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what it's like to live, work and play in the Columbus Ohio Area
Ice Damming Advice
March 7th, 2010
Killer Icicles on Columbus Ohio Building
Record snow storms in February 2010
The four snowstorms in February 2010, dumped a total of 30.1 inches of snow in Columbus Ohio, which broke the previous 100 year record set in 1910 for total snowfall, in the month of February.
The February 2010 record snowstorms, in Columbus Ohio, caused a variety of problems for Central Ohio home owners, especially ice damming. I can’t remember ever seeing so many long icicles hanging from gutters of homes and businesses all around Columbus.
Ice Damming Advice for Columbus Ohio Home Owners from a Home Inspector
Ken Harrington, an ASHI Certified Home Inspector and owner of Kustom Home Inspection, shared the following information on how to properly deal with ice damming, in response to the many calls and emails he received from maintenance employees, real estate agents, real estate brokers, and homeowners wanting to know what to do about the icicles and snow on their roofs. Some home owners are experiencing leaks as a result of the ice damming.
Ken put together a list of Do’s & Don’ts that I hope will give you some guidance on these issues.
Don’t shovel snow off of the roof
First of all, never, ever, ever shovel snow off of your roof. Not only is it dangerous, but it could remove the outer layer, or granules, of the shingles and cause MORE damage than the snow. Don’t worry about the snow-load on your home. Most homes are built to withstand greater loads than what we have now, and that occasional creaking sound is most generally normal expansion and contraction of rafter joists or substrate materials.
Remove icicles from above frequently used doorways
DO remove the icicles from above doorways and areas that are used frequently by family members, but it is best to leave the rest alone. Their removal is not only dangerous, but you could damage the gutters and/or fascia board they are attached to. When water freezes it expands. Knocking the icicles loose could loosen the gutters and allow water to get behind them. During a freeze/thaw cycle it can exert hydrostatic pressure against the gutter system, forcing them away from the wall. When it thaws the water can leak between the gutters and the wall and can seep into the interior of your home through soffits and fascia.
Keep a constant eye out for gutter damage
With all of the weight from the snow and ice atop the gutters, you might experience some damage to the gutters, or they may loosen from the fascia. Be vigilant and keep a close eye on them, and have them repaired at the first sight of damage. When you do experience seepage onto an interior ceiling or wall, check your gutters in the area adjacent to the seepage first, but remember that water can and does travel along substrates before it finally drips.
Check around chimney flashings
The most frequent seepage from ice-damming is from around chimney flashings and other penetration points of the roof. So be sure to keep an eye on the area around that fireplace.
Keep downspouts clear
Gutter leaks and wet basement diagram
Of greater consequence is where the snow and ice goes once it begins to melt. If you have exposed downspout drains, or surface drains, DO keep them clear of snow and obstructions so the water can flow out away from the home.
Keep snow away from heat pump
If you have a heat pump, DO keep the snow banks cleared away from the base of the unit. These need airflow to work properly, and an accumulation of deep snow on and around the appliance can result in needless waste of energy and expensive repair bills.
Remove snow from foundation
If you are physically able, consider removing the snow away from around your foundation. 5 feet is the magic number that should allow enough space between the melting snow & your foundation to allow most of the water to seep into the ground & not against your foundation wall. Snow blowers are worth every penny for this use alone.
Remember safety precautions
Don’t put a ladder on a snowy surface. The ladder could slip and cause serious injuries. Leaks, gutters, and roofs can be repaired, the loss of limbs or life cannot.
Check your sump pump
Basement drainage diagram of a newer home
DO check your sump pump. This little guy gets rid of all the water that seeps below the basement floor from this melting snow. If it is not working your basement could flood. If the sump discharges into the storm drain and the discharge line is tightly connected on the outside, leave it be. If it discharges on top of the grade, DO clear the snow from the area where it drains. This exercise helps prevent the water from freezing at the exhaust point, backing up in the discharge line and freezing and cracking the discharge line.
