Coast News Group Home & Garden Fall 2010.pdf

THE COAST NEWS

RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS

ENCINITAS FIRST

FALL 2010&Home Additions • Windows

Window Coverings • Closet Design

Interior Decorating • Landscaping

Sun Rooms • Potted Plants • Shrubs

Trees • Bulbs • Fertilizers

Fences • Rock Gardens • Flowers

Garden Centers • Indoor Plants

Do-It-Yourself Projects

Greenhouses • Outdoor Fountains

Swimming Pools • Roofing • Siding

Screens • Heating/Air Conditioning

Landscaping • Driveways • Wallpaper

THECOAST NEWS

GROUP

Home GardenHome Garden

A S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E C O A S T N E W S G R O U P S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0

COAST NEWS GROUP — FALL HOME & GARDEN GUIDE2 SEPT. 24, 2010

(ARA) — You’re feelinglike the walls are closing in.You’re not a hoarder, but youjust have too much stuff. It’snot that difficult to changeyour ways. If you want to takecontrol of clutter, get a fewboxes, one for each room inyour home. Start by organiz-ing one room at a time.

Begin this initiative byremoving everything on top ofyour cabinets, tables and inbookcases and place it all in abox, says Keith McCleary, aca-demic director of InteriorDesign at The Art Institute of

York — Pennsylvania. If thereare other random accessoriesin the room, remove them aswell. Keep just the basic fur-nishings. Now sit with theroom in its simplest form forawhile.

“In room design, makegood decisions about whatyou choose to put in the roomand, often more importantly,in what you choose to leaveout,” McCleary says.“Simplicity and clean linesmake a room feel livable andthat’s what it’s really allabout: comfortable living.”

Think about the kind of focalpoint you’re trying to create.How should you orchestratethis space and show off yourspecial pieces in terms of size,scale, color and texture?

After a day or two haspassed, go back to the boxand look for items that defineyour personality, or will benoticed by guests visitingyour home. “Ask yourself:when is enough, enough?”says McCleary.“Each piece offurniture in the room can

(ARA) — They frameyour favorite view and are keyto making your home comfort-able in summer and winter,yetmost people don’t think aboutthem until they stop workingproperly. But, if your windowsaren’t performing as well asthey should, now is a greattime to consider replacingthem.

Until the end of 2010,the U.S. government’s

Are you throwing money outthe (energy inefficient) window?

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Keeping it simple beats clutter

DE-CLUTTER Taking inventory of what you actually use can help if you have piles of useless things.Courtesy photo

TURN TO CLUTTER ON 17

SAVE MONEY Bad windows can leak heat from your home, runningup heating bills in the winter. To fight this effect, the government is offer-ing a tax credit for homeowners to get them replaced. Courtesy photo

TURN TO WINDOW ON 18


(ARA) — The trend forgardening at home continuesto grow — and people are tak-ing a particular interest inraising their flowers and veg-etables organically.With suchprominent figures asMichelle Obama taking pub-lic initiatives in organic gar-dening, more and more prod-ucts that cater to the trendare appearing.

Unfortunately, theincreased interest in organicgardening has led to someconfusion — and some decep-tion — about what it meansfor a product to be “organic.”The labeling of products hasbecome a minefield for con-sumers who are interested ineco-friendly agriculture. Itcan be difficult to know exact-ly what is meant by productslabeled “natural,” “plant-based” or “organic.”

Official organic labelingcomes from the U.S.Department of Agriculture(USDA).Their seal comes in afew forms, denoting whethera product is “100 percentorganic,” “organic,” or “madewith organic” ingredients.Unfortunately, anecdotal evi-dence suggests this multi-tiered labeling system is alsocontributing to consumer con-fusion.

For example, for a prod-uct to be labeled 100 percentorganic, everything in it must

be certified organic. If it saysjust “organic,” that meansthat it must contain 95 per-cent certified organic ingre-dients. If a product contains70 percent organic ingredi-ents, it can be labeled asbeing “made with organic[ingredients].” Any productwith less than 70 percentorganic ingredients cannotcarry the USDA seal.

Another thing to keep inmind is that a productlabeled “natural” is notorganic.While there might besome naturally occurringingredients in the product, itdoesn’t mean that it’s safe orearth-friendly — not to men-tion organic.

Perhaps in an effort tosimplify the consumer’s“organic” label options, theUSDA also directs consumersto other organizations thatcan help them determinewhether or not the productsthey’re buying are 100 per-cent organic. One of those,the Organic Materials ReviewInstitute (OMRI) is a non-profit, independent organiza-tion that gives reviews ofproducts and how they standup to the National OrganicStandards from the USDA.

For concerned con-sumers, they provide a com-prehensive list (available

Tips for keeping yourgarden truly organic

THE REAL THING? If you don’t take some simple precautions, yourgarden might not be as organic as you think. Courtesy photo

TURN TO ORGANIC ON 17

SAN MARCOS — Forthe last 25 years, most home-owners have had a choice ofburning either wood or artifi-cial gas logs in their fire-place. But now there are lotsof options. First of all, manyfireplace owners have let goof the old notion that theaccessory inside their fire-place must look as close towood as possible. While arti-ficial gas logs have gottenmore realistic and beautifulthan ever, they now offermany colors of glass to useinside the fireplace insteadof gas logs. Some people callthe look “fire on ice” or “hot

glass,” but the trend hastaken off and Fireplaces Plusin San Marcos has more than17 different colors of glass touse. If you still want to usethe artificial gas logs, you canadd the glass as filler aroundthe base of the gas logs. Thelook is clean and the glasssparkles as it reflects theflame from the logs. Theglass also adds more heatback into the room as heat isalso reflected by thesparkling glass.

If you don’t want to burnwood and you don’t have gasas an option, you can take alook at the new electric logs,

which can be used as a fire-place insert.The new electricflame is a far cry from thered light bulbs and alu-minum foil devices that werefirst developed as electriclogs. Now the faux flame cre-ated by holographs and mir-rors looks real enough to foolmany people. Fireplaces Plushas an electric fireplace inthe entry to their showroomand many of their customersmistake it for a gas fireplace.

If you don’t have elec-tricity close by or just can’tget used to an electric cordcoming out of the fireplace,check out the new ethanol

alcohol fireplace inserts.These affordable insertshave a real flame and areusing earth-friendly fuelderived from sugar cane,sugar beets and other easilyrenewed sources.

Ever since July of 1983,the fireplace industry hasgotten cleaner and more effi-cient. California was one ofthe first states to require thatall fireplaces, both masonryand pre-fab metal, have tight-fitting glass doors in order topass final inspection. Manypeople took this buildingchange as an effort to makefireplaces safer, however, this

change in California buildingcode was an effort to savehomeowners money andreduce the amount of heat-ing fuel used to keep a homewarm.

Without glass doors, afireplace continues to draftall night long and will emptythe air in an average sizehome overnight. When a fire-place has a glass door, thehomeowner should alwaysuse the fireplace with thedoors open and then closethe doors when they are fin-ished using the fireplace orwhen they are going to letthe fire die down. This way

the gas logs or burning woodradiate the maximumamount of heat into the roomwhile they are burning andwhile the doors are open.Then when the doors areclosed, the warm air in thehome stays in the homerather than being lost up thechimney.

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For more information,call (760) 752-7789 or visitwww.fireplacesplus.com.

Exciting and colorful advances in fireplace technology

(ARA) — As older adultsage in place and more house-holds make room for multi-ple generations, how willAmericans respond to thehome-improvement chal-lenge?

Two important housingtrends are both emergingand merging today: Olderadults increasingly want to“age in place,” while a recordnumber of households haveunited across multiple gener-ations.The second trend is inresponse to both the flaggingeconomy and to supportelder parents’ desire to stayat home.

According to AARP,nearly 90 percent of olderAmericans want to remain intheir homes as they age.But unresolved barriers toconvenience and safety athome can force them to relo-cate.

And while extendedfamilies were common untilWorld War II, the practicewaned with more prosperoustimes. Now the multi-genera-tional family homestead ismaking a comeback. In 2008a record 49 millionAmericans lived in a house-

hold with at least two adultgenerations, according to aPew Research Center analy-sis of U.S. Census data.

If your home is reachingcapacity, as family membersband together, you are likelyfaced with a home-improve-ment challenge. How can youinexpensively accommodateadditional family membersunder a single roof, especial-ly their need for added bath-rooms?One is never enough

Costly, messy and time-consuming conventionalplumbing can leave familiesstuck with a single sharedbathroom. Fortunately, thereis a smart and inexpensiveway to increase bathroomprivacy and convenience inany home, on any levelincluding the basement, evenin smaller homes.

Saniflo macerating toi-let and plumbing technologylets you add a complete bath-room with an up flush toilet;and there’s no need forexpensive digging throughthe floor to install newdrainage where none alreadyexists. If space is a problem,these bathrooms can easily

be installed in a closet or thearea beneath a stairway.

The up flush, or above-floor plumbing system, isinstalled directly atop anyfinished floor or on base-ment concrete. The macerat-ing pump uses a fast-rotatingblade to reduce waste andpaper from the toilet bowl,sending it under high pres-

sure through piping directlyinto the septic or sewer sys-tem. Unlike sewage ejectors,up flush toilets involve nostorage of waste.The sandwich generation

Baby boomers can getsandwiched in the middle ofmulti-generational living, saygerontological nurse special-ist Rosina Bloomingdale and

designer GenevieveLiesemeyer. Partners withPillar Design in Mukwonago,Wisc., the two women createdesigns that promote healthand well being in harmo-nious environments.

