The Idyllwild Town Crier's Annual Guide to Better Living

Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009 - Page 3Change a light bulb and save the worldBy Marshall SmithStaff ReporterDr. Charlie Zender, Universityof California, Irvine,professor of atmosphericphysics, practices what hepreaches. His research, likethat of other scientists whocontribute to the IntergovernmentalPanel on ClimateChange (IPCC), predictsdramatic global warmingwith rapidly spikingglobal mean temperaturesnever before seen on theplanet. He practices carbonfootprint reduction bychanging his light bulbs tocompact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) and installingenergy-efficient appliancesin his home. “Each of uscan contribute to reducingcarbon footprints,” saidZender.According to power supplierSouthern CaliforniaEdison (SCE), CFLs last upto 10 times longer than regularincandescent bulbs, useup to 75 percent less energyand save up to $65 in annualenergy costs.Using CFLs, accordingto SCE, also reduces greenhousegas emissions, theprime contributor to globalwarming.CFLs come in severalshapes and sizes to meetconsumers’ needs, whetherfor a table lamp, wall sconce,outdoor floodlight, ceilingfan or track lighting.SCE’s Operation LightExchange allows residentialcustomers to exchangehalogen torchiere floorlamps and incandescentfloor/table/desk lamps andnight-lights for new EnergyStar-labeled lamps. To learnmore about that program,visit www.scelampexchange.com/.Since CFLs contain traceamounts of mercury, theymust be disposed of in a recyclingcenter as “householdhazardous waste.”Replacing older applianceswith U.S. Department ofEnergy and EnvironmentalProtection Agency-approvedEnergy Star appliances canearn rebates from powersuppliers that can help offsetthe cost of purchase ofnew appliances. SCE currentlyoffers a $50 rebate, asadvertised on its site (www.sce.com/residential/rebatessavings/appliance/energystar)if one purchases anEnergy Star-qualified refrigerator“while funding isstill available” (the SCE siteincludes an extensive list ofqualifying products). Checkthe purchase receipt to seeif the seller provided an instantrebate; if not, completethe SCE rebate applicationand send with the requireddocumentation to SCE; andprovide information fromyour SCE bill requested onthe application.SCE also offers a recyclingprogram for refrigeratorsand freezers, and paysqualified consumers $50 tohaul away the old appliance.To qualify, one must be anSCE customer; the appliancemust be picked up atthe SCE service address; theappliance must be in workingcondition at the time ofpick up; and the size of theappliance must be between10 to 27 cubic feet.SCE claims that by swappingout old, energy-inefficientappliances with new,energy-efficient ones, consumersmight save up to$292 on their energy bill.SCE adds that California lawprohibits dumping your appliancein a landfill, and thatmany companies charge afee for disposal.Similar to other offers,SCE will pay a $30 rebatewhen a consumer purchasesa new, energy-efficient electricwater heater with an energyfactor of .93 or higher.The SCE site provides a listof qualifying products.Energy auditors recommendlowering temperaturesettings on water heaters andinsulating the heaters if theyare located in an unheatedarea of one’s home, afterchecking the manufacturer’sguidelines and warranty criteria.Under the California SolarInitiative, power suppliersprovide rebates on fixedand tracking solar energy(photovoltaic) systems. Incentivesare based on the sizeand characteristics of the installationand the customerclassification (an increasedincentive level is available togovernment and nonprofitorganizations.)Lastly, water is the mostimportant human resourceand one that is becomingmore expensive and lessavailable around the planet.By reducing water consumption,fixing dripping faucets,installing low-volume ordual-flush toilets, low-flowshowerheads, and waterefficientdishwashers andclothes washing machines,one can save both water andmoney.Local water districts offerrebates for purchasingmany of these appliances.The water district phonenumbers are Idyllwild, 659-2143; Fern Valley, 659-2200;Pine Cove, 659-2675; andLake Hemet, 658-3241.James M. AederGeneral Contractor• Custom Homes& AdditionsCCL No. 381300• Cabinetry• Tile and Masonry 951-659-7733• ResidentialP.O. Box 2263& Commercial Idyllwild, CA 92549Aerators on faucets cansignificantly reduce watervolume; water-saving showerheadscan cut the volume1-800-549-5514 www.loomistank.comJ.R.’s Painting &SandblastingExterior & Interior Painting SpecialistExpert Deck & Siding RefinishingEvery Job Personally Done & GuaranteedServing Idyllwild for 25 years • Lic. # 709018Free Estimates • Cell (951) 306-6494idyllwildjr@yahoo.comLee ArnsonLand SurveyingPLS 8389951.659.4458Phone/Faxof water used down to 1.2gallons per minute or less.See Save, page 6lee@idylarn.com54585 N. Circle Dr • Suite CPost Office Box 539Idyllwild, CA 92549www.idylarn.com