3 causes of water seeping into basements
The 3 main causes of water seeping into basements most generally are: gutters, grading, and groundwater. We call them the 3G’s. We can see and assess two of the three, and if you do what you can to keep them in proper working order, you will be less likely to experience trouble and will minimize damage caused by them. Attached I have a cut-away view of the typical basement and drainage system of a home, as well as an illustration of one of the causes of damp basements. Hope this helps.
Complete Columbus Ohio home inspection services
If you’re looking for a good home inspector in the Columbus Ohio area, I recommend Ken Harrington of Kustom Home Inspection. They have completed over 3,500 home inspections throughout Central Ohio, are members of the BBB and have won the Super Service Award from Angie’s List.
Kustom Home Inspection is a one stop shop for all your Columbus Ohio home inspection needs. Their home inspection services include: VA, FHA, HUD and bank owned foreclosure homes, licensed termite inspectors, gas line inspections, radon test, septic and well tests.
Feel free to contact Ken if you have any questions.
________________________________________
Ken Harrington, ASHI #212440
Owner Kustom Home Inspection
614-507-1061
kustomhomeinspection.com
Director, Ohio ASHI Board of Directors
V.P. OHASHI, Chairman Education Committee
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture License #90779
Mets Labs Certified Mold Specialist
U.S. FEMA Certification #28824
Ohio Dept of Radon License #RT683
WINNER ANGIE’S LIST SUPER SERVICE AWARD 4 YEARS RUNNING
545 People
March 6th, 2010A friend emailed this story and encourage me to share it with everyone I know because it’s important information that more Americans should be aware of.
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
545 PEOPLE VS 300,000,000 By Charlie Reese
The 545 People Responsible For All of America’s Woes.
Charley Reese.
Stonewall County Courier.
Aspermont, Texas.
September 19, 1985
The TRUTH NEVER gets OLD!!
545 vs. 300,000,000 (Republicans & Democrats Alike - No One Is Blameless)
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall.. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi… She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red ..
If the Army and Marines are in IRAQ, it’s because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems..
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
This might be funny if it weren’t so darned true…
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he’s fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom…’
When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge=2 0Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the hell happened? Can you spell ‘politicians?’
And I still have to ‘press 1′ for English!?
If you agree with the point of that article, then please read Walter Williams’ article “Political Monopoly Power”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/19/political-monopoly-power/
and read the 15 Questions & Answers on Thirty-Thousand.org’s home page:
http://www.thirty-thousand.org
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. Originally titled “The 545 People Responsible For All of America’s Woes. ” it was published in September of 1985. Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
This article was shown to be verified on SNOPES on March 6, 2010. If you agree with this story, please share it with anyone you know will listen to truth. America truly does need to change and it’s time we all wake up from our complacency and do what we can to make a difference.
Reynoldsburg Speeding Ticket
February 24th, 2010Reynoldsburg Ohio Speeding Ticket Experience
I recently got a Reynoldsburg speeding ticket and thought I’d share my experience to help warn others about this Graham Road speed trap.
I was going to meet a client to show homes in Reynoldsburg Ohio and made the mistake of traveling down Graham Road. In case you aren’t familiar with Graham Road, the Reynoldsburg police like to sit in the Church of Christ of Reynoldsburg parking lot and catch people speeding down the road. I’m sure they realize it’s a good spot to catch people speeding as they’re coming from RT 256 going much faster and may not have realized the speed limit slows down quite a bit and those who don’t slow down quick enough, before getting to the church are an easy target.
I didn’t realize this was a speed trap area and I guess this experience has now encouraged me to try to avoid this area or at least if I have to go to that area to be more careful about how fast I’m going. So I guess in that respect, the Reynoldsburg Police may have succeeded, if their main goal is to stop people from speeding.
However, I have been a Columbus Ohio Realtor for 10 years now and this is the first time I have received a speeding ticket, while showing homes. I have also lived in Westerville for about 10 years and have not received a speeding ticket there. Actually the last time I received a speeding ticket was in Portsmouth Ohio about 5 years ago, which if you know anything about Portsmouth, they thrive on giving speeding tickets. So I do try to be careful not to speed, but being human, sometimes we do make mistakes.