“Many boomers stillhave children at home and/or

RANCHO SANTA FE —Village Market is no ordinarymarket. Sure, they offer stan-dard deli and market faresuch as a potato salad andhot sandwiches. But VillageMarket goes above andbeyond the competition byoffering a wide variety ofproducts and competitiveprices.

But first, a little history.In 1977, Jim Stump pur-chased the first store in SanDiego, located in KearneyMesa. Thirty years later, theStump family has had up tosix stores and as many as 240employees. Stump’s acquiredThe Village Market in 1993when the Big Bear store wasdiscontinued.

Since then, Stumps hasmade every effort to designthe Village Market into a nat-ural-gourmet store with anemphasis on service. Takingcare of their customer’s everyrequest is their highest prior-ity.

Village Market takes somuch pride in their customerservice, that store employeesoften feel they are part of acustomer’s family.

“We know a lot of peo-ple by name, and whatschools their kids go to,” mar-ket manager Matt Bashamsaid. “We’ve seen their kidsgrow up, and feel we’re a partof the family. At other stores,they get you in, take yourmoney, and get you out. Thatdoesn’t happen here atVillage Market.”

Coming soon, VillageMarket will introduce anexciting new feature to theircustomers: online groceryshopping. Coupled with $5home deliveries to just aboutanywhere in the area, shop-ping at Village Market justgot a whole easier.

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COAST CITIES — “Itcan be said that anybodycan make a lawn green, butnot all green lawns arehealthy and environmentfriendly,” said Tom Taylor,owner, Lawn Doctor ofNorth County Coastal.

Now you might ask, isyour lawn and its carerequirements good or badfor the environment? Onemust consider water, prod-ucts applied to the lawn andemissions of maintenanceequipment when answeringthe question.

“Recent researchpapers have shown that ahealthy and properly main-tained lawn definitely is apositive contributor to theenvironment, known asgreen positive,” Taylor said.However,he adds “not every-one, be it the home owner orgardener, is maintaining agreen positive lawn.”

Best practices dictateminimizing carbon emis-sions associated with lawnmaintenance while maxi-mizing the “green” benefitsof turfgrass. These benefitsinclude oxygen production,heat reduction, dust andpollutant absorption,ground water filtration andrunoff control, and soil sta-bilization. Interesting factsand details can be viewed atwww.thelawninstitute.org.

Surprisingly, mostlawns are over-maintainedand under-cared for, result-ing in long-term health andenvironment problems evenif they appear green incolor. Lawns are oftenmowed too low, and also toofrequently during the win-ter months. Perhaps themost common maintenanceproblem is over-edging.Exposed soil and thinnedgrass from aggressivetapered edging is verydestructive to the health of

Howgreenis yourlawn?

TURN TO LAWN ON 17

Market offers small town service, big city selection

TURN TO BATHROOM ON 15

AT YOUR SERVICE Rene Mendoza and Matt Stump of Village Market, located at 16950 Via De Santa Fe inRancho Santa Fe. Call (858) 756-3726 or visit www.rsfvillagemarket.com for all your market needs. Photo by Krista Lafferty TURN TO MARKET ON 17

(ARA) — A visit withyour doctor is the best way todetermine whether you havea cold or an allergy. Whileallergy symptoms and coldsymptoms are very similar,there are some signs to lookfor if you want to know thedifference.

1. Take a look at thecolor of your nasal discharge,mucous or saliva. Both aller-gies and colds cause a runnynose, but for cold sufferers,the discharge is usually greenor brown — which is a sign ofan infection. “If the mucousis clear — it is probably anallergy,” says Dr. CarlWurster, chair, Allied HealthDepartment, at BrownMackie College — Boise.Theallergy comes from an aller-

gen, while the cold indicatesexposure to a virus.

2. Allergy sufferers donot generally have to dealwith body pain, but if youhave a headache and feel lotsof aches and pains, it’s proba-bly a cold. If you have a viralcold, you’ll also experiencefatigue and a severe sorethroat. “A mild sore throatmay accompany an allergy,but with a cold you could loseyour voice and have hoarse-ness. It is rare to be hoarsewith allergies and lose yourvoice,” adds Wurster.

3. Check your calendarand keep track of how longyou’ve been sneezing or feel-ing sick. A cold can last up to

ENCINITAS — SanDiego Botanic Garden willonce again host the annualSan Diego InternationalOrchid Fair from Oct. 1 to Oct.3. Countless orchids will gracethe grounds — some inexhibits, others for sale. Manyorchids can be grown outsidein San Diego and would addbeauty and interest to anypatio.

One example is theCymbidium Kiwi MidnightGeyserland FCC/AOS, AD/CSA, S/CSA, the darkest cym-bidium that has been flow-ered. Clones will be available

in spike for sale at the fair.When this was first judged,the judges commented that“the color was darker in sun-light than inside under artifi-cial light.”

This is an AOS-sanc-tioned judging event withlocal and international ven-dors and ongoing lectures onculture and care of orchids.Toregister your plants for judg-ing, and for a 50 percent offadmission coupon, visit www.sdbgarden.org/orchid.htm.

One of the garden’s mostpopular events of the year, the

Fall Plant Sale, will take placeOct. 16 and Oct. 17. Donationsfrom more than 100 localgrowers, wholesalers, retailnurseries, and individualsmake this one of the mostinteresting and diverse plantsales in San Diego County.Plant selections includeCalifornia natives, cacti, suc-culents, bromeliads, fruittrees, and sub-tropicals.

Also for sale are garden-related items, used books andhomemade foods and jams.Enjoy an opportunity drawing


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TURN TO ALLERGY ON 16

FLORAL FAIR San Diego Botanic Garden will be home to the San Diego International Orchid Fair Oct. 1 to Oct. 3 at the garden, 230 QuailGardens Drive in Encinitas. For more information, visit www.sdbgarden.com. Photo by Loren Batchman

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(ARA) — Do you takeclean water for granted? As oneof the basic necessities of life,you are constantly consumingwater. Whether you are drink-ing it, cleaning with it or usingit in your home appliances, thequality of your water affectsyour life.

However, a recentKenmore and Sears consumersurvey on water treatmenthighlights the need for addi-tional education on the waterwe consume, as not allAmericans understand the dif-ferences and benefits of treat-ed versus untreated water. Infact, the survey reveals that 85percent of respondents areaware they could be drinkingmore contaminants in theirunfiltered tap water comparedto the treated alternative; how-ever, they don’t currently havean in-home water filtration sys-tem. Does this mean you aretoo trusting when it comes tothe quality of water in yourhome?

The survey further revealsthat 61 percent of homeownersand renters said they believethe water in their home is cleanenough to drink withoutinstalling a water treatmentsystem.Although,more than 57percent admitted that if thewater in their home had astrange taste or an odd color,they would consider installinga water system.

There are some commonquestions that people haveabout water consumption andwater treatment, and somethings you should know abouthow a water treatment systemcan improve the quality of thewater you use.

1. How do impurities getinto your water? Treatmentmethods vary by region,as doeswater quality. Public watermust adhere to EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) mini-mum standards. However,impurities and other contami-nants, such as lead, bacteriaand even traces of prescriptiondrugs can enter into your wateras it makes its way through citypipes and ultimately into yourdrinking glass.According to thesurvey conducted by Kenmoreand Sears, a shocking and over-whelming majority ofAmericans, more than 75 per-cent, are unaware of the poten-tial dangers that may be lurk-ing in their pipes.Nevertheless,there are, in fact, a number ofcontaminants and pollutantsthat can be found in your run-ning water. While local watercompanies are required by theSafe Drinking Water Act of1974 to monitor the quality of

their water and report annuallyto customers based on healthstandards for contaminantsestablished by the EPA, whynot take preventative measuresby installing an in-home watertreatment system?

2.Why is having soft waterimportant? Hard water cancause many undesired affectsin a home.Scale can build up inyour pipes, which can reducewater flow and increase themaintenance on your plumbingand faucets.Hardness mineralscan also build-up on sinks andbathtubs, as well as leave spotson dishes and glassware.This iswhy making the switch fromhard water to soft water can beimportant in the home, as awater softener can help withthese common householdissues. In addition, bathing orshowering with soft water isusually gentler on your skinand makes it easier for you torinse off soap or shampoo.As aresult, another benefit of hav-ing a water softener is that youcan use less of these products,which may help decrease theamount of soaps and deter-gents that are used.

3.If water is softened,doesthat mean it’s clean? Whilewater softeners bring signifi-cant benefits to water quality,itmight be wise to also install afiltration system to help elimi-nate additional impurities fromdrinking water. Filtration sys-tems can be installed under thekitchen sink or installed on themain water line to service thewhole home.

4. How is your water soft-ened, if it is softened? Somecity municipalities treat waterto soften it, but for those thatdon’t, an in-home water soften-er may prove beneficial. If youare unsure whether your wateris treated before it enters yourhome, contact the city oragency providing your water. Ifyou get your water from a well,a home system may be neededfor treatment.