Page 6 - Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009SaveContinued from page 3Some even have a pause button to let you stop the waterwhile soaping or shampooing. Planet Green (planetgreen.discovery.com) interns found that spending about $30 onlow-flow showerheads and faucets is estimated to save 45out of 265 gallons of water typically used by a householdper day.Marshall Smith can be reached at marshall@towncrier.com.When selecting a room's color scheme, take cues fromyour own wardrobe and favorite objects.Funding for weatherizing homesRiverside County has received more than $2 million infederal funds to help residents weatherize their homes.The Riverside County Community Action Partnershiphelps homeowners and tenants with the cost of improvements,including insulation, venting and window repairs.The grant also helps residents purchase energy-efficientappliances.Making improvements to reduce heat loss or switchingto low-energy appliances can make a huge differencein a household’s utilities bill, said County Energy ManagerGodwin Aimua. Weatherized homes can save up to 20 percentin utilities costs, according to a 2001 county study.The program also can help residents pay their utilitybills. For more information on the program, call (951) 955-6418 or visit communityaction.riversidedpss.org.Home repair program for seniorsRiverside County offers a program called Senior Helplinkin partnership with the Economic Development Agency.The program helps seniors and adults with disabilities getminor and enhanced home repair.For more information, call 1-800-510-2020.Change smoke detector batteriesRiverside County Fire Department reminds residents toannually check their smoke detectors’ batteries. Changingbatteries before the old ones run out and testing all smokedetectors monthly can ensure you are warned in the eventof a household fire. A working smoke alarm can often providethe critical extra time people need to get out to safety.KINTZ CONSTRUCTIONLarge or small, our quality says it allJosh Whitney659-2596Complete Tree CareTrimming & RemovalFire AbatementFully InsuredLic. # 637668Bruce KintzContractor License #297202-HIC(951) 659-2743(951) 288-0818 Cell54525 Lilac LaneP.O. Box 223Idyllwild, CA 92549GREEN BUILDER• Weatherization:Energy efficient door & window replacements• Pergo/Bamboo/Hardwood flooring• On-Demand Water Heaters• Alterations• Additions• Carports & Garages• Patio CoversEnjoy the Forest — Be Fire SafeMAKE YOUR HOME SAFE FROM FIREWE CAN HELP FIRE ABATE YOUR PROPERTYThe Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council is a Nonprofit Public Corporation formed byresidents of the Hill to protect our communities from wildfire. We are funded by grants anddonations.We currently have programs to financially assist property owners in meeting fire safety codes.We can help you pay the cost of bringing your home into compliance with the 100-footdefensible space law. If you would like help, contact our office at 659-6208.MCFSC PURPOSE• Educate the community on forest health and safety.• Assist government agencies in fire prevention efforts.• Reduce fuel levels through grant programs and volunteer work.

P.O. Box 24854200 Pine CrestFront row from left: Robyn Dry, Carli M. Nicols, Julia Adams, Jo Anna Bloom.Back from left: Bob Waltz, Eric Slemme, Tim Gilbert.Not pictured: Jim Adams, Jeff Adams, Janet Woods, Eddie Plascencia.Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009 - Page 7Which is healthier: carpet or hardwood flooring?By Marshall SmithStaff ReporterAlthough carpet manufacturerswill argue differently,the preponderanceof medical advice indicatesthat wood flooring, ceramictile and even linoleumminimize health concernsfor those with breathingrelatedconditions such asasthma, and reduce likelihoodof allergic reactions.In a Feb. 25, 2009, Mayo-Clinic.com article, clinicallergy specialist James Li,M.D. states that dust mites,which commonly settleinto the weaves of carpets,can act as asthma triggers,and that replacing carpetwith hard flooring surfacessuch as vinyl, tile, or wood“may be a helpful part of anasthma treatment plan.”On the other hand, a 10-year study done in Swedenin the 1970s comparingallergy in carpeted roomsversus those with hardwoodflooring found thatWINDOWS • PAINT • TOOLS • SIGNSLIGHTING • BUG CONTROL • INSULATION • ELECTRICAL NEEDSMon.-Sat. 8 am-5 pmSun. 