Hammer Time

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF UTAH COUNTY

January 2015

News DISH ONE, CHICK-FIL-A SPONSORING “BUILDING. HOPE. TOGETHER.” AWARENESS

AND DONATION BLITZ

To start out the New Year with a bang, on January 3, 2015, Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be partnering with DishOne and Chick-fil-A to raise awareness and funds to help us to continue building homes and improving lives this coming year.

Volunteers will meet at the Utah Valley Convention Center at 12:30 p.m. to reg-ister and then a kickoff rally at 1:00 p.m. with Provo Mayor John Curtis and one of Habitat’s partner families. Following the rally, DishOne sales managers will train volunteers how to effectively tell the com-munity about Habitat and its important programs, reflect a positive image of the organization’s mission, and solicit donations. After the brief training, these volun-teers will go door-to-door in the community to imple-ment what they learned. Each donor will be given a thank you gift from DISH and Chick-fil-A for their con-tribution.

After the awareness blitz and fundraiser is complete, volunteers will receive a thank you gift from our sponsors for their efforts. Volunteers are still needed. Additional information and registration details at www.habitatuc.org/volunteer.htm.

STUDENTS TO HONOR DR. KING WITH “DAY ON”

Students from Brigham Young University and Utah Valley Univer-sity will be honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King by helping with Habitat for Humanity of Utah County with a number of projects during the Martin Luther King Day holiday on Monday, January 19, 2015. The student volunteers will be spending their “day off” volunteering their time at a local construction site and at Habitat ReStores in Utah County.

2 HABITAT CELEBRATING NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH

Habitat for Humanity of Utah County is working with the Utah Cancer Action Network, Utah County Health Department, and the Utah Depart-ment of Environmental Quality to bring public awareness about the po-tential health effects of radon and encourage community members to test their homes for the deadly gas during January's National Radon Ac-tion Month. Habitat will be providing information about radon and offering radon test kits for $6.00 at its ReStores in Orem and Spanish Fork. Test kits are also available online at www.habitatuc.org.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Utah and the first leading cause for non-smokers. High levels of indoor radon have been found in many areas of Utah. Because ra-don is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks through the breakdown of uranium, testing is

the only way to know the radon level in a home. If test results are 4.0 Pico liters or above, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the homeowners install a radon mitigation system. A list of certified mitiga-tors is available at the Utah County Health Department in Provo.

Additionally, Habitat for Humanity of Utah County currently builds all of its new homes Radon Resistant and installs mitigation systems in all renova-tion homes.

For further questions regarding radon, contact Andrea Jensen at 801-851-7509 or at Andrea AndreaJ@utahcounty.gov. You can also visit the DEQ website, at www.radon.utah.gov.

What’s Up

• Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to de-junk your home? Let Habitat help you! Bring leftover building material and paint to one of the Utah Valley Habitat ReStores and receive a tax donation. Loca-tions and hours at www.habitatuc.org/restore.htm.

• Sponsor a birdhouse and help us build a new home with a family in need in Spanish Fork! The Spanish Fork ReStore has a number of birdhouses available for sponsorship for $100.00. Each bird-house represents one of the 57 homes the local Habitat affiliate has built or renovated in Utah County in the last 23 years and will be hung throughout the ReStore for one year. The birdhouses will include a plaque with the sponsor’s name and will be given to the sponsor after the year is over. Proceeds will benefit a future Habitat home to be built with the Simpson family in Spanish Fork. Contact Mikeal at the Spanish Fork ReStore for more details at (801) 344-8527.

• Recycle all those aluminum cans from your New Year’s parties and help provide safe and affordable homeownership for families in need. Recycle with Habitat today! Details and drop off locations at www.habitatuc.org/recycle.htm.

• To make energy more affordable for families who need it most, One World Solar installs solar panels for low income families including Habitat for Humanity-built homes in our service areas. We bring together community partners, volunteers and job trainees to implement solar power and energy efficiency for fami-lies, providing energy cost savings, valuable hands-on experience, and a source of clean local energy that benefits us all. To request an application for the Solar House - Affordable Renewable Energy pro-gram, which provides families a long-term solution to reverse high energy bills, email One World Solar at info@1WorldSolar.org.

• Go grocery shopping and help provide safe and affordable housing for families in need in our commu-nity! Sign up for Smith’s Community Rewards Program at www.smithscommunityrewards.com, link your account/card with Habitat for Humanity of Utah County (#48773) and then go shopping at your local Smith’s Grocery Store. Smith’s will then provide a financial contribution to the local Habitat affiliate.

