Show sympathy for the downtrodden. Let others know how you feel when you demonstrate compassion for your fellow man.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Make your weekend special by being a live wire.

Make contact with your closest friends and stay in touch with business referrals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Speak the language of love fluently. You are sensitive to the nuances of significant glances and may be more romantic-minded than usual. Only time will tell if the passion you feel will continue to thrive.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Include a neighbor in your weekend plans or invite an elderly relative along for a family outing. Innovative thinking that honors the rules is the best way to deal with complicated choices.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You must not let rust gather on trust. Dust off your best manners and show you are capable of being true blue.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dec. 3 Blessings come in threes, so watch for them over the next five to six weeks. This is a time when you can reap rewards for your efforts and when generosity comes more easily to you. This is an excellent time to launch projects, make significant plans for the future or ask for help or advice from powerful people. You can make lasting improvements in your health through meditation, diet or exercise in February and March.

SATURDAY, DEC 3, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

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TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

EVENTS

Holiday Chocolate Festival — 10 a.m.5 p.m., Mortgage Solutions Financial Expo Center, 3650 N. Nevada Ave., $5 and up.

Advance tickets: holidaychocolatefestival. com.

Bemis Fine Art Sale — 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bemis School of Art, 818 Pelham Place; tinyurl.com/ouauqfz.

“Voices of the Season” — America the Beautiful Men’s Chorus and Velvet Hills Women’s Chorus, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunrise United Methodist Church, 2655 Briargate Blvd., $10 in advance, $15 at door; 272-4390, atbchorus.com.

Air Force men’s basketball vs. Missouri State — 7 p.m., Clune Arena, Air Force Academy, go to goairforcefalcons.com for tickets.

“Navidad Flamenica: A Flamenco Christmas Show” — 7:30 p.m., Cucuru Gallery Cafe, 2332 Colorado Ave., $15 in advance, $20 at door; flamencounderground. com.

ON TV Every time you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an angel gets its wings, or a TV exec-

Over 20 Years of Experience in the Building Industry Over 20 Years of Experience in the Building Industry

BIRTHDAYS Singer Ozzy Osbourne is 68. Singer Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship is 67. Actor Steven Culp (“Desperate Housewives”) is 61.

Actress Daryl Hannah is 56. Actress Julianne Moore is 56. Actor Brendan Fraser is 48. Singer Over 20 Years of Experience in the Building Industry Montell Jordan is 48. Actress Holly Marie Combs (“Charmed”) is 43. Musician Daniel Bedingfield is 37. Actress Anna Chlumsky is 36.

Actress Dascha Polanco (“Orange is the New Black”) is 34. Singer-songwriter Andy Grammer is 33. Actress Amanda Seyfried is 31.

Countertop & Cabinet Special Countertop & Cabinet Special INCLUDES: INCLUDES: * * $cabinets Special $ •Countertop 9 total cabinets• 9& total Cabinet

7,250 7,250 $7,250

WITH BOB JONES

• granite slab countertop • granite slab countertop INCLUDES: • undermount stainless steel sink andstainless faucet steel • undermount * sink and faucet • 9 total cabinets Expires 7/31/16 Not Expires valid with 7/31/16 any other offer, discount special.

Not validorwith any other offer, discount or special.

• granite slab countertop • undermount stainless steel sink and faucet

©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

weekly bridge quiz

♠ k 6 5 ♥ 9 ♦ k q 10 6 2 ♣ k 8 7 4 NOrTH eAST SOuTH 1♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ Pass ?

What call would you make?

weST Pass

SOuTH weST NOrTH eAST 1♦ Pass 1♥ pass ?

What call would you make? q 5 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A k 3 2 ♥ 7 4 ♦ k ♣ k J 10 6 4 3

♠qJ9♥k752♦k973♣k6

NOrTH eAST SOuTH 1♥ Pass 2♣ 2♦ Pass ?

What call would you make?

Right-hand opponent opens one heart.

What call would you make?

q 6 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

q 3 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ k J ♥ k q 9 8 7 ♦ A ♣ q J 10 5 4 SOuTH weST NOrTH eAST 1♥ 2♦ 3♦* Pass ? *limit raise or better in hearts What call would you make? q 4 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ J 3 2 ♥ A ♦ A 10 8 6 5 ♣ A k 6 4

*

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOREN BRIDGE

q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

**

weST Pass

♠ A 10 9 8 5 3 ♥ 5 ♦ J 3 ♣ J 9 6 2

Expires 7/31/16 Not valid with any other offer, discount or special.

Countertop Countertop&&Cabinet CabinetSpecial Special INCLUDES: INCLUDES: ** $$ • 9• total cabinets 9 total cabinets

7,250 7,250

• granite slab countertop • granite slab countertop • undermount stainless steel sink and faucet • undermount stainless steel sink and faucet

Expires 7/31/16 Not valid with any other offer, discount or special.

Expires 7/31/16 Not valid with any other offer, discount or special.

Countertop & Cabinet Special * $

eAST SOuTH weST NOrTH INCLUDES: 2♦* Pass Pass 2♥ Pass • 9 total ? cabinets *weak two-bid • granite slab countertop What call would you make?

• undermount stainless steel sink and faucet

7,250

ExpiresLook 7/31/16 valid with any offer, discount or special. forNotanswers onother Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.)

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 3, 2016