9 am-1 pmallergy levels went up inthe rooms where carpethad been removed sincethere was nothing to trapthe circulation of dirt, dustand contaminants floatingthrough the air. Thestudy concluded that withprudent and regular deepcleaning, carpet could be ashealthy, if not more so, thanhardwood flooring.SmarterHomes.org.nz,based in New Zealand, acountry long a leader ingreen/sustainable building,recommends scrutiny ofany flooring material usedin a residence. Specificallyrecommended are materialsthat are durable, don’temit volatile organic compounds(VOCs), can be recycled,and are made fromsustainably sourced naturalmaterials or from recycledmaterials.VOCs are chemicalscommonly found in carpets,carpet backings, treatmentsfor stain resistance,carpet glues, vinyl flooring,FORESTLUMBERSince 1949finishes such as polyurethaneand paints, plasticwallpapers, and reconstitutedwood products suchas MDF (medium densityfiberboard) and particleboard.At room temperatures,VOCs become airborneand breathable, andcan have negative healtheffects. Some VOCs haveSUMMER FLOWERS • WINDOW GLASS • PLUMBING • HARDWAREbeen linked to asthma.SmarterHomes recommends,in order to minimizeVOC exposure, usingcarpet backings and padsmade of felt, natural latexor jute; using water-basedor acrylic-based adhesivesfor floor backing; seal anyengineered timbers suchSee Flooring, next pageC. B. CLAYTONMASONRY CONTRACTORLic. #573764Charles B. ClaytonOwner(951) 659-2803P.O. Box 696, Idyllwild, CA 92549Everything you needfor your home oryour 2nd home!659-2609659-9691 FAXLUMBER • SCREEN • DOORS • NAILS

Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009 - Page 9Drought won’t stop deep freezes — protect pipesBy J.P. CrumrineAssistant EditorWith the prolonged wetperiods we’ve had this winter,many people, even somefull-time residents, have experiencedfrozen and possiblyburst pipes. But evenwhen precipitation is notfalling, freezing temperaturesmay create the sameresults. To prevent domesticflooding and alarmingwater bills, the water districtgeneral managers haveseveral recommendationsfor protecting homes andwater systems.The same message wasfirst and foremost on eachmanager’s list. “I’ll echo mycolleagues. Make sure peopleshut water off wheneverthey leave the Hill,” advisedSteve Erler, Fern Valley WaterDistrict general manager.Each manager suggestedthat homeowners inspecttheir water pipes. Eachpipe, especially those exposedto outside air, shouldbe insulated and wrapped.Underground plumbing,if deep enough, shouldbe safe, according to PineCove Water District GeneralManager Jerry Holldber.And Idyllwild WaterDistrict General ManagerTerry Lyons stressed wrappingoutside faucets downto the ground.The inside of the houseshould be inspected, too.With no heat, pipes can stillfreeze during a prolongedtemperature drop. Drainthe pipes and open faucets,especially in the kitchen andbathroom. There is environmentallysafe antifreeze,which could be poured intotraps and toilets beforeleaving, Holldber said.The water heater couldbe vulnerable, Lyons noted.Both the cold and hot waterpipes should be insulated.He also thought attentionshould be given to turningit off, if the house will bevacant for an extended period.“Not only is it wastingenergy, but if a pipe breaksor the tank leaks, it will godry. Then an empty tank isstill being heated and couldbecome a damaged waterheater,” Lyons said.Checking the box wherethe district and the residentialsystems meet isanother recommendation.The valves in the box canbe insulated with sawdustto keep them from freezing,according to Lyons.IWD sent a $4,000 billto a customer whose waterpipes broke a few wintersback.“They used enough waterfor 50 homes,” Lyonsstated.If homeowners do notlive here or visit infrequently,it would be a good ideato have someone check onthe house, Erler suggested.J.P. Crumrine can bereached at jp@towncrier.Subscribe to theIdyllwild TownCrier today!(951) 659-2145com.In case of emergencies, customers maycall the following phone numbers:Fern Valley Water District (951) 659-2200(answering service after hours)Idyllwild Water District (951) 659-2143Pine Cove Water District (951) 659-2675;(951) 294-8282 after business hoursHANDYMANDependable Quality Service• Home Improvement & Repair• Solve Electrical Problems• Hang Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans• Install Extra Outlet Plugs• Fix Leaky Faucets• Small Plumbing Repairs• Tile & Masonry Repair• Repair/Replace Doorknobs“Knowledgeable & Experienced”Lindsay Jerrell Speed(951) 659-3292Also, for general emergency information,go to www.towncrier.com.Chaney’sPlumbing24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICEDRAIN SERVICE ~ LEAKSREPIPES ~ TANKLESS WATER HEATERSREMODELS ~ NEW CONSTRUCTIONVIDEO INSPECTIONSDEPENDABLE & RELIABLE!BONDED AND LICENSEDOWNER: RICK CHANEYLic. # 862139Cell: (951) 534-1006Home: (951) 659-8111Idyllwild Carpet CleaningProfessional Steam Carpetand Furniture CleaningAt Great Rates(951) 303-7887Stan Hardingstanharding6439@hotmail.comRoyalDraperies“WHERE THECUSTOMERIS KING”Since 1978Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pmSat By AppointmentCUSTOM DRAPERIES • SHUTTERS • BLINDSBEDSPREADS • CUSTOM UPHOLSTERYEUROPEAN LACES • SLIP COVERSCALL FOR FREE ESTIMATEOR VISIT OUR SHOWROOM925-02202224 E. FLORIDA AVE. • HEMETFREE ESTIMATESCommercial • ResidentialRentalsP.O. Box 3250Idyllwild, CA 92549