Anyway, I started wondering if Reynoldsburg might be like Portsmouth Ohio and decided to do some research, which I found interesting. I received some crime and speeding stats from the Westerville Police Records Department and the Reynoldsburg Police Records Department to compare the number of speeding tickets each community gives.
I was somewhat shocked to learn that the Reynoldsburg Police Department gives out on average, more than twice as many speeding tickets as the Westerville Police Department does each year from 2005-2009 and currently, the Westerville population is slightly larger than Reynoldsburg. Here’s the stats I received:
Reynoldsburg Ohio population approximately: 35,000+
Westerville Ohio population approximately: 38,000+ (According to Westerville’s Facebook page)
2005 Speeding Tickets in Westerville: 1225
2005 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg: 2279
2006 Speeding Tickets in Westerville: 1489
2006 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg: 2363
2007 Speeding Tickets in Westerville: 1250
2007 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg: 3174
2008 Speeding Tickets in Westerville: 1042
2008 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg: 3197
2009 Speeding Tickets in Westerville: 1106
2009 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg: 2403
Does anyone have any idea why the Reynoldsburg Police Department would have a practice of giving out so many speeding tickets? Could it have anything to do with the money speeding tickets generate?
One of the first things clients who aren’t familiar with areas in Central Ohio usually ask me is, how safe is an area. So i’ll post the Reynoldsburg and Westerville crime stats on another day. In the meantime, if you’d like to contact the Reynoldsburg Police Records Department to receive crime stats their number is: 614-866-6622. The Westerville Police Records Department number is: 614-901-6473.
I do know one thing, the property values for homes in Westerville Ohio is much higher than it is in Reynoldsburg. So I’m assuming that means Westerville is able to generate more revenue from property taxes than Reynoldsburg does. We all know the government is going to get their money one way or another. I guess some cities do it through property taxes, others do it through fees and some do it through speeding tickets and other fines.
Here’s a quick comparison of the real estate sales for Westerville and Reynoldsburg:
Reynoldsburg Ohio Real Estate Sales Values 2005-2009
Includes Homes and condos sold in Reynoldsburg Schools in the following zip codes: 43068, 43004, 43213. While there is a trailer park community in Reynoldsburg, those sales have not been included). TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REYNOLDSBURG REAL ESTATE MARKET VISIT: http://www.columbuscastles.com/communities_reynoldsburg
| #SFM Homes Sold | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price | |
| 2005 | 506 | $40,000 | $157,180 | $375,000 |
| 2006 | 447 | $68,000 | $152,108 | $420,000 |
| 2007 | 398 | $45,000 | $150,668 | $444,500 |
| 2008 | 352 | $30,000 | $138,088 | $375,000 |
| 2009 | 321 | $31,900 | $127,914 | $247,900 |
| # of Condos Sold | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price | |
| 2005 | 43 | $46,700 | $130,133 | $500,000 |
| 2006 | 56 | $45,000 | $122,614 | $322,900 |
| 2007 | 52 | $19,000 | $121,044 | $265,165 |
| 2008 | 41 | $54,900 | $149,090 | $305,000 |
| 2009 | 44 | $26,000 | $109,999 | $277,000 |
.