5. How does bottled waterdiffer from in-home filtered tapwater? Producers of bottledwater use many of the sametechniques as municipalities orin-home filtration systems. AKenmore reverse osmosis sys-tem will reduce impurities sig-nificantly. By drinking waterfrom an in-home water filtra-tion system instead of moreexpensive spring or distilledbottled water, you can poten-tially save money over time, aswell as help reduce the amountof waste from left over plasticwater bottles that you may

Answers to five commonquestions about thewater in your home pipes

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING? A recent survey revealed that manypeople don’t know about how the water they drink was treated. Courtesyphoto

TURN TO WATER ON 18

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WHITE HOT Pictured above is the current hot trend of white kitchen cabinetry. Kitchen De Bonaire is located at 16085 San Dieguito Road SuiteE-1 in Rancho Santa Fe. For more information, please call (858) 756-6608 or visit www.kitchendebonaire.com. Courtesy photo

RANCHO SANTA FE —Tucked away in the Del RayoPlaza of Rancho Santa Fe isthe kitchen and bath designstudio of Kitchen De Bonaire.Whether you need a customkitchen, an extraordinarybath designed or custom cabi-netry for your home, the teamis available to assist you.

Afshan and MansourRahmati started the award-winning company. It has beenin business since 2006.

Afshan is a graduate ofthe Design Institute of SanDiego, and a current board

member of the San DiegoChapter of the NationalKitchen & Bath Association,or NKBA. She brings polishand finesse to each designproject.

Mansour has more than25 years experience with cus-tom kitchen and bathdesigns, and focuses thedesigners on “uncovering theextraordinary” in each proj-ect. He studied architecture,and had the principal role ina cabinet and furniture man-ufacturing company for manyyears.

In acknowledgement ofthe economy, Kitchen deBonaire is introducing prod-ucts for today’s tough market.The company now offers upto a 40 percent discountbased on the materials andfinish.

In addition to their own20,000-square-foot manufac-turing warehouse, there arequality products available totailor to any budget. Theyhave the ability to be pricecompetitive, and still offer awide range of options.

With the holidays quick-

ly approaching, now is thetime to think about theupgrade or redesign of yourkitchen and bath.To open theshowroom up for new dis-plays, Kitchen de Bonaire isoffering incredible discountson some of the displays. Stopby today to view the beautifulshowroom and portfolios.

Kitchen De Bonaire islocated at 16085 SanDieguito Road Suite E-1 inRancho Santa Fe. For moreinformation, please call (858)756-6608 or visit www.kitchendebonaire.com.

Kitchen De Bonaire is coping with the economy

(ARA) — Germs andbacteria are everywhere,including the place youstrive to keep the cleanest:your home.To shield againstgerms, consumers are spend-ing more than $1 billionannually on antimicrobialproducts, according to theEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA).

“Because of viruses likeH1N1 and other householdgerms, consumers are takingevery precaution necessaryto keep themselves and theirfamilies healthy, and thatstarts at home,” says JackieCooper, senior director ofmarketing and communica-tions for Eureka. “With con-sumers looking for productsthat will help keep the germsand bacteria at bay, there arenow many options available

to create a healthy livingspace.”

Cooper suggests the fol-lowing tips to achieve a cleanand germ-free home:

• Don’t let them in.Many germs and bacteriamake their way into yourhome by tagging along withyou.Once in the house, thesemicroorganisms have a nice,safe place to grow and multi-ply.Cut germs off at the doorby keeping antimicrobialwipes or hand sanitizers nearthe entrances to your home.This way you — and yourguests — can fight bacteriaon the spot.

• Vacuum often. Tacklethe germs that already havebeen tracked into your homeby using a vacuum with a

Tips to fend off germslurking in your home

SERIOUS SCRUB Even something as simple as washing yourhands regularly can help ward off disease. Courtesy photo

TURN TO GERMS ON 15


SOLANA BEACH —Once your divorce is final, youare in a position to take somesteps that are easily over-looked yet can be significant

in rebuilding your financialstability. Financial plannerKaren Mendez helps clientsnavigate the murky watersthat can follow a divorce.

— Establish your ownrelationship with some pro-fessionals to hire such as afinancial advisor, CPA orestate-planning attorney. You

may also need to find yourown real estate broker, mort-gage broker, banker, doctorand dentist whom you trustand feel comfortable with.

— Determine whatmoney is coming in and whatmoney is going out so you canget a handle on what it coststo support your new lifestyle.

After reassessing the

amount of money needed tosupport your lifestyle you willhave a clearer picture of whatyou can afford for the roof

Rebuilding your financial stability after the divorce is final

CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA— One of Vogue HomeInteriors’ recent projects was toredesign a master bedroom in acondo overlooking the water.The room had 30-year-old wall-paper that couldn’t come downwithout bringing the sheetrockwith it.

Owner and designerMyrna Everett’s challenge wasto bring in a fresh new look thatwas contemporary while incor-porating the blue and green flo-ral wallpaper. She was taskedwith essentially reinvent thesame style treatment ofsheers/drapes and canopy in anew way, and with more func-tionality.

Everett found a blue vel-vet in the exact same shadethat was in the wallpaper aswell as an up-to-date sheer thathad lots of sparkle and shine toreflect light.

She used the blue velvetfor the window canopy and thebed drapes and completelylined all of it in the sheer mate-rial.

She also built a headboardwith a mirrored frame to tie inthe new mirrored bedside

tables.She then updated the

canopy with a smooth interiorceiling and hung a very con-temporary Lucite chandelierfrom the center making thelight bounce off the silverywhite sheers and mirroredframe of the headboard. Theeffect provides enough light forreading and can be dimmed orswitched off from a switch hid-den near the headboard foreasy access

The owners also wanted aTV in the room, but wanted ithidden from view. Everettdesigned a bed drape at thefoot of the bed conceals a flatscreen monitor that is visibleonly when you are in bed. Thestand it is mounted on is a slimmetal stand that is hiddenbetween the drape and sheerso the screen appears to floatdiscreetly at the corner of thebed.

After the bedroom wascomplete, the owners’ old dogbed looked even worse. “It wasold and dirty we decided Mollyneeded a brand new bed that

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ENCINITAS — C&HGardens founder Kent Hornerbrings something extra to thetask of landscaping. He has anatural sense for garden fengshui and combines an artist’seye with his knowledge of theearth to produce a landscapein complete harmony with itssurroundings.

“My dad grew up on afarm and taught biology, so Igrew up with a strong under-standing of plants and theland,” Horner said.“I combinethis with my artistic sense tocreate a series of gardens on aproperty that work with themicroclimate of each exposureon all sides of the home. Eachone has different needs andcan require different plants tothrive.”

Horner’s versatile skillscan provide the perfectCalifornia garden, whetheryou want an English Victoriangarden, a tropical palm para-dise or a desert oasis completewith succulents and cactus.

C&H Gardens has provid-ed residential and commercialproperty landscape andarboricultural services to SanDiego County since 1979.Preferring a job that kept himoutdoors, Horner began put-ting himself through collegedoing tree-trimming. Fromthere, he worked under a toplandscaper installing andmaintaining the enormousdate palms and landscape atThe Mirage in Las Vegas, gain-ing a broad knowledge ofdesert flora.

“I grew up in SanBernardino,but my folks had abeach place in Leucadiawhere I spent a lot of time,”Horner said.“I love to surf andlove this area.”

After Horner got his con-tractor’s license and settledhere, he met and married hiswife Kim who works the busi-ness with him as they raise two

boys, ages 16 and 13.Horner has done land-

scape work on the homes ofhair-mogul Paul Mitchell(Malibu), writer Anne Rice(La Jolla) and the ClevelandIndians’ Charles Nagy(Rancho Santa Fe), amongmany others.

“My longtime exposure toCalifornia landscape has givenme a huge understanding ofwhat does well in this cli-mate,” Horner said. “Many of

my plants come from SouthAfrica which has an identicalclimate to ours but so many

exotic species and succulentsthat do really well here.”

The company specializesin water-wise softscape ofplants, trees and tropicals; ero-sion control; hardscape includ-ing ponds, fountains, Jacuzzis,patios, barbecues and outdoorstructures; retaining walls,fencing, decking, decorativepaths, pavers, cement, flag-stone, slate, gates, railings,stairs and driveways; and alsoproper drainage, irrigationand lighting.

“My favorite part of thejob is working with people,getting to know them andtheir property,” he said. “I amable to really understand whatthey envision and create aspace for peace and tranquili-ty that is colorful and beauti-ful but still low maintenance.”

Horner is a master at

working with the manySouthern Californians who arestarting to replace their lawns,putting in a drip-irrigation sys-tem with wood chips and plantgroupings. It takes half thewater and makes a visuallybeautiful area.

“I have learned the mostby ripping out other people’smistakes,” Horner said. “Oncewe are finished, with a flick ofthe switch, all the differentplants and locations are happyand thriving, which is easywhen you have them in theright place.”

C&H Gardens specializesin a full range of arboriculturevegetation management serv-ices including yearly mainte-nance, tree trimming, pruning,lacing, shaping, removal,stump grinding, cabling, brac-ing, hauling, tractor work, treeinstallation, transplanting, ecorestoring and water-wise con-servation.

C&H Gardens’ Tree

COAST CITIES — Contract Carpet remains anicon in North County floor-ing as it celebrates its 25thanniversary.

