Check out our November newsletter!
NOVEMBER 2023
845-609-4822 | AOKHEATINGCOOLING.COM
HOW A-OK BEGAN Chris and Mike’s Story
Dear Reader,
We all have moments in our lives when we embark on ventures that define us. For some, it’s the dream of starting a business that fuels our determination. Today, we’d like to share with you the story of two individuals who, through their shared passion, have embarked on a remarkable journey, a story that is deeply rooted in family legacy and tradition. Meet Chris Grice and Mike Lasofsky. Chris is the force behind Sparta Soft Wash, a name that some of you might be familiar with, while Mike’s background in heating and cooling runs deep, influenced by the teachings of his grandfather, Kenny. Their paths crossed when Mike began dating Chris’s wife’s sister, Shannon. It was here that the seeds of a remarkable partnership were sown. Chris had always been eager to collaborate with Mike and start a business. He recognized their untapped potential. With Mike’s technical proficiency and years of experience and Chris’s entrepreneurial spirit, the vision was clear. Together, they could make a difference for property owners in their community. Mike’s dedication to his family is just as strong as his commitment to our business. He is a proud husband to Shannon and a wonderful father to two young boys, Michael, who is 3 years old, and Mason, who is nearly 2! Their presence in his life mirrors the deep-rooted family values that have guided us in establishing A-OK Heating & Air Conditioning. Kenny, Mike’s grandfather, was a major inspiration for A-OK, and you can see it in the name, the logo, and the old-school way they care for customers. In the photo here, you can see Kenny and his partner Bob with their A-OK van back in 1968. His HVAC business was a fixture in his community, serving residents in 1968 all the way through the early 1990s. Today, Mike is following in his grandfather’s footsteps with his partner and brother-in-law Chris.
Mike's grandfather in the late '60s. This is why Mike and I chose the name A-OK for our business.
Chris established Sparta Soft Wash at the young age of 19 back in 2003. This exterior maintenance business is deeply invested in the values of quality and integrity. Chris and his wife, Kiersten, whom you may have talked with while scheduling appointments over the phone, and their 5-year-old daughter, Emma, strongly prioritize family, tradition, and delivering exceptional, honest services in their businesses. As we approach November, the importance of ensuring your heating system is in optimal condition for the impending winter is a top priority. A-OK Heating & Air Conditioning is here to provide the support you need, and Sparta Soft Wash is equally dedicated to ensuring your exterior surfaces and gutters are pristine for the frosty season ahead of us. Thank you for being part of our community. Expect more newsletters from us in the future as we continue to share our story and commitment to your needs. Warm regards, –Chris Grice & Mike Lasofsky A-OK Heating & Air Conditioning Sparta Soft Wash
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Say Goodbye to Chronic Clutter
Brick Painting vs. Staining:
USE THE CORE 4 METHOD TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME!
If you’ve attempted Marie Kondo’s famous “spark joy” approach to decluttering but still have too much stuff, you might want to try the CORE 4 Method designed by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly. Kelly specializes in tackling “chronic clutter” and designs her techniques to work for everyone , including people who are neurodivergent. Her CORE 4 Method has earned her millions of online fans because it includes just four steps anyone can follow to purge clutter! Here’s how it works. Step 1: Clear Out — First, choose one room of your home to work on. Then, grab a trash bag and several sturdy boxes. Use the bag to collect trash like food wrappers or broken items you never got around to repairing. Then, look for things that belong in other rooms of your home and toss them into the boxes, using a different box for each room. If you’re working in your office, for example, move extra sweaters to your bedroom box and the spare hammer to your garage box. Then, put the boxes in their corresponding rooms to deal with later. Step 2: Categorize — Sort everything left in your room into categories. In your bedroom, you might have one pile for clothes, one for shoes, and another for hobby items. Step 3: Cut Out — Assess the storage in your room and use that space to calculate how many items you can keep from each category. For example, if you have a category of books, figure out how many will fit on your bookshelf. That’s how many books you can keep! Then, choose a category and go through it item by item. Kelly recommends using the “3 Second Rule”: Give yourself three seconds to decide if each item is a “Yes’’ or a “No,” and consider anything you hesitate on a “Yes.” Repeat this cycle until you have the right number of items in each category. Step 4: Contain — Stash each category of items in its designated storage space. Kelly suggests keeping “like” items together and ensuring your regularly used things are easy to access. These four steps can help you tackle even the most cluttered spaces. With help from a few friends, you can organize an entire room in a single day!
Which DIY Method Is Right for You?