• Check out Habitat’s FUNSAVER Site! Habitat for Humanity has partnered with VP Deals to get all the latest bargains on local products/venues. Check out this week’s FUNSAVER specials at http://www.habitatucdeals.info/"deals.info. A portion of your “fun” purchases will help Habitat further its housing mission in the community.

PHOTO GALLERY 3 3

Habitat's Very Own Santa! Spanish Fork Re-Store employee, Scotty White, transformed into the jolly old elf himself and welcomed children and children at heart at the South County Re-Store during the holiday season.

Milestone Reached! Long time Habitat homeowner, Eileen Reilly, recently paid off her mortgage for her home, located at 2718 West 1060 North, in Provo. Reilly has lived in her Habitat home for 20 years and is the first Utah Valley Habitat homeowner to pay off her mortgage at the end of the mortgage term. Habitat current and former Board of Directors, staff, and others honored Reilly in Decem-ber with a small ceremony at her home. She was presented with her paid in full trust deed!

Wrapped Up! Habitat for Humanity of Utah County sponsored the “It’s A Wrap” gift wrap booth again this year at the Provo Towne Centre this holiday season. Volunteers wrapped gifts for and sold See’s Candy to mall shoppers the last few days before Christmas. They even wrapped a large kid’s car! It was a crazy busy year and the local Habitat was able to raise a couple of thousand dollars for homes currently being built in Orem with the Aleman and Fisiipeau families.

RESTORED George Taylor, Jr. Restoration

4 4

Beautiful Transom Window Donated to Blair Family - 76 year old artist, Joyce Fawcett, re-cently made and donated a beautiful art glass transom window for the George Taylor, Jr. home in Provo. The amazing window will go above the front door and was made using some of the original glass from the old upstairs windows. Fawcett and her daughter, Terry Olsen, presented it to new homeowner, MaryKae Blair, a couple of days before Christmas.

CREW LEADERS AND SITE HOSTS

NEEDED TO HELP GUIDE CONSTRUCTION

Volunteers with construction experience or those wanting to improve their construction skills are be-ing sought to participate in the affiliate's Crew Leader and Site Host Programs. Orientations are monthly. The next orientation will be on at the Habitat office in Orem on January 10th. For infor-mation, contact LeAnn at the number or email be-

Volunteer Op

portunities

For more information, look online at www.habitatuc.org or contact LeAnn at (801) 368-2250 or leann@habitatuc.org. You can also sign up online at www.habitatuc.org/volunteer.htm.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO SERVE

ON COMMITTEES

Volunteers are needed to serve on all of Habitat’s local committees. Monthly meetings, limited time commitment, no experience necessary, varying interests and skills. For more information, contact LeAnn Hillam at (801) 368-2250 or leann@habitatuc.org.

Home Maintenance Classes

“Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow.”“Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow.”“Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow.”“Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow.”

Check out Habitat & Community Action’s Free Home Maintenance Course. The next class will be Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. The topics are: Window and Door Insulation and Home Decorating. Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held at the Habitat office at 340 South Orem Blvd., Orem.

At HOME DEPOT – Registration is necessary. Call store or register online. Look online for the January clinic schedule at www.homedepot.com.

At LOWE'S - you must sign up for How-To Clinics by calling 229-1485 or stopping by their store at 140 West University Parkway in Orem. Look online for January clinic schedule at www.lowes.com.

At CENTRAL UTAH GARDENS – Registration is necessary. Look online for upcoming classes at www.centralutahgardens.org/classes_events_concerts.aspx

Home Maintenance Tips 5 5 (www.realtor.com)

RESOURCES

Community Action Services offers Home Buyer Education Classes on a monthly basis. Classes in-January will be held January 7th and 8th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and January 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To register, please call (801) 691-5200 or go online to www.communityactionuc.org.

The Family Support and Treatment Center is offering a 12 week in-home “Love, Limits, and Latitude” parenting class. For more information, call (801) 709-4342 or (801) 229-1181.

Have your taxes prepared for free! VITA is United Way of Utah County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assis-tance program. Anyone in Utah, Summit or Wasatch Counties with an income of $51,000 or below may be eligible to have their taxes prepared and filed for free by one of our trained volunteers. Appointments are necessary and fill up quickly, please schedule as early as possible. Starting January 17 through April 15, dial 2-1-1 to make an appointment or to find out more information about VITA. Tax preparation sites are throughout Utah County.

HOUSEHOLD HINT (www.kidspot.com.au)

Handy hint 2 - flexible vacuum To suck up hard-to-reach gunk under your fridge, or behind a bookshelf, insert an empty paper towel roll into the end of your vacuum cleaner and bend, or flat-ten it, to squeeze into these difficult spots.