Westerville Ohio Real Estate Sales Values 2005-2009
(Includes homes and condos sold in Westerville Schools within the city of Westerville, Blendon Township, Genoa Township, Annehurst, Little Turtle, Highland Lakes area, 43081 and 43082 zip codes). TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WESTERVILLE REAL ESTATE MARKET VISIT: http://www.columbuscastles.com/communities_westerville
| #SFM Homes Sold | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price | |
| 2005 | 922 | $66,000 | $244,112 | $1,500,000 |
| 2006 | 813 | $85,000 | $243,625 | $1,400,000 |
| 2007 | 742 | $78,000 | $237,203 | $900,000 |
| 2008 | 704 | $19,500 | $237,000 | $1,400,000 |
| 2009 | 662 | $31,000 | $219,000 | $850,000 |
| # of Condos Sold | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price | |
| 2005 | 174 | $44,500 | $152,275 | $345,000 |
| 2006 | 154 | $45,000 | $150,657 | $376,005 |
| 2007 | 148 | $44,900 | $154,862 | $575,675 |
| 2008 | 98 | $42,500 | $167,374 | $557,401 |
| 2009 | 136 | $30,000 | $148,670 | $551,076 |
Reynoldsburg Property Values Are Much Lower Than Westerville
As you can see, Reynoldsburg property values are much lower than Westerville property values. Reynoldsburg has been one of the hardest hit areas, with declining values in the Central Ohio real estate market. I would think the Reynoldsburg Mayor should focus more on how to help the Reynoldsburg real estate market rather than trying to generate revenue through speeding tickets.
While some citizens would prefer to have lower property taxes, lower property values are not always a good thing. I had a couple who wanted to sell their Reynoldsburg home and move to Gahanna this Spring, but it’s not worth what they paid for it back in 2001, so they can’t afford to sell their home now as a result.
The moral of this story? I have no desire to ever live in Reynoldsburg Ohio and since I have better things to do with my money than support the Reynoldsburg City Police, I’ll avoid driving in the Reynoldsburg area and visiting any of their shops, restaurants or Dr. Mohan, the Avian Vet I used to take my African Grey Parrot too. The buyer I was showing homes to the day I received the speeding ticket has decided she’d rather not live in Reynoldsburg, as a result of me getting the speeding ticket. This story may make you think twice about living in Reynoldsburg Ohio too, or at least to be careful when driving down Graham Road.
Do You Know of Any Other Reynoldsburg Speed Traps?
If you know of any other “speed traps” in Reynoldsburg, feel free to CONTACT ME and I can post that information here, so others can be spared from getting a speeding ticket in Reynoldsburg Ohio.
MY REYNOLDSBURG MAYORS COURT EXPERIENCE:
When the Reynoldsburg cop handed me the ticket, he explained that I could just pay the ticket by a certain date or if I wished to contest it, I could show up for the Reynoldsburg Mayors Court on a dated posted on the ticket. A friend encouraged me to go to the Reynoldsburg Mayors Court to see if I might be able to get a break on this speeding ticket. So I figured what do I have to lose?
While I haven’t had many speeding tickets, I have never gotten a break on a speeding ticket before. I was hoping this time I could because in these tough economic times, I certainly have better things to spend my hard earned money on. At the very least, I hoped the Reynoldsburg Mayor’s Court would consider amending the ticket to a no points or non-moving violation so that my car insurance rates won’t go up.
However, what the Reynoldsburg cop who gave me the ticket, failed to tell me is that he was making a note that I was uncooperative or something and that he personally recommended to the Reynoldsburg Mayors Court to not give me any kind of break.
Of course I was upset about the ticket because I didn’t think I was going as fast as his radar thing said and I thought the speed limit was 35. He never once mentioned that the speed limit was actually only 25 - which I didn’t realize until I saw it on the ticket. So yes I was upset and I simply expressed my disagreement with him. I never cussed at him, called him any names, yelled at him or anything like that. As many know these days our government is doing all it can to suppress our freedom of speech. Our government feels we don’t have the right to speak out against them. They believe they are above us, even though we pay their salaries. They don’t respect wee the people and don’t want to listen to us, but they expect us to respect them.
Anyway, since this cop made a note that he felt I was uncooperative or something, it was basically a waste of my time to even go to court. Had I known this I probably wouldn’t have wasted my time, but this detail was hidden from me and didn’t surface until after I waited for over a hour and a half, in the Reynoldsburg Mayors court to talk to one of their prosecutors. Talk about sneaky and deceptive. Ironically, Reynoldsburg Calls their town “The City of Respect.”