The Dixon family and itsstaff at Contract Carpet con-tinue to offer that pricelessalternative to the dauntingworld of giant impersonalbox stores. It offers that rare, family-businessapproach to finding just theright flooring for your home.

The Dixons have beenin business in North Countysince 1985 and have seencountless competitors comeand go while they continue toprovide excellent service totheir loyal customers.

As Marty and Susie’sfour children have grown upand completed their collegeyears, Josh and Nick havejoined the business takingpart in the everyday opera-tions. Josh is currently man-aging the San Diego locationwhile his younger brotherNick works out of both loca-tions. They welcome you tovisit either of their two show-rooms to borrow samples andexplore decorating ideas.Their two daughters havedecided to venture into otherfields. Stacey is a profession-al photographer and Kelli isan EMT working toward afirefighting career.

While growing the busi-ness and raising their familyhere, the Dixons and Con-tract Carpet have providedthe community with morethan just fine floor coverings.

They have also support-ed and sponsored schoolevents and youth sportteams. The staff at ContractCarpet continues to volun-teer in their area with organ-izations like the CommunityResource Center, puttingtogether holiday gift baskets,as well as lending a handwith local animal shelters.

At both Contract Carpetlocations — 191 N. ElCamino Real, Suite 112,Encinitas, and 11658 CarmelMountain Rd., Suite 130, SanDiego — the Dixons andtheir team know that noother single furnishing inyour home sets the tone likethe flooring.

All of their installers arenot only experts but long-time employees, offering areliability that will meet thehighest expectations of qual-ity and workmanship.

Contract Carpet offersflooring shoppers free esti-mates and guarantees alllabor.

Whether it’s the warmthof wall-to-wall carpet, thebright accent of area rugs,the finish tone of elegantwood floors, the practicalityof a porcelain tile or the con-venience of vinyl flooring,flooring is what gives anyroom its basic personality.

When furnishing a newhome or bringing old floorsup to date, Contract Carpetis the place to find it all,

ContractCarpetcelebrates25 years

TURN TO CONTRACT ON 16

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TURN TO LANDSCAPE ON 16

YARD ARTIST Kent Horner,owner of C & H Artistic Landscape& Tree Service. For more informa-tion, call (858) 481-4500 or visitwww.plantch.com. Courtesy photo

Local landscape artist can transform your yard


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ALPINE Beautiful country living, cityclose, 1.69 acres MLS# 100048048 $589,000CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA Panoramicocean views most rooms, high ceilingsMLS# 100052403 $1,144,000CARDIFF BY THE SEA 4BR/3BA withineasy bike ride of all the best of CardiffMLS# 100053147 $725,000CARLSBAD No street or fwy noise, awe-some Buena Vista Lgn vusMLS# 100047850 $425-450,000CARLSBAD Beach lot, adjacent lot avail-able too, steps to beach MLS# 100044611 $625,000CARLSBAD Beach lot, adjacent lot avail-able too, steps to beach MLS# 100044613 $599,000CARLSBAD Great 3BR/2BA penthousecondo with wonderful views MLS# 100028186 $737,500CARLSBAD Executive 4BR/3BA homeon large private lot MLS# 100045436 $729-749,000CARLSBAD Immaculate single story3BR/2BA with large rooms MLS# 100046356 $549,000CARLSBAD Panoramic views and oceanbreezes from atop Kelly Hill MLS# 100041830 $989,000CARLSBAD Sweeping ocean andlagoon views on private 3/4 ac lot MLS# 100054551 $975-1,075,000CARLSBAD Tropical setting this elegantcustom Tuscan home MLS# 100006919 $1,175,000CARLSBAD Move in ready this beautiful3BR/2BA La Costa Home MLS# 100045926 $710,000CARLSBAD Beautifully furnished, pri-vately owned, La Costa Resort MLS# 100032648 $292,000CARLSBAD Large 3BR/2BA custom sin-gle story in La Costa w/view MLS# 100019227 $525-575,000CARLSBAD Absolutely stunning single-level home with sep guest hm MLS# 100015882 $1,075,000CARLSBAD Great location with wonder-ful views this 4BR/3BA MLS# 100050039 $949,000CARLSBAD Highly desirable neighbor-hood sitting on usable 2/3 acre MLS# 100053435 $1,400,000CARLSBAD Stunningly upgraded familyhome located on 1/3 acre MLS# 100050201 $1,250,000CARLSBAD FHA approved, listen tosummer concerts from ParkMLS# 100019848 $289,900CARLSBAD Beautiful 2BD/2.5BA town-home with pano vus/ private MLS# 100052917 $399-412,000CARLSBAD Wonderful 3BR/2BA townhome in Mystic Point MLS# 100044393 $389,000CARLSBAD Lovely fireplace this3BR/2.5BA two story home MLS# 100051705 $375,000CARLSBAD Extraordinary CraftsmanContemporary single story MLS# 100040317 $1,895,500CARLSBAD Lots of privacy this2BR/1BA single story end corner unitMLS# 100052002 $319,000

CARLSBAD Spectacular 2BR/1.5BA endunit in Carlsbad Crest MLS# 100048632 $349,900-375,000CARLSBAD Beautiful home on the bluffoverlooking Batiquitos Lagoon MLS# 100032685 $789-859,000CARLSBAD Biggest lot in Vistamarw/detached casita MLS# 100047460 $699,000CARLSBAD Beautifully remodeled prop-erty featured on HGTV MLS# 100050607 $538,000CARLSBAD Located in award winningCarlsbad School District MLS# 100054550 $655-710,000CARLSBAD Immaculate single storyhome on over-sized parcel MLS# 100050811 $579,500-624,900CARMEL VALLEY Wonderful 3BR floor-plan with great room and fireplace MLS# 100025183 $729,000CARMEL VALLEY Pristine property inimpeccable condition, great loc MLS# 100051533 $665-699,000CARMEL VALLEY Nicely updated"Haycyon" condo with dual master BRMLS# 100045227 $449,500CARMEL VALLEY Well loved homebathed in nature light, open-sky backyardMLS# 100054323 $399-439,900ENCINITAS Classic Beach Crafstmandesigned by Don Grover MLS# 100026691 $1,099-1,200,000ENCINITAS Breathtaking 280 degreeview of ocean and city lights MLS# 100048757 $2,495,000ENCINITAS Come & experience gor-geous ocean vus from most rms MLS# 100043192 $689-729,000ENCINITAS Almost 1/3 level acre, cur-rently a duplex, value in land MLS# 100047776 $575-595,000ENCINITAS Particularly nice view lot andquiet location this 4BR/2BA MLS# 100051999 $569,500ENCINITAS Traditional signature estaterebuilt in 2002, privately gated MLS# 100052057 $2,998,000ENCINITAS Amazing home situated onover .50 acre w/pano vus MLS# 100051497 $1,699-1,849,900ENCINITAS Encinitas fixer, needs a lot ofyardwork, large yard MLS#100051156 $425-450,000ENCINITAS Minutes from Pacific oceanthis opp to own l/4 acre w/hmMLS# 100000450 $650,000ENCINITAS Close to beach two housesone lot/live in one/rent other MLS# 100055012 $559,000ENCINITAS Hidden Leucadian neighbor-hood, pano ocean views MLS# 100040785 $765,000ENCINITAS West of I-5 and just a fewblocks from beach in Leucadia MLS# 100042046 $535,000ENCINITAS Prime location rarely avail-able west of 5, 4BR/3BAMLS# 100053471 $988,000ENCINITAS Immaculate, well-kept olderhome, move in ready MLS# 100047696 $485-499,000ENCINITAS Approx 1 acre graded withpanoramic views MLS# 100050163 $645,000

ENCINITAS Ocean front with adorable1BD guest home MLS# 100045056 $2,990,000ENCINITAS Great vacation home, fan-tastic investment opportunity MLS# 100050636 $925,000ENCINITAS Rare opp to own a one of akind property on the water MLS# 100029930 $5,385,000ENCINITAS Few steps to I Street Beachand few blocks to Moonlight MLS# 100024791 $829,900ENCINITAS High Country Villa unit withprivate front and back yards MLS# 100032098 $295,000ENCINITAS Beautifully renovated andupraded tis 2BR/2BA twinhome MLS# 100024602 $499,000ENCINITAS Completely remodeled2BR/1BA with ocean view MLS# 100041636 $449,950ESCONDIDO Property is zoned CGGeneral Commercial per City.MLS# 100017232 $159,998ESCONDIDO 5.79 flat acares on Del DioHwy east of Via Rancho PkwyMLS# 090066835650000 $650,000PT LOMA Serene ocean views and dra-matic sunsets, 2BR/1.5BA MLS# 100053288 $799,900OCEANSIDE Elegant home with white-water and harbor views MLS# 100048965 $725,000OCEANSIDE Great organic veggie gar-den in big sunny yard MLS# 100040817 $259,000OCEANSIDE Fire Mtn like new homewith two lots and ocean views MLS# 100050412 $899,000OCEANSIDE Short sale price approvedat $335,000, clean and bright MLS# 100043027 $335,000OCEANSIDE Great view home at end ofcul-de-sac, needs TLC MLS# 100053121 $329,000OCEANSIDE Clean, comfortable, move-ready home w/great curb appealMLS#100055153 $375,000OCEANSIDE Rare opportunity to own alovely home/great community MLS# 100050105 $375,000OCEANSIDE Single level great golfcourse views, 55+ MLS# 100052940 $199,000OCEANSIDE Move in ready this beauti-ful single story 55+home MLS# 100047893 $145,000OCEANSIDE Great vacation home only4 miles to the beach MLS# 090061191 $250,000RAMONA Private, very quiet, come seepanoramic views MLS# 100042619 $599,000RANCHO STA FE Beautiful Spanishstyle one story home in the covenantMLS# 100040724 $1,750,000RANCHO STA FE Lovingly maintainedby one owner, Whispering Palms MLS# 100007576 $895,000SAN MARCOS Nice floor plan with4BR/3BA, one of each downstairs MLS# 100043020 $340,000SAN MARCOS Sought after complexthis great end location MLS# 100054423 $227,000

