Interior Home Design Trends for 2016: Colored Stainless Steel and more

Here are some things Houzz.com says you can expect to see in homes being renovated in 2016. Some of them are in use already.  Big on the list is - colored stainless steel appliances.  Colors vary but black is sure to be popular along with bronze, slate, and white.  Or if you are tired of stainless steel altogether, scroll down for kitchens with color!

25 Design Trends Coming to Homes Near You in 2016

So Over Stainless in the Kitchen?
14 Reasons to Give In to Color

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Red Flags for Home Buyers

Home buying is an exciting time and can be stressful too. Buyers should always be looking for potential problems with a property. Home inspections are critical for revealing issues in a property and may save buyers a significant amount of money and frustration down the road.  A few things to look for:

• Questionable renovations. A homeowner may attempt to boost the value of their properties, by adding on rooms or removing walls in order to create a more open floor plan. If the renovation is done without the proper expertise, structural issues could result. Check the permits in the public records.
• Strong fragrances.  If overwhelming aromas of potpourri or air fresheners linger in a home, they may be looking to conceal odors.
• Water stains or peeling paint. Water stains on the walls or ceilings may indicate leaks or mildew, while paint that is fresh only in certain spots may signal that the homeowner is attempting to mask problems.
• Poorly maintained gutters. If gutters are clogged with debris, leaks will result and may cause a multitude of problems, including mold growth and damage to the home’s foundation or exterior walls.
  
• Roof problems. Roof repairs or replacements may be very expensive. Look for loose material and worn, damaged, or missing shingles.
• Aging appliances or HVAC systems. If a home’s major appliances show signs of age, they may soon require costly repairs or replacements.
• Damage to the foundation. If the walls of a home appear curved or uneven or there are noticeable cracks or bulges in the foundation, the home may be suffering from structural issues.

Deciding whether to purchase a home is a process of weighing the pros and cons of each property. While none of the above signs should necessarily be viewed as a deal-breaker, they clearly indicate the need for further investigation. Buyers should have a professional inspection. Source: wiseagent.com

Sunrise in Baker Park

Sunrise in Baker Park, Frederick Maryland. Glorious morning light!

 

 

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Frederick County

Many residents got hit with damage from the massive rain storm a few months ago. It flooded many basements, garages, backyards and more.  Frederick County just put out this announcement about SBA loans for recovery.

The Frederick County Division of Emergency Management would like to inform citizens that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the opening of the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Frederick County.  The center opened December 10, 2015, at The City of Frederick – Department of Public Works, 111 Airport Drive, Room 4, Frederick, Md., to issue loan applications and answer questions about the loan program. This is a temporary location, so residents are encouraged to visit the center by Thursday, Dec. 17. Loan applications can also be down loaded at www.sba.gov/disaster

For more information, please see the attached release and documents. Individuals and businesses may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  If you have any questions, please contact the Frederick County Department of Emergency Preparedness at 301-600-1746.

Artist Christina Lund at The Artists Gallery December 2015

Artist Christina Lund has an exhibit at The Artists Gallery in downtown Frederick this month. The exhibit is entitled "In and Out" and she has kindly agreed to allow me to post a couple of photos of her work. There will be a talk on Dec 12th at 7 pm.   Christine is a long time resident of Frederick (since 1977), a former public school art teacher, now retired, and a member of The Artists' Gallery since 2007. She has also shown her work at the Catepetl Gallery and had exhibits at the Delaplaine and Stone Manor in Harper's Ferry.
 