I ended up speaking with the Reynoldsburg City Attorney, Jed Hood, who actually said with a straight face that he couldn’t understand why so many people speed on Graham Road. When I heard him say this, it was all I could do to keep a straight face. I told him it was ironic that the Reynoldsburg Police use the Church of Christ of Reynoldsburg parking lot to operate their speed trap because they are using the House of God to give people speeding tickets. That should be a sin or something?
I mentioned to Jed Hood, the Reynoldsburg City Attorney, that I had a charity that I was planning to give money to this month and asked if I could get a break so that I could still give them money, because if I had to pay the $120 ticket - it would take away from what I have left to give to this charity. He said he basically didn’t care because everyone else out there waiting to see a prosecutor has bills to pay too and that is not a good enough reason to give anyone a break. I hadn’t had a ticket in over 5 years and that wasn’t a good enough reason to get a break either. So my hunch is that Reynoldsburg is hurting for money so much, that the revenue they generate from things like speeding tickets is more important to them than encouraging charitable giving.
Olentangy Schools Home With Superb Upgrades
February 19th, 2010If you’re looking for a great deal on Lewis Center Ohio real estate you won’t want to miss this better than new MI home for sale, in the excellent rated Olentangy Schools district.
1030 Sapphire Flame Court, Delaware, Ohio 43015, is a single family home located in the Olentangy Schools District nearby Lewis Center Ohio and the Polaris Mall area. This home is listed for sale at $229,900, way under what the sellers paid.
This better than new MI Bromley multi level home is located on a cul-de-sac lot and features a charming front porch, which is the ideal place to hang out with the friendly neighbors while watching the kids play on the court.
You’ll enjoy the spacious and open layout offering a large customized loft with wood spindles overlooking the 2 story great room which makes a perfect office space or kids play area. Plus you will enjoy staying warm and cozy in the family room by the fireplace. In addition this home features many desirable upgrades including:
- 42 inch bisque white cabinets
- Beautiful hardwood floors
- Neutral ceramic tile floors
- Neutral frieze carpet
- Bisque white woodwork and doors
- Nickel finish lighting and hardware throughout
- Professional landscaping
- Large patio with gas line to make grilling out easier
- Full basement
- 1st floor laundry
- Upgraded black appliances
Cheshire Crossing Kids Go to Olentangy Schools
1030 Sapphire Flame Court is located in the Cheshire Crossing single family homes development and children attend the following Olentangy Schools for the 2009-2010 school year:
Liberty Tree Elementary
Olentangy Hyatts Middle School
Olentangy High School
The newly constructed neighborhood, Cheshire Elementary School will be completed soon and Olentangy Schools elementary students in the Cheshire Crossing area, will attend there in the 2010-2011 school year.
For more details visit the full real estate listing details: 1030 Sapphire Flame Court, Delaware, Ohio 43015 (Lewis Center Ohio Home For Sale in Olentangy Schools with Superb Upgrades)
Feel free to CONTACT Petra Hinterschied, Remax Columbus Ohio Realtor® at 614-746-2115, for more details.
Rascal Unit Spay Day February 23 2010
February 19th, 2010RASCAL UNIT - AFFORDABLE COLUMBUS OHIO VETERINARIAN
If you have a puppy and are looking for affordable veterinarian services in the Columbus Ohio area, you’ll want to take advantage of this extremely low price to spay your puppy.
Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 - Spotlight: Puppies
On February 23, 2010 (National Spay Day) Rascal Charities and Rascal Unit will celebrate by sterilizing 50-60 puppies. We want to educate pet owners about the benefits of early sterilization and the importance of wellness care and training. There are still some surgery appointments available for this event. If you have a puppy or know of someone that has a puppy, have them contact us for more information.
We will be scheduling puppies between 3 and 6 months of age. For a cost of $25 per puppy, we will offer:
- Sterilization surgery
- Deworming and heartworm prevention (Interceptor puppy pack)
- 24 Pet Watch Microchip (includes registration)
- Flea treatment if fleas are noted
- Information on training
Pet owners scheduling at the Rascal Unit office must show proof of financial need (see items 2 & 3 on our guidelines page at http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454050). To check availability, contact us at event@rascalunit.com.