Page 10 - Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009Owners must reduce vegetation around homeBy Becky ClarkNews EditorThe odds a person’shome will be spared ifa wildfire strikes theIdyllwild communities goup dramatically if defensiblespace is around thestructure.To help protect homesand to aid in fire suppression,property owners ofdeveloped and undevelopedprivate land in themountains are required tokeep the amount of wildfirefuel (vegetation) on theirproperties at a minimumyear-round.Specific laws were adoptedso property ownersknow what is required.Fire department personnelinspect properties usuallyin the spring and summer.If a property passesinspection, the propertyowner receives a notice ofcompliance. In Idyllwild,property owners are requiredto make their ownfirst inspection.If property inspectionfails, the property owner receivesa noncompliance noticespecifying what needsto be corrected with abouta month’s time to do so. Onthe second inspection, if theproperty fails again, a noncompliancenotice gives theproperty owner about twoweeks to make corrections.On the third inspection,if the property fails,a CalFire or Idyllwild FireDepartment representativeissues the property ownera citation and the issue isturned over to RiversideCounty Superior Court. InIdyllwild, the fire departmentmay have a contractorabate the property and thenbill the property owner forthe work.To help protect homesand keep people out ofcourts, Riverside CountyFire Protection Ordinance787 and Public ResourcesCode 4291 appear below:Within 0-100 feet ofstructures located on, oradjoining vacant parcels• Limb all established nativetrees, not ornamentals,brush or chaparral, up 1/3of their height or 7 feet,whichever is less.Within 10 feet of structureslocated on, or adjoiningvacant parcels• Clear pine needles,weeds and duff to mineralsoil.• Remove flammablechaparral (like manzanitaand chamise) and deadtrees.• Remove live or deadtree branches within 10 feetof a chimney or stovepipe.• Remove dead or dyingtree branches that touchor overhang a structure.(Idyllwild Fire recommendsthat live branchesfitting this category also beremoved.)Within 10-100 feet ofstructures located on, oradjoining vacantparcels• Remove dead trees.(Riverside County rulesstate a maximum stumpheight of 12 inches.)Clearances10’ zone• Clear pine needles, weeds and duff.• Remove fl ammable chaparral anddead trees.• Remove any tree branches within 10feet of a chimney.• Remove tree branches overhangingstructure.100’ zone or to the property line,whichever is less• Remove dead trees.• Cut dead grass and weeds to groundlevel.• Clear the ground surrounding anydead tree to mineral soil 10 feet in alldirections.• All pine needles, forest litter, weedsand duff should not exceed a depth of2 inches.• Keep the distance between brush andchaparral equal to the width of thewidest adjacent plant. Remove deadnative chaparral plants and dead limbsand twigs from the remaining plants.• Limb all established native trees, notornamentals, brush or chaparral, up1/3 of their height or 7 feet, whicheveris less.• Cut dead grass andweeds to ground level.• All pine needles, forestlitter, weeds and duffshould not exceed a depthof 2 inches.• Keep the distance betweenbrush and chaparralequal to the width of theSee Abatement, next pageFREE GRANT MONEY3’ChimneyHouse10’ zone9’10’100’Ray’s Mobile Welding• Complete Welding• Mig - Arc - HeliarcSpecialist• Aluminum - Steel- Stainless Steel• Equipment Repair- Tractors, Trailers, etc.Ray Cota(951) 763-2343Fire Abatement30 Yrs ExperienceFIREWOODSNOWPLOWINGTree Limbing/RemovalWoodsplitting/Landscaping/HaulingScale: 1/4” = 10’100’ zoneHarding Construction& MaintenanceConstructionNew Build and Remodel7’Lic. #590227~25 Years building experience in Idyllwild~Decks • Painting • RoofingStan~(951) 303-7887 Steve~(951) 659-224321’

Page 12 - Homes & Land Improvement - Spring 2009Flame & Ember Resistant Vents• Patent pending overlapping baffle design compliant with new California Ch7a Building Code• 20 year limited warranty• Safety vents reduce the risk of fire due to direct flame and flying embers• Reduce risk of damage due to wind driven rain or snow• Comparable NFVA to conventional vent designs - independently tested and certified• Complete line of flame & ember resistant ventsFire TestedBrandguard Soffit – Fire ResistantWhich vent do you want on your home or business?Conventional Soffit – Fire EntryFor more information visit www.monierlifetile.comFor purchasing information call Christy Hager at 909.821.2562