Forest Lumber's colorful history - Idyllwild Town Crier

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Page 14 - Idyllwild Town Crier, Home Improvement 2008Home improvement Q&AContinued from previous pagebetween each. If you have a fireplace, open thedamper in winter to allow a free exchange of air.And, until the problem is resolved, keep runningyour dehumidifier and open two or three windowsin the house — just a crack — to allow moremoisture to escape.Since your home is only three years old andthe excess moisture presents a serious mold risk,resolving the problem and repairing any damagemay be covered by warranty or insurance. Reviewoptions with your insurance representative.Some jobs best leftto a professionalQ:As a new homeowner, I’m interested in fixing asmany things myself as possible. Are there someitems that I would be better served by calling aprofessional to fix?A:Base your decision on whether to callin a professional on both the level ofyour home-repair skill and the timeAsk the ExpertPaid AdvertisingREMODELING ON ABUDGETIf you’re interested in makingchanges, but can’t afford bigones, these are some tips onremodeling on a budget.Fresh Paint: A fresh coat ofpaint and a new color can give aroom a whole new look. Whenchoosing a paint color, keepin mind the mood you want to create and the roomsize. Dark, warm colors will make a room feel cozy, butsmaller. Light colors will make a room feel larger andcooler.Accessories: Updating or changing accessories givesa newer look to a room. Sometimes just moving thingsaround gives a feeling of energy to a room. You canmove wall pictures and group like ones, or put awaysome of your accessories so others stand out. A few newthrow pillows on a sofa can give a fresh feeling.Furniture: Rearranging furniture can give a room anew look by creating space around the furniture. Keepin mind that open space can make a room feel larger.Lighting: Lighting can make a huge statement in anotherwise dark room. Focus on not only general lighting,but also task lighting and accent lighting. Both typesare easily affordable. Accent lighting can be achievedby using rope lighting above or below cabinetry, forexample.Last but not least, don’t forget needed repairs. Brokentiles or damaged walls, for example, can be an eyesore.Call now for consultation.JULEE AUSTIN, AKBD, INTERIOR DESIGNERCUSTOM KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGNERAUSTIN TILE AND INTERIORS, INCPH: 951-659-4959; EMAIL: CJ.AUSTIN2@VERIZON.NETavailable to handle a repair. Some items are alsomore dangerous or dirty than usual — like electricalor plumbing repairs. If at any time you feel arepair can’t be done in a timely or safe manner,call in a professional.Almost without exception, some large-scale jobsshould be left entirely to repair and maintenancepros. These include major repairs (like replacing aroof or siding) and installation of gas appliances.Most homeowners also hire contractors for grimy,time-consuming jobs like cleaning the drain-wasteventstack and other large drains, cleaning thechimney and emptying the septic tank. Pest controland removal also are best left to the pros.There are still quite a few items to take careof around the house, and they will take plentyof time to complete on your own. Here are justa few:• Minor plumbing problems — like pluggeddrains, clogged toilets and leaky faucets.• Painting and wallpapering, patching drywallholes and covering blemishes.• Patching carpet, dealing with squeaky floorboards,replacing underlayment, and installingtile, laminate or vinyl flooring.• Installing small appliances, like garbage disposals.Chaney’sPlumbing24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICEDRAIN SERVICE ~ LEAKSREPIPES ~ TANKLESS WATER HEATERSREMODELS ~ NEW CONSTRUCTIONDEPENDABLE & RELIABLE!BONDED AND LICENSEDOWNER: RICK CHANEYLic. # 862139Cell: (951) 534-1006Home: (951) 659-8111• Maintaining the furnace and air conditioner,dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, electronicsand yard-care equipment.• Repairing or refinishing furniture.These are, of course, in addition to the regulartasks of cleaning house, mowing the lawn, feedingpets and so on.Completing the above items yourself can savequite a bit of money, and you’ll get a feeling ofpride and ownership that hiring a contractor can’tgive you. However, always be aware of just howmuch you can really do. If you don’t feel confidentdoing a repair or installation, or the amount oftime needed to complete a job stresses you out,go ahead and hire a professional.Top ten tips tolower home energy costsIf You ... You Can Save ...• Weather-strip and caulk 10-20 percentdoors and windows• Lower thermostat setting 3 percent per degreeduring winter• Change incandescent Up to 75 percent perlightbulb to compact bulbflourescent bulb• Lower water heater from 10-15 percent140 to 120 degrees• Close vents in unused 3 percent per roomrooms• Use microwave instead 40 percent or moreof regular oven• Lower thermostat from 10-20 percent58 to 55 degrees duringwinter vacations• Replace 15-year-old 40 percent or morerefrigerator• Install programmable 10-20 percentthermostat, set at 58degreees 10 hours a dayduring winter• Service heating system/ 10-15 percentclean filters monthlyUnless otherwise noted, the range of savings estimatesis for one year, based on 2001 average utilitycoststs. Source: Edison Electric Institute www.eei.orgRESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALCONSTRUCTION & RESTORATION30 YEARS EXPERIENCECALIFORNIA LICENSE# B679058ARIZONA LICENSE# ROC218167951-659-8812CELL: 951-966-8316FAX: 951-659-8712