Benefits of Homeownership

“Homeownership fosters safety and stability and helps to enhance a family’s eco-nomic activity.”

Goals for the New Year

The Insurance Information Institute, the American Society of Home Inspectors, Homestore.com, HometimePro-ject.com, the National Association of Home Builders, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Freddie Mac and the U.S. Homebuyer Education Center offer a host of maintenance tips - tips that you should resolve to adopt wholeheartedly in the year ahead.

• Water. Check visible water pipes and sewer lines for cracks, rusting and leaking; turn on faucets to test wa-ter pressure and volume; and look for clogged or sluggish drains or dripping faucets. If pipes are galvanized or steel and the house is old, be sure to check carefully along the entire length of the pipe. Wrap your pipes with heating tape every winter and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages if they contain exposed pipes. Also check for signs of leaking or rusting on your water heater.

• Electricity. Check your electrical system's load center and see if there are fuses or circuit breakers; also check its age and look for signs of wear or exposed wires.

• Heat. Check your heating system for gas leaks and cracks in the heat exchanger. Maintain your furnace, fireplace, boiler, water heater, space heater and wood-burning stove and have your heating system serviced every year. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns.

• Gas. Check smoke and fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and change your heating and air condi-tioning filters. Have your appliances inspected for gas leaks and adequate ventilation.

• Insulation. Your attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than outside air. Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors and replace or repair it as needed. Also repair broken glass and loose or missing putty on windows.

• Basement/Attic. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will protect your pipes from freezing. Check the basement for signs of water leaking, dampness, flooding, dry rot and termites. Check the attic for signs of leaks and any rodent or insect infestation.

• Exterior. Remove all debris from gutters. Maintain your steps and handrails. Inspect your roof for damaged or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially at the joints, caps and washes). Inspect your home's exterior walls, looking for possible weather-related damage like cracks and loose or crumbling mortar.

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SAVINGS TIP 6 6 (www.daveramsey.com)

The Number One Budget-Saving Tip for the New Year

This is it! This the year you finally take charge of your money and get out of debt! Congratulations on your com-mitment to give it your all to reach your goal!

You’ve probably already pinpointed some of the sacrifices you’ll need to make to become debt-free. But have you also thought about ways to save money without sacrificing?

One of the most effective ways to save money throughout the year is to cut your insurance bill. And it’s much eas-ier than you might think.

Once you start checking into ways to save on insurance, you’ll see that one of the top tips is to shop around for the best rates. That’s great advice, but we’ve found that it falls a little short. The best way to get a great deal on insurance is to work with an independent insurance agent who can comparison shop for you.

Independent agents aren’t tied to a single insurance company, so they can price and compare coverage from several companies. That’s why they’re able to find such great deals. Call an independent agent today and start saving!

SAFETY TIP (www.fnal.gov)

According to the National Safety Council, one out of four vehicle accidents can be blamed on poor backing tech-niques. Backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries per year in the United States. Here are a few safe vehicle backing tips to help prevent accidents on and off the job.

• Get to know a vehicle's blind spots. In a medium-size truck, blind spots can extend tens of feet in front of and behind the vehicle. Mirrors can never give the whole picture while backing.

• Park defensively. Drivers should choose easy-exit parking spaces that don't crowd neighboring vehicles, parking their vehicle in the center of the parking space if possible.

• Do a 360-degree walk-around. Walking around a vehicle gives the driver a first-hand view of the backing area and any limitations. Check for children, soft or muddy areas, potholes, tire hazards, light poles, wires, low-hanging tree branches and other dangers.

• Every backing situation is new and different. Even though a driver might visit the same location several times a day, he or she should be especially careful in these cases, looking for changes and any new obsta-cles at every visit.

• Use a spotter. A driver should use another person to help when visibility is vastly limited. The spotter should not walk backwards while giving instructions. Instead, the spotter should always walk forward, turn around, then give the proper hand signal.

• Avoid distractions. Talking on a cell phone is never a safe option while driving, and this is especially true when backing. Backing requires the full attention and skill of the driver.

• Back up slowly. Take time to check mirrors and give any initially unseen pedestrian time to move away. Rushing to park in a space or reverse direction only increases your risk of overlooking dangers. Patience saves lives.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t

walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving

forward.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

HEALTH TIP (www.webmd.com)

7 7

5 Diet Resolutions for New Year

Why overhaul your diet in a day when you can take small steps over time - and still reach your diet goals!

Are you making bold resolutions on January 1 to "eat right" -- whatever that means? Stop trying to overhaul your entire diet in a day! Resolve to think small and you can reach any diet goal -- one focused step at a time. Why not start with these simple tips?