Our sponsors for this event are the Franklin County Dog Shelter, Pets Without Parents, and the Powell Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). More information about this event and links to our sponsors are available at our website http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454051.
Thank you for your continued support. Together we can do our part to fight pet overpopulation in Ohio.
We have used Rascal Unit to have our dog spayed and for routine preventative veterinary care and have found them to be the most affordable veterinary services in Columbus Ohio. They are providing a great service for pet owners in the Columbus Ohio area, with much needed savings in these economic times.
Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 Was A Success
The Rascal Unit and Rascal Charities Sterilized 49 Puppies During Spay Day! On February 23, 2010 both Rascal Unit trucks were full of young dogs presented for surgery. In celebration of National Spay Day, we sterilized 49 puppies at a cost to the owner of $25. The puppies also received an update on vaccines, a dose of heart worm preventive, and a microchip. Our goal was to help spread the word about the importance of early sterilization and proper puppy care.
Creamy White Chicken Chili
February 16th, 2010This extreme winter weather has put me in the mood for soup. I have made so many wonderful soup recipes this winter, but this one has got to be my favorite. It’s so easy and simple, yet so tasty. We have a teenage exchange student from Germany staying with us for the school year and he has quite the appetite. If you have some big eaters in your home, you may want to double this recipe.
Creamy White Chicken Chili
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 ½ tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp oil
2 cans (15 oz) great northern beans, rinsed & drained
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth
2 cans (4 oz) green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup whipping cream
In a large saucepan, sauté chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add the beans, broth, chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream. Serve immediately.
Thanks to my friend Lori for another wonderful recipe!
Westerville Real Estate Deal
January 19th, 2010Spring 2010 Westerville Real Estate Deal
Are you planning to sell your home in Westerville Ohio? Then you’ll want to take advantage of this low, discounted real estate listing commission. As a Westerville resident and experienced REALTOR®, I’m offering to sell your home in Westerville for 1% listing commission, if you buy your next home through me.* If you just need to sell, but don’t plan on buying another home, then I’m offering to sell your home for 2% listing commission.*
The Home Buyer Tax credit requires that the home you purchase must be in contract by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30, 2010. So if you’re planning to sell your home this year, sooner than later would be best, to take advantage of the additional market activity the home buyer tax credit should generate. I’m offering this special low discounted real estate commission for any new Westerville real estate listings, thru June 30, 2010.
If you have a home to sell in Westerville, Call Petra today at 614-895-0496, to take advantage of this amazing low discount commission.
Your Westerville home will be listed for sale on the Columbus MLS, Realtor.com and many other popular real estate listing search websites. Learn more about my extensive marketing plan to sell your home at: Columbuscastles.com/sellers_marketing
Why Am I Offering Such Low Commission to Sell Your Westerville Home?
As a Westerville resident and experienced REALTOR®, my goal is to sell even more homes and condos in the Westerville area. While I sell homes all over Columbus Ohio, the closer to home I work = less time I spend traveling = more time I have to sell more homes. Having lived in Westerville Ohio for over 8 years now, I know and love Westerville. So it’s only natural that I’d love to sell more homes in Westerville.
I understand the challenging real estate market and down economy means less profit for sellers and I’m doing my part to make it more affordable to sell your home in Westerville.
Other REALTORS® may offer reduced or discounted commission to sell your home in Westerville, but they may not have the experience or track record to successfully sell your home. In this challenging real estate market you need an experienced REALTOR®, with the ability to provide comprehensive marketing that works. Learn more about my marketing plan to sell your home: Columbuscastles.com/sellers_marketing
Having sold over $50 Million in real estate all over Central Ohio, you can count on my experience to achieve a successful sale of your home in Westerville too.
