Check out our July newsletter!
JULY 2018
THANK-YOU GAZETTE
THANK YOU AMERICA FOR 10 GREAT YEARS!
A Token of Gratitude for This Land of Opportunity
I’m thrilled to announce that this Fourth of July marks the 10-year anniversary of Yankee Home Improvement! Everyone at the company is excited to check off a full decade spent serving our wonderful customers — we know that we couldn’t have done it without every single one of you. Every Fourth of July, I’m reminded of all that this land of opportunity has given me over the years. There’s a reason, after all, that we’re the Thank You America Company™! Everyone’s been talking lately about how the United States treats immigrants, but I can tell you that when I landed at JFK Airport from my native Ireland more than 30 years ago with little more than a J-1 visa, 80 bucks in my pocket, and a few lofty dreams in my head, I was treated pretty darn well. Still, I never imagined that I would one day be the founder of a business like Yankee Home Improvement. Back in the ould sod , I’d heard the older kids tell glorious tales of summers on the Jersey Shore, speaking in hushed tones about how much you could earn working on something called a “boardwalk.” I quickly discovered that all the stories were vastly understated and that America was better than I ever imagined. It seemed that perhaps my dream of owning a business might not be so lofty after all. And after years with my nose firmly to the grindstone, working crazy hours and absorbing every word of business advice I could find, I finally got my shot. By now, you’ve probably heard my story: A shady contractor ran off with my $2,500 roofing deposit, but even then, my glowing opinion of
America was unshaken. And when I shared my roofing tale of woe, sure enough, everyone else had a similarly horrible contractor story to share. And so Yankee Home Improvement was born — a construction company crazy enough to offer a totally unique money-back guarantee. Our identity as the Thank You America Company™ is a fundamental component of the way we do business. Whenever I speak to my awesome team, I try to instill in them that same feeling of possibility, gratitude, and drive that I felt when I first stepped off the plane in New York City — just like so many other immigrants who come to our country. I know from personal experience that when you immigrate to the United States, you look at an opportunity to serve your customers as exactly that: an opportunity rather than just a job. It’s this spirit of service and passion that I try to integrate into the very fabric of the company. I’m happy to say that after 10 years and thousands upon thousands of happy homeowners later, my American dream is still intact. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for all that this country has offered me. You can bet that, at our annual Fourth of July cookout, I’ll be doing more than just chowing down on hot dogs. I’ll be reflecting on the incredible abundance and opportunity America has afforded me from the very beginning. –Ger Ronan
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THIS AMERICAN GRUB HOW HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS BECAME NATIONAL TREASURES
If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American THANK YOU AMERICA for 10 Great Years! 2008-2018 10 ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL! TH JUNE 4 - JULY 4 $2500 FREE INSTALLATION UP TO NO LABOR MONTH! ON ANY NEW PROJECT Baths, Windows, Doors, Siding, & Roofing Extended until July 31st! See a Yankee Home product specialist for complete details. Must be presented at time of initial visit. Offer may not be combined with other offers or discounts or applied to previous sales. Offers subject to change. Restrictions apply. Maximum discount $2500. LOYAL CUSTOMER SPECIAL Thank You For 10 Years! classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought. THE HOT DOG It was German immigrants who brought the “frankfurter” and the “wienerwurst” to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker. A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for a nation suddenly living on a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939. THE BURGER Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual “sandwiching” is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for “Hamburg steak” with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun. Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.
36 Justin Drive Chicopee, MA yankeehome.com
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License information MA# 160584 CT# HIC.0673924
IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR WINDOWS?
No matter how much you try to spruce up your home, if you’ve got old, beat-up, drafty windows letting heat in all summer and out all winter, it’ll never feel quite right. And even worse, those windows will end up costing you heaps of money in wasted energy and inefficiency. Whether you’re trying to reduce energy costs or just make your home into the space you’ve always wanted, it may be time to think about replacing your windows. At Yankee Home Improvement, we only use the best windows for the job. The Veridis 1800 Series are industry leaders, with a .01 air infiltration rate, keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. No other window on the market even comes close. What’s more, they add beauty and charm to any home, increasing curb appeal, raising the value of your property, reducing noise, decreasing the need for maintenance, and protecting the interior of your home from UV damage. You can choose from a wide variety of
designs, from modern to classic styles, all completely customizable to your color preferences. Maybe you’re looking to install double-hung windows after being attracted by the durability and ease of use of the tilt-in style, or maybe you would rather go with a sliding style. We even do large bay and bow windows for those picturesque views you just can’t live without. And rest assured, our windows are built to last. Since they’re vinyl inside and out, they’re remarkably resilient to damage. You’ll never have another warped, drafty, or stubborn window ever again — guaranteed. If you’re looking to get an estimate on new windows for your home — or you’re just curious about whether your older windows really need a tuneup — give us a call to schedule a free consultation. We can install them in as little as one morning or afternoon, completely transforming your home in just a few hours.
No matter where you stand on the great ketchup versus mustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout. Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
INGREDIENTS
For Hot Dogs: •
1 package of your favorite hot dogs
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1 package hot dog buns
1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
For Celery Slaw: •
4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced
• • • •
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
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36 Justin Dr. Chicopee, MA 01022 INSIDE
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The Thank You America Company™ Turns 10!
The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers Save Big With Our 10th Anniversary Special!
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Don’t Live With Old, Drafty Windows Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
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Take Your S’mores to the Next Level
CAN I HAVE S’MORE? CREATIVE TWISTS ON THE CAMPFIRE CLASSIC
You’re just three ingredients away from the perfect summertime treat: chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. The s’more is a fan favorite on camping trips and at backyard bonfires alike. Though they say you can’t improve perfection, we’ve found a few creative twists on the classic treat that will make your summer a little sweeter. The Elvis A campfire snack fit for a king — of rock ’n’ roll, that is. This s’more pays homage to Elvis Presley’s love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Swap out the chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup candy and add a few slices of fresh banana between the graham cracker and marshmallow. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even add some bacon. S’mores in a Jar Here are s’mores you can enjoy all year long. Layers of crushed graham cracker, melted marshmallow, and creamy chocolate turn a simple jar into a great dessert! Learn how to make the perfect s’mores on the go at family.disney.com/recipe/ smores-in-a-jar . Strawberry S’more-cake If you really want to wow your guests at the next bonfire, try your hand at this creative take on the
summertime classic. Gooey s’mores meet fresh strawberry shortcake in a dessert that’s as delicious as it is original. Find the whole recipe, including tips on making the perfect shortcake, at a spicyperspective. com/smores-strawberry-shortcake-recipe . S’mOreo A simple but memorable twist on the campfire classic. Grab a box of Oreo cookies, pull a cookie apart, and use that in place of your graham cracker. The cream filling will pair nicely with the chocolate and toasted marshmallow. S’mores Milkshake Too hot for a campfire? Cool down with a s’mores milkshake! The trick is to lightly toast the marshmallows in the oven so they mix well with the other ingredients in the blender. Get the recipe at spoonfulofflavor.com/2013/08/30/ smores-milkshake to enjoy this sweet treat even in the heat of summer.
It’s the simple recipe that opens the door for creative interpretations of the classic s’more. Be adventurous this summer and see what great new s’mores you can create!
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