The Artists Gallery is located at 216 N Market Street, Frederick MD 21701.
Phone: 301-696-8187.  Hours Friday and Saturday Noon - 9 pm, and Sunday Noon - 5 pm.   Locate the gallery.  See more of Christina's work at christinalund.artspan.com  To learn more about Christina, go to the Artists Gallery page:  http://www.theartistsgalleryfrederick.com/

Rainy Morning on Fifth Street - Christina Lund

The Gap from Kiparoo - Christina Lund

Three Trees at Kiparoo - Christina Lund

The Mystical Face of Baker Park

Baker Park is a busy recreational area in Frederick MD once the day gets started, but it has other faces as well. The mornings allow for meditative walks that give you time for listening to the birds, getting a little exercise and getting ready to start the day. This morning, a delightful fog rolled in around town which made Baker Park seem almost mystical. It was easy to forget that the park is in the middle of a thriving town in the foggy landscape.  Baker Park is not Yosemite, but when it comes to magnificent trees and beautiful views, Baker Park has enough to keep your interest. 
Darcy Richards

 

 

Upcoming Events Downtown Frederick December 2015

For more details about these upcoming events, and others this month, go to the websites for the Downtown Frederick Partnership, Celebrate Frederick, or the Tourism calendar.

• Holiday Art Competition Dec 2  • 5:30 – 7:00 PM
• Scents & Sweets Competition and Auction – Dec 3 • 5:30 – 7:00 PM, William Talley Recreation Center, 121 N. Bentz St
• First Saturday Holiday Open House Dec 5 • 3:00 – 9:00 PM
• Christkindlmarkt  Dec 5 • 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM,  Evangelical Lutheran Church 35 E Church St.
• Holiday Magic at Rose Hill Manor Park - Dec 5
• Candlelight House Tour Dec 5 • 5:00 – 9:00 PM; AND Dec 6 • 12:00 – 4:00 PM, Tickets required
• Kris Kringle Procession Dec 11 • 6:30 – 7:30 PM Downtown
• Museums By Candlelight Dec 12 • 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM  Start at the Frederick Visitor Center 151 S East St.
• Festival of Lights Dec 18 • 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM  City Hall
•  Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Workshop, Dec 28,  4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• First Saturday – Wine Down, Jan 2,  3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

eNews from the City of Frederick December 2015: Regional Park Questionnaire, Newel Post, Bicycle Friendly Community, Weinberg, Tree Donors

Greetings. Here is the December 2015 eNews from the City of Frederick. This newsletter is packed full of useful information!   It is re-posted here by permission. If you have any questions or suggestions, direct them to Susan Harding, the city's Public Information Coordinator, and author of the newsletter: susan@cityoffrederick.com. The topics for this month's newsletter are shown below and the articles follow. See the e-Newsletter archives for other issues.  ~ Darcy Richards 

Contents

• Westside Regional Park Feasibility Questionnaire - We want to hear from you!
• Talk to the Mayor Tuesday - December 22nd from 2-6 pm
• Frederick Community Action Agency - Helping People - Changing Lives
• The Newel Post - Fall/Winter Edition
• Gold Leaf Award - Outstanding Landscape Beautification Project
• City Thanks Tree Donors - City Hall & 7th Street Fountain
• Re-Designated a Bronze Level - Bicycle Friendly Community
• Productions by The City of Frederick - Audio Visual Department
• Weinberg Center for the Arts - December Lineup
• The Frederick Police Department
• Solid Waste Management Forums - Looking for Citizen Input
• Alert Frederick County - Emergency Notification System
• Employment Opportunities