Westerville area homes & condos sold by Petra:
5243 Longshadow Drive, Westerville Ohio 43081 (Little Turtle area)
3728 Kellen Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43230 (Strawberry Farms area)
613 Valley Forge Court, Westerville, OH 43081 (Freedom Colony area)
8161 Saybrook Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 (Harvest Wind area)
1011 Autumn Lake Court, Westerville, OH 43081 (Autumn Woods area)
6822 Collingwood Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (Sherbrook area)
703 Mohican Way, Westerville, OH 43081 (Woodlake Colony area)
6469 Scioto Court, Westerville, OH 43082 (Highland Lakes area)
8001 Danbridge Way, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (Eagle Trace area)
462 Burns Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 (County Line Acres)
8099 Dunaway Lane, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (Barrington Estates)
403 Westgreen Lane, Westerville, OH 43082 (Estates at Polaris Condos)
5726 Pinewild Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (Highland Lakes area)
5985 Doral Court, Westerville, OH 43082 (Highland Lakes area)
415 Tottenham Blvd., Westerville, OH 43082 (Walnut Bend)
5971 Mealla Road, Westerville, OH 43081 (Upper Albany West)
5622 Quail Hollow Way, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (Highland Lakes area)
255 Plum Street, Westerville, OH 43081 (Uptown Westerville)
1166 Libbet Place South, Westerville, OH 43081 (Annehurst area)
142 S. Summit Street, Westerville, OH 43081 (Uptown Westerville)
683 Brook Run Court, Westerville, OH 43081 (Brook Run/Innis Woods area)
6569 Oak Shadow Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 (Northpointe)
765 Collingwood Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081 (Springcrest Estates)
6278 Albany Brooke Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081 (New Albany Reserve Condos)
4919 Smoketalk Lane, Westerville, OH 43081 (Little Turtle Condominiums)
5412 Woodville Court, Columbus, Ohio 43230 (Home in Westerville Schools - Blendon Estates area)
3360 Arnett Court, Westerville, Ohio 43081 (Blendon Township/Huber Ridge area)
6365 W. Montford Road, Westerville, OH 43081 (Blendon Township/Huber Ridge area)
3231 Parklane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43231 (Home in Westerville Schools/Parkridge area)
5763 Covington Meadows Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 (Covington Meadows MI Home)
5160 Flintrock, Westerville, Ohio 43081 (The Glade - Little Turtle area)
4606 San Andres Place, Columbus, OH 43230 (Westerville Schools home in Tanager Woods)
5507 Oslo Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081 (Home in Blendon Township - Huber Ridge area)
923 Philadelphia Drive, Westerville, OH 43081 (Carriage Oaks Condos)
3967 Freedom Ridge Court, Gahanna, OH 43230 (Westerville Schools home in Gahanna)
3812 Tanager Drive, Columbus, OH 43230 (Home in Westerville Schools - Tanager Woods area)
966 Dark Shadow Court, Westerville, OH 43081 (Shadow Wood Farms/Innis Woods area)
6030 Poplar Ridge Drive, Westerville, OH 43081 (Grand Reserve at New Albany Crossing Condos)
*Some restrictions apply. Contact Petra Hinterschied, Experienced Realtor and Your Westerville Real Estate Expert with any questions about selling your home. Petra’s exclusive Westerville real estate deal, with amazing low discounted commission to sell your Westerville home applies to homes or condos, in Westerville, Columbus or Olentangy schools with 43081, 43082 and 43230 zip codes.
Easy Pretzel Candy
January 18th, 2010My good friend Lori shared this simple, but yummy and super easy to make pretzel and Rolo candy recipe. I love cooking and even more so, when the recipe is simple and tasty. It’s such an easy recipe to make and yet it looks like some gourmet candy. This is a great combination of sweet and salty flavors with pretzels, caramel and chocolate! Here’s what you’ll need:
Square shaped pretzels (waffle shape)
Rolo (caramel and chocolate candy)
Pecan halves (toasted)
Directions:
Place a Rolo on each pretzel and bake at 250 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on them and take them out when you can tell the chocolate is just soft enough to press the pecan into. The chocolate should appear a bit shiny. Remove the pretzels/Rolos from the oven and gently push a pecan half down on top of each one until the chocolate expands to cover most of the pretzel. Let them cool at room temperature until the chocolate “sets” again. Enjoy!