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Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly
CARHOF grant applications now available The Longmont Association of Realtors has funds available for qualified Longmont nonprofit organizations that provide housing services to moderate to low-income persons. Grant applications will be accepted through June 3. CARHOF, a nonprofit foundation created by the Colorado Association of Realtors, collects interest from earnest money held in home purchases. By law, brokers cannot earn interest on escrow trust accounts. With CARHOF, however, the interest can be collected and made available as grants supporting crisis shelters, affordable housing developments, down payment assistance programs and other housing-related projects. To be eligible for funds, organizations must be based in Colorado, have a housing-related mission, and be a nonprofit agency with a 501(c)3 status or a public agency. “2010 is CARHOF’s 20th year of providing financial support for affordable housing projects, and thousands in Colorado have benefited from CARHOF grants. To date, the foundation has distributed $6.8 million statewide to over 100 nonprofit and public agencies,� says Rodney Carlson, local chairperson for CARHOF. Deliver grant applications to the Longmont Association of Realtors office at 420 Kimbark St. For more information, call 303-772-5555.
May 8, 2010
Make your floor sparkle By Mary Carol Garrity Scripps Howard News Service
I have hardwood flooring in nearly every room of my old home, and while I love the charm of wood floors, they can be a bit chilly at times. My cold feet have given me just the excuse I’ve needed to invest in area rugs to warm up each room. As I’ve experimented with different sizes, shapes and styles, I’ve learned a few important lessons about how to pick the perfect rugs. Hold Out for True Love I think of area rugs as artwork. They bring color, texture, style and personality to a space. Don’t ever purchase an area rug just because it has the right colors for your room or is the right size. Rugs can be expensive, so chances are, you’ll be living with your choice for many years. So hold out for a rug that captivates you and complements the room. My quest for the perfect area rugs for my home has led me to Kalaty Rug Corp., which is located in the heart of the rug district in New York City. I’m head over heels in love with their Soumak collection because these classic beauties look just like the old Persian rugs I fawn over in antique stores but could never afford. When you find a rug that steals your heart, make sure it also features outstanding craftsmanship so it will look fabulous for years. You’d hate to invest so much in a rug only to have it look faded, worn and matted in a few years.
Get the Right Size One of the biggest mistakes people make is purchasing an area rug that is too small for the space. This cost-saving measure usually doesn’t pay off in the long run because an incorrectly sized rug can throw off the look of the entire room. To determine what size rug you’ll need, decide where your furnishings will be placed. If the furniture will rim the room, your area rug should measure 1 or 2 feet smaller than the room’s perimeter. If your furniture grouping will float in the center of the room, perhaps in front of a fireplace, your rug should be large enough so the front legs of your furniture can rest on it. Similarly, in your dining room, don’t make the mistake of getting a rug that’s the same size as your tabletop. Add 18 inches to each side to accommodate your chairs.
Give Your Rugs a lot of TLC Once you invest in a gorgeous rug, treat it right so it will look lovely for years to come. Start by putting a high-quality pad under the rug because the right pad can double the lifespan of a rug, especially if the rug is in a high-traffic area. Sunlight can slowly leach the color out of a rug, so if your rug is in a sunny room, close the window shades when the sun is beating down directly on the rug. When cleaning your rug, sweep or vacuum on low suction and never vacuum against the nap of the rug. Check with the manufacturer for recommendations on how to treat stains. But when accidents happen, clean the stain immediately, before it has a chance to set in, working from the outside of the stain in to keep the stain from spreading.
Shiny Boy watermelons win top picks
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In a taste test against comparisons, Shiny Boy won. Judges favored the sweet tropical flavor and crisp texture. A red fleshed melon with dark seeds; this globe-shaped melon weighed about 20 pounds, some larger. The hybrid plants are vigorous; vines can grow up to 12 feet. Shiny Boy can be grown vertically so that a large yard for a vegetable garden is not needed. Judges noted a high yield and generally healthy plants, tolerant of severe weather. It is an art form to determine when melons are ripe for harvest but plan to check plants in about 75 days from transplanting for mature fruit. Shiny Boy is earlier than other varieties. This AAS Winner can be grown successfully in any geo-
graphic region with warm summer growing conditions.
How to Grow In northern areas, sow seed 4 weeks prior to last frost date. Sow seed directly into peat pots filled with soilless mix that has been well-watered and allowed to drain. Cover with media and maintain 75 degrees. Wrap in plastic to maintain uniform moisture. Germination will occur in 7 to 14 days. Keep warm, transplant after soil and air temperatures warm or protect from cool night temperatures. In areas with long growing seasons, seed may be sown directly into prepared garden soil. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Special to the Times-Call