SAN MARCOS Ready to move in thisone story 55+ 2BR/2BA, gated MLS# 100024786 $239,900SAN MARCOS Location Location this6BR/4.5BA on large lot w/views MLS# 100049981 $795,000SAN MARCOS Shows like a model thisLarkspur Heights Plan 2 MLS# 100046584 $275,000SAN MARCOS Largest of all the plans,Calico Bluffs Plan 4 MLS# 100040272 $330,000SAN MARCOS One level living thismodel like Plan 4, Calico Bluffs MLS# 100046916 $325,000SAN MARCOS Home features2BR/2BA/wood flooring/vaulted ceilingsMLS# 100055488 $219,000SOLANA BEACH Utilities below groundthis wonderful corner ocean vu lot MLS# 100041485 $899,000SOLANA BEACH All utilities under-ground and plans for smart home w/vuMLS# 100041487 $799,000SOLANA BEACH Two story very openand bright home on private road MLS# 100045858 $1,130-1,180,000SOLANA BEACH Hidden treasure thispeaceful and serene 2BR/2BA MLS# 100039247 $564,900VISTA Well cared for executive homew/pool, spa, and view MLS# 100053299 $699,000VISTA Almost l/2 acre on border ofOceanside, cute house MLS# 100007479 $340,000VISTA Absolutely gorgeous estate prop-erty on five rolling acres MLS# 100033287 $1,098,000VISTA Charming 3BR/2BA on almost ahalf acre, open floor plan MLS# 100053640 $289-335,000VISTA Home needs some TLC, but loadsof potential, 3BR/2BA MLS# 100054167 $279,000VISTA Beautiful 4.52 acres with amazingviews MLS# 090063624 $250-299,000VISTA Beautiful 3BR/2BA on 1/2 acreswith amazing views MLS# 100034885 $349,000VISTA .54 acres, beautiful spot for homewith mature trees MLS# 10000195 $97,000VISTA Private, tropical oasis with5BR/3BA resort style home MLS# 100053722 $575,000SAN DIEGO Downtown living at its finestat the Mills MLS #100023074 $145-155,000SAN DIEGO In Little Italy neighborhood,Aqua Vista building MLS# 100051046 $260,000SAN DIEGO Vintage home, detachedgranny flat and another home MLS# 100051486 $1,090,000SAN DIEGO Excellent opp to own abuilding w/great rental history MLS# 100050062 $1,300,000SAN DIEGO Exclusive Bay Park homeclose to Mission BayMLS# 100052955 $529,990SAN DIEGO Spacious 3BR/2.5BAUniversity Canyon townhome MLS# 100048861 $460,000SAN DIEGO Great vacation/first homeclose to the beach MLS# 100018565 $330,000


(ARA) —- Most peoplehave never stopped to considerthe various options availablefor home fire sprinkler sys-tems.That’s because, until now,most homes were not protectedby a residential sprinkler sys-tem.

In response to growingconcerns about fatalitiescaused by household fires, aswell as enhanced educationregarding the effectiveness offire sprinkler systems, buildingcodes are changing to promptan increase in the number ofhomes having sprinklers.January 2011 is when the newcode takes effect requiring thatsingle-family homes construct-ed after that time containsprinklers (although each statehas the option to adopt thecode on its own timeline).

As a result, homeownerswho never gave a secondthought to fire sprinklers arenow faced with critical deci-sions.

“It’s important to realizethat not all fire sprinkler sys-tems are the same,” saysMatthew Kuwatch ofBlazeMaster Fire SprinklerSystems. “Although the gener-al operation of a sprinkler headbeing activated by the pres-ence of a fire is similar, theoverall performance and capa-bilities of the material in thesystem vary greatly.That’s whyit’s important to take the timeto research all options in orderto choose the right solution for

your family.”Decisions need to be

made relative to both thedesign of the system, as well asthe piping material. A vastmajority of homes today havewhat is called a stand-alone sys-tem. This means the fire sprin-kler system operates independ-ently of the home’s plumbingsystem. The other designoption for homeowners is amultipurpose system which, asthe name implies, combinesthe fire sprinkler and plumbingsystems. Despite the fact thatmultipurpose systems havebeen on the market for manyyears, only some areas of thecountry currently allow theinstallation of a multipurposesystem as a result of concernsregarding the system’s long-term reliability and problemswith insufficient water flow.

Another important deci-sion is the selection of thematerial used for the pipe andfittings in the system. For resi-dential fire sprinkler systems,four materials are approved foruse - steel, copper, CPVC andPEX. Historically, steel andcopper systems were installed.But escalating material costsand problems with corrosionhave opened the door fornewer, more reliable technolo-gies.

Chlorinated polyvinylchloride, better known asCPVC, which has been usedsuccessfully in fire protectionapplications under the

BlazeMaster brand name formore than 25 years, is the mostspecified non-metallic fire

sprinkler piping material in theworld today. Compared tometallic systems, it offers a

number of benefits, includingimmunity to corrosion, ease ofinstallation and reduced costs.

Its overall cost also com-pares favorably with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX),another non-metallic materialapproved for fire sprinkler sys-tems, although only in multi-purpose designs. Recent coststudies have confirmed thatthe installation of aBlazeMaster CPVC fire sprin-kler system, in particular,results in the least expensiveoption for homeowners. Thelarger internal diameter (boresize) of CPVC pipe deliversincreased water flow and supe-rior hydraulics. Because PEXpipe has a smaller bore size,homeowners often have to pay

more to buy larger pipe inorder to meet minimum flowrequirements. Or, they mayneed to add a pump,which alsoincreases the overall cost of thesystem.

With something as impor-tant as life safety, however, costis hopefully not the only consid-eration when choosing one firesprinkler system over another.Overall safety performancetops the list of criteria for mosthomeowners.The superior safe-ty performance of CPVC overPEX is one more reason whythe thermoplastic is so popular.Specifically, CPVC will not sus-tain combustion. It stops burn-ing as soon as the ignition

What you should know before choosing a home fire sprinkler system

(ARA) — In a toughhousing market, homeownerswant to improve their home’sbeauty and functionality,while adding resale value.This may include choosingproducts that reduce mainte-nance, save energy, improveappearance and offer protec-tion from the damaging forcesof nature. Here are some tipsfor problem areas that couldbenefit from the latest homesolutions:

Timeless decks withnatural looks

In the past decade, alter-natives to wood decking prod-ucts have made many claims oflow-maintenance. However, ifyour deck has stains and is inan environment that breedsmold and mildew, maybe it’stime to look at some newoptions on the market. If yourdecking product contains woodfibers, it may be absorbingstains and getting scratched ineveryday use.

“There are low-mainte-nance products that give home-owners a rich selection of deep-er deck shades, tropical hard-wood looks and durable, sturdyrailings that complement thesecolors,” says Mike Gori, deckexpert for AZEK BuildingProducts, maker of AZEKDeck. He says the secret is cel-lular PVC technology, whichresists food stains - even redwine - and stands up to themost high energy kids, dogs orneighborhood deck parties.Low-maintenance decks alsoincrease your home’s valuebecause they economically add

living space and are easy toclean.

Lattice entertain youIf you think your outdoor

planters and window boxescannot have detailed latticework and scrolled designsbecause of a high moistureenvironment, think again.There are natural lookingmaterials that support plantlife and won’t rot, split or warp,even with continuous wateringand sunlight. For example,Walpole Woodworkers featuresthe Freeport Collection of low-maintenance cellular vinylboxes and planters that looklike the real thing and haveclassic detail and latticedesigns.

These durable items donot need liners and come withpre-drilled drainage holes.Beautifully crafted windowboxes are charming accents toyour home and bring colorright outside your window.Adding architectural detailsalso makes your home standout in the neighborhood. Thecompany offers free catalogs at(800) 343-6948 or visit www.walpolewoodworkers.com.

Stay pumped, go green

Following one of thewettest winters on record inmany areas of the country,keeping your home safe fromdamaging flood waters is crit-ical. Now, there are sumppumps that offer maximumprotection, save energy and

Four ways to improveyour home’s beautyand resale value

of North County Coastal

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ENCINITAS — There is aspecial floral niche in the cor-ner of Sunshine GardensNursery where flowers areturned into art and shelves arefull of hand-picked, unusual,eye-catching items for homeand garden.

Twigs by Teri is that place,tucked away near the entranceof the nursery, on the corner ofEncinitas Boulevard and QuailGardens Drive in the red-roofed building.

“Ron Martin, the owner ofSunshine Gardens Nursery,andI talked for several years aboutopening a florist/gift shop with-in the nursery to complimenteach other’s products,” ownerTeri Brand said.“In October,wewill celebrate Twigs’ two-yearanniversary and it has provento be a successful match.”