New Year's Diet Resolution No. 1: Go Slow Resolving to get more fiber in your diet this year? Maybe more fish or fresh fruit? Any diet change is easier if you take slow, small steps. For example:

• Vow to add a piece of produce to your brown bag lunch daily.

• Designate a day as fish day.

• Package up a single serving of your favorite whole-grain cereal, then treat it as your midmorning snack.

New Year's Diet Resolution No 2: Water, Water, Everywhere Water: It's cheap, fat-free, and gives your body a quenching boost. Find the idea of eight cups a day daunting? Think small:

• Drink one glass first thing in the morning, before you brush your teeth.

• Tempted by more soda? Another glass of wine? Drink a cup of water with a splash of your favorite beverage in it first.

• Resolve to drink one more cup of water today than you had yesterday.

New Year's Diet Resolution No. 3: Go for the Gold ... and Red ... and Purple Colorful produce is packed with disease-fighting plant compounds, so when you shop, reach for a rainbow.

• Designate a color-a-day. Maybe Mondays are yellow, with grapefruit, golden apples, or corn starring in meals, while Tuesdays are purple with plum and eggplant.

• Get the kids involved and go for a theme: Build a green pizza with emerald bell peppers and artichokes, or a red produce-infused chili.

• Vary the rainbow -- pick up a new-to-you fruit or veggie the next time you shop.

New Year's Diet Resolution No 4: Tackle Mindless Munching You're chatting with friends around the dinner table or watching a DVD -- and you just keep nibbling. Try these tips to reign in the munchies:

• Pop a stick of gum or a sugar-free mint in your mouth.

• Brush or floss your teeth.

• Pay attention -- look at each piece of food you plan to eat.

• Busy your hands with a glass of water, a cup of tea, or cleaning off the table.

“May this new year all your dreams turn into reality and all your

efforts into great achievements.”

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#GivingTuesday Donors “It’s a Wrap” Volunteers Annual Letter Donors April and Audrey Crossley Bob Tandler Brad Simons Broomhead Family BYU Bradley PR BYU Habitat for Humanity Chapter Community Action Services and Food Bank Dale Wilkerson Dave Luego

Jennifer Hatfield and family

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Thank You Provo Towne Centre

Eileen Reilly, Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation

8 New Year's Diet Resolution No 5: Stack the Odds in Your Favor Don't forget to help yourself succeed, and to reach out for help when you need it.

• Buddy up with a friend or family member with diet and www.webmd.com/diet/old-diet-toc"lossresolutions. Then share your ideas, plans, and successes regularly.

• Leave the temptations -- ice cream, chips, soda -- at the grocery store. Promise yourself you'll cater to crav-ings only outside the home, in one-serving portions.

• Socialize with non-food events. Get your friends together in the park, for a hike, or at the movies.

Eileen Reilly Habitat ReStore Committee IM Flash Irene Hansen Jimmie Smith John Noorda Joyce Fawcett Keith Payne Kenneth and Hailey Masteller Kenny Seng Construction Kym Wilson Mary Kae Blair Provo Towne Centre Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation

Scotty White

MacIntyre Family MaryKae Blair Mayor John Curtis MityLite TD Ameritrade Temkin International Terry Ann Olsen United Way of Utah County Utah County Association of REALTORS Utah Valley Home Builders Association

UVU Wolverine PR

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1-NEW

YEAR’S Day

2 3—Building.

Hope. Together. Blitz

4 5 6—Building

Committee 7 8—Site

Selection —Family Part-nership

9—Executive/Finance

10

11 12-ReStore- -Development Services -Neighborhood Revitalization

13 14 15 16 17

18 19-Martin Luther King

Day --“A Day On” Service Project

20 21—Board

Meeting 22 23 24

25 26 27 28—Home

Maintenance 29 30 31

Of Utah County

9

Sun

NEW YEAR’S

EVE

9

Building. Hope. Together. Blitz January 3, 2015 12:30 p.m. Utah Valley Convention Center

Building Committee January 6, 2015 2:00 p.m. Central Bank

Site Selection January 8, 2015 Noon Orem Office

Family Partnership January 8, 2015 6:30 p.m. Orem Office

Executive/Finance January 9, 2015 7:30 a.m. Orem Office

ReStore January 12, 2015 10:00 a.m. Orem Office

Development Services January 12, 2015 Noon Orem Office

-Neighborhood Revitalization January 12, 2015 3:00 p.m. Orem Office

Martin Luther King Day January 19, 2015 Office and ReStores Closed

“A Day On” Service Project January 19, 2015

Board Meeting January 21, 2015 8:00 a.m. Orem Office

Home Maintenance January 28, 2015 6:30 p.m. Orem Office