Idyllwild Town Crier, Home Improvement 2008 - Page 15The Tree WhispererErnie Alé hears a great deal when he listens to the trees. By L.K. JohnsonWe’ve heard of “The Horse Whisperer”and “The Dog Whisperer,”but very few of us have heard ofThe Tree Whisperer. Ernie Alé, 45, a residentof Idyllwild for 15 years and a rock climberhere for 30 years, whispers to the trees. Notonly that, Alé says the trees whisper back, ifyou take the time to listen.Listening and observing what happensin our forest is the most important issue,according to Alé, if we are to save, recoverand sustain our green friends.Some of his ideas are particularly interestingto the homeowner with trees on hisproperty, especially Alé’s ideas regardingforest abatement.Alé has had a special relationship with the forest allhis life. As a kid, he would gather dead wood from theforest floor and build tree houses, some of them threestories high. As he did, he realized the benefits of recyclingthe dead wood.He also began to sense the need of the trees forsomeone to speak for them and teach the rest of ushow to maintain a healthy forest.As a side note, he developed construction skills, andas an adult he worked for a long time as a contractorin Newport Beach.His current purpose and ultimate goal is to identifyand utilize the dead and dying wood that would otherwisebe ground up and dumped, to make furniture orbuildings, or to use as fuel.As an arborist, he has taught a vast number of peoplewho are directly connected with the management oftrees on their property, and those who manage forestsfor governmental agencies.As an example of the waste that can be recovered, hepoints out that a dead manzanita bush, whose branchestake on all kinds of weird and interesting shapes, can beused for unique furniture, as well as long and hot-burningfirewood. Alé designs and builds this type of furnitureas an opportunity to express his talent for creating artfrom something that would otherwise be wasted.He says when a manzanita dies, just prior to its death,the energy stored in the tree flows back into the ground,nourishing and preparing it for new life to grow andflourish. By careful pruning of trees we can give theearth a returned benefit that would not be there hadErnie Aléthe tree simply been left to die. He sayspeople need to be more concerned withthe earth if it, and we, are to survive.While clearing the forest floor of treeand plant debris is a vital undertaking, itis only a short-term remedy. The canopyof the forest needs to be lifted, and theonly way to do that is to prune the lowerbranches of the trees to a level of 15 to20 feet. The system we now use must berepeated every five years or so to keep theforest floor clear. A pruning system wouldeliminate the need to clear the floor, andkeep the trees healthy so that their brancheswould not be shed continually in an effortfor the trees to stay strong and healthy.Many environmentalists are available to do this typeof pruning, and once done, it wouldn’t be needed againfor 20 years or more.Alé says we need better management of the fundsprovided for our present system. Money spent for helicoptersto lift downed trees from the forest should beused to recover the lumber from the forest and recycleit into viable projects. He says county supervisors andstate legislators are excellent starting points for lettercampaigns to bring this issue to light.Forests also provide homes for wildlife, another factorin a healthy ecological balance. Golden eagles use theTwin Pines and Poppet Flat area to build their nestsand raise their young.These birds serve a vital function in the lower areasof the San Jacinto mountain range. Much of their preyare small rodents, which devour plant life. However, onlya few of these magnificant birds exist.Mistletoe is another enemy of the tree. We see hugeclumps of the plant hanging in dead trees that the planthas killed. The mistletoe saps the life from the tree asthe plant flouishes. When mistletoe sheds its leaves orberries, it excretes tiny spots of sticky substances thatensure its attachment to another healthy host tree.Mistletoe has many uses, including several that aremedicinal. Alé suggests harvesting this plant before itkills its host, and marketing it would be a good way tokeep the forest healthy.When Alé owned his contracting business, Naked EdgeLumber Co., he harvested sustainable wood that wouldotherwise have been used for burning fuel, or ground upinto chips. His idea of recycling the wood made senseto him and others who used his system. The pruningsystem he wishes forest managers would undertake isbest done in the fall and early winter months; Septemberthrough January. Cutting one or two courses of branchesfrom the trees will result in raising the canopy of theforest. By doing so, the forest may remain unharmedand sustain itself if a fire were to burn along the floorof the forest.The Tree Whisperer looks forward to a future in whichmankind and governmental management will agree ontending the forest much as a farmer or curator.Trees produce oxygen and clean the air of carbondioxide. These two benefits alone are reason enough touse greater care in maintaining our forest.Next time you’re out walking or hiking in the forest,give a whisper to the trees and tell them you appreciatetheir existence. Chances are you may hear an answer ofthanks, if you listen well enough.In addition to whispering to trees, Ernie Alé regularlyplays classical music on his guitar at Café Aroma. Healso can be reached at his Web site,www.thetreewhisperer.orgSANDLIN & SON RENTS25600 FERN VALLEY ROADPlease call to check availability of equipment.659-3528• Air Compressors• Small Tools• Ladders• Sand Blasters• Paint Sprayers• Trenchers • Tillers• Electric Jack Hammers• Mini Excavator• Pressure Washers• Carpet CleanersL D SWANSONROOFINGIDYLLWILD, CA54141 Pine Crest Ave.951-659-5267“Professional Repairsand Re-roofing”Lance Swanson • 30 Years Experience • Lic.# 730802Serving Idyllwild Since 1996
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Forest Lumber's colorful history - Idyllwild Town Crier

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