Saturday, June 20, 2009

Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Co-Sponsors Cook for the Cure® Fundraiser

Maker of fine, handcrafted custom cabinetry joins forces with New Jersey couple to help fund breast cancer research.

June 1, 2009, Doylestown, PA – Superior Woodcraft, Inc., Doylestown, PA, is pleased to announce its participation in a KitchenAid Cook for the Cure® fundraising event held May 8th at the Princeton, New Jersey home of Wendy and Joe Vasquez and their children. The event was dedicated to the memory of Mary Beth Scriven, deceased wife of Joe Vasquez and mother of Laura, Joey and Katie Vasquez. Other sponsors of the event included Lasley Brahaney Architecture and Construction, Mrs. G TV & Appliances and Regent Floor Covering. Each sponsor contributed by assisting with organizing and hosting the event, underwriting expenses and donating silent auction items.

Guests enjoyed a light brunch while bidding on a silent auction of pink Cook for the Cure KitchenAid appliances including a coveted stand mixer. Executive Chef Matthew Babbage of Philadelphia’s World CafĂ© Live provided a live cooking demonstration, preparing a gourmet salad with seared salmon for everyone to taste. Door prizes and goody bags with more Cook for the Cure items were given away, and Villeroy-Boch limited editions plates for the Cook for the Cure ‘Pass the Plate’ program were available for purchase; all of which helped raise $7,245 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Michelle Kennedy, president of Superior Woodcraft, who represented her company at the fundraiser, offers, “It was an honor to join this remarkable family in support of such a worthy cause. KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure® program is a wonderful way to bring family and friends together to share great food and good company, and know that you’ve made a difference.”

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. www.komen.org

About Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft designs, handcrafts and installs heirloom-quality custom cabinetry with environmentally sound practices and materials; providing a locally made, sustainable product of lasting value, utility, beauty and harmony. Founded in 1967 by master cabinetmaker Karl H. Geiger, Superior Woodcraft is committed to preserving the time-honored skills, traditions and integrity of old-world cabinetmaking. This philosophy transcends every style and thematic design when producing the highest-quality custom cabinetry for your entire home. View their online portfolio at www.superiorwoodcraft.com

About Lasley Brahaney Architecture and Construction
Owners Janet Lasley and Marc Brahaney have been designing and constructing for over twenty years in the Princeton Area. Janet started in construction in the early 70’s as a carpenter’s helper while her husband was attending architecture school at Princeton. They have worked together for over 15 years and have created many exciting additions and homes that are also energy efficient. You can see their website at www.lasleybrahaney.com

About Mrs. G TV & Appliances:
Mrs. G TV & Appliances is a 3rd generation family owned Retail Appliance and TV Super Store that has had an outstanding reputation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for over 70 years. Mrs. G’s appliance store is based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Mrs. G's is conveniently located on Route One, just 1/2 mile south of Route 95/295 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Mrs. G's newly renovated 20,000 square foot showroom beautifully displays more than 120 brands of home appliances, TVs and plumbing fixtures. Visit them at www.mrsgs.com.

About Regent Floor Covering
Regent Floor Covering is a family owned and operated flooring business serving mercer county and beyond since 1963. Regent’s showroom located in Pennington, New Jersey carries the latest treads and classic styles of carpet, wood, vinyl, laminate, ceramic tile and stone. Their knowledgeable and courteous sales staff will assist customers with their selections while award winning master craftsman provide quality installations. Their showroom is located at 7 Route 31 N, Pennington, New Jersey, (609) 737-2466. www.regentfloorcovering.com

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website

Monday, June 15, 2009

Cabinetmaking Students Rewarded for Outstanding Achievement

June 2, 2008, Perkasie, PA: Instructor, Michael B. Kennedy, names this year’s top cabinetmaking students of Upper Bucks County Technical School:

▬ Outstanding Level 1 – Samantha Werner
▬ Outstanding Level 2 – Nick Kohler
▬ Outstanding Level 3 – Shannon Rupp
▬ Most Improved – Evan Reed

An awards assembly was held at Upper Bucks County Technical School on May 27th where each student was presented either a complete set of The Taunton Illustrated Woodworking Guide Series or a $75 gift certificate to Woodcraft Supply LLC. These awards were donated by Superior Woodcraft, who handcrafts custom cabinets in Doylestown, PA.