Brand will celebrateTwigs’ two-year mark duringOctober, which is Posy month.A posy is a tiny bunch of flow-ers,perfect at $9.50 as a hostessgift at a dinner party or just tosay, “I’m thinking of you.” It isdiminutive but always brings asmile.

“We’re located so close tothe newly renamed San DiegoBotanic Garden where Twigssupplies flowers for many wed-dings and events,” Brand said.“Large tours extend their gar-den visits by stopping inSunshine Gardens to purchasefrom their extensive succulentdisplay.”

One of Brand’s goals is tofind and sell the bestAmerican-made products. “Itcan be difficult in the flowerindustry but I am slowly find-ing quality items that areaffordable,” she said. “Some ofmy more interesting items arestylish birdhouses partiallymade from Knott’s BerryFarm’s old wood fence, hand-forged steel tools from a smithyin Montana and customizedetched stones.

While gathering her for-mal training as a florist, Brand

was an active part of theEncinitas community, workingfor the school district and as areal estate appraiser.

“But this is my passionand I’m so grateful to theMartin family for trusting mewith this venture,” Brand said.“The Sunshine staff is knowl-edgeable and helpful; what agreat place to ‘work.’ We aresurrounded by wonderfulplants where you can get greatideas for your own garden or letme add a ceramic pot,ribbon ordecorative plant stake for aready-to-go gift.”

“I thought food and flow-ers worked well together so Isuggested putting in a dessertbakery to Ron four years ago,”Brand said.“Twigs by Teri com-pliments the ElizabethanBakery with balloons, napkinsand candles for one-stop shop-ping. Another favorite is lushribbon around hand-tied bou-quets or posies. Call ahead andI can have your favorite flowerarranged or plant customizedin advance.I like to focus on thedetails for various hotelconcierge staff and event plan-ners.”

The Del Mar NationalHorse Show asked her to sup-ply all of their fresh flowersduring the three weeks of theevent and she loves workingwith them.

Brand will even come to


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TWO GOOD YEARS Teri Brandof Twigs by Teri will be celebratingthe second anniversary of hershop inside Sunshine GardensNursery, at Encinitas Boulevardand Quail Gardens Drive, inOctober. Courtesy photo


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in college,” Liesemeyer says.“Some may have one ormore parents moving in, too,while others have adult chil-dren moving back in withthem. Saniflo products canbe a real problem-solver inthese cases.”

Have a Gen X-er mov-ing in with you? Why not adda basement bathroom? Needto help grandma, so she canstay at home longer? Createa ground-floor master suitewith a full bathroom, so shewon’t have to climb stairs.Whatever is motivating yourmodern multi-generationalhousehold, with up flushtechnology, you can have aconvenient extra bathroomanywhere, even in smallerhomes.

Self-reliance plussafety

Regardless of age,Bloomingdale suggests weall take steps to promotemobility and independence,while increasing safety. Oneeasy option is to use brightLED lighting, which islonger-lasting, so there is

less need to climb laddersand step stools to replacethem. Bloomingdale alsorecommends keeping floorsurfaces in good repair,removing tripping and slip-ping hazards, and providingeasy access to phones andother essential equipment.

For homes with youngchildren, the nonprofitHome Safety Council recom-mends constant supervision.Other selected safety advice

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and other poisons.• Keep water heaters

set at 120 F to preventscalds.

• Use toilet lid locks toprevent drowning.

You can learn moreabout low-cost, easy-to-install, above-floor bath-room systems by visitingwww.saniflo.com or calling(800) 571-8191.

the customer’s home orvenue and suggest ideas tosuit your needs whether theyare for an evening book club,home garden wedding or alavish affair. For examples ofher work, visit www.TwigsByTeri.com.The shop is

open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Saturday.

Happy by the sea now,Brand grew up in a smallMidwest town in Indiana,and spent a lot of time inChicago.

“I met my husband of 35years, who was from a LaJolla Navy family, at a churchconference in Colorado,” she

said. “After six months ofphones calls and letters andonly actually seeing him sixtimes, we were married onthe seventh time. We havetwo daughters that graduat-ed from San Dieguito and LaCosta Canyon. Both are mar-ried and each now have littleboys of their own.”

BATHROOMCONTINUED FROM 5

EASY UPDATES There are many things you can do for your bathroomwithout breaking the bank. Courtesy photo

wouldn’t detract from thebeautiful new bedroom,”Everett said. “We designed avery stylish dog bed using thesame fabric we used on the bedcanopy and drapes.” Thecurved velvet back, silverfinials and white tassels tie allthe elements of the roomtogether. The blue velvet wasmade into a slip cover that issecured to the bottom of thebed with Velcro and can beremoved for dry cleaning. Thebase of the bed has a cushionwith outdoor foam that inhibitsmold and bacteria. The cush-ion cover has an extra wide zip-per for easy removal and ismade of Sunbrella fabric,which can be thrown in thewashing machine.

“The dog bed was so pop-ular with everyone who hasseen it, so in addition to beingable to order a custom bed foryour dog, we will be rafflingone off at our Charity Event

being held in our Cardiff loca-tion from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14,”Everett said. “This event isopen to the public the fundsraised will go to the CoastalCommunity Foundation whichin part, supports women inneed. The open house eventwill show case a boutique shop-ping opportunity with jewelry,clothing and handbags andhome accessories for sale.”

“What we do at HomeVogue is increase the value ofour client’s homes in a way thattruly enhances the quality oftheir life with beautiful designand quality products,” Everettsaid.

Home Vogue Interiors islocated at 119 Aberdeen Drivein Cardiff-by-the-Sea. For moreinformation,call (619) 260-8400or visit www.homevogue.com.

INTERIORCONTINUED FROM 10

bacteria-fighting solution tonot only suck up dust anddirt, but prevent bacteriafrom growing in or on the vac-uum as well. Eureka’sFilterAir vacuum is treatedwith On-Guard Antimicrobialwhich inhibits the growth ofbacteria on the brushroll andin specific parts of the dustcup. Areas treated with On-Guard include the filter bas-ket and dirt tube within thedust cup assembly. The vacu-um’s sealed HEPA filtrationsystem also removes 99.97percent of dust, dander andother allergens as they passthrough the filter.

Be sure to change yourvacuum filter and bag regular-ly to reduce the number ofallergens and other particlesreleased back into the air. Ifthese items are not changedregularly, the vacuum’s per-

formance can be compro-mised and dirty air can beexpelled back into your home.Filtrete antimicrobial acces-sories feature Ultra-Fresh toprovide advanced protectionfrom odor-causing bacteria inthe vacuum’s bag or filter,while providing superior fil-tration for the home.This alsoprotects against unpleasantodor and stain-causing micro-bial growth to keep bags andfilters cleaner and fresher.

• Beware of the kitchenand bathroom. Don’t forgetthat germs also like to hangout in places like the kitchensink where pathogens such assalmonella and E. coli can befound. Although well-inten-tioned, the kitchen spongeyou use to clean is only help-ing to spread those germsthroughout your kitchen. Tokill germs on the sponge, theUnited States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) recom-mends microwaving it on full

power for one minute. To pro-tect your hands from germs,keep bacteria fighting soapsuch as Lysol AntimicrobialSoap near the sink to usewhen working in the kitchen.

• Another popular germhangout is the bathroomwhere they can be found in toi-lets, showers and sinks. Onesimple step to cut back ongerms in the bathroom is tomake good use of the toilet lid.When a toilet is flushed, spraycan land up to several feetaway from the actual toilet,allowing viruses and bacteriato land on items such as atoothbrush or hand towel.Takea few extra seconds beforeflushing to close the lid andtrap harmful bacteria inside.

For more information onEureka’s FilterAir vacuum visitwww.eureka.com.

For more information onFiltrete’s antimicrobial filtersand vacuum bags visitwww.filtretevac.com.

GERMSCONTINUED FROM 9

are very easy to install. Theyalso feature backup batterypumps and alarms for extraprotection in case of power out-ages. This increases peace ofmind for homeowners andcould be a make or break sell-ing point.

The experts at WAYNEPumps advise that if your sumppump is more than 10 years old,it may need to be replaced withnew technology. “Our sumppump hydraulic expertise hasevolved to where we can offerpumps that move more waterfaster using up to 50 percentless energy,”says President JoeMauro. “We’ve also developedfeatures like quieter operationand the new iSwitch that uses amicroprocessor to sense risingwater levels before they couldbecome a problem.” He pointsout that investment in a reli-able sump pump and batterybackup system is minor com-pared to the damage water can

do to valuables, family heir-looms and your home’s resalevalue. Self-testing features tokeep backup pumps in topshape and wireless alarms offereven more layers of protectionfor your home. For more infor-mation, visit www.waynepumps.com.

Repair cracks toprevent future damage

A small crack in yourdriveway or cement steps canbecome a crater, due to harshweather and temperaturechanges. Crumbling concreteor cracked driveways candetract from curb appeal andreduce resale value.However,ifproperly sealed with the rightcaulk product, your outdoormasonry or blacktop areas canbe repaired without continuingto deteriorate.You can also sealoff energy leaks and keep outdamaging moisture, indoorsand out, such as around win-dows, receptacles and underthe door step.