Historical home lovers cringe at the thought of painting or staining original brick, but there’s no shame in it! In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to give your home a facelift. However, deciding to refresh your brick facade or fireplace comes with a question: Should you paint or stain? Painting vs. Staining Painting or staining brick is very similar to painting or staining wood. Paint will sit on the brick’s surface and transform it with a bold, solid color. Stain will sink into brick and act more like a tint, adjusting the color to a lesser degree. Brick painting hides flaws like discoloration and crumbling, while staining lets the brick’s original texture show through, imperfections included. If you paint your brick, you can choose from a rainbow of colors — everything from neon green to lavender is on the table! Brick stains are more muted but still come in various shades, including light blue, warm yellow, gray, brown, and charcoal. The Application Process With either method, you need to clean your brick first. For indoor areas, spray the brick with a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar, let it sit, and scrub it clean. Experts recommend power washing outdoor bricks. If you paint, you should prime the surface with masonry primer or use a 2-in-1 paint. Whether you paint or stain, you’ll need to apply multiple coats to achieve your ideal shade. Some bricks absorb stain more easily than others, and bricks that are sealed or painted won’t stain at all. You can test this by spraying water on your bricks. If the water sinks in, they’ll absorb stain! Whether you plan to paint or stain, a paint sprayer will deliver the fastest, easiest application. If you don’t own one, try renting from your local hardware store!
Pro Tip: Dampness on your bricks can prevent paint from sticking, so let them dry completely before painting.
The Maintenance Painted bricks can flake or peel easily, so experts recommend repainting them every 3–5 years. Brick stain, however, doesn’t need regular retouching. While costs of paint and stain vary, this difference in upkeep makes brick staining the more affordable option. Good luck, and happy renovating!
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Gutter Guards: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING
It doesn’t take much for your home’s gutters to clog. Whether a rainstorm washes debris down your roof or tree foliage sprouts inside your gutters, you may find yourself cleaning them out regularly. If not, clogged drains can lead to a host of issues, including water damage, sagging gutters, and even flooding. Gutter guards come in different shapes and sizes, but the primary purpose of these tools is to catch the residue and grime that falls off your roof to keep your gutters unclogged and functional. While gutter guards seem like a simple solution, they can also be another headache. But the benefits might outweigh the hassle. Benefits to Consider It’s easy to see why homeowners should consider gutter guards. Your gutters must be blockage-free to stream water away from your home effectively. Yet, aside from keeping your gutters unclogged, these helpful guards can also ensure: • Fewer gutter cleanups: Spend less time unclogging your gutters since your gutter guards are catching most of the debris. • Insect infestation prevention: Wet foliage and stagnant water can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects. When your gutters are clear, this won’t be a problem! • Delay in gutter rusting or erosion: With less water blocked in your gutters, you can increase the lifespan and minimize the need to replace rusted or eroded gutters.
• Freeze and ice dam prevention: The sun can melt snow and ice that drips into your gutters before re-freezing and causing a blockage. Guards can help ensure that water is constantly flowing away from your home. Some of the Drawbacks The main drawback to remember is that no gutter guard is a one-stop solution. They will in no way allow you to stop cleaning your gutters. Even with gutter guards, you must check and clean your gutters regularly. These guards won’t catch everything, and clogging can still occur with them in place. Cleaning your gutters with guards can also become more time-consuming than without them. While you will need to maintain and clean your gutter guards, they are still helpful in minimizing blockage and debris from damaging your gutters. Whether gutter guards suit your home and schedule is up to you!
Everything- Seasoned Dinner Rolls Inspired by RealSimple.com
TAKE A BREAK
No need to make rolls from scratch this season. Instead, dress up store- bought rolls with delicious everything bagel seasoning!
Ingredients
• Cooking spray • 20 frozen dinner rolls • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
Directions
1. Coat a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and arrange frozen rolls in the pan to thaw according to package instructions. 2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Then, melt butter and honey together in the microwave or on the stove. Once the rolls thaw, brush butter mixture over the rolls and sprinkle seasoning on top. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden, and serve these tasty rolls straight out of the oven!
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287 GUINEA HILL RD SLATE HILL, NY 10973 845-609-4822 AOKHEATINGCOOLING.COM
INSIDE
1
How A-OK Began
2
Brick Revamp: To Paint or Stain?
Tackle Clutter With the CORE 4 Method
3
Are Gutter Guards Worth the Investment?
Everything-Seasoned Dinner Rolls
4
Easy and Affordable: Transform a Pumpkin Into a Centerpiece!
IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS WITH A DIY PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE
Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Here’s an easy and affordable way to wow your guests: Turn a pumpkin into a centerpiece in just four steps! 1. Choose a vase. Look for one with a flared top and narrower base that can hold the ideal size of floral arrangement for your table. 2. Purchase a pumpkin. Make sure the pumpkin is roughly the same height as your vase or a little bit taller. 3. Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and hollow out the inside. The hole should be big enough for the thickest part of our vase to fit through. After hollowing, drop the vase inside. Its rim should line up with the hole you carved.
4. Fill the vase with fall foliage. You can gather leafy branches, twigs, pine boughs, and pine cones outside or purchase fake ones! Stick to a fall color scheme of browns, reds, oranges, and yellows, or find items that match your table linens. Have fun and be creative!
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