G.H. Clark Contractors, Inc Newsletter

G.H. Clark Contractors, Inc Newsletter

November 2010

In This Issue

How To Stop Telemarketing Calls And Junk Mail

Quick Links

Roofing

Siding

Windows

Doors

Gutters

Decks

Additions

Heaven's Highway

Dog Saying Grace video link

"Pick of the month"

Dog Saying Grace

Greetings!

In this issue we will point you in the direction of the "Do Not Call" registry. It seems like telemarketing calls increase every year around this time. You may want to add your home or mobile phone to the list, it's easy and it's free.

During this time of giving people often donate things to organizations or families in need. We would like to remind you that car seats expire, so if you have an old car seat and plan on passing it down or donating it, you may want to check for the expiration date. We will show you how.

The latest trend in home improvements seems to be "build-outs". We have noticed that parents are coming to live with their children as they age and with that comes the need for additional living space. G.H. Clark offers design build services to include additions, basement, garage and special needs build-outs.

Our showroom will be open to the public as part of the Prince Frederick Art Walk to be held on December 11, 2010 between 1 & 5 p.m.

The Green Tips below will set the tone for Winter's arrival. Please send us any tips that you feel would benefit our readers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Regards,

Gil Clark

"Improving Homes One Family At A Time"

How to Stop Telemarketing Calls and Junk Mail

Click to register >>

Tired of annoying telemarketing calls and junk mail filling your mailbox? There are steps you can take to get off the lists for these calls and mailings. You won't be able to stop all of them, but you will be able to reduce the number you receive.

To learn more visit the Maryland Attorney General's webiste.

How To Check Your Car Seat's Expiration Date

Link to Video>>

Is it alright to purchase a used car seat from a garage sale or an online auction? Probably not, while a used car seat might save dollars, it could also compromise safety. Steer clear of used car seats unless you can verify the age and crash history of the seat, and can use the model number to verify that the seat is not under recall.

It's also tricky to determine whether used car seats still have all of the original parts needed for safety.

Each manufacturer sets the time til expiration for their car seats. Some manufacturers even put an expiration date on one of the labels. Check the date of manufacture, which must be on one of the seat labels by law. Most car seats expire 6 years from the date of manufacture, unless there is a different expiration date marked on the seat. If you're not sure, call the manufacturer. If the labels are missing from the car seat, it's best not to use it, as the labels would also give you important model information that would alert you to potential recalls.

If you cannot verify all of those things, the car seat is considered unsafe for use, even if it appears to be in good condition. Crashes can cause stress and structural weakness that isn't visible from the outside, and older car seats can be weakened by many seasons of heat and cold in the car. Unless a used car seat is coming from a close friend or family member and meets the above criteria, it is almost always safer to choose a new car seat for your baby.

Design Build Trend

We have several projects currently underway, which involve the expansion of living space. The design build process starts by having one of our estimators walk the property and look at the house. We can sit down at the kitchen table and discuss your project and figure out how to best meet your needs, while staying within your budget.

G.H. Clark Design Build Services 410-414-7060

You may want to incorporate a theatre room in a basement or add a garage onto the house or even expand your kitchen. The process is the same for all additions or build-outs.

We encourage your input on design, style and products. The first step is to create conceptual drawings, giving us a platform by which to do the "working plans". The working plans are established after you make any changes to the conceptual drawings and agree to the size and layout.

We then pull our permits and begin the build process. The payment process is called a draw schedule, allowing for payments to be made as different phases of the project are completed.

We will gladly introduce you to some of our design build customers. We can take you out to visit jobs we have done. Our

customers are more than pleased with the finished product and have offered to open their homes to anyone intrested in seeing our work.

Prince Fredrick Art Walk 2010

Prince Frederick Art Walk 2010

Businesses and Organizations in Prince Frederick Center and along Duke and Main Street are pleased to announce Prince Frederick Art Walk 2010. The Community is invited to Open Houses between 1 and 5 pm on Saturday, December 11. At 5pm, there will be a special Raffle Event at Dream Weaver Café for those who have visited and received validation from all of the participating businesses. Ellen Robinson, who is donating one of her original $200 platters to the Raffle notes, "The artist and business community has put together an amazing array of prizes - some valued as high as $400! And the names listed here are only those we have so far, we plan to continue growing the event!"

Folks who walk the event will be treated to a holiday atmosphere and get to meet artists in person as each business is hosting an artist or musician.

In Prince Frederick Center, CalvArt Gallery is inviting Santa to enjoy the Gifts for a Lifetime art exhibit and to visit with local children as well as offering chamber music. Calvert Commercial Real Estate is hosting Sue Page Beads, and The Bead Boutique is offering a free "bead a bracelet" to customers as well as providing space for Tammy Vitale's jewelry and ceramic wall plaques. Dream Weaver Café and Catering, with art by Mimi Little Abbey Griffin and Bev Jackson, will serve baby cookies and hot chocolate.

On Duke Street , Mark Guiffrida will be strolling Duke Street as Minstrel, and 4H will be showing their art and having a bake sale in the Community Resources Building (the old library). A marching band will perform in the open air for all to enjoy. Hospice will be selling artwork to benefit their cause.

Traveling Main Street, you will find the Lunchbox Café & Catering offering mini-holiday desserts along with hot chocolate and apple cider and music, Scalped Salon and Spa hosting a jewelry trunk show, G.H. Clark welcoming guests to view Terry Quinn's photography, Main Street highlighting their show "Moonlight on Main Street" and serving refreshments and gifting visitors with a Main Street Gallery gift bag, Chesapeake Art and Frame showing roomfuls of art and beautiful ways to frame art and Saphron Restaurant at Old Field House showing work by Abbey Griffin.

To date raffle prizes include an original Ellen Robinson platter, ceramic tiles by Parran Collery, lunch for two from Dream Weaver, a small barn painting by Abbey Griffin, a framed photographic print by Terry Quinn of GH Clark, a piece of jewelry by Mickey Kunkle, a ceramic torso by Tammy Vitale, and a necklace and gift certificate for an Intro class (with kit fee) from the Bead Boutique and more.

Participation in the raffle requires getting a stamp from each of the participating businesses. Prior to the Art Walk and raffle, some of these items can be previewed at the sponsoring businesses.

Be sure to mark Saturday, December 11 on your calendar, and to watch for the Prince Frederick Art Walk 2010 map at your favorite spots in the Prince Frederick Center, and on Main and Duke Streets as well as in your local papers.

For more information about Art Walk Prince Frederick 2010, contact CalvART Gallery at 410-535-9252.

Green Tips
By Terry Quinn

Green Recycle Logo

Here are some general low-tech tips to prepare you for Winter.

When home, set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature.

Seal, caulk and weather strip all openings to the outside world. Pay special attention to windows and doors.

Make sure that the fireplace flue is sealed, at least until you make a fire.

Insulate all water pipes within three feet of your hot water heater. Insulate the hot water heater itself.

Inspect all of your windows to make sure that they close properly and that there are no cracks in the glass or panes missing.

Close window shades and curtains at night to keep in heat. If you don't have window shades or curtains, try adding them.

Install water saving shower heads to keep the load off the water heater.

In the Winter, reverse the blades on your ceiling fans and keep them at their slowest speed so that warm air is gently pushed down.

Lower the heat in rooms that are not being used if safe to do so.

Do you know of any tips like the ones mentioned above? Please share them with our readers by replying to this email.

Prepare for the fall by taking advantage of our Leaf Relief gutter protection. The "No Clog" gutter protection that really works!

Please click to vie our video demonstration.

Leaf Relief Gutter Protection video link