“We’ve been developingnew caulks, such as our newRD 3000 advanced sealant lineformulated to move andremain flexible once cured,allowing more stability throughclimate changes or pressure,”says Jason Ringling, marketingdirector at Red Devil, Inc.

He noted that driveways,concrete steps and walkwayscan experience movementfrom car and foot traffic andendure the freeze/thaw cyclesof the seasons. “You need adurable sealant that stands upto the elements to prevent thedamage from spreading,” hesays. Always look for productsspecifically for concrete, black-top, gutters and windows anddoors. A simple caulk jobreportedly can save you up to20 percent in energy bills andbig bucks in outdoor repairs.

Homeowners can makeinformed, smart choices aboutproducts that will improvetheir home’s resale value andadd enjoyment to their currentlifestyle.

RESALE VALUECONTINUED FROM 13

source is removed. PEX, on theother hand, will continue toburn - and drip - long after theflame has been removed, possi-bly contributing to the severityof the fire. In addition, third-party test results prove that the

smoke generated from CPVC isno more toxic than that fromtraditional building materials,such as wood.

If you are getting ready tobuild a new home, chances arethat you have spent consider-able time comparing youroptions for aesthetic items suchas cabinets,carpeting and light-

ing fixtures. Choosing the rightfire sprinkler system deservesat least the same amount ofdeliberation and shopping forthe sake of your family’s safety.To learn more about youroptions, visit www.blazemas-ter.com or www.homefiresprin-kler.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

SPRINKLERCONTINUED FROM 13

TWIGSCONTINUED FROM 14

A DOG’S LIFE Molly, pictured above in her custom dog bed, wasn’tabout to be left out of the redesign of her owners’ bedroom. MyrnaEverett of Vogue Home Interiors custom made the dog bed to match thedécor of the bedroom. Vogue Home Interiors is raffling off a custom dogbed at their charity event and open house being held at 119 AberdeenDrive in Cardiff-by-the-Sea from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14. Proceeds from theevent will support the Coastal Community Foundation. Courtesy photo


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two weeks. Allergies areoften seasonal, especially ifthe trigger comes from grassor tree pollen.

“If your allergy comesfrom something inside yourhouse like, mold, or dust —the symptoms can be con-stant or come and go —depending on the exposurelevel to the indoor allergysource,” says Wurster.“Allergy sufferers may alsohave nosebleeds becausepollen gets deposited insidethe front of nose which trig-gers the sneeze reflex.Sometimes allergy sufferershave a line across the tip iftheir nose and puffinessunder their lower eyelidsbecause of heparin (a sub-stance naturally generatedfrom the white cells of thebody),” he says.

4. If your eyes, nose,throat or mouth itch, it’s asure bet that you are react-ing to some kind of allergenwhich can come from pollenor even an allergen in theworkplace or on a collegecampus. If your allergystems from something inyour workplace, some indus-tries have set up “clean

rooms,” where employeeswear “clean suits” in highly-sterile rooms. Some employ-ees feel claustrophobic inclean rooms, but people withallergies tend to like it.

“With allergies, you willrun a low-grade fever of100.1 or 100.2 F. With theviral or bacterial cold yourtemperature will be adegree higher — 103 or 104F,” says Wurster. Hay fever isthe old term for allergies“because you get symptomsof a cold with a low gradefever,” Wurster says. Theaverage person does notknow whether their sicknessis viral, bacterial or theresult of an allergen.

“Allergy sufferersshould consider using anti-histamines at night(Benadryl),” Wurster says.“A cold will not respond toan antihistamine. Claritinand Afrin would be effectiveduring the day because theydon’t cause drowsiness. Takea decongestant to preventmucous from building up inyour sinuses.”

Not being able to sleepat night is another sign of anallergy. “You should elevateyourself on a bunch of pil-lows to get the drainage offluid out of your head to

help you fall asleep,” saysWurster.

Wurster says there isone good thing about havingallergies. “Allergy sufferersare genetically-coordinatedwith high intelligence.” Headded that “the peak inci-dence of allergies can beabsent from the onset ofpuberty to the mid-20s, butcan show up when thepatient is in their 30s andlate 40s.”

For cold sufferers, thekey is to visit your physicianbecause you may needantibiotics. Try to avert get-ting a cold. “When it firststarts, rinse your nose outwith salt water four to fivetimes a day. It can prevent abacterial cold and treatsinus infections,” he says.

“For some people withallergies, mucous getsbacked up in their sinuseswhich serves as fertileground for bacterial culture.What could have been a two-to three-day allergy can turninto sinusitis, bronchitis or acold which includes conges-tion and the risk of an upperrespiratory virus infection,”says Wurster who added,“It’s important to visit yourdoctor to see if your lungsare clear.”

ALLERGYCONTINUED FROM 6

over your head.That may meanrenting versus owning.

— Get all of the assetsawarded in the divorce trans-ferred into your name.You mayneed to change your name onyour social security card andIDs such as your passport anddriver’s license.

Review the beneficiariesyou have named on all of yourfinancial papers including yourIRAs, employer’s retirementplans like 401k’s or 403b’s,annuities and insurance andmake necessary changes.

— Update or establishyour own estate planning docu-ments. These are legal docu-ments related to your estatesuch as a will, living trust,

power of attorney and healthcare directive.

— Check your creditreport by requesting one at 1-877-322-8228. From there youwill be able to learn your creditscore and what accounts yourname is on.

In marriage couples typi-cally have had credit in jointnames and once the accountsare separated you may learnyou have little or no credit his-tory in your own name.

If you do not have sepa-rate credit after divorce youwould be wise to establish yourown.

— Rely on the CPA youhire to help you through themaze of filing taxes. Afterdivorce your entire tax filingstatus has changed and you canrelieve yourself of some stress

by working with a professionalwho will guide you properly.

— Once you have figuredout what your “new” lifestylecosts to maintain, some longerterm financial planning cantake place.

A written financial plangives you a roadmap that laysout where you are today com-pared to where you want to beat some point down the roadand a path that connects thetwo so you can see where youare headed.

— Establish a new invest-ment strategy based on yourown temperament, goals andtime frame.

Karen Mendez is withWedbush Securities. For moreinformation,call (866) 859-5061or visit www.wedbush.com/KarenMendez.

DIVORCECONTINUED FROM 10

including custom windowtreatments that will match orcompliment your flooring

choice.And to the busy home-owners’ delight, shoppersdon’t have to wander miles tosome distant warehouse dis-trict to find the right priceand selection.

Visit them in the heart ofEncinitas or in Carmel Moun-tain Ranch or call them at(760) 436-9030 or (858) 451-9717.

CONTRACTCONTINUED FROM 11

Division can meet the specificneeds of your residential andcommercial tree care and

maintenance. The team willsurvey your property and pro-vide a free estimate.This is alldone with a solid knowledgeof meeting city code require-ments and safety issues.

Visit C&H GardensArtistic Landscape and TreeService, Inc. atwww.plantch.com or call (760)846-2200 to schedule a freeconsultation.

LANDSCAPECONTINUED FROM 11


function to complement.Accessories and works of artshould contrast.”

When you look at yourwell-designed room, youshould see positive elements,as well as appreciate negativespace by removing unneces-sary pieces that don’t add tothe design composition.

Interior design studentsat The Art Institute of York —Pennsylvania are taught tohelp their clients step backand ask themselves: Is it fin-ished now? You can err whenyou go shopping and pur-chase nice pieces for yourhome, because before longyou begin to accumulate toomany of those nice things.Much of what you have isstuff you don’t need or want.It might be time to sharethose boxes, which are full ofstuff you haven’t missed inyears, with your localGoodwill.

Sometimes, you mightthink you have to keep mem-

orabilia or outdated giftsfrom Aunt Ethel in yourhome all the time. “Not so,”says McCleary. “It’s perfectlyacceptable to remove thoseitems when you do your boxexercise.” If you get a callfrom auntie who’s planning avisit, head to the attic and putthose old Beanie Babies shegave you when you were afanatical collector decadesago on a shelf in your den,temporarily. She’ll be happyfor the gesture. When sheleaves, feel free to replacethem in the box of memoriesuntil her next visit.

After you complete thisexercise in each room in yourhome, you’ll notice that theclutter has disappeared. Nowyou can recognize how attrac-tive the remaining items arein that same space.This initia-tive takes determination andfocus, but when you’ve com-pleted the exercise, yourfocus can be on the lovelyspace you’ve recreated. Tolearn more about The ArtInstitutes schools, visitwww.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

CLUTTERCONTINUED FROM 3

online) of products that passthe test. “OMRI’s list is aninvaluable tool for gardenerswho want to keep their plotsorganic,” says ClaudeBoisvert, president of TreeWorld Plant Care Products.“Itmakes it easier than ever tofind gardening supplementsthat are not harmful to theenvironment.”

If your main concern inplanting an organic garden isproviding your family withsafe-to-eat, healthy food rightfrom your own back yard,you’ll want to take the troubleto make sure you’re usingtruly organic gardening prod-ucts. At the same time, youwant your garden to look

great and produce well.One of the biggest chal-

lenges to organic gardening iskeeping pests away in a waythat is humane and safe. Forsmaller pests, it is increasinglyeasy to find organic insectici-dal soaps that are safe unlikesome traditional pesticides.Larger garden plant browserscan really wreak havoc unlessyou use a rabbit or deer repel-lent. An OMRI listed solution,developed in eco-consciousSweden and now made in theUnited States, is Plantskydd.Its effectiveness and environ-mental soundness as an organ-ic repellent have made it pop-ular for farming and amonggardeners, professional land-scapers, nurseries, forestersand state conservation agen-cies.