Sign-Up Today! In This Issue Westside Regional Park Study Talk to the Mayor Tuesday Home Energy Assistance Programs The Newel Post Christmas Tree Recycling Gold Leaf Award Thanks to Tree Donors We are Bronze! From Our Audio Visual Department Weinberg Center Season Frederick Police Department News Solid Waste Forums Sign up for Alert Notifications Job Opportunities The City of Frederick wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.   City Government Offices will be closed on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, & New Year's Day January 1, 2016   From The City of Frederick  Happy Hanukkah December 6-14 Happy Kwanzaa December 26  January 1   Annual Leaf Campaign The Annual Leaf Collection Campaign will continue through December 18th. If you have questions, please call DPW at 301-600-1440.  Carroll Creek Linear Park Update To follow the progress on Carroll Creek, visit the DED blog. Stay tuned for exciting news about the opening of the more fountains and sections on Carroll Creek! Share your favorite photos of Carroll Creek on Instagram at    #iHEARTcarrollcreek Stay Informed by Watching City Cable Channel 99 Channel 99 program schedule City Board/Commission Vacancies Planning Commission - Full & Alternate positions Labor Relations Panel Fair Housing Building Code Appeals Board  Plumbing Board Airport Commission "Citizen Representative" For more information, contact Amber Grimes at 301-600-1453 or email.      Quick Links The City of Frederick Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) City Boards & Commissions City Charter & Code City Cable Channel 99 61st Administration  of The City of Frederick   Mayor   Randy McClement  301-600-1380 Executive Assistant to the Mayor Nikki Bamonti 301-600-3835 Aldermen Kelly Russell President Pro-Tem 301-600-2966 Michael O'Connor 301-600-1386 Phil Dacey 301-600-1632 Josh Bokee 301-600-1863 Donna Kuzemchak 301-600-1382 Legislative Assistant to the Aldermen Lauren O'Malley 301-600-1184 61st Administration Board, Commission & Committee Assignments   Downtown Frederick Partnership  It's what's happening! To find out what the Downtown Frederick Partnership has planned for the 2015 season visit: Fun in DowntownUpcoming Events Eat, Shop & Be MerryDecember 5, 12 & 19 3-9 p.m. Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship December 28 4-8 p.m.  Shopping, Dining and the Arts Frederick...The Key to the Heart of Maryland. For more information visit Tourism  Connect with The City   December 2015 Westside Regional Park Feasibility Questionnaire We want to hear from you! We want to hear from you! This is a regional park that will service everyone. Please take a moment and let us know what amenities you would like to be considered for the Westside Regional Park located along Butterfly Lane. Click on  questionnaire to help us complete the study.  Talk to the Mayor Tuesday   December 22nd from 2-6 pm Mayor McClement sets aside time each month to meet informally with citizens to discuss topics or issues of their choice. The December Talk to the Mayor will be held on the 4th Tuesday, December 22nd from 2-6 PM. The Mayor's office is located in City Hall at 101 North Court St.  No appointment is necessary and citizens meet with the Mayor on a first come, first serve basis.  For details, contact Nikki Bamonti: 301-600-3835 or nbamonti@cityoffrederick.com Frederick Community Action Agency Helping People - Changing Lives FCAA Office of Home Energy Programs Now Accepting Applications for Energy Assistance If you or someone you know needs help paying heating and electric bills, please contact the Office of Home Energy Programs at 301-600-2410 as soon as possible to find out if you are eligible for financial assistance.  For more information go to Energy Assistance. Donations Accepted The Frederick Community Action Agency provides food, shelter, medical care, housing, and other forms of assistance to families and individuals that are low-income or homeless. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit donation  to view the wide rang of acceptable items. For more information contact Sarah McAleavy, Coordinator, at (301) 600-6263, or email    smcaleavy@cityoffrederick.com. The Newel Post Fall/Winter Edition The City of Frederick Planning Department is pleased to announce the Fall/Winter 2015 issue of the Frederick Newel Post is now available. To view, click on Newel Post  Pictured at right is the former Frederick County Jail.                                                                                                                            Christmas Tree Recycling Sites and more information The City of Frederick Christmas Tree Drop Off and Recycling program will begin on December 26, 2015 and continue through January 31, 2016.  The drop off points will be: Harry Grove Stadium lower parking lot Husky Park Yard 2 on Highland Street Tasker's Chance parking lot on Key Parkway behind Westridge Shopping Center Max Kehne parking lot on West 7th Street For more information, go to Christmas Tree Recycling Gift Wrap Recycling - Not all gift wrap is recyclable.  Use paper with recycled content if you are wrapping with holiday paper. Other ideas? Wrap with reusable items such fabric.  Use a colorful pair of socks for wine bottles.  For a family project, decorate brown grocery bags and tie packages with colorful string. Gold Leaf Award Outstanding Landscape Beautification Project Tom Rippeon, City Arborist, recently accepted the Gold Leaf Award for The City of Frederick from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA). The landscape beautification project, a 52 acre parcel along Carroll Creek and Rock Creek, included the planting of 5,280 trees and 2,500 saplings. Nancy Herwig, Executive Director of MAC-ISA, presented the award to Mr. Rippeon, Mayor Randy McClement and Zack Kershner, Director of Public Works.  Save the Date - Green Neighbor Forum - Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Hood College. More information to come.   City Thanks Tree Donors City Hall & 7th Street Fountain The City of Frederick would like to thank Paul & Rachel Beard for donating the 25 foot Norway Spruce at the 7th Street Fountain area and Donald Eyler Jr. for donating the 18 foot Blue Spruce in front of City Hall. Each year the Christmas trees at these two very special locations are enjoyed by citizens and tourists throughout the holiday season.  The Christmas tree in front of City Hall serves as the center piece for the Annual Festival of Lights which will take place on Friday,  December 18th at 7:00 PM in front of City Hall and is open to the public. Re-Designated a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community The League of American Bicyclists has once again named Frederick a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will be recognized for their outstanding commitment to this project at the December 2nd Workshop meeting at 3:00 PM in City Hall. Open to the public. Productions by The City of Frederick Audio Visual Department The following videos are produced by The City of Frederick's Audio Visual Department for your viewing pleasure. Holidays in Historic Frederick Repudiation of the Stamp Act of 1765 History Westside Regional Park Feasibility Study Community Meeting For information on these and other productions, contact The City of Frederick Audio Visual Department at 301-600-3889 or email lduvall@cityoffrederick.com.  Weinberg Center for the Arts December Lineup December at the Weinberg Center Dec - 3 -  Kathy Mattea, Songs of the Season  Dec - 11, 12, 13 - The Nutcracker Dec -17, 18, 19, 20 - The Christmas Carol Dec - 22 - Annual Messiah Sing Along For more information on these shows and more lined up in November, visit http://www.weinbergcenter.org/   Gift Certificates  - For a GREAT holiday gift, get a gift certificate to The Weinberg Center.       The Frederick Police Department Holiday Shopping Tips - Online and On-Foot Be vigilant during this holiday season and use these important tips to minimize your risk of becoming a victim. Click on Safety Tips. Frederick Police Department Recruiting The Frederick Police Department is looking for entry level and lateral police officers.  For more information go to www.frederickpolice.org   Neighborhood Advisory Council The NAC is a forum for residents to become involved in identifying and recommending changes to improve your neighborhood.  Each NAC meets to discuss issues, concerns, and neighborhood projects.  To find out which NAC you belong to visit Find Your NAC.  NAC meeting schedules can be found here. For more information, contact Michele Bowman at 301-600-2109 or mbowman@frederickmdpolice.org Solid Waste Management Forums Looking for Citizen Input The Frederick County Solid Waste- What's Next Steering Committee is holding forums to allow for citizens to help shape the future of solid waste management in Frederick County. The remaining 3 forums will be held: December 7th @7:00 PM - Brunswick Fire Company January 11th @ 7:00 PM - Urbana High School January 23rd @ 10:00 AM- Thurmont Town Hall Suggestions and ideas can be email to whatsnext@FrederickCountyMD.gov For more information, call Frederick County Solid Waste Management Department at 301-600-2960. Alert Frederick County Emergency Notification System Sign up for weather, traffic, and other important notices and updates at Alert Frederick County.  For video assistance on how to sign up, visit Alert Frederick. Employment Opportunities The City of Frederick values diversity in its workforce and is an equal opportunity employer.  For information on employment with The City, visit Job Opportunities &