"Superior Woodcraft proudly celebrates the success of these talented students. The awards acknowledge their fine work, as well as that of their parents, teachers and mentors. The Upper Bucks County Technical Schools plays a critical role in bringing students, teachers, parents and local businesses together to provide our young adults the education and experience they will need to succeed. The Technical School provides these fine students with the opportunity to excel their chosen careers. Congratulations to all.” Patrick Kennedy, Superior Woodcraft.

The Upper Bucks County Technical School is located in Perkasie, PA. Its mission is to provide students the opportunity to prepare for lifelong learning and productivity in a challenging and changing global economy. By providing students with a safe educational environment that is dedicated to meeting individual as well as community needs, the Upper Bucks County Area Vocational Technical School through dedicated state and state of the art facilities is forming innovative partnerships with parents, sending schools, and businesses to ensure a productive workforce for the new millennium.

Superior Woodcraft, Inc. of Doylestown, PA, designs, manufactures and installs fine handcrafted custom cabinetry for the entire home. The company was established in 1967 by Karl Geiger, a traditional cabinetmaker who emigrated from Europe. Today, the same old-world ideals and integrity imbued by Karl Geiger are still being used. Superior’s mission is rooted in the conservation of time-honored woodworking methods and the preservation of natural resources inherent to the modern cabinetmaking industry.

# # #

Michael Kennedy
Cabinetmaking Instructor

Upper Bucks Vo-Tech School
3115 Ridge Road
Perkasie, PA 18944
Tel: (215) 795-2911
mkennedy@ubtech.org

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website

Monday, June 8, 2009

Hot Summers...Cool Houses

As the temperature heats up outside this time of year, people are always looking for ways to stay cool. Here are some tips for keeping your Room Air Conditioners working properly, along with tips for purchasing new ones. That way your hot summer nights are a bit more tolerable.

Make sure that you clean or replace the filters on your existing air conditioner before running it again this year. By doing so, you will dramatically increase the efficiency of the unit and also help it to last longer.

When installing a Window Air Conditioner, be sure that the “wings” are not torn or damaged. These are the expandable sides that adjust to seal the window opening on either side of the air conditioner. By ensuring a tight seal with the window, you will keep the cool air in and the hot air out. If needed, the sides can be replaced with new ones to keep things running properly.

Do not use a cover on the outside of the air conditioner if you plan on leaving it in place during the Winter months. When moisture builds up inside the cover due to normal condensation, it has a difficult time evaporating and will cause the air conditioner to rust. Instead, it is better to leave the outside of the unit “breathe” and install an insulating material where the filters attach on the portion inside the house. Then, when Spring rolls back around, you can remove the insulating material, replace the filters, and be off and running.

If you need to replace or purchase a new air conditioner, there are some things you need to know before you purchase.

First, know the size of the room you need to cool and how much sunlight it receives throughout the day. A properly sized air conditioner will be based on the size of the room. If the unit is too powerful for the room, it will cycle off too quickly and not adequately remove the humidity from the room. By leaving the humidity in the room, it will feel warmer and defeat the purpose of the machine. If, however, the unit is too small it will run continuously and use more electricity than needed while struggling to cool the room. In most cases, multiple smaller units in different points throughout the house will function much more efficiently than a large unit.

Second, look for the efficiency ratings of the machines when shopping. While the more efficient air conditioners will cost more, they will save you more than their cost when factoring in the energy savings. Look for the “EER” rating on the unit, as the higher number means more efficient and less to operate. You can learn more about efficiency ratings at energystar under the tab for air conditioners.
Hopefully, these few tips can save you money and keep you cool over these next few months. For more information, you can learn more by calling us at Bill Vandegrift, Inc., or the manufacturers’ websites.

This article was contributed by James Bender of Bill Vandegrift, Inc.

Bill Vandegrift, Inc
450 E. Butler Ave
New Britain, PA 18901
215-345-1892
www.billvandegrift.com

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website

Friday, June 5, 2009

Design Savvy Maui Highlights Superior Woodcraft

Superior Woodcraft is honored to be highlighted in Design Savvy Maui.

Go to Design Savvy Maui and rate this Superior Woodcraft project. Feel free to comment as well. Go to Design Savvy Maui

About Design Savvy Mau:

The Design Savvy Maui blog is a place for interior inspiration and ideas. We post the latest in furniture, lighting and decor along with images of our work and new updates. Check out our website for more information.

Website
http://www.designsavvymaui.com

About Superior Woodcraft, Inc:

Superior Woodcraft is the premier source for fine, handcrafted custom cabinetry for the entire home. We create custom-built cabinets for the kitchen, master bath, library, butler's pantry, bar, office and living room built-ins as well as custom, free-standing furniture such as a kitchen islands, armoires and vanities.

website: www.superiorwoodcraft.com

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Here's Help to Become Green

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a special loan and rebate program for qualifying homeowners who want to do energy efficiency home improvements. The program is called KeystoneHelp. KeystoneHelp is administered through AFC First Financial Corp., a Pennsylvania leader in energy efficiency.

The idea is to make rebates and low interest loans available to Pennsylvania homeowners so that energy efficiency can be more affordable. KeystoneHelp comes at the right time because homeowners can combine the rebates and loans with Federal tax incentives to get even greater cost savings. With fuel oil and electric prices set to rise over the next few years, it makes sense to upgrade our homes from an energy use perspective. The Return on Investment for energy efficiency improvements can be substantial, especially when KeystoneHelp and Federal tax incentives are utilized.

What Improvements are Eligible? The following list is not comprehensive, but rather highlights what many peoples are using KeystoneHelp money for: Energy Star air source heat pumps, central AC systems, boilers and furnaces; Energy Star windows and doors, ceiling and ventilation fans, programmable thermostats; Air Sealing and Insulation. KeystoneHelp has a similar list of eligible improvements under its Advanced Performance category. There is also a Whole House Improvement category which requires a certified Energy Audit.

In short, the KeystoneHelp program makes money available to qualified Pennsylvania homeowners for just about all the typical ways we make can make our homes energy efficient. The loans can be secured or unsecured, from $1000 to $35,000. All work can be financed if at least 75% of the project consists of qualifying improvements.

Now the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not want just any contractor performing the energy efficiency work. This may be because, as I have written in my February article “Your House as a System”, our homes are made up of various systems and aspects – insulation, doors and windows, heating and cooling equipment, solar orientation, square footage, etc. Your contractor needs to know how to advise you about the best way to invest the loan money in your home and how to do the work in the correct way. Too many contractors are still remodeling as though it were 2006, not 2009. Times have changed and the knowledge contractors need to truly serve their clients has changed as well. Many contractors are not keeping up. So only KeystoneHelp Approved Contractors may perform the work that is funded through the Keystone Help rebate and loan program.

Naturally, we are approved by KeystoneHelp.

If you want to save money on your home energy costs the best place to start is with an energy audit. An energy audit identifies the locations in your home where air infiltration is causing the air you paid to heat or cool to blow out of your house. Would you leave a window open all winter when you have the heat on or all summer when you are running the air conditioner? Nobody would. But in effect that is exactly what is happening in our homes when we add up all the little holes and places air enters or escapes through our exterior walls and attic. Add to that inefficient HVAC equipment and it is easy to see why we spend so much money on home energy use. An energy audit targets your potential savings.


This article was contributed by Thomas G. Wells

THOMAS G. WELLS CONSTRUCTION L.L.C.
105 Pennsylvania Avenue
Yardley, Pa. 19067
Tel: 215-321-4818
Fax: 215-321-2179
Cell: 215-378-4048

Source: Superior Woodcraft, Inc. - Custom Cabinetry