ORGANICCONTINUED FROM 4

and the popular BakeryShoppe.Bring your own wagonto carry your prized purchases.

There will be a Larabeeand Benefactor SocietyMembers pre-sale from 8 to 9a.m. Oct 16.

Members at basic levelsmay renew early and upgrade

to the $125 Steward level toenjoy the best selection. Torenew by phone,call (760) 436-3036,ext.217.A members onlypre-sale will be held from 9 to11 a.m. Oct. 16.

Both events will takeplace at San Diego BotanicGarden, 230 Quail GardensDrive in Encinitas. For moreinformation, visit www.sdbgarden.org/.

BOTANICCONTINUED FROM 6

a lawn. Edging should bedone vertically only at thehard surfaces and no morethan once or twice monthly.These improved practices alsoreduce carbon emissions.Mulching grass clippings is alittle-used method of improv-ing lawn health and reducinglandfill.

Proper fertilization andweed management is essen-tial in maximizing the envi-ronmental benefits of thelawn. Finally, a full, thick andhealthy lawn is not only mostattractive, it is also most ben-eficial to the environment.Fall is the best time to restorea damaged lawn with a quali-ty seeding program.

So, how do you achieve avery attractive and very envi-ronmentally beneficial lawn?“Consider contacting a state-licensed and trained lawncare professional,” Taylorsaid. “We can help the home-owner and/or gardeneremploy best practices toreduce the cost of lawn main-tenance and provide lawncare services that keep lawnsand landscapes healthy,attractive and very good forthe environment.We want ourcustomers to have the bestlawn on the block.”

Lawn Doctor of NorthCounty Coastal has been serv-ing North County since 2005.For more information, contactOwner Tom Taylor at (760)967-7800 or e-mail [email protected].

LAWNCONTINUED FROM 5

store,” Basham said.It is no secret San

Diegans love their wine.Finding a vintage bottle ofwine can be quite the chore,though. Village Market takesthe hassle out of hunting forthat perfect bottle of wine.

“We can find anything,”Basham said of the market’sability to located hard to findwines. “We recently found arare 30-year-old bottle ofwine for a customer, no prob-lem.”

And what goes greatwith a fine bottle of wine?You guessed it: meat. Ofcourse, Village Market hasyou covered.

They have gone the extramile to be a trusted friend totheir customers by holdingthe only contract with theCertified Angus BeefAssociation in San DiegoCounty. In fact, VillageMarket is one of only fourmarkets in the state ofCalifornia to carry CertifiedBeef. They also carry Kobeand Wagyu beef.

Village Market has a pro-gram in place that measuresthe mercury level in fish andmeats. This guarantees thatmercury levels are belowUSDA safety guidelines onevery purchase you make.

Village Market offers thefinest free-range, hormone-free chicken, and free-rangehormone-free Diestel fresh

turkeys. Lobster, crabmeat,salmon, colossal shrimp andmany other fresh items aredelivered to the market daily.

Not to be outdone by thedeli, wine, and meat depart-ments, the Village Marketproduce department carriesonly the finest produce fromthe U.S. and around theworld. Their selectionincludes organic and hydro-ponically grown produce. Itshould come as no surprisethat Village Market has theability to acquire even thehardest to find fruits and veg-etables.

As an added feature fortheir customers, VillageMarket caters weddings andall special events.The VillageMarket Service Deli expertcan tailor your event with a

wide array of party platters,custom meals, entrees, saladsor any special item. The delimanager can answer yourquestions, introduce you tonew items, recommendrecipes, help guide you withany catering needs or specialorder anything from import-ed caviar to whole winterblack truffles. The in-housechef will be happy to helpdesign a custom meal, readyto heat and serve. Just a fewof their specialty entreesinclude handmade BeefWellington, herb rolled filletmignon, and custom lasagna.

Village Market is locatedat 16950 Via De Santa Fe inRancho Santa Fe. Call them at(858) 756-3726 or visitwww.rsfvillagemarket.com forall your market needs.

by exiting the 78 Freeway atSycamore Avenue and pro-ceeding south.The communityis open daily from 10 a.m. to 6p.m. For additional informa-

tion,call (760) 727-2945 or visitAmberwoods-Homes.com.

Amber Woods is anothertop-quality new home neigh-borhood from WattCommunities, one of SouthernCalifornia’s most respectedhome builders.

AMBER WOODSCONTINUED FROM 8

MARKETCONTINUED FROM 5

Residential Energy EfficiencyTax Credit can credit you with30 percent of window materialcosts, up to $1,500, for makingqualifying efficiency upgradesto your home.

Poorly performing win-dows can account for 35 to 40percent of your home’s heatloss in the winter and are ofteneven less effective at keepingyour home cool in summer.That’s literally throwing yourmoney out the window.Today’sdouble and triple-pane win-

dows are worlds apart from thewindows sold just 10 years ago.

Replacement windowframes offer improved protec-tion from air and water infiltra-tion over older windows, andthe energy-efficient innova-tions in glass options can reallymake a difference in your

home’s comfort. To meet thequalifications for the EnergyEfficiency Tax Credit, MilgardWindows & Doors incorporatesadvanced technologies toimprove your home’s energyefficiency. Its SunCoat Low-Eglass and EdgeGard thermalspacers provide the insulating

power needed to keep yourhome comfortable all yearround. But the hundreds ofcombinations and choices canbe overwhelming. To avoiddealing with an overly-confus-ing list of window choices, thecompany offers energy pack-ages that configure the win-dow’s individual componentsfor you, based on your desiredenergy performance level andgeographic location.

When looking for energyefficient windows, most manu-facturers recommend startingwith the ENERGY STAR stick-er. A good window will have alabel from the NationalFenestration Ratings Council(NFRC) and have ENERGYSTAR ratings as well. On theNFRC label you’ll see the man-ufacturer’s name, a descriptionof the window, plus a U-valueand solar heat gain coefficient(SHGC) numbers.Lower U-val-ues and SHGC numbers meanbetter insulation, but lookclosely. To qualify for the

Energy Efficiency Tax Credit,each of your windows musthave a U-value of .30 or lessand SHGC of .30 as well.

You also should considerthe manufacturer’s warrantywhen shopping for windows.Just as some windows workharder than others to keepyour home comfortable, somemanufacturers are more will-ing than others to stand behindtheir products with the serviceand support you expect from amajor home purchase. Lookfor a full lifetime warranty,andcheck to see if labor costs andglass breakage is included.

Fall is here, winter is rightaround the corner and, if youact soon, you can take advan-tage of the soon-to-expire taxcredit for making valuableimprovements to your ownhome with replacement win-dows. To get started, you canfind a qualified replacementwindow dealer by visitingwww.milgard.com or by calling(800) 645-4273.


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have otherwise purchased.As a way to assist with

water quality at home,Kenmore offers a line of homewater treatment systems tohelp remove many of the mostcommon contaminants foundin water. Water softenersremove the hardness mineralsin the water, and drinkingwater systems, such asKenmore Reverse OsmosisDrinking Water Systems or theKenmore Elite (R) AdvancedTwo-Stage Drinking Water

Filter provide treated water forcooking and drinking. With adrinking water system, you canenjoy filtered water at the sink,which improves the quality ofdrinking water by helpingremove contaminants.Additionally, the KenmoreElite Central Water WholeHome Filtration System pro-vides a central, full-home solu-tion to get rid of chlorine tasteand odor in water.

For more information onwater softeners or water filtra-tion systems, visit www.kenmore.com or www.sears.com.

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Open Daily: 8:00am ‘til 8:00pm 16950 Via de Santa Fe

Rancho Santa Fe

858-756-3726

An assortment of 40 Snack-Size Sandwiches. Made withTurkey, Ham, Roast Beef, Swiss, Cheddar & Provolone.

Arranged around a center of Pickles & Olives

SmallServes 5-7

$2999

MediumServes 7-9

$4299

LargeServes 10-12

$6299

SANDWICH PLATTER

HYE-ROLLERPLATTER

HOT WINGPLATTER

3 FOOT SUBSANDWICHES

Hot wingsarrangedaround asmall bowl ofRanchDressing.(Ranch canbe substitut-ed with BlueCheese)

$499lb.

$699lb.

$699lb.

$349lb.

$699

CowboyCaviar

MiniMeatballs

El IndioChips

Spinach Dip

Fried ChickenTenders

$999lb.

Fresh Salsa

Home

Delivery

Available!

Call for

Details!

Italian Sub orAmerican Sub. 2 day

notice required

$4999

Your Destination for Local Service, Convenience & All Your Market NeedsYour Destination for Local Service, Convenience & All Your Market Needs

Are you ready for someAre you ready for someAre you ready for some FOOTBALL?FOOTBALL?

A soft Lavosh Flat Bread lightlycoated with a cream cheesespread and layered with Turkey,Ham, or Roast Beef, thinly slicedcheese and leafy lettuce. Availablein cocktail size or sandwich size.

Small $3999

Medium $5999

Large $6999

lb.

Documents

Coast News Group Home & Garden Fall